Kianoosh Nawai, an eighth grader at the West Virginia Virtual Academy, will compete next month in Washington, DC in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. The 30 contestants are vying for more than $100,000 in awards — including a $25,000 top prize – but all finalists receive a $500 cash award
In his project, “Low-Cost Compact Bionic Hand for Functional Restoration,” Kianoosh designed and built a 3-D printed prosthetic hand, measuring grip strength and finger flexion to create a low-cost prosthetic for people with limb loss.
Kianoosh placed among the top 10% of 6th-8th grade participants at a Society for Science-affiliated science fair. He was the only West Virginia student chosen from close to 2,000 entrants from across the country.