How to Write a Genes in Space Proposal

By Dr. Harman Brah, MD · Judge, California Science & Engineering Fair

To write a Genes in Space proposal, pick one clear biology question, explain why it is worth testing on the International Space Station, and lay out a biotechnology experiment that could answer it. The proposal is judged on creative and scientific merit, so the idea and the reasoning behind every step matter more than how advanced it sounds.

Genes in Space is open to students in grades 7 to 12 at a U.S. public, private or home school. Students can enter alone or in pairs, and every entry needs an adult sponsor.

Know what you are writing

This is a proposal, not a finished project. Students describe an experiment they would like to run, and the program gives 25 awards each cycle. The winning experiment is launched to the ISS.

Each student can submit one proposal per year. That makes the choice of question the most important decision in the whole entry.

Start with the biology, this fall

The 2027 cycle details will be shared in January. Last cycle opened January 5, 2026 and closed April 10, 2026, so the window is short once it opens.

That makes fall the time to read. Pick an area of biology that already interests you and learn how it works on Earth before you think about space.

Read the background until you can explain it to a friend in plain words. Ideas that hold up usually come from understanding the basics well, not from the newest technique.

Narrow it to one question

A good question names what you would measure and what result would surprise you.

Write it in one or two sentences. If you cannot, it is probably still too broad. In our experience judging student research, one clear question is stronger than an ambitious plan that tries to do everything.

Explain why space

Reviewers will want to know why this experiment belongs on the space station and not in a school lab.

Say what is different about space that could change the result, and why that difference matters for your question. If the answer would be the same on Earth, keep refining the idea.

Lay out the experiment step by step

Describe what you would test, what you would compare it against, and how you would know whether it worked.

Controls are where many student projects lose points. Say what your comparison is and why it makes the result trustworthy.

Then name the step most likely to go wrong and what you would do about it. A plan with a backup shows real thinking.

Write for a reader outside your field

Explain the problem plainly before the technical details. Short sections and named steps make it easy to follow.

Clear writing tells the reader you understand your own plan.

Pairs: share the thinking, not just the typing

If two students enter together, both should understand every part of the proposal.

Talk through the question and the design together. Each partner should be able to explain why each choice was made.

The student does the work

The question, the design and the writing should be the student’s own. A proposal that looks parent- or mentor-built is seen through quickly.

The adult sponsor and any mentor can ask hard questions: is the question clear, is the design fair, does each step make sense. The student still makes the choices and writes every word.

Our physician-led mentors help students read the science and pressure-test a research plan while the student does the work. See our science fair and research mentorship, or read about finding a science fair project idea in high school.

FAQ

Who can enter Genes in Space?

Students in grades 7 to 12 at a U.S. public, private or home school. They can enter on their own or as a pair, and an adult sponsor is required.

When is the 2027 deadline?

It has not been posted yet. The 2027 information is shared in January. Last cycle ran from January 5 to April 10, 2026.

What should my child do before the competition opens?

Read the biology. Pick an area that interests them, learn how it works on Earth, and start shaping one clear question so the proposal can be written once the cycle opens.

Can my child submit more than one idea?

No. Each student can submit one proposal per year, so it is worth spending the fall choosing the strongest question.

Can a parent or teacher help write it?

An adult sponsor is required, and adults can help by asking questions and checking that the plan makes sense. The student should choose the question and write the proposal.