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iBAR researchers will choose a project that fits within one of the following categories and subcategories as outlined by the rules that govern the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. There are additional categories that the Regeneron ISEF allows, but are generally outside of the Biotech/Biomedical disciplines. Special permission from the PI to do a project in one of these other categories would be required.

iBar researchers are fully responsible for selection of the category in which they will compete at Regeneron ISEF. Researchers are urged to carefully consider their category choice.

Many projects could easily fit into more than one ISEF category. Selection of category should be solely based on what best fits your project. We highly recommend that you review the entire listing of the categories and sub-categories before choosing the category that most accurately describes your project.

At ISEF, you don’t need to compete in the same category as in your national, regional, state, or local competition. Furthermore, most regional and state competitions do not use subcategories. If you prepare for the international competition, which is the highest level you could make it to, your project will be more prepared for entry. You should carefully consider which subcategory best describes your project because your judges will be assigned based on their expertise in your chosen subcategory. If the project could be in multiple subcategories (or categories), it is best to select the primary subcategory of your project rather than “Other.”

Ask yourself the following questions to help in the selection of a category:

Who will be the most qualified to judge my project? What area of expertise is the most important for the judge to have? Will a doctor, an engineer, or a computer scientist best understand my project?
What is the emphasis of my project? What did I study, make, or do during my project?

Please note: Each Society-affiliated fair determines the categories for their competition. Local, regional, state and country fairs may or may not choose to use these categories, dependent on the needs of their area. Please check with your affiliated fair(s) for the appropriate category listings at that level of competition.

Text modified from ISEF Categories and Subcategories

ANIMAL SCIENCES

This category includes all aspects of animals and animal life, animal life cycles, and animal interactions with one another or with their environment. Examples of investigations included in this category would involve the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals, animal ecology, animal husbandry, entomology, ichthyology, ornithology, and herpetology, as well as the study of animals at the cellular and molecular level which would include cytology, histology, and cellular physiology.

Subcategories

Animal Behavior
Cellular Studies
Development
Ecology
Genetics
Nutrition and Growth
Physiology
Systematics and Evolution
Other

BIOCHEMISTRY

The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.

Subcategories

Analytical Biochemistry
General Biochemistry
Medicinal Biochemistry
Structural Biochemistry
Other

BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

This category focuses on studies specifically designed to address issues of human health and disease. It includes studies on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or epidemiology of disease and other damage to the human body or mental systems. Includes studies of normal functioning and may investigate internal as well as external factors such as feedback mechanisms, stress or environmental impact on human health and disease.

Subcategories

Cell, Organ, and Systems Physiology
Genetics and Molecular Biology of Disease
Immunology
Nutrition and Natural Products
Pathophysiology
Other

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Projects that involve the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes including diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EEGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals.

Subcategories

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
Biomechanics
Biomedical Devices
Biomedical Sensors and Imaging
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Synthetic Biology
Other

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Subcategories

Cell Physiology
Cellular Immunology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Other

COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS

Studies that primarily focus on the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems. This includes the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavior, and social systems.

Subcategories

Computational Biomodeling
Computational Epidemiology
Computational Evolutionary Biology
Computational Neuroscience
Computational Pharmacology
Genomics
Other

EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.

Subcategories

Atmospheric Science
Climate Science
Environmental Effects on Ecosystems
Geosciences
Water Science
Other

ENERGY: SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS & DESIGN

Studies/processes involving the production and/or storage of energy.

Subcategories

Biological Process and Design

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.

Subcategories

Bioremediation
Land Reclamation
Pollution Control
Recycling and Waste Management
Water Resources Management
Other

MATERIALS SCIENCE

The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.

Subcategories

Biomaterials

MICROBIOLOGY

The study of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, prokaryotes, and simple eukaryotes as well as antimicrobial and antibiotic substances.

Subcategories

Antimicrobials and Antibiotics
Applied Microbiology
Bacteriology
Environmental Microbiology
Microbial Genetics
Virology
Other

PLANT SCIENCES

Studies of plants and how they live, including structure, physiology, development, and classification. Includes plant cultivation, development, ecology, genetics and plant breeding, pathology, physiology, systematics and evolution.

Subcategories

Agriculture and Agronomy
Ecology
Genetics and Breeding
Growth and Development
Pathology
Plant Physiology
Systematics and Evolution
Other

ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINES

Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention.

Subcategories

Biomechanics

TRANSLATIONAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

Projects that aim to improve human health and longevity by translating novel discoveries in the biomedical sciences into effective activities and tools for clinical and public health use. Bi-directional in concept, projects can be those developed through basic research moving toward clinical testing (bench-to-bedside) or projects that provide feedback about the applications of new treatments and how they can be improved (beside-to-bench).

Subcategories

Disease Detection and Diagnosis
Disease Prevention
Disease Treatment and Therapies
Drug Identification and Testing
Pre-Clinical Studies
Other

Categories and subcategories are based on the Intel ISEF Categories and Subcategories. For the most current list of categories and subcategories, including a full description of the subcategories, please visit:

https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/categories-and-subcategories/all-categories/

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