Hackathon Description
The PCA SynBio Hackathon is a time-bound competitive event in which participants will work to design synthetic genetic circuits to program plants with new functions.
The Hackathon will commence with 90 minutes of training to equip participants with the latest synthetic biology knowledge and skills. Training will include genetic circuit design, how to design plasmids for synthesis, and methods of validating circuit function in planta. Following the initial training, participants will form teams that select a problem in plant biology (or in a team member’s research) to address with synthetic biology. Teams will design circuits and develop a pitch deck that explains the selected problem and solution. Organizers will be on hand to answer technical questions.
Teams will have ~20 hours to develop their pitch and construct designs. At the conclusion of the Day 2, all teams will make a 10-minute pitch about their design and its potential impact to a panel of mentors and judges, who will provide feedback and encouragement.
The best pitches will win free plasmid synthesis kindly provided by our sponsors at Twist Bioscience. Winning design(s) will be subject to final checks before commercial DNA synthesis. Plasmids will then be delivered directly to participants, and the participant will be responsible for plant transformation.
NOTE: Participants will be required to formally agree to receive and analyze any constructs that they should be awarded, including taking responsibility for import/export documentation (and costs) if applicable. They must also agree to write a report for the PCA on the outcomes of their experiments with these constructs within 12 months of receiving DNA. Finally, they must agree to acknowledge the support and assistance of the PCA in any resulting publications.
SynBio Hackathon Organizers
The Hackathon will commence with 90 minutes of training to equip participants with the latest synthetic biology knowledge and skills. Training will include genetic circuit design, how to design plasmids for synthesis, and methods of validating circuit function in planta. Following the initial training, participants will form teams that select a problem in plant biology (or in a team member’s research) to address with synthetic biology. Teams will design circuits and develop a pitch deck that explains the selected problem and solution. Organizers will be on hand to answer technical questions.
Teams will have ~20 hours to develop their pitch and construct designs. At the conclusion of the Day 2, all teams will make a 10-minute pitch about their design and its potential impact to a panel of mentors and judges, who will provide feedback and encouragement.
The best pitches will win free plasmid synthesis kindly provided by our sponsors at Twist Bioscience. Winning design(s) will be subject to final checks before commercial DNA synthesis. Plasmids will then be delivered directly to participants, and the participant will be responsible for plant transformation.
NOTE: Participants will be required to formally agree to receive and analyze any constructs that they should be awarded, including taking responsibility for import/export documentation (and costs) if applicable. They must also agree to write a report for the PCA on the outcomes of their experiments with these constructs within 12 months of receiving DNA. Finally, they must agree to acknowledge the support and assistance of the PCA in any resulting publications.
SynBio Hackathon Organizers
- Nicola Patron, University of Cambridge
- Jenn Brophy, Stanford University
- Alex Borowsky, Stanford University
Event Details
Date: July 12-13, 2026
Time (EDT):
Start: TBD
End: TBD
Location:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
PCA Code of Conduct
Time (EDT):
Start: TBD
End: TBD
Location:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
PCA Code of Conduct
Eligibility
The hackathon is open to all non-faculty researchers (postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, technicians) based at academic, government, or non-profit organizations.
Hackathon Application
Hackathon Application Deadline: June 1, 2026
There is no fee to apply to the Hackathon.
Places at the Plant SynBio hackathon will be limited to 24 researchers. To register your interest in participating, please use the button above to submit a paragraph of no more than 250 words, briefly describing your current work and how participation in the Hackathon will benefit your research and career goals. You must also include a sentence confirming that you have discussed attendance with your supervisor, and that they agree to support the analysis of any engineered plants that result from the hackathon.
Application statements should be no longer than 250 words submitted as a PDF or Word document. Please include:
Successful applicants will be notified by email.
There is no fee to apply to the Hackathon.
Places at the Plant SynBio hackathon will be limited to 24 researchers. To register your interest in participating, please use the button above to submit a paragraph of no more than 250 words, briefly describing your current work and how participation in the Hackathon will benefit your research and career goals. You must also include a sentence confirming that you have discussed attendance with your supervisor, and that they agree to support the analysis of any engineered plants that result from the hackathon.
Application statements should be no longer than 250 words submitted as a PDF or Word document. Please include:
- Name
- Affiliation
- Statement on how participating in the Hackathon will benefit your research and career goals (250 word max).
- Includes a sentence confirming that you have discussed attendance with your supervisor, and that they agree to support the analysis of any engineered plants that result from the hackathon.
Successful applicants will be notified by email.
