Resources/Start A Team
Starting a Team
There are several things you need to consider before starting a team; here are some guidelines to help you get started.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact iGEM Headquarters for more information by emailing us at hq AT igem DOT org. We will be happy to hear from you!
1. Read the Competition Requirements
There are general requirements that you must follow in order to take part in iGEM. There are also specific requirements depending on which track you wish to participate in.
You can read the detailed requirements on our 2018 Competition Hub.
There are five topics covered under competition requirements in detail: Team Requirements, Competition Registration, Rules of Conduct, Competition Deliverables, and Track Selection.
Pay special attention to the competition deliverables. There are eight different items that teams must deliver as part of communicating their work to the judges.
2. Form a Team
To compete in iGEM, you will need to form a team! Here are some of the common questions we get about team composition. You can find more details here.
How many students?
There is no limit on the number of students in an iGEM team. However we recommend creating a team of around 8 -15 people with different backgrounds who can enrich the team.
How many schools?
Two or more schools can get together to form a single team. This allows a team to combine different backgrounds and talents to enrich the overall project.
Age restriction?
There is no age restriction for participating in iGEM. However, be aware of the requirements for the undergraduate, overgraduate, and high school sections.
How many Instructors?
You need at least two instructors to be part of your team, and one of them must be a faculty member. For high school teams, one of your instructors must be a high school teacher.
3. Find a Space
Teams need a space in which to work during the summer. You may want to:
Ask your instructors if they have lab space over the summer.
Your team may want to start setting up dedicated lab space for your team this year and in future years.
See if the department has free lab space.
Make sure that in addition to benches and equipment, you also have a space for meetings, relaxing, eating, sleeping, etc.
Fees to consider
Registration will open at the beginning of February.
There are two main fees to be submitted.
More information can be found on the registration page.
The Team Registration Fee
$4500 USD
In order to participate in iGEM 2018, a general team registration fee must be submitted.
The Jamboree Attendance Fee
$695 USD
This fee is paid by each individual team member who wishes to attend the Giant Jamboree. The whole team is encouraged to come. However, it is not a requirement for the entire team to attend.
Find Inspiration
Be prepared to work hard and have lots of fun! IGEM is not easy but it is worth it!
The best way to see what the next months will have in store for your team is to look at other projects. You can take a look at team wikis from previous years here or you can read the 2015 annual review at this link.
If you wish to submit your advice or other resources that might be helpful for future teams, please send an email to hq AT igem DOT org.