Who is the audience?
The Young Scientist is a peer-reviewed journal focused on communicating scientific work performed by high school students. The Abstract and Introduction (which includes Background and Significance) will be written for a more general audience such that anyone with or without a science background can understand the purpose and overall goal of the work subsequently described. These sections will be followed by more technical Methods, Results, and Discussion sections which should be readable to a person familiar with scientific research (but not necessarily in the field of expertise).
Submission Overview
Submissions for Volume 17 open in November 1st, 2026, and the deadline is December 9, 2026. Young Scientist publishes original research that high school students have conducted in research laboratories. Every manuscript is reviewed by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, so authors gain real experience with scientific peer review.
The guided links below above walk you through each part of the process. Begin with Step 1 – Eligibility & Motivation, then work through the steps in order. Be sure to carefully read through each step. Once your manuscript is ready, submit it through our online submission form.
- Step 1 – Eligibility and Motivation
- Step 2 – Prepare Text
- Step 3 – Figures and Tables
- Step 4 – Finalize Your Submission!
Questions?
If the guide doesn’t answer your question about submission or the deadline, email us at young.scientist@vanderbilt.edu.