Genes in Space Competition: How to Design a Winning Experiment

Genes in Space is one of the most unique science competitions available to high school students. The premise is extraordinary: you design a DNA experiment that addresses a real challenge of space exploration, and the winning experiment is actually conducted aboard the International Space Station using miniPCR technology. It is one of the few competitions where a student's idea can literally be launched into orbit.

I was a Genes in Space semifinalist. Here is what I learned about designing an experiment that stands out.

Understanding What Genes in Space Is

Genes in Space is a collaboration between miniPCR bio, Boeing, the ISS National Lab, and New England Biolabs. Students in grades 7 through 12 submit proposals for DNA experiments that could be performed in microgravity using the miniPCR thermal cycler — a compact device that enables polymerase chain reaction (PCR) aboard the space station.

The competition is not asking you to conduct the experiment yourself. You are proposing an experiment. That means the quality of your thinking — your research question, your experimental logic, your understanding of the constraints of space-based biology — matters far more than access to a lab or expensive equipment. This makes Genes in Space remarkably accessible compared to other research competitions, but also means the bar for scientific reasoning is high.

How to Pick a Research Question

The strongest proposals start with a genuine problem that space exploration faces and work backward to a DNA-based approach. Common themes include the effects of radiation on DNA, microbial monitoring in spacecraft environments, the impact of microgravity on gene expression, and diagnostic tools for astronaut health. But the winning proposals do not just pick a topic from this list — they identify a specific, focused question within one of these areas.

A vague question like "How does space affect DNA?" will not make it past the first round of review. A focused question like "Can PCR-based detection distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of a specific bacterium in spacecraft water systems?" gives judges something concrete to evaluate. The specificity of your question signals the depth of your understanding.

Spend time reading about the actual challenges that NASA and other space agencies face with long-duration spaceflight. The more grounded your question is in real operational needs, the more compelling your proposal will be.

Designing Your Experiment

Your experiment must be feasible using miniPCR technology aboard the ISS. This is a critical constraint that many applicants overlook. You need to understand what PCR can and cannot do, what reagents are available in the space station's biology toolkit, and what the practical limitations of conducting molecular biology in microgravity are.

• Keep it elegantly simple. The best proposals involve a clear, executable protocol with a small number of well-chosen steps. Complexity is not a virtue here — clarity is. If an astronaut cannot realistically perform your experiment with limited training time, it will not win.
• Define your controls carefully. What are you comparing against? How will you know if your results are meaningful? Strong experimental design always includes clear positive and negative controls, and your proposal should explain why you chose them.
• Address microgravity-specific considerations. Liquid handling behaves differently in space. Contamination risks are different. Thermal cycling works differently without convection. Acknowledging and addressing these challenges shows that you understand the environment your experiment would operate in.
• Think about data interpretation. What results would support your hypothesis, and what results would challenge it? How would you analyze the PCR output? Judges want to see that you have thought through the entire experimental arc, not just the procedure.

What Judges Look For

The judging panel includes scientists and engineers who work in spaceflight biology and molecular biology. They are evaluating your proposal on several dimensions:

Scientific merit is the foundation. Is the question important? Is the experimental approach sound? Does the student demonstrate a real understanding of the underlying biology? Relevance to space exploration is equally weighted — the experiment needs to address a genuine need, not just be an interesting biology question that happens to use PCR.

Feasibility matters enormously. Can this experiment actually be performed on the ISS with existing resources? Students who propose experiments requiring reagents or equipment that are not available on the station show that they did not do their homework. Creativity is valued, but only when grounded in practical reality.

Finally, judges evaluate how well the student communicates their idea. A brilliant experimental concept buried in unclear writing will lose to a strong concept presented with precision and clarity.

Writing the Proposal

The proposal has a word limit, and every sentence needs to earn its place. Structure your proposal to move logically from the problem to your approach to your expected outcomes. A few principles:

• Open with the problem, not the technique. Start by explaining why your question matters for space exploration. Then introduce PCR as the tool that enables you to investigate it.
• Be precise with your biology. Use correct terminology. Cite specific genes, primers, or organisms when relevant. Vague scientific language signals that you are operating at the surface level.
• Explain your reasoning, not just your steps. Do not just list what you would do — explain why each step is necessary and what information it provides. The judges want to see scientific thinking, not a recipe.
• Acknowledge limitations honestly. Every experiment has limitations. Identifying them yourself demonstrates scientific maturity and gives judges confidence that you understand the scope of your proposal.

Timeline

• January-February: Competition opens. Begin researching space biology challenges and reading about miniPCR capabilities.
• February-March: Develop your research question and experimental design. Read relevant scientific literature. Consult with a biology teacher or mentor if possible.
• April: Submission deadline. Submit a polished, carefully edited proposal.
• May-June: Semifinalists announced. Semifinalists present their proposals to a panel of judges.
• June-July: Finalists selected. The winning experiment is developed for launch to the ISS.

How Genes in Space Helps Your College Application

Genes in Space is a distinctive credential because of its specificity and prestige. Admissions officers at top universities recognize the competition, and being named a semifinalist or finalist signals genuine scientific capability and creativity. It pairs especially well with other science competitions like Regeneron STS. It is especially valuable for students applying to biology, biomedical engineering, or aerospace-related programs.

But the application value goes beyond the award itself. The process of designing an experiment for the ISS — thinking through constraints, grounding your ideas in real science, communicating complex concepts clearly — produces exactly the kind of intellectual depth that strong college essays require. It gives you a concrete, compelling story about your scientific interests that sets you apart from applicants whose research experience is limited to following someone else's protocol in a lab.

For students who do not have access to expensive lab equipment or university research mentors, Genes in Space is one of the best ways to demonstrate serious scientific thinking. The competition rewards the quality of your ideas, not the resources you had access to — and admissions officers understand that distinction.