Important Dates

  • Submissions open: October 1, 2024
  • Submissions close: July 17, 2025
  • Judging: Papers will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Finalists are announced: July 24, 2025

Schedules and Guidelines

Schedule and Guidelines for Submission

Competition Schedule and Summary

    Projects and experiences with integrating methods (or interdisciplinary fields) in non-science, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies are welcome. Key dates for the competition are outlined below.

    • Submissions open: October 1, 2024
    • Submissions close: July 17, 2025
    • Finalists are announced: July 24, 2025
    • Submission materials: A Research Paper and an Application Form
    • Submission is open to international and U.S. high school and college students.


    The due date for the submission of the research paper and application form is 7/17/2025. All the applications are made online or via email.

    • Submission of the research materials is open. You can go to the menu "Submission" and fill out the form to create an account and start your application. If you have any technical difficulties, you can directly send your application materials(research paper and application form) via email: info@jyem.org.
    • Submission is open to all international and U.S. high school students and college students.
    • Finalists will be selected based on the novelty and creativity of the research paper and will be announced on our website during mid-August.
    • You can submit the same paper you have submitted to other competitions or conferences in the past two years.

    Key Dates

    Event Date Method
    Submission 10/1/2024~7/17/2025 Portal or Email
    Finalists Announcement July 24, 2025 Online
     

    Submission Materials: Formats and Downloads

    Files File Formats Download
    Research paper Paper_FN_LN.docx Download
    Application Form Form_FN_LN.docx Download
    *Preferred file format: docx(not doc)
    *File name: Paper_Mary_Kennedy.docx / Form_Bob_McDonald.docx
     

    General Information

    1. Please upload the materials online: go to the menu bar on top and select “Submission Portal” to upload the two project materials. Or email them directly to info@jyem.org.
    2. The research paper template can be downloaded from: [download]
    3. The application form is available from: [download]
    4. The submission deadline is at 11:59 EST on the day posted.
    5. Your research paper can be one of the following:
      • A completed full paper with 5 or more pages
      • A work-in-progress paper(preliminary or initial stage of creative research, suggestion, or investigation) of 3 or more pages and late submissions will be reviewed by separate judges. Updated final results will be posted by the end of this August.
    6. Team projects must check the Team Project box in the application form and list all the coauthors’ information in the Author section of the Abstract, including each author’s complete name, school, and email. The corresponding author should be the first author.
    7. Again, if you have problems uploading documents online, please send your research project paper to info@jyem.org directly with the application form.
    8. Preferred document format is .docx file(not .doc file)
    9. You can upload relevant images or photos optionally on the portal or via email.
    10. Your project will be available for review by judges throughout the judging period.
    11. All the submissions will go through a rigorous triple-blind peer review.
    12. Submissions are free: we do not charge any submission fees.
    13. This event is separate from the JYEM Expo described below.

    Freshmen Submission Guidelines

    1. Recognizing that completing a project can be challenging for freshmen, we’ve created a Freshmen Awards section to highlight selected projects as finalists in a dedicated space on our website. This is designed to encourage and celebrate the growth of young researchers.
    2. If you are a freshman (a rising sophomore or an incoming freshman), we encourage you to apply by submitting your application form and research paper by August 31, 2025.
    3. The submission deadline is at 11:59 EST on the day posted.
    4. Final results will be announced and posted in mid-September.
    5. Your research paper can be one of the following:
      • A completed full paper with 5 or more pages
      • A work-in-progress paper(preliminary or initial stage of creative research, suggestion, or investigation) of 3 or more pages and late submissions will be reviewed by separate judges.
    6. If you’ve already submitted, please resubmit the files to ensure they’re considered for this special recognition. Please rename your submission file in the following format: Freshman_Paper(or Form)_FirstName_LastName.docx
    7. Both work-in-progress papers (preliminary research, proposals, or investigations of 3+ pages) and completed research projects will be accepted. Each category will be evaluated by separate judging panels.
    8. The research paper and the application form template can be downloaded from:
      • Research paper template: [download]. Please rename the file in the following format: Freshman_Paper_FirstName_LastName.docx
      • Application form: [download]. Please rename the file in the following format: Freshman_Form_FirstName_LastName.docx
    9. Team projects must check the Team Project box in the application form and list all the coauthors’ information in the Author section of the Abstract, including each author’s complete name, school, and email. The corresponding author should be the first author.
    10. If you have problems uploading documents online, simply send your research project paper to info@jyem.org directly with the application form.
    11. Preferred document format is .docx file(not .doc file)
    12. You can upload relevant images or photos optionally on the portal or via email.
    13. Your project will be available for review by judges throughout the judging period.
    14. All the submissions will go through a rigorous triple-blind peer review.
    15. Submissions are free: we do not charge any submission fees.
    16. This event is separate from the JYEM Expo described below.

    Scopes of the Research Paper Category

    Scopes of the research paper category can include Science, Engineering, Humanities, and Social Science but are not limited to.

    • Sciences - Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • Engineering
    • Mathematics
    • Computer Science
    • Medicine / Health
    • Psychology
    • History
    • Social / Behavioral Studies
    • Economics / Business / Financial Engineering
    • Environmental Studies
    • Humanities
    • Art
    • Music
    • Philosophy
    • Political science

    Scopes of Projects

    Projects and experiences with integrating methods (or interdisciplinary fields) in non-science, science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) studies are welcome. Suggested topics include:

    • Integrated studies throughout the curriculum
    • Pre-college initiatives and outreach programs
    • Diversity in STEaM from high school to college
    • Fundamental and applied research
    • Work-in-progress projects are also welcome.

    2025 JYEM Expo Updates

    Annually, selected projects from general applications—including research papers, photos, drawings, and other creative works by high school and college students—are invited to the JYEM/NYCSEF Expo.

    • The Expo is a separate event from the JYEM competition mentioned above.

    • Not all finalists are eligible to present.

    • We will notify the chosen students from the JYEM research paper competition and share the schedule by early August.

    • This year's Expo will be held either virtually or in-person, and we will announce the mode and selected presenters soon.

    • Selected students for the Expo will be notified via email with their specific timelines and next steps.

    Expo Information

    The 2025 Summer Expo event will be conducted in a virtual format.

    (Due to numerous requests for extensions, the submission deadline has been extended to August 18, 2025)

    Please submit the following 7 materials( from A to G) by email, including the first two files (A and B) that you have already provided. File formats and submission guidelines are as follows. (Note: This 2025 Summer Expo event will be held virtually.)

    • A. Application form
      File name: Expo_Application_Form_FirstName_LastName.docx

    • B. Formatted research paper
      File name: Expo_Paper_FirstName_LastName.docx

    • C. Biography with your headshot photo
      1. 200 to 500 words(about half a page to a full page)
      2. File name: Biography_FirstName_LastName.docx
      3. Please insert your headshot photo at the end of your biography.
      4. Sample: http://nycsef.org/souza.php

    • D. Project presentation file
      1. File name: Presentation_FirstName_LastName.pdf
      2. Maximum # of PPT slides: 20
      3. Include the word "JYEM/NYCSEF Competition/Expo" in the first slide.

    • E. Recorded video
      1. 7 to 15 minutes of recording.
      2. Save your video file in MP4 format for easy access and sharing with judges, and in case we request it later.
      3. Save the video file in your Google Drive.
      4. Name the file you will attach to email: Video_Link_FirstName_LastName.docx (This should be a document containing the video link. Please do not attach the video file itself to the email).
      5. Procedure to create the Google Doc: In Google Drive, locate and select the video file you want to share. Click the "Share" button. Under "General access", click "Anyone with the link" and select "Anyone with the link". Click "Copy link" to generate a shareable link. Paste the link into a Google Doc and save it as Video_Link_FirstName_LastName.docx.
      6. There is no predefined format, but please include the following on the first slide: JYEM / NYCSEF Competition & Expo 2025"

    • F. Resume
      1. File name: Resume_FirstName_LastName.docx
      2. Please include name of your high school(include your grade(year) in the upcoming Fall semester and graduation year.)
      3. Please include all your academic and other information, including skills and activities.
      4. Please include college name planning to attend in the Fall and intended major study area.
      * If currently attending or previously attended college, please include the name(s) of institution(s) and your major(s) or field(s) of study.

    • G. Poster file
      1. File name: Poster_FirstName_LastName.pdf
      2. Recommended Slide Size: Use a 48x36 inch ratio(horizontal: 48inch for your PowerPoint (PPT) file. So simply, you can set the ratio as 4:3 in the PPT slide.
      3. You are submitting just a PDF file for this poster file, not the physical poster or poster board

    • Optional materials
      1. Other supporting materials: photos/coding list/photos of key pages from a handwritten notebook.
      File name: Supporting Material-1_FirstName_LastName.pdf
      2. Photos with captions of your experimental apparatus or equipment.
      File name: SupportingMaterial-2_FirstName_LastName.pdf

    • Talent Release Form (only for in-person event)
      This consent form will be sent to the selected in-person participants at the expo venue.

    Awards (Only for in-person events and participants)

    • Once everything has been completed, your project will be ready for the judges to assess your project virtually and in-person.
    • A Grand prize winner, category winners and recipients of Amazon eGift cards will be chosen.

    Awards (Only for virtual events and participants)

    • After completing all requirements, your project will be virtually assessed by judges.
    • The top 10 winners will be selected and receive PDF award certificates via email.

    In-person Participants - For the Expo Participants

    • For all JYEM in-person events, please bring your printed presentation poster mounted on a trifold poster board. The required poster size is 48x36 inches (horizontal: 48 inches).
    • Dress code: Business formal or semi-formal

    Event Schedule (in-person event)

    1. Presentation & Judging: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    2. Grading Period: Approximately 1 hour (immediately following presentations)
    3. Award Ceremony commences right after grading is completed.
    4. Final event timelines will be communicated via email prior to the event.

    Some quick tips to help you prepare to present your poster

    • please check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylYoE_oTi3Y.
    • Also check photos from our past events at https://jyem.org/photos.php