Genes in Space STEM Contest Opens Call For Applications
Contest offers students a chance to launch a research project to the International Space Station
Cambridge, MA, Jan. 5, 2026 – Genes in Space, an annual biotechnology competition that challenges students to design experiments designed to overcome biological barriers to human habitation in space, opened a call for entries today. Each year, the contest invites students in grades 7-12 to design pioneering space biology experiments, and launches the winning experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) where it is carried out by astronauts. The Genes in Space program, co-founded by miniPCR bio and Boeing, and supported by the ISS National Laboratory and New England Biolabs, aims to inspire the next generation of young scientists by inviting them to tackle real-life challenges and opportunities presented by space exploration. “Early workforce development is enhanced by programs like Genes in Space, which capture the imagination and curiosity of students and inspire them to become the next generation of teachers, scientists, researchers, and engineers”, said Boeing’s Scott Copeland, a co-founder of Genes in Space.
In designing their proposals, contestants must make use of the Genes in Space Toolkit, a suite of biotechnology tools available to astronauts aboard the ISS. Toolkit items share a common suitability for use in remote research environments like the ISS, where space and resources are limited.
“These student-designed projects can be transformative not only for humans living in space, but also for resource-limited healthcare settings on Earth, from field laboratories to medical clinics in developing nations,” said miniPCR bio’s Sebastian Kraves, a co-founder of Genes in Space.
Since the contest's founding in 2015, Genes in Space has launched 12 student experiments to the ISS. Winning students have been responsible for space biology milestones, including the first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in space, the first use of CRISPR gene-editing technology in space, and executed one of the first cell-free synthetic biology experiments in space.
The 2026 Genes in Space competition will close on April 10. Contest participation does not require specialized equipment and is free to enter. Individual students or pairs may submit proposals. All submissions must use the ISS as a testbed for space exploration.
Twenty-five awardees will win prize packages, including biotechnology kits for their educational institutions. Five Finalist teams will additionally receive mentoring from scientists and attend the 2026 Countdown to Discovery in Houston, TX, where they will present their ideas to a panel of judges. The winner will attend Space Biology Camp in Boston and have the opportunity to watch their experiment launch into space from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Learn more: www.genesinspace.org
Media contacts:
miniPCR bio: Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, genesinspace@minipcr.com, 781-990-8727
Boeing: Rosa Banuelos, rosa.i.banuelos@boeing.com, 321 313-3134
