1. Judge "Type" Profiles & Typical Organizations

The judging pool is dominated by university faculty and scientists in biology, medicine/health, psychology, engineering/technology, and environmental sciences, with a mix of industry R&D, K–12 teachers, and technical professionals. The judge pool can be categorized into six primary profiles that reflect their professional expertise and where they come from:

• The Academic Scholar (University Faculty)

  • Typical Organizations: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mercy University, University at Buffalo, Binghamton University - SUNY.

  • Profile: The largest segment (156 judges), including Professors, Associate Professors, and Lecturers. They provide the academic foundation for the fair.

• The Emerging Researcher (Graduate & PhD Students)

  • Typical Organizations: University of Connecticut (UConn), University of South Carolina, SUNY Albany, Syracuse University.

  • Profile: 75 doctoral candidates and graduate researchers who bring current laboratory techniques and high technical proficiency to the judging process.

• The Industry & Technical Professional

  • Typical Organizations: IBM, PepsiCo, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, major tech/engineering firms.

  • Profile: Experts like Software Engineers, Data Scientists, and project managers who focus on the practical, scalable, and commercial applications of student projects.

• The Medical & Clinical Specialist

  • Typical Organizations: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, various regional hospital networks.

  • Profile: MDs, Neurologists, and clinicians specialized in human health, medical technology, and patient outcomes.

• The Education & Public Service Leader

  • Typical Organizations: Katonah-Lewisboro School District, Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council, various Boards of Education.

  • Profile: Experienced K-12 educators and public servants focused on environmental advocacy, sustainability, and student mentorship.

• Independent Experts & Other Professionals

  • Typical Organizations: Local businesses (e.g., TJ Maxx, Tony's Greenery), non-profits, and independent consulting firms.

2. Organization Profiles by Project Categories

The organizations that judges represent strongly align with the categories they choose to evaluate:

• Higher Education / Academia: Primarily focused on Biology, Medicine, and Health/Nutrition.

• Healthcare & Medical Research: Almost exclusively sign up for Medicine and Medical Science & Technology.

• Corporate & Private Sector: Highly interested in Biology, but also lead the entries for Math/Computers and Earth/Space.

• K-12 & Public Service: Their primary expertise lies in Environment, Biology, and Psychology.

3. Judge Profiles by Project Categories

Biology

• Primarily PhD‑level biologists, biomedical scientists, and MD/DO clinicians with strong lab or clinical research backgrounds (cancer biology, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, pediatrics, gastroenterology, pharmacology).​

• Roles include professors, research assistant professors, staff and senior staff scientists, graduate students, and postdocs at medical schools and biology departments, plus some clinically active physicians.​

• Typical organizations: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (multiple faculty, staff, and students), University of Arkansas (entomology/ecology), University of Cincinnati (chemical/environmental engineering with bio focus), Duquesne, Drexel, Penn State COM, Auburn, Baylor, Canisius, and other biology/biomed programs.​

Chemistry

• Mostly PhD chemists and chemical engineers with academic or industrial R&D experience in physical, organic, analytical, pharmaceutical, and environmental chemistry.​

• Work titles: professors/lecturers, assistant professors in residence, research scientists, associate directors of tech transfer, and industrial scientists (formulation, materials, chemical products, personal care).​

• Typical organizations: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (biochemistry/chemistry‑trained), Columbia University (physical chemistry researchers), University of Connecticut chemistry faculty and grad students, University of Cincinnati (chemical & environmental engineering), Nitto Denko Avecia, SC Johnson, Edgewell, Shiseido, and other chemical/personal‑care companies.​

Earth/Space

• Judges have graduate training in geology, geophysics, hydrology, atmospheric science, earth and environmental sciences, and astronomy/astrophysics.​

• Roles: geology and geoscience professors, hydrology/environmental science faculty, instructors in earth and environmental systems, plus experienced high‑school earth science teachers and physics/astronomy educators.​

• Typical organizations: Alabama A&M (remote sensing, GIS, environmental sciences), College of Southern Nevada (geology/hydrogeology), Binghamton University (geophysics and earth science educators), Case Western Reserve (earth science/hydrology), Baylor (environmental science), UConn (physical chemistry/planetarium/astrophysics), and K–12 districts with earth/space teachers.​

Engineering/Technology

• Predominantly engineers and applied scientists with degrees in electrical, mechanical, civil, environmental, chemical, computer, and biomedical engineering, as well as applied physics and data/CS.​

• Roles span university engineering faculty, software and systems engineers, R&D engineers, public‑works/civil infrastructure leaders, and technical managers in energy, utilities, and electronics.​

• Typical organizations: IBM, Amazon Web Services, Con Edison, PepsiCo R&D, City of Glen Cove Public Works, Albert Einstein (genomics/epigenomics and CRISPR‑heavy labs), Fairfield and Case Western engineering, UConn mechanical/electrical engineering, plus other tech/engineering departments and companies.

Environment

• ​PhDs and MS degrees in environmental science, hydrology, water resources, sustainability, earth and environmental systems, geology/hydrogeology, environmental engineering.

• Some have engineering degrees with environmental specializations (civil, environmental, mining, hydrology) or environmental chemistry backgrounds.

• University faculty and instructors in environmental science, earth science, and sustainability (Baylor University, Case Western Reserve, Southern Connecticut State, Montclair State, College of Southern Nevada, Assistant Prof Science at CWRU, etc.).

• Public sector and infrastructure professionals (e.g., Director of Public Works, City of Glen Cove, with multiple MS degrees in environmental/hydrologic fields).

• Industry scientists and engineers with environmental focus (e.g., environmental engineering at Consumer Reports, renewable energy finance, environmental chemists, some cosmetics/chemical R&D roles dealing with safety and regulation).

• Baylor University (environmental science), Case Western Reserve (earth science/hydrology), Southern Connecticut State University (environmental/chemistry), Montclair State University (environmental science and management), City of Glen Cove Public Works, College of Southern Nevada (geology/hydrogeology), various earth/space and hydrology-focused programs.

• Environment almost always co‑selected with Earth/Space and/or Engineering/Technology, and sometimes Chemistry or Biology when environmental quality, ecology, or biogeochemistry are relevant.

• These judges tend to emphasize environmental quality (air, water, soil), climate–water interactions, hydrologic modeling, sustainability, and applied environmental problem‑solving.

Engineering/Technology

• Predominantly engineers and applied scientists with degrees in electrical, mechanical, civil, environmental, chemical, computer, and biomedical engineering, as well as applied physics and data/CS.​

• Roles span university engineering faculty, software and systems engineers, R&D engineers, public‑works/civil infrastructure leaders, and technical managers in energy, utilities, and electronics.​

• Typical organizations: IBM, Amazon Web Services, Con Edison, PepsiCo R&D, City of Glen Cove Public Works, Albert Einstein (genomics/epigenomics and CRISPR‑heavy labs), Fairfield and Case Western engineering, UConn mechanical/electrical engineering, plus other tech/engineering departments and companies.​

Health/Nutrition

• Backgrounds include nutrition and food science, nursing, medicine, physical/occupational therapy, kinesiology/exercise science, and public health.​

• Work roles: nutrition faculty, nursing and allied health professors, clinicians (physicians, neurologists), and public‑health/epidemiology researchers.​

• Typical organizations: University of Connecticut Nutritional Sciences, medical schools and public health programs (Mailman‑trained neuroepidemiology, Penn State COM, California University of Science and Medicine), nursing/allied health schools, and some psychology/health‑behavior researchers.​

Math/Computers

• Judges are mainly mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, software engineers, and data/IT professionals, often with graduate degrees in math, CS, electrical/computer engineering, or related fields.​

• Roles: university math/CS faculty and lecturers, research computing staff, software engineers at major tech firms, and lab/physics technicians with strong quantitative skills.​

• Typical organizations: UConn (math, physics lab, CS‑adjacent engineering, industry‑linked physical chemistry), IBM/Kyndryl, Amazon Web Services, Open Hub–style initiatives, applied math/CS departments at regional universities and community colleges.​

Medicine & Medical Science & Technology

• Heavily MD/DO and MD/PhD clinicians plus biomedical researchers; specialties include neurology, pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, pathology, radiology, gastroenterology, oncology, and translational science.​

• Work roles: medical school faculty, attending physicians, research directors, research fellows, PhD students in translational and clinical investigation, and administrators in clinical research infrastructure.​

• Typical organizations: Albert Einstein/Montefiore (multiple labs and clinical departments), Connecticut Children’s, Drexel, Duquesne, California University of Science and Medicine, Penn State COM, NEOMED, various hospitals and health systems.​

Physics

• Judges are physicists and applied physicists with training in physics, astrophysics, physical chemistry, and engineering physics.​

• Roles: physics and astronomy faculty, physical chemists with astrophysics background, physics lab technicians, and applied physicists working in tech/engineering or cosmetic/chemical industries.​

• Typical organizations: UConn (physics lab and physical chemistry), University of Cincinnati (chemical/environmental engineering with physics crossover), Stevens Institute–linked alumni, cosmetics and chemical‑industry scientists, and some engineering departments where physics is central.

​Psychology

Judges who chose any Psychology category (Clinical/Social or Physiological/Experimental) share several features.​

• Training and degrees

  • Mostly PhDs in psychology or closely related fields (behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, counseling, kinesiology with sport psychology, health psychology) plus some MA/MS‑level clinicians and graduate students.

  • Subfields heavily represented: developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, clinical/counseling psychology, behavioral neuroscience, neuropsychology, occupational/health psychology.

• Work roles

  • University faculty (assistant/associate/full professors, lecturers, program directors) in psychology, neuroscience, counseling, or related departments.

  • Graduate students and postdocs in psychology or neuroscience labs (e.g., Princeton, Binghamton, Purdue, Temple, Columbia, Penn State).

  • Clinical and applied practitioners: counselors, mental health clinicians, rehab and occupational therapists with strong behavioral health focus, some neurology/epilepsy clinicians with psychological expertise.

• Typical institutions

  • Adelphi University, LIU Post, Hofstra, Manhattan and Manhattanville universities, Montclair State, King’s College, Providence College, Princeton University, Binghamton University, Nova Southeastern, NEOMED, New York Institute of Technology, Sarah Lawrence, Pace, Mercy (counseling/educational psych), Montana State, Purdue, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and others.

• Primary categories picked

  • Clinical/Social Psychology and Physiological/Experimental Psychology, often combined with Medicine & Medical Science & Technology, Health/Nutrition, Biology, or Neuroscience-related medicine categories.

  • Many also bring experience in statistics, research methods, and program evaluation, well matched to behavioral science projects.