Deadline: November 13, 2026
Applications are open for the Wave Winter Research Fellowship 2026-2027. The Wave Winter Research Fellowship (November 15, 2026 – January 15, 2027) is an 8-week scientific research and engineering incubator guided directly by Regeneron ISEF winners and International Olympiad medalists. Unlike paid research programs, participation is completely free ($0 application fee, $0 tuition) and offers both an International Online Pathway (virtual mentorship and live online defense on January 9) and an in-person incubator in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Students build tangible projects and write full research manuscripts across five ISEF-aligned tracks: Computer Science and AI, Mathematics, Engineering and Physics, Biology and Chemistry, and Hardware and Robotics. The Top 10 finalized projects are published in the peer-reviewed Wave Journal, and top-performing participants receive formal Professor Recommendation Letters in time for university and summer lab applications. Solo applicants without a team are also matched with teammates during Week 1.
Program Structure
- Weeks 1–2 · Nov 15–28
- Problem & Plan: Match with your mentor (and optionally pair with an Azerbaijani co-author if applying internationally), define a concrete research question, and submit your 1-page Project Plan by November 28.
- Weeks 3–5 · Nov 29–Dec 19
- Prototype & Mid-Term: Build your initial working code, apparatus, or experimental trial and present a 3-minute progress pitch at the Mid-Term Review.
- Week 6 · Dec 20–26
- Paper Before Break: Finalize empirical results and complete your Final Research Paper (no page limit; submit as comprehensive as needed) right before the Dec 27 – Jan 4 winter break.
- Weeks 7–8 · Jan 5–15
- Exhibition, Oral Defense & Journal: Rehearse pitches on Jan 5–8, defend on Jan 9 (in-person stand in Baku or online oral defense for Pathway 2), and receive Wave Journal Top 10 & recommendation results on Jan 15.
Eligibility
- The fellowship is open to motivated high school students in Azerbaijan (Pathway 1 — In-Person Track) and international students worldwide (Pathway 2 — Online Mentorship & Defense Track) across five core divisions: Mathematics, Computer Science & AI, Engineering & Physics, Natural Sciences (Biology & Chemistry), and Hardware & Robotics. International students may also opt to be matched with a student from Azerbaijan so their joint team can present in person at the Baku Final Exhibition.
- Pathway 2 (International Online) Policy: International teams completing the online exhibition and oral defense do not receive physical competition awards, but after passing the oral defense they are fully eligible for official recommendation letters from university professors and compete directly alongside local teams for the Top 10 publication slots in the Wave Journal. International students who match with an Azerbaijani co-author for in-person defense in Baku are eligible for all competition awards as well.
Application
Participation is 100% free for both Pathway 1 (Azerbaijan In-Person) and Pathway 2 (International Online / AZ-Matched). Submit your application before November 13, 2026.
For more information, visit Wave Winter Research Fellowship.
