The iGEM High School Competition is an annual, worldwide synthetic biology event aimed at high school students. The iGEM Competition gives students the opportunity to push the boundaries of synthetic biology by tackling everyday issues facing the world. Working under an adult Principal Investigator (PI), teams work together to design, build, test, and measure a system of their own design using interchangeable biological parts and standard molecular biology techniques. Teams create and submit deliverables and a presentation that will be given at the Grand Jamorboree at the end of the competition.
There are three team options at the high school level:
- High School Team: Teams made up of students from one or more high schools, working under a Principal Investigator (PI) who is employed at the host school.
- Community Lab Team: Teams of students who conduct their research at a community-based lab, under the guidance of a PI who serves as the Director of the lab.
- Commercial Team: Teams organized and managed by a registered CTOE, with the PI employed by the CTOE.
Starting in 2025, high school teams must ensure that their projects use only the organisms and components specified in the current iGEM White List. Additionally, all team activities must strictly align with the items included in the White List. High school teams will choose their own Village and will display their projects alongside collegiate teams in the shared Village spaces during the Grand Jamboree, creating collaborative communities between the different competitions and various education levels.
Location(s)
- Remote
- Grand Jamboree: Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France
Schedule
- The competition cycle runs from February to October
- Grand Jamboree is October 28-31, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Early Competition Program Fee: $5,500 USD (paid by February 15)
- Regular Competition Program Fee: $6,000 USD (paid by March 31)
- Late Competition Program Fee: $6,500 USD (paid by May 31)
Eligibility Requirements
- High School teams are comprised of students who are enrolled in a high school and are at least 13 years old by March 31, 2025.
- Principal Investigators (PIs) must be officially employed by the host school, the director of the community lab, or the Commercial Team Organizing Entity (CTOE).
Deadline
- Register by May 31, 2025
Application or Entry Requirements
- The PI must initiate the team application process, which includes submitting general information about the team
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition is a global synthetic biology competition that encourages students to design and build biological systems using genetic engineering. Founded in 2003 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), iGEM has grown into an independent nonprofit organization with participants from high schools, universities, and research institutions worldwide. Teams work on projects that address real-world challenges in areas such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, and bioengineering. The competition culminates in the annual iGEM Grand Jamboree, where teams present their research and compete for awards in categories like innovation, impact, and collaboration.
