For high school students passionate about scientific research, the American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) offers one of the most prestigious opportunities to present their work and connect with top researchers, professionals, and like-minded peers. Every year, selected high school students from across the United States gather for the AJAS annual conference, held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting—the world’s largest multidisciplinary science conference.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through what AJAS and AAAS actually are, the process of qualifying for AJAS, how I personally earned my spot, and everything that happened in the months leading up to the 2025 conference in Boston, Massachusetts. If you’re a student interested in research and ever dream of making it to AJAS, the information in this series is what you need to know!
What is AJAS?
The American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) is the only national honor society in the U.S. dedicated to recognizing high school students for outstanding scientific research. Unlike competitions like ISEF, where students compete for awards, AJAS is an invitation-only program. If you are selected as a delegate, you’re not just attending another science fair—you’re becoming part of an elite community of young scientists, gaining lifetime fellowship status, and being introduced to the world of professional scientific research at an early stage.
Each year, the AJAS conference takes place alongside the AAAS Annual Meeting, which is the largest and most diverse general science gathering in the world. This means AJAS students get to present their research at an event where Nobel laureates, leading scientists, and science policymakers are also sharing their latest discoveries.
How Do You Qualify for AJAS?
Earning a spot at AJAS isn’t something you can just sign up for—it requires outstanding scientific research and recognition at the state level. The selection process works as follows:
Nomination by a State Academy of Science
Each state has its own Academy of Science, and they are responsible for selecting a small number of students to attend AJAS. Typically, the top winners of the state’s science research competition are chosen as delegates. In fact, a majority of the delegates I met at AJAS were ISEF finalists! If your Academy of Science doesn't select students for AJAS, try reaching out to them!
Performance in a Research Competition
In most states, students qualify for AJAS by competing in a state-level science fair run by the Academy of Science. The competition is similar to ISEF—students present posters of their research, answer questions from judges (who are usually professors and industry experts), and are ranked based on their scientific process, originality, and findings.
High-Quality Research
AJAS isn’t just about having a cool project—it’s about demonstrating a deep understanding of the scientific method, making a meaningful contribution to your field, and presenting your work clearly and effectively. Judges look for students whose research is rigorous and has real-world applications.
Academic Standing
Although not officially stated as a requirement, most delegates are academically strong students with a deep passion for STEM. Since AJAS is meant to introduce students to professional research careers, it makes sense that those selected tend to have a strong foundation in science and math.
How I Qualified for AJAS
I qualified for AJAS through the New Jersey Academy of Science (NJAS) Annual Meeting, which took place on April 20th at Kean University. The NJAS meeting serves as the state-level competition that determines which students from New Jersey will be invited to AJAS.
For 2024, NJAS invited first and second-place winners to attend AJAS, but later expanded it to first through third place. I competed in the Medicine and Health category with my ISEF project, which focuses on diabetic retinopathy detection using deep ensemble learning. After presenting my research to a panel of judges and answering their questions, I was thrilled to find out that I placed and earned an invitation to represent New Jersey as an AJAS delegate!
The NJAS conference itself was an incredible experience. The event theme was "Cancer Innovations: Addressing Health Disparities," and featured keynote speakers such as:
Mr. Nathanael Cooper (Bristol Myers Squibb)
Dr. Jennie Williams (Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University)
The day was packed with activities, including:
Junior Academy Judging (where I presented my research)
Professional Development Seminars (one featuring the Department of Homeland Security and another from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
STEM Showcase and Networking Session
The entire event felt like a mini-science fair combined with a professional research symposium, which made it such a valuable learning experience. Winning a top placement and earning the AJAS invitation felt like an important step in my research journey, as it meant that my work was being recognized not just at the school level, but at the state level, and that I would soon have the chance to present it at AAAS alongside some of the world’s top scientists.
Pre-Conference Events & Preparation
Once I was officially selected as a New Jersey delegate, I had to complete a few important steps before the conference. AJAS doesn’t just throw students into the event unprepared—there were mandatory Zoom meetings and workshops designed to help us get ready for our presentations.
AJAS Welcome & Poster Instructions (January 5, 2025)
This was the first time all AJAS delegates met virtually. We had a live welcome message from Dr. Sudip S. Parikh, the CEO of AAAS, who shared his insights on the importance of scientific research and the role of young scientists in shaping the future.
Afterward, Dr. John Kaup, co-chair of the AJAS Conference Planning Committee, gave us detailed instructions on how to prepare our posters. Since we would be presenting at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston, there were specific formatting and content guidelines we needed to follow.
Storytelling & Research Presentation Workshop (January 19, 2025)
This workshop focused on scientific communication, which is a critical skill for any researcher. The session was led by Dr. Randy Olson and Dr. Michael Strauss, who introduced us to the ABT (And-But-Therefore) narrative template.
The core message of the workshop was this:
"Even if you do groundbreaking research, if you can’t communicate it well, no one will understand its significance."
They taught us how to structure our research story in a way that engages the audience, making it clear, compelling, and impactful. It was an eye-opening experience that made me rethink the way I talk about my research.
Selecting Lab Tours & Scheduling Logistics
Before heading to Boston, we also had to fill out forms and make selections for the lab tours we wanted to attend. We had several options, including:
MIT Research Labs
Harvard University
Northeastern University
Boston University
New England Aquarium
I carefully reviewed each option before making my choices, knowing that these tours would provide an inside look at some of the most advanced research happening today. I ended up selecting MIT, as I was interested in viewing their biology labs.
Final Thoughts on the Kickoff
The months leading up to AJAS were filled with excitement, preparation, and anticipation. From winning at NJAS to participating in the pre-conference workshops, every step reinforced the fact that this was more than just another science fair—it was an opportunity to join a national network of young researchers and gain firsthand experience in the professional world of science.
Next up: the actual conference in Boston—an experience unlike any other. Stay tuned for Part 2: Immersion in the Conference, where I’ll discuss the sessions, lab tours, and the incredible scientists I had the chance to meet.
About the Author:
I'm Jophy Lin, a high school junior and researcher. I blog about a variety of topics, such as STEM research, competitions, shows, and my experiences in the scientific community. If you’re interested in research tips, competition insights, drama reviews, personal reflections on STEM opportunities, and other related topics, subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated!
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