The 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Application is now OPEN!
Congratulations, Nominees! All students who enter will receive a Thermo Fisher JIC t-shirt and bumper sticker, plus will be entered in a drawing to win other cool prizes like swag packages.
- Before you open an application, be sure to read the 2024 Official Rules.
- If you are under 13 years old, please ask permission from your parent/guardian before creating your account.
- Need help creating an account? Check out our Access the Application Guide!
- We will be hosting a series of live webinars throughout the spring to talk more about the competition and answer your questions. Use the webinar links on our Resources page to join us!
To open a new application, click the green "Register" button at the top right of this page. After you have opened an application, you can use the "Log in" button to access it.
Important Dates
| February 1, 2024 | Application opens |
| June 12, 2024, 8:00 p.m. ET | Application closes |
| September 4, 2024, 12 p.m. ET | Top 300 Junior Innovators announced |
| September 18, 2024, 12 p.m. ET | Finalists announced |
| October 2024 | Finals Week in Washington, DC! |
Finalists will present their original science fair projects and compete in teams to test their leadership, teamwork and problem-solving abilities in science, engineering and mathematics. Prizes include the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries), scientific excursions and cash awards to finalists’ teachers and schools.
NEW - 2024 Webinar Schedule:
Live Q&A Webinars will take place throughout the application period. See below for the 2024 schedule; we will also send email reminders with links to join before each webinar. Recordings will be added to this page.
Webinar 1: Thursday, March 28, 6-7pm ET
Webinar 2: Wednesday, April 17, 7-8pm ET
Webinar 3: Thursday, May 23, 6-7pm ET
Webinar 4: Sunday, June 9, 4-5pm ET