Design the Future with
Synthetic Biology
Organized by CBS-UNMSM & NEA (Neuronas en Acción). 100% Virtual Bootcamp + Grand In-Person Closing & Final Pitch in Lima, Peru. Join the country's most radical bio-innovation hub.
Teams Qualified for the In-Person Grand Final
These are the 10 delegations that will defend their biocircuit before the in-person jury at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos on Friday, October 30.
The order in which teams are listed does NOT indicate merit or score. The list is organized exclusively by sequential team number (EQ-01 to EQ-28). The final ranking and the winners of the BioDesign 2026 Hackathon will be revealed live on October 30 at the UNMSM auditorium.
- EQ-01Qualified
RecySense-Pb
Team: SynCell
- EQ-05Qualified
simBIOsis
Finalist delegation
- EQ-07Qualified
AVOSYNC
Team: BioLoopers
- EQ-08Qualified
FreshCoat
Team: ShineCoat
- EQ-09Qualified
BioSynTech
Team: BioSINTEC
- EQ-11Qualified
Misión NAH7: Ciencia para un Mar Azul
Team: HELZIES
- EQ-24Qualified
Innova Vita
Finalist delegation
- EQ-25Qualified
PETMHET
Finalist delegation
- EQ-27Qualified
Arsecoli
Finalist delegation
- EQ-28Qualified
GLUCOFLUX
Finalist delegation
Official Portal of the BioDesign Hackathon
Interactive historical archive, deliverables kit, mentoring dynamics, and in silico genetic design standards from the school sprint.
Open Fluorescent Bio-Terminal
Interactive presentation mode with bioluminescent bacterial culture for Kick-off and guided tour.
Designs and builds technological solutions to solve problems in their environment. We democratize synthetic biology in Peruvian secondary education.
Empower high school students from all regions across the country to model safe biocircuits addressing critical challenges in health, water, agriculture, and environment.
During the first hour of Kick-off, each assigned mentor will introduce themselves to their teams in dedicated Zoom breakout rooms.
Teams will contact their tutors via direct messaging. In case of absence or urgent question, request support or ask them to join the Zoom room via #consultas-mentoria on Discord.
Multiple tutors will also be available at flexible hours; remember to always lean on the inquiry channel.
Download Sheet 1 Template (.docx)
Official report template: download it and use it as mandatory guide to structure your team report.
- Delimited local problem and context
- Innocuous biological chassis justification (BSL-1)
- Biological explanation of the genetic circuit
- Clearly labeled SBOL standard circuit diagram
- Standard bioparts table (source repository and code)
- Expected social and community impact
- Bibliographical references in APA format (7th ed.)
Digital construct with annotated bioparts, verified CDS translation assay, and correct labeling (omitting reading frame).
Slide deck (8-10 slides) visually reflecting the technical report + presentation video of maximum 3 minutes.
Official Documents & Templates
5 weighted criteria (100% total) with transparent tiebreaker rules.
View detailed rubric by achievement levelFinalists announcement, in-person attendance guidelines for San Marcos, and recognitions for top bio-projects.
Out of 17 submitted projects, the jury will select the 10 best (announced by Oct 25). Live pitch: 1 representative per team, 4 min + 3 min Q&A; virtual for regional delegations.
Friday October 30 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM). It is mandatory that underage school participants attend accompanied by a teacher tutor or responsible family member.
Official Awards & Recognitions
Hackathon and track excellence winners will receive honorary diplomas, official virtual certificates, commemorative medals, and a special surprise prize revealed at the closing ceremony.
AI is an assistance tool; it does not replace original research. It is mandatory to cite prompts and searches, verify primary sources, and keep authentic writing.
Work systematically in shared team folders, label each biopart accurately, and apply concepts learned in practical workshops.
Teams have full open access to review complete recordings of all 5 Bootcamp sessions and all lecture slides.
Every circuit must assemble the 4 minimum standardized parts and prove functional translation.
Verify in Benchling that the CDS translates the correct primary amino acid sequence (from start codon Met to stop codon).
5'-ATG GCG AGC GAG AAC GTC ATC ACG GAG TAA-3'At high school level, reading frame shift analysis is omitted; priority is functional coding sequence and biological coherence.
Addressed Thematic Tracks
Historical record of the three official hackathon tracks where school teams designed their in silico bio-innovations.
Environmental Impact
Design biological solutions to protect and restore ecosystems.
Public Health & Preventive Diagnostics
Accessible diagnostics for vulnerable communities.
Biomaterials & Biomanufacturing
Produce sustainable materials and high-value compounds with bioengineering.
BioDesign Roadmap
From September 28 to October 30, 2026 — 100% Virtual (Opening & Bootcamp) + Grand In-Person Final in Lima (October 30, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM).
Virtual Bootcamp + Opening
Opening ceremony and intensive training in synthetic biology: DNA, chassis, proteins, biobricks, and in silico tools. Live virtual sessions.
Hackathon Sprint & Grand Final
Official kick-off on October 9, guided sprint on October 10 & 11, scoring of the 17 submitted projects with the Top 10 announced by October 25, and Grand Final on October 30 at UNMSM.
Official Sessions & Roadmap
Immersive training, rapid prototyping sprint, and official evaluation before the expert jury.
Opening Ceremony (100% Virtual)
Official live virtual opening at 5:00 PM prior to Session 1, welcoming all school delegations from Lima and across Peru with institutional apologies.
DNA & the Manual of Life
Central dogma fundamentals: how information flows from DNA to protein and how synthetic biology harnesses it.
Safe Chassis: E. coli & Yeast
Model organisms in synthetic biology: properties, safe handling, and school project applications.
Proteins: Functions, Candidates & Recombinant Production
Protein fundamentals in synthetic biology: molecular functions, candidate selection for genetic circuit design, and key categories in recombinant production.
BioBricks: Genetic Circuit Parts
Standard language of synthetic biology: promoters, reporters, terminators, and molecular assembly.
Benchling Workshop
Hands-on session on the official platform: circuit design, part annotation, and in silico plasmid construction.
Informative Hackathon Kick-off
Informational sprint briefing: teams receive their final challenge prompt and start structuring their in silico solution.
Guided Hackathon (48h Sprint)
48 hours of collaborative teamwork: guided Hackathon, Benchling circuit modeling, mentor office hours, and prototype submission.
Scoring & Top 10 (80%)
The committee of 6 specialist judges scores the 17 submitted projects under the official rubric. Top 10 qualifiers announced by October 25.
Grand Final Pitch, Closing & Awards
Live defense of the 10 qualifiers at UNMSM (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM): 1 representative per team, 4-min pitch + 3-min Q&A (virtual for regional delegations), jury panel (20%), and official awards.
Evaluation Criteria
Your project will be evaluated under 5 official criteria distributed across two stages. Know exactly what the judges will assess.
Total score: 100 points — Stage 1 (80 pts) + Stage 2 (20 pts)
Problem Understanding & Biological Chassis
The problem is poorly defined. The chassis is not justified or unsuitable.
Problem is partially identified. Chassis is justified with basic arguments.
Problem is well-defined with local context. Chassis is suitable and justified with evidence.
Problem contextualized with local data. Chassis is ideal, safe, and backed by scientific literature.
Coherence & Sustainability of the Solution
The solution lacks coherence with the problem or is unsustainable.
Solution is partially coherent. Sustainability is mentioned but undeveloped.
Solution addresses the problem and considers environmental and social impact.
Solution is innovative, deeply coherent, and outlines a long-term sustainable impact model.
Genetic Circuit Design in Benchling
Circuit is incomplete or Benchling is not used properly.
Circuit has basic components but contains errors or lacks logical connections.
Genetic circuit is well-designed in Benchling with correctly annotated parts.
Circuit is complete, optimized, uses standard BioBricks, and shows deep genetic logic.
Biosafety & Social Benefit
Biosafety and social impact are not addressed.
Biosafety is superficially mentioned. Social benefit is generic.
Biosafety risks identified with mitigation strategies. Social benefit is clear.
Rigorous biosafety analysis (BSL, containment). Social benefit quantified and integrated.
Final Pitch & Oral Defense
Presentation is confusing. Design decisions are not defended.
Presentation has basic structure. Answers to the jury are partial.
Clear and structured presentation. Team defends design choices with confidence.
Exceptional pitch: compelling narrative, total technical mastery, and outstanding Q&A defense.
Organizing Committee
The scientific institutions leading and making the BioDesign 2026 initiative possible, bridging academia, research, and biotechnological outreach.
CBS-UNMSM
Synthetic Biology Community — UNMSM. Non-profit academic community promoting training and outreach in synthetic biology with a scientific and humanistic approach.
NEA — Neuronas en Acción
Neuronas En Acción (NEA). A youth organization focused on science outreach, engineering, biology, and medicine. We promote and create opportunities, as well as educational content for the next generation of scientists, fostering knowledge for all.
Institutional Endorsements
Academic and institutional entities from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos formally endorsing the competition.
IEEE UNMSM
IEEE Student Branch at UNMSM, driving technological innovation, bioengineering, and cutting-edge education.
FCM UNMSM
Faculty of Mathematical Sciences at UNMSM, strengthening bioinformatics modeling, scientific computing, and analytical rigor.
Allied Organizations
Scientific communities and student chapters driving synthetic biology across Latin America and supporting this initiative.
Synbio LATAM
Latin American synthetic biology network connecting researchers and students across the region.
ASM UTEC
Student chapter of the American Society for Microbiology at UTEC (University of Engineering and Technology).
BIOMIM
Multidisciplinary student research community focused on molecular biotechnology, microbiology, and bioprospecting, fostering scientific training and bio-inspired solutions.
BIÓMICAS
Multidisciplinary biotechnology outreach and research initiative promoting the development of omics sciences and modern biology.
Clubes de Ciencia Peru
Non-profit association expanding access to cutting-edge STEM education, connecting aspiring Peruvian talent with researchers from world-renowned scientific institutions.
Want to Drive Bio-Innovation in Peru?
Join BioDesign 2026 as a sponsor or strategic partner. Connect your organization directly with the country's most visionary youth talent in biotechnology and biological computation.