At BioBuilder, back to school season means “back to our regularly scheduled programming!”
Check out the BioBuilder programs that are getting underway for the 2025-2026 academic year – along with some exciting changes that will make this an extra-special year for BioBuilder students!
BioBuilderClub
Registration for the 2025-2026 BioBuilderClub is open – and it’s filling up quickly!
BioBuilderClub is the popular after-school program that runs from October through March. Within biodesign teams, budding student scientists develop biotech projects of their own choosing that address real-world challenges.
Both students and their teachers are supported throughout the program to help make the experience a successful and rewarding experience.
The basic flow of the BioBuilderClub program is:
- Learn about synthetic biology and identify a topic area you want to address, such as agriculture, medicine, sustainability, etc.
- Once teams select a topic, they are matched with a mentor who has a relevant background and can advise them on their project and experimental design. Teams develop and refine their biodesign and may or may not conduct wet lab experiments.
- Teams prepare short talks and poster presentations for the March 2026 Final Assembly which can be attended in-person or online. It’s a chance for them to celebrate, share ideas, and connect with students from across the country and the world.
Every team is matched with a professional scientist who mentors them through the research and design process. Students not only build lab and teamwork skills, they also gain confidence and discover the opportunity for a meaningful career in biotechnology.
Many teams go on to publish their projects in BioTreks, the only peer-reviewed journal for high school synthetic biologists—a major achievement that helps them stand out for college and the workplace.
“All you need is a good idea and we’ll teach you the engineering to bring it to life.”
Regional Hubs
This year, BioBuilder is helping develop regional hubs for BioBuilderClub teams. For example, regional hubs are in process across Eastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts, as well as in the East Tennessee/North Georgia region. By developing regional hubs, BioBuilder can connect multiple schools within each region to shared resources like mentors, lab spaces, and training opportunities. This approach expands access for students while reducing costs and logistical barriers for individual schools.
Instead of students having to “find” opportunity, we’re bringing opportunity to them!
Registration
This year’s BioBuilderClub is filling fast, but there are still openings available for teams in the Massachusetts regional hubs, especially Central and Western Massachusetts.
Have other questions about the program? Visit the BioBuilderClub webpage, check out this info packet, or contact Chloe Franklin via email.
Register your team today and get started on your biotechnology adventure!
Become a Mentor!
Does mentoring the next generation of bioengineers sound exciting? Then join us in this rewarding adventure!
We’re looking for scientists who are excited to support high school students exploring synthetic biology through team-based research projects. The time commitment is only 10 hours from mid-November through March. You will work with one student team via Zoom to answer their questions and help them with their research projects.
Learn more about this wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in young students’ lives.
Have questions? Reach out to Chloe Franklin, National Program Coordinator at BioBuilder, to find answers and get started.
We can’t wait to work with you!
High School Apprenticeship Challenge
BioBuilder’s High School Apprenticeship Challenge (HSAC) is getting ready to kick off for the Fall 2025 season, and there are some exciting changes in the program this year. Read on for more about HSAC and these positive changes.
HSAC Basics
The HSAC is a pre-professional training opportunity for high school seniors that helps prepare them for microcredential testing, internship placements, academic pursuits, and careers. Using the BioTechBuilder curriculum, students build technical knowledge, lab skills, research-based thinking, and professional skills to prepare them for post-secondary academic pursuits and careers in life science companies.
The program runs for eight weeks from October 18 through December 13, 2025. The classes meet online on Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm, and in person on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm.
This fall, the Saturday in-person lab sessions will be held at BioBuilder’s new Learning Lab @Allston Labworks (250 Western Avenue, Boston).
The class schedule and more information can be viewed here.
Students who complete the program will earn a $500 stipend and will be evaluated at no cost for lab skills microcredentials.
Registration is closing soon, so apply here by September 30, 2025!
Expanding Capacity in Boston
BioBuilder is thrilled to announce that HSAC is being supported this year by a grant from the City of Boston. BioBuilder applied for the City’s “Transforming the Workforce for the 21st Century: The Life Sciences Workforce Development Initiative – Job and Work- Based Learning Placement Grant.” The application was aimed at the following:
The BioBuilder Educational Foundation and Kelly Science & Clinical are excited to partner to address Boston’s demand for skilled talent in the life sciences industry. This proposal requests a Category 2 grant to support work that bridges the gap between life science education and the workforce by supporting Boston’s young adults with training, credentialling, job search assistance, career development opportunities, and placements. City of Boston funding from March 17th, 2025, through March 13th, 2026, would enable as many as 48 Boston high school students to pursue and secure fulfilling further training and careers in life sciences, leveraging BioBuilder’s programs and state-of-the-art Learning Labs in the Seaport at Ginkgo Bioworks and at Allston Labworks on Western Ave.
The HSAC training program, with its opportunities for students to learn industry-aligned lab skills, earn microcredentials, and develop professional skills, is just what the City wants to help develop for Boston students and businesses. We are honored to be part of that mission!
New Microcredentials
In addition to microcredentials testing for specific lab skills through the Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI), HSAC now includes the opportunity for students to complete the Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE). The BACE credential “demonstrates that a candidate has the foundational knowledge, technical skills, and professional practices necessary to succeed in laboratory and production environments. It helps distinguish candidates in a competitive job market and supports advancement in roles requiring precision, safety, and regulatory awareness.”
This combination of BCSI skills microcredentials and the BACE foundational knowledge and practices credential offers HSAC students a powerful opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and know-how to potential colleges and employers.
Professionals from USA Scientific will also be at one of the HSAC lab sessions to run a micropipetting workshop that will help students build their pipetting skills – a must for life science lab work.
Preparing for the Professional World
This year, Kelly Science and Clinical is partnering with BioBuilder to help students prepare to enter the professional world.
Kelly will attend several of the online class sessions and speak with students about biotechnology jobs and important career building skills such as:
- Effective cover letters
- Resume writing
- Networking
- Interview preparation
- Salary negotiation
Kelly will also attend the final in-person class to hold mock interview sessions with students. (Is anyone else feeling nervous just thinking about networking and interviewing?)
With all of these incredible supporters, this fall’s HSAC program is set to be a fantastic experience for students looking to be part of the biotechnology revolution!
If you want to join this exciting program, be sure to apply by September 30 using this link: HSAC Application
BioBuilder Student Ambassador Program
The BioBuilder Student Ambassador Program is open for new Ambassadors!
This empowering program helps current and former BioBuilder students develop essential leadership, communication, networking, and collaboration skills while advancing synthetic biology and biotechnology education. BioBuilder supports Student Ambassadors by helping them expand their network and participate in events that help grow the bioeconomy, paving the way for new educational opportunities and career pathways as the field of synthetic biology expands.
Ambassadors serve as peer mentors, science communicators, and program advocates, creating meaningful connections within the BioBuilder community and beyond. They also participate in the science community through speaking engagements, attending and tabling events, visiting classrooms, and presenting at online webinars. Who wouldn’t want to master these skills?
Ambassador Qualifications
To qualify for the Student Ambassador Program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled in high school or a recent high school graduate
- Previous participation in at least one BioBuilder student program (BioBuilderClub, High School Apprenticeship Challenge, or Summer Research Program)
- Demonstrated passion for BioBuilder’s educational mission
Application Process
Are you a BioBuilder student, alum, or know someone who might be interested in becoming a Student Ambassador? Contact Chloe Franklin, our National Program Coordinator, to learn more and get started with the application process.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Welcome, Evon Thompson!
BioBuilder is thrilled to welcome Mr. Evon Thompson to the team!
Evon is taking up the reins as the Boston Program and Outreach Manager for BioBuilder, so he’ll be busy. 😊
Evon studied Neuroscience and Global Health & Health Policy at Harvard, where he researched the effects of early-life stress on neurodevelopment. During his college career, he served as a teaching assistant for several science courses and worked with local communities to develop health policy recommendations for North Carolina’s Medicaid program. He earned his MPhil degree in Population Health Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Evon is dedicated to making science education accessible to youth from all backgrounds and is eager to empower students and educators through his work at BioBuilder.
Welcome, Evon! We are so happy you are here!