Biomeccano Protein Design Competition 2026
The Centre for Programmable Biological Matter is proud to be hosting the first ever Biomeccano Protein Design Competition this summer.
Aimed at PhD students studying in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University with an interest in biochemistry and computational design, the competition provides a unique learning opportunity.
The Biomeccano Protein Design Competition will run for 16 weeks throughout Summer 2026, giving every student involved access to exclusive training and workshops. The aim of the competition is to help PhD students to develop their independent problem-solving skills and foster collaboration across the department.
Students will work as part of a team to learn how to design and produce an artificial protein binderusing cutting-edge AI tools.
The competition also involves unique opportunities to be mentored by leaders in the field, to learn new skills and novel techniques, to develop science communication skills for different audiences, and to pitch scientific ideas to potential funders.
After learning how to use tools like BindCraft and ProteinMPNN, teams will submit their designs by pitching their idea to our panel of judges.
The top two teams will have their artificial binders taken into production in the lab and tested against the pre-selected target, to see which design works best.
The winning team will receive one-year paid memberships to the Royal Society of Biology and 3D prints of their winning design.
Entry to the competition is open until 1st May 2026. Eligible PhD students can apply as individuals or teams here: Biomeccano 2026 – registration of interest
