Hosted by DNAForge

AI × Biology Hackathon

One focused day for biology students, early-career scientists, and technical builders to turn consequential biological problems into working prototypes.

Start an application

Specimen index

Three domains where biological judgment and technical execution must meet.

Choose a problem worth a day of concentrated work.

TRACK 01

Therapeutics

Build tools that help researchers design, evaluate, or deliver new treatments.

TRACK 02

Biosecurity

Build practical defenses for biological risks, laboratory safety, and preparedness.

TRACK 03

Agricultural resilience

Build for healthier crops, stronger food systems, and biological climate adaptation.

Who belongs in the room

Biological fluency is a building skill.

  • Early-career scientists
  • Wet-lab researchers
  • Computational biologists
  • Clinicians
  • Agricultural scientists
  • ML researchers
  • Software engineers
  • Designers

Application principles

  • Applications are individual. Apply yourself even if you already have teammates.
  • Teams can form before or during the event. We will help admitted participants find complementary collaborators.
  • Applying does not guarantee admission. DNAForge reviews each application for this limited-capacity event.
  • The event is in person. Every applicant must confirm they can attend in Berkeley for the full participant program.

Admissions timeline

Apply early. Every applicant gets a clear status.

  1. 01

    October 25th

    Priority deadline

    Applications received by this date receive first consideration.

  2. 02

    October 28th

    First decisions

    The first admission decisions are planned for this date.

  3. 03

    November 6th

    Final cutoff

    Last day to submit an individual application.

  4. 04

    November 7th

    Final waitlist decisions

    Remaining applicants receive their planned final status.

Host and event support

Built with the teams advancing scientific computation.

Modal logoMTC Berkeley logoMTC BerkeleyBoltz logoTamarind Bio logoGXL logo

Application / 2026

Eight questions, plus your name and email. Most applicants can finish in under five minutes.

Individual application

Apply to the hackathon

Apply individually, including if you already have teammates. Each prospective participant must submit their own application.

1. Which best describes your current role?
2. What expertise would you bring to a team?
3. Which track interests you most?
4. Tell us about one relevant project, research experience, course, or skill. What did you do?
5. Are you applying with a team?
6. If applying with a team, list your teammates’ names. Each person must apply separately.
7. What is your LinkedIn profile URL?
8. Share any other links that would help us understand your background.

For example, GitHub, a résumé/CV, portfolio, company, publications, or past projects. One link per line. This field is optional.

Applicant data: DNAForge and event sponsors can view your name, email address, application answers, LinkedIn profile, any other links you provide, and application status. Sponsors may contact applicants, including those not admitted, for recruiting and marketing.

Applying does not guarantee admission. Priority applications are reviewed first.

DNAForge AI x Bio Hackathon at UC Berkeley