The International Young Researchers' Conference (IYRC), established in 2017, offers high school students a distinguished stage to present their research. The organization has grown to feature community projects, global health narratives, case study competitions, and student-led initiatives. Known for its stringent selection process and 40-50% acceptance rate, the IYRC upholds high standards of quality. Although based in Japan as an independent public benefit incorporation, the IYRC works with students from more than twenty countries. The conference's success is bolstered by the generous support of university partners, high school leaders, and dedicated reviewers.

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IYRC Winter 2025

December 20, 2025 (In-person Day at Columbia University), and January 24, 2026 (Virtual Day)

SPRING 2025 PROCEEDING BOOK and PRESENTATION VIDEOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

IYRC winter 2025 BEST PRESENTATION award winners

In-person IYRC

​Best Oral Presentation

Efficacy of Tomivosertib (MNK1/2 Inhibitor) in Mitigating RDEB Mouse Pain
Luke Yin¹, G.K. Lank², I. Bai², R.B. Shah², L.J. Yang², J. Raizer², J. Wang², B.A. Molnar², B. Enriquez², R. Rong², Z. Ren², N. Kaplan², A.S. Paller²
¹Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL, USA
²Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

 Machine Learning-based Heat Risk Estimation for Outdoor Sports
Hanna Suzuki
Bedford High School, Bedford, USA

​Best Poster presentation

Fluorescent Indicators to Track Protein Interaction and Maturation for IYRC Conference
Yulia Akbergenova¹, Kristina Ryabovol²
¹Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
²Academy for Science and Design, Nashua, United States

The Effects of Excess Nutrients on Anthozoa: Reducing Coral Bleaching
Sadie Rivers, S. Vassell
Edward R. Murrow HS, New York City, United States

VIRTUAL IYRC

Best Overall Project

Investigating the Potential Carcinogenic Effects of Exposure to Teflon and Ceramic Non-Stick Pans with S. Cerevisiae
Kriston Phan
Paul Duke STEM High School, Norcross, United States

Best STEM Presentation
Biosensing of Dopamine using Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
S. Das¹, A. Mahishi², S. Hrishikesh³, S. Nataraj⁴, R. Prabhu⁵
¹Shambhavi Das, Calcutta International School, Kolkata, India
²Aadya Mahishi, Real Learning Centre, Bengaluru, India 
³Shashank Hrishikesh, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, India
⁴Swetha N, Prayoga Institute of Education Research, Bengaluru, India
⁵Ramya Prabhu, Prayoga Institute of Education Research, Bengaluru, India

STEM Honorable Mention

Computational Analysis of Aptamer-Based Origami Targeting the EpCAM Receptor in Glioma Cells 
Adheesh Chincholi, Gaurav Sharma
Westwood High School, Austin, United States, Eigen Sciences, Apex, USA

Best Social Science and Humanities Presentation

Vietnamese Immigrants’ Japanese Language Acquisition Challenges, Outcomes, and Quality of Life Implications Abstract
Christine Hagerty
Harpeth Hall School, Nashville, USA

Social Science and Humanities Honorable Mention

Federal Reserve Sentiment and Market Prediction: A Comparative Analysis of ARIMAX and LSTM Models Across Equity Indices 
Nattapat Sakdibhornssup
International Community School, Bangkok, Thailand

Best Health Narrative presentation
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Wings of Freedom
Audrey Kim
La Canada High School, La Canada Flintridge, USA

PAST CONFERENCES' AWARD WINNERS

BEST PRESENTATION AWARDS

Best Oral and POSTER Presentation

IYRC SPRING 2025
Best Oral Presentation
YASH, Vid
A Novel Treatment for GBM: Investigating Autophagy-Inducing Substitutes for the BECN1 Gene
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IYRC SPRING 2024
Best Oral Presentation
​WATANABE, Yukitaka
Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Using Handwriting Data: A Quadratic Discriminant Analysis Approach
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IYRC SPRING 2024
Best Poster Presentation
​KIM, Jongwoo
Monobenzone Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma Tumor Cells
IYRC SPRING 2024
​PAREKH, Ananya
What Predicts Individual Variation in Speech Motor Learning?​
 
NAIR, Advaith
Analyzing the Prevalence of Computer-Based Activity in Dementia-Alzheimer's throughout California

DONG, Ashley
Linking Neurodegeneration and the Gut-Brain-Axis: Rutin and Apigenin Attenuate Cytotoxic and Inflammatory Effects of Gut Dysbiosis in Colon Fibroblast Tissue Model

KIM, Chaewon
​Unveiling the Impact of Neuronal Cell Death Debris on Endothelial Cells and the Protective Role of Methylene Blue Using Novel Transwell Models

BHIMIREDDY, Nikhil
Analysis of Western and Mediterranean Diets on Brain Function and Cognition:  A Systematic Review

CHOI, Jennifer
Analyzing the Effect of Aspartame Composites on Viability of Human Brain Cells

KADHAR, Rehaan​
Methodology to Solve Computational Power and Time Constraints - Predicting Hypersonic Performance Efficiency in Scramjet Engine Through the Development of Machine Learning Algorithms and Reduced Order Models Trained Through Comprehensive Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
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​BEST Social Sciences and Humanities PRESENTATION

IYRC SPRING 2025
​WANG, Yuzhe Jalen
Confucian Personality: A Study of Chinese Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Japan

IYRC FALL 2024
KWAK, Joonho
Music Generation and Classification from Chinese Musical Instruments Using Deep Learning

IYRC FALL 2023
PARASNIS, Avaneesh
Correlations Between Eviction Filings, Socioeconomic Factors, and Educational Metrics

IYRC SPRING 2023
PARK, Junseo David
Unraveling the Underlying Factors Contributing To Cancer Incidence: A Comparative Analysis Of Environmental and Behavioral Factors - Focusing on Lung Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and Stomach Cancer

IYRC FALL 2022
TAKAHASHI, Remi
The Role and Significance of Instagram on the Lives of Menstruators
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IYRC FALL 2021
GUYUMDZHYAN, Gregory
The Varying Misconceptions and True Effects of Videogames on Psychological Functioning
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IYRC SPRING 2021
SANDOVAL, Juan
Mitigation Through Pedagogy: Strategies for Effective Climate Change Educational Interventions

IYRC 2019
KUM, Justine
​Social Media and its effects on the Foreign
Language Curriculum

​Social Sciences and Humanities HONORABLE MENTION

IYRC SPRING 2025
​KASAMATSU, Nina
The High Price of Low Pollen: Evaluating the Economic Feasibility of Japan’s Cedar Pollen Reduction Strategy
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IYRC FALL 2024
​TAHARA, Keita 
Systematic Review: Impact of P2P Sharing Economy on Rent and Housing Prices: Airbnb
Keita Tahara, American School in Japan, Tokyo

IYRC FALL 2023
KIM, Jean
Deep Dive Discoveries: Decoding Consumer Preferences, Branding Strategies, and Advertorial Impacts in the Realm of Scuba Diving Apparatus
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IYRC FALL 2022
ZHU, Claire
Barriers and Challenges of Immigrant Women’s Access and Experience of Optimal Maternity Care: A Systemic Review
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IYRC FALL 2021
JUNG, Haebin
How Cram Schools Perpetuate the Cycle of Poverty in South Korea
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IYRC SPRING 2021
ESPINOSA, Ana
Health Inequity in the United States: A Systematic Review of The Limitations of the Latino Community in Accessing Health Services

IYRC 2019
LAM, Winston Jim
​Reduction in air pollution to build a sustainable
global society

STEM HONORABLE MENTION

IYRC SPRING 2025
KRISHNA, Shloka 
​Anti-inflammatory Benefits of Herbal Formulation on Chemotherapy Induced Breast-Cancer Cells


IYRC FALL 2024
JO, Ajin
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in ADHD in Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions
LEE, Jooa
Genetic Insights into Non-Smoking Lung Cancer: Significance of SDHA Copy Number Alterations


​IYRC FALL 2023
RAJKUMAR, Prathika
Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Exoplanets With Kepler​

IYRC SPRING 2023
Lee, Jeesung
Vehicle-Mounted Real-Time Animal Detection System for Preventing Roadkill​
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IYRC FALL 2022
COSKUN, Busra
The Analysis of CD4/CD8 Ratios in High and Low Hierarchy Sows

IYRC FALL 2021
WUN, Jonathan
Perception of sexuality and gender identity in anime: How positive representations could be used to combat LGBTQ+ discrimination

IYRC SPRING 2021
LIANG, Arthur
Development of an Aptamer-Gold Nanoparticle Assay for Field Use in Informing “DIY- HRT”

IYRC 2019
BASS, David
​Comparative Analysis of IMUs and Motion
Detecting Technology for Measuring Patients’
Lumbar and Cervical Spines’ Range of Motion

OTHER CATEGORIES

BEST HEALTH NARRATIVE
IYRC FALL 2023
PRETRUCCELLI, Emma
Life Through the Clouded Lens

IYRC FALL 2022
HASSEN, Sophia
Same Disease, Different Reality

HEALTH NARRATIVE HONORABLE MENTION
IYRC FALL 2023
SHIVASWAMY, Aditya 
A Journey with Cerebral Palsy​

IYRC FALL 2022
STEIN, Tammi
My Personal Journey with OCD

BEST HEALTH NARRATIVE PRESENTATION
IYRC FALL 2024
ATOLAIYE, Esther
Beauty Within the Flaws

IYRC FALL 2023
CHEN, Catherine
Echos of Resilience

BEST SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PAPER
IYRC FALL 2023
LAWRENCE, Sofia
The Relationship Between Media and Hyperactivity/ADHD in Children: A Systematic Review

CASE STUDY COMPETITION WINNERS
IYRC FALL 2021
1st PLACE - TEAM S
The Financial and Psychological Barriers to Senior Care
Shani Getz, Anita Osuri, Reeya Sannake

2nd PLACE - TEAM O
Trying to Lower the Cost of Healthcare: Why are We Getting Nowhere
Xuetao Wu, Kevin Zhang

3rd PLACE
Barriers of Psychiatric Care
Kristen Chun, Saia Kalash, Ella (Tae Eun) Kim

4th PLACE 
The Inequality of Vaccination
Audrey Czarnecki, Tracey Maina, Safia Syed