Competition/Phase II
Two Phase Projects
On this page you will find: Two Phase Projects, and Two Phase Qualification.
Your project can be divided in 2 phases, and work can be distributed across two years. At the end of each phase, your team attends a Jamboree to present and celebrate your work, compete for medals and prizes, and get critical feedback from an international panel of expert judges. This is the first time a single project has the chance to earn more than one medal!
We introduced the idea of Two-Phase Projects last year because so many 2020 teams did not have access to their campuses and could not get into their labs. We are continuing this option since teams may not know if they can get into their labs again this year. Going forward, we will evaluate the results of this program.
Phase I: Design and Model
Teams spend the first phase focusing on designing and modeling their projects. Some examples of areas to focus on can include:
- Theoretical design of the project
- Experimental design
- Product design and entrepreneurship
- Software development
- Hardware design
- Registry curation
- Human Practices
At the Giant Jamboree, the team presents their work to compete for medals and prizes, and gets critical feedback from an international panel of expert judges to take into Phase II.
2021 teams who wish to start a two-phase project and be a Phase I team this year must declare their intention on their Team Wiki and in their Team Presentation Video. You are not required to continue with Phase II of the project in 2022 should your team wish to explore a different project next year.
Phase II: Build and Test
Teams spend the second phase building and testing their synthetic biology project in the lab. With more time in the lab during Phase II, teams can focus on:
- Measurement
- Statistical analysis of results
- Executing more Design-Build-Test cycles in a year
- Building and characterizing BioBrick contributions
- Proof of concept
- Human Practices
At the Giant Jamboree, the team presents their work to compete for medals and prizes. Teams that opt for Two-Phase projects will benefit from a multi-year discount when registering as a Phase II team. More information about that discount can be found on the Team Registration page.
Phase II Qualification
Teams who considered themselves Phase I teams in 2020 can register as Phase II teams in 2021. Phase II teams must be continuing their Phase I projects as described above. It is expected that a Phase II team (1) would be from the same institution as the 2020 team, and (2) would have the same Primary PI for both years. The team Primary PI must be the team member to apply for the discount and they will be asked to provide evidence that the 2020 project was carried out as a Phase I project.
Examples of evidence may include:
- Discussion of the Phase I and possibly Phase II plans on the 2020 team wiki
- Discussion of the Phase I and possible Phase II plans in the 2020 team presentation video
- Discussion of the Phase I and possible Phase II plans on the 2020 team poster
- Other documentation submitted to iGEM that discussed Phase I and Phase II plans
Phase II Registration
If you plan to do work as a Phase II team this year and wish to take advantage of the registration discount, please email us at hq [AT] igem [DOT] org. The team PI must register the team in the iGEM software and then contact us to answer additional questions to receive approval for the discount code.
Please note: This approval process may take up to 5 business days (Monday-Friday) after we receive the information from your team PI.
iGEM Foundation
The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and competition, and the development of an open community and collaboration. Visit us at igem.org
Contact
hq AT igem DOT org
45 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Due to COVID-19, iGEM staff are working remotely and cannot receive phone calls.
Please contact us by email.
