Rutgers-Central New Jersey Regional Brain Bee

              Saturday, March 14, 2026

OVERVIEW

The Rutgers-Central NJ Regional Brain Bee is part of an annual international competition for High School Students testing their knowledge in the field of Neuroscience, sponsored in part by the Society for Neuroscience based in Washington DC, the largest professional Neuroscience society in the world. 

The winner of our competition will represent the Rutgers-Central NJ chapter at the 2025 US National Brain Bee, which will be held in person here at Rutgers at a date yet to be determined.

The US National Champion will join other winners from around the world to compete in the 2025 International Brain Bee which has been held virtually since 2020.

HISTORY

Our Regional Brain Bee has been held continuously since 2011 (except 2021 and 2022), and is organized annually by Dr. Michael Matise with the administrative support of Joan Mordes and funding by the Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Chaired by Dr. Cheryl Dreyfus. We are proud that our competitors have routinely finished in the top 10 at the US National Brain Bee and count 1 National Champion and a number of top 3 finishers among our alumni.

FORMAT

The Central NJ Brain Bee competition will take place in three rounds:

Round 1: 45-50 question written test for all contestants (before lunch break)

• Everyone will be given the same question
• Question will be projected on the screen
• You will have 30 seconds to answer each question

Round 2:  5 question oral answer test for first-cut finalists (after lunch break)

• Round-robin question-and-answer
• Each contestant will be given a different question to answer orally
• Each contestant will answer 5 different questions during the round
• You will have up to 30 seconds to answer

Round 3: Jeopardy-style oral answer test for second-cut finalists

• Grand finalists will be chosen from the top performers in Rounds 1 and 2
• All contestants will be given the same question and will write their answers on a white board (“jeopardy-style”)
• You will have 1 minute to answer each question
• The round will continue until the top three finishers are determined

Please note that specific aspects of the competition format may vary from the above.

JUDGING and SCORING

Round 1 comprises written answers that will be graded during lunch, while Rounds 2 and 3 will have live judging from a panel of expert professional neuroscientists.  All judging decisions are final.

Due to confidentiality needs, competitors will not have access to their first round scores.

Questions from all three rounds will be based primarily on information contained in the 2018 edition of Brain Facts, a publication of the Society for Neuroscience, which can be downloaded here.

Round 3 questions may also include additional material on CNS anatomy, histology, and clinical neurology from diverse sources, at the discretion of the judges.

Cash prizes will be provided for the top three finishers in the Central NJ Brain Bee.

1. 1st place:  $300
2. 2nd place: $200
3. 3rd place:  $100

In addition, reasonable travel expenses (lodging, food and transportation) will be reimbursed, in accordance with University policy, to the first place winner (competitor + parent/guardian) to attend the National Brain Bee competition.

• All students currently enrolled in a New Jersey public or private high school are eligible to compete.
• Students may compete in only one regional Brain Bee per year.
• Contestants who placed in the top 3 finalists from any prior year are prohibited from competing again.
• Contestants and parents may not use any recording devices or take notes of any kind during the competition.

Participation is free and open to all students who wish to attend. Space is limited so advance registration is required. 

Registration is now OPEN.

Please send the following information via e-mail to Joan Mordes at: mordesja@rwjms.rutgers.edu

We welcome and encourage science teachers to attend the competition with their students. 

If you are planning to attend, please contact Ms. Joan Mordes or competition organizer Michael Matise, PhD. so that we can issue a name tag and make sure to check in with you when you are here!

Additional Information:

• Registered competitors will receive further information by email prior to the competition date (directions, parking instructions, competition day schedule listing enrichment activities).

Special COVID-19 Information:

• This competition will take place in-person in the Main Lecture Hall and Great Hall of the medical school in Piscataway.
• All attendees (contestants and guests) will be required to abide by all University, State or Federal public health guidelines.
• We will update all registered attendees via email during the week prior to the competition to provide up-to-date information on the guidelines and requirements, but at minimum all guests should be prepared to wear a surgical or N-95 facemask while indoors at all times.

• Our competition welcomes families, teachers and friends who accompany the competitors to observe the competition as well as attend lunch.
• Pizza lunch and refreshments will be provided by the Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology
• Our event also includes opportunities to discuss science, academic careers, and other issues with RWJ Neuroscience professors, research professionals, students and postdoctoral fellows.
• Observers may not use any recording devices or take notes of any kind during the competition and may be asked to leave if found to be doing so.