Registration Overview

NEIRSEF registration is completed through the Science Education Foundation of Indiana (SEFI) registration system.

Teachers must register first and then create student accounts for the students whose school is advancing to the Regional Fair.

Only register students who will be advancing to NEIRSEF.

2026-2027 Registration Timeline

See Schedules for the complete fair timeline and important dates.

Step 1: Teacher Registration

All teachers who will register students for NEIRSEF must have a teacher account through SEFI.

Returning Teachers

If you registered students for NEIRSEF previously, log in using your existing account. Use the password recovery option if needed.

New Teachers

Create a new teacher account through SEFI and select Northeastern as your Regional Fair.

Your account must be approved before you can register students.

SEFI Registration: Register or access your teacher account

Step 2: Register Students

After your teacher account is active, create student accounts for the students your school is advancing to NEIRSEF.

Students may compete individually or as a team of up to three students.

Student registration must include:

• Student name
• Grade
• Date of birth
• Personal email address
• Address
• Phone number
• Project title
• Project category
• Whether the display requires electricity

Gender and ethnicity are optional.

Personal Email Address

Students should provide a personal email address rather than a school email address whenever possible. This email is used for communication about NEIRSEF and, for students who advance, the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair (HSEF).

A parent or caregiver's email address may be used when appropriate.

Step 3: Complete Project Information

Additional requirements depend on the student's division.

Grades 4–5

Complete the information required for Junior Division registration. See For Students (Grades 4–5) and Forms for project requirements.

Grades 6–8

Students must complete:

• Research Plan
• Abstract

See For Students (Grades 6–8) and Forms for requirements and guidance.

Grades 9–12

Students must complete:

• Research Plan
• Abstract
• Required ISEF forms

Additional forms and SRC/IRB pre-experimentation review may be required depending on the project.

See For Students (Grades 9–12) and Forms for complete requirements.

Pre-Experimentation Review

Certain Senior Division projects must receive SRC/IRB approval before experimentation begins.

This includes projects involving:

• Human participants
• Vertebrate animals
• Potentially hazardous biological agents
• Potentially hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices

Students and teachers should determine whether pre-experimentation review is required before research begins.

A school may establish its own Institutional Review Board (IRB). NEIRSEF can provide review when a school does not have an appropriate IRB.

See the Forms page for detailed review requirements.

Registration Fees

The NEIRSEF registration fee is $10 per project, not per student.

Payment deadline: January 22, 2027 

Payment options include:

• Online via credit card
• Invoice
• Check

project registration Payment

Media & Consent Forms

Important: Please make sure you complete the Media & Consent Forms form per student online via Qualtrics or bring it with you to the Fair.

 Media & Consent Forms

Need Help?

For questions about registration, project advancement, or required paperwork, contact the NEIRSEF Fair Director.

For questions about a specific research project or whether pre-experimentation review is required, consult the Forms and For Students pages before beginning research.