Start Your iGEM Adventure Here

Apply to become part of the Aalto‑Helsinki iGEM 2026 team! Since 2014, Aalto‑Helsinki has been representing the capital region of Finland in the world’s largest synthetic biology competition: iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine). iGEM brings together interdisciplinary student teams from all over the globe to design and build innovative projects with real‑world impact. For more information about iGEM, you can visit the official website: igem.org

What happens in a nutshell? When a new Aalto-Helsinki iGEM team is formed, its members work together to identify a real-world problem and to design a synthetic biology solution for it. Then, they get in the lab to try to bring their idea to life! But it’s not just about lab work; it’s about combining science, engineering, business, social sciences, philosophy, arts, and outreach to tackle global challenges. It’s also about working together across disciplines and learning to think critically about the societal and ethical dimensions of innovation.

Each team engages in a wide range of activities that extend into business, design, communication, ethics, and community engagement. A core value of iGEM is developing responsible projects. The kind of projects that demonstrate both technical excellence and consider real-world impact. That means carefully defining the problem, understanding who it affects, and ensuring that proposed solutions are innovative, but also feasible, beneficial, and sensitive to potential unintended consequences in a complex world. Each iGEM team operates within several interconnected communities: the local community in Helsinki and Finland, the global iGEM network, our alumni and long-term sponsors, the relevant industry relating to their project, and the people they aim to help. Building and maintaining these relationships is an essential part of the experience. It calls for initiative in finding new collaborators and sponsors, openness in communication, and genuine engagement with diverse people and organisations.

Who are we looking for?

iGEM projects are rooted in science, yes, but they go far beyond the lab. Thus, MSc and BSc students from all kinds of backgrounds are welcome to join the next iGEM team! Whether you study biology, engineering, design, business, social sciences, or something entirely different, there’s a place for you. We're looking first and foremost for the right mindset: curiosity, willingness to learn, teamwork, proactiveness, and ambition, rather than specific technical skills, although those are very important too.

Here are some skills an iGEM team needs:

• Wet lab techniques (e.g. PCR, cloning, SDS-PAGE, Transformation, Spectrophotometer)
• Characterization and Analysis Methods (e.g. Microscopy, Spectroscopy, Chromatographic methods, Mechanical tests)
• Social science work (qualitative research, philosophical thinking, critical engagement with research design and results)
• Programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Design, develop, and maintain web applications)
• Computational modeling (e.g. CAD tools)
• Graphic design and media creation (e.g. animation, video editing, etc)
• Public speaking and presentation
• Writing (e.g., grant proposals, outreach materials, Wiki page)
• Project management
• Entrepreneurship (sponsorship deals, grant proposals, upkeep relationships with sponsors)
• Event planning
• Association management (treasurer)

And here are some backgrounds and areas of interest that we would be interested in:

Arts

Graphic design / Video-making and editing / Illustration

Biosciences

Molecular biosciences / (Bio)chemistry / Microbiology / Biotechnology / (Bio)medicine

Business

Marketing / Fundraising / Advertisement / Product development / Innovation / Startups

Computational Methods

Bioinformatics / Information technology / Computer Science / Web-design / Statistics

Social Sciences & Humanities

Political science / Sociology / Global Sustainability / Education studies / Communication / Economics / Philosophy / Anthropology

Engineering

Chemical Engineering / Bioproducts Engineering / Bioprocess Engineering / Biomedical Engineering / Biomaterials/Materials Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Environmental Engineering / Mechanical Engineering

Natural Sciences

Chemistry / Environmental Sciences / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology

Don’t see your field on the list? That’s okay, great talent doesn’t always fit into boxes. Apply anyway!

Why join the ride?

Take initiative and shape your own project. Be part of a student-driven team where you decide what problem to solve and how to tackle it.

Build a research project from scratch. Go from idea to design, experiments, and a real-world prototype.

Learn by doing. Design your workflow, manage your own tasks, and experience what it’s like to run a multidisciplinary research project.

Earn study credits. You can gain around 10–15 ECTS for your contribution.

Collaborate across disciplines. Work with 10–15 students from fields such as biology, engineering, design, business, and social sciences.

Gain hands-on experience in:

• Project planning and coordination
• Design and product development
• Laboratory experiment design and practical lab work
• Modelling and data analysis
• Quantitative and qualitative research
• Documentation and scientific writing
• Outreach and education
• Fundraising and stakeholder engagement
• Presentations and science communication

Explore the incredible potential of iGEM by browsing past team projects below, and keep up with Aalto-Helsinki iGEM on social media for more inspiration.

If you’re passionate about innovation, learning, and creating real change… don’t wait, apply today!

Applications are now open and the deadline for submitting your application is December 7th, 2025. The form closes at 23:59. We recommend taking 2–3 days to fill the application form, for better reflection on your answers and avoiding feeling overwhelmed :)

Application form: HERE

For any questions, you can contact us via:

Email – team@aaltohelsinki.com

Instagram – @aaltohelsinki_igem

LinkedIn – Aalto-Helsinki iGEM

We wish the best of luck to all applicants!

Best regards,

Team Aalto-Helsinki 2025

Our iGEM Story: What, Why, and Wow!

In 2025, our team laid the groundwork for AbsorBuddy, a next-generation oral vitamin B12+IF supplement designed for people with B12 malabsorption. IF, or intrinsic factor, is one key protein responsible for enabling B12 absorption in the body. And in our project, we engineered and compared IF variants from five different species to identify the most effective and least immunogenic candidates for humans. By combining wet lab experiments, computational modelling, and stakeholder engagement, we wanted to create a solution that addresses both the scientific challenges and the societal needs associated with B12 deficiency and malabsorption.

Check out our wiki here: 2025.igem.wiki/aalto-helsinki/

Our project earned us a Gold Medal, the Best Measurement and Best Sustainable Development Impact Awards, and a nomination for Best Therapeutics Project at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris. This was a rewarding conclusion to a year of hard work, learning, and collaboration!

Here is our team

VERONIKA KOUKHARENKO

Team Co-lead
MA Environmental Change
and Global Sustainability
University of Helsinki

MIKAEL KALLINEN

Team Co-lead
MSc Biotechnology
Aalto University

OSKARI NIEMI

Team Co-lead
BSc Bioinformationtechnology
Aalto University

ELIAS LANKINEN

Team Member
MSc Data Science
University of Helsinki

LI TIAN

Team Member
MSc Theoretical and Computational methods
University of Helsinki

DEBORAH NKANSAH

Team Member
MSc Pharmaceutical Research
University of Helsinki

KARYA IPEK KÖRÜKCÜ

Team Member
MSc Bioproduts Engineering
Aalto University

POLINA GAVRILYUK

Team Member
BSc Molecular Biosciences
University of Helsinki

JASMIN HALTILAHTI

Team Member
MSc Genetics and Molecular Genomics
University of Helsinki

SAADIA CHOWDHURY

Team Member
MSc Pharmaceutical Research
University of Helsinki

CAO GONG

Team Member
MSc Pharmaceutical Research
University of Helsinki

JULIA SEVÓN

Team Member
MSc Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
University of Helsinki

WENJUN HUANG

Team Member
MSc Pharmaceutical Research
University of Helsinki

About iGEM

International Genetically Engineered Machine, iGEM, is an international synthetic biology competition originating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA. The iGEM competition challenges students to design and implement a project within a short time frame (around 10 months) using innovation, design, experimental work and modelling applications. The broader purpose of our project is to promote and increase the understanding of synthetic biology in Finland and around the world. Synthetic biology is a field of science and technology that combines biology with engineering principles. The basic principle is to design new genes, genetic devices, metabolic routes and entire organisms to create novel products and production pathways. Standardization is also a key component of this process, which is why one goal of the iGEM competition is to maintain the "BioBrick part registry" - a library of standardized genetic parts. Synthetic biology has the potential to provide valuable solutions to many of today's problems. However, media and the general public still often see genetically modified organisms rather as a threat than an opportunity. We work responsibly and take safety and ethics carefully into account in our project design and laboratory work. We conduct research that is safe for us and the environment.