Wave Winter Research Fellowship 2026–2027: Free 8-Week Research Incubator with ISEF-Winner Mentors (Online for International Students, Apply by 13 November)

Deadline alert: Applications close on 13 November 2026, so apply quickly.

The Wave Winter Research Fellowship 2026–2027 is a free, 8-week science and engineering research incubator based in Baku, Azerbaijan, with an online track for international students worldwide. Participants are mentored by winners and alumni of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and international science olympiads. They turn a research idea into a working result, such as a proof, software, a prototype or experimental data, and then defend it before a jury.

African students can join through the International Online pathway. The best projects are published in the Wave Journal, and students who pass the oral defence can earn recommendation letters from university professors.

At a Glance

Research Tracks

• Mathematics: proofs, algorithms, number theory or mathematical modelling
• Computer Science and AI: working software and machine-learning models tested on real data
• Engineering and Physics: physical prototypes and experiments
• Natural Sciences: biology and chemistry experiments with controls and data analysis
• Hardware and Robotics: circuits, embedded systems and robots

The Two Pathways

• Pathway 1, in person (Baku): for students based in Azerbaijan, who present at a live exhibition stand in Baku. This pathway can win competition awards.
• Pathway 2, international online: for students anywhere in the world, who get the full 8-week mentorship and present at an online exhibition and oral defence. This pathway doesn’t win physical competition prizes, but it competes for the same Wave Journal places and recommendation letters.
• Joint option: international students can ask to be paired with a student in Azerbaijan, whose teammate presents in Baku. That makes the whole team eligible for competition awards.

Benefits

• Free weekly mentorship from ISEF winners and olympiad medallists
• A finished research paper and a tested prototype, codebase or proof
• A chance at one of the Top 10 places in the Wave Journal
• Recommendation letters from university professors for strong participants who pass the oral defence
• Experience presenting and defending research before a scientific jury

Eligibility

• Open to motivated high school students in Azerbaijan (Pathway 1) and international students worldwide (Pathway 2).
• You must be able to commit to 8 weeks of research, from 15 November 2026 to 15 January 2027.
• You’ll need to meet the milestones: a 1-page project plan by 28 November, a mid-term review by 19 December, a final paper by 26 December and the defence on 9 January.
• The programme is in English for international students. Azerbaijani-language registration is also available.

Timeline

How to Apply

1. Choose a research track and think of a real problem you’d like to solve.
2. Open the official Wave Research website and click Student Registration (EN / International).
3. Fill in the form, and say whether you’d like to be paired with a student in Azerbaijan.
4. Submit by 13 November 2026.

Official Wave Winter Research Fellowship website

Tips

• Pick a small, testable question. The organisers say they want honest scientific method, not revolutionary discoveries.
• Plan for the holidays. The final paper is due before the 27 December – 4 January break.
• Check your internet connection for the online defence on 9 January.

Related Opportunities

• A&A Excursion to CERN 2027: Funded Trip for Students Worldwide
• ETH Zurich Student Summer Research Fellowship 2027
• CaCTüS Internship 2027 at Max Planck Institutes in Germany
• MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027