InnovATEBIO webinar: The Protein Engineering Tournament
InnovATEBIO Event
Event Details
Recent
- Fri, Sep 12 2025, 1:00 - 2:00pm EDT
Event Description
The Align Foundation is holding a tournament this year (2025-26) to create an improved PETase. Improved PETases could help address problems in recycling PET plastics.
PETase is an enzyme from that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. PET is often found in pop bottles and packaging. The source of PETase was Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium found near a Japanese recycling site for PET bottles (Wikipedia).
Students, faculty, startups, and scientists are welcome to participate, either as individuals or in teams. Registration is open until October 17th. You can download the flyer for more details.
In the webinar, Dr. Bijoy Desai, a scientist from the Align Foundation, will talk about the tournament and answer questions.
Event Presentation
The Protein Engineering Tournament
The Align Foundation is hosting a tournament to design better versions of PETase, an enzyme that breaks down Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a type of plastic. Bijoy Desai, a program manager from the foundation, talked about the tournament and answered questions.
There are two funding opportunities that might apply to student participation in this tournament.
- Presidential AI Challenge - https://www.ai.gov/initiatives/presidential-challenge - applies to students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise.
- The National Science Foundation has a Dear Colleague letter that can provide supplemental funding for PIs with ATE grants or ExLent grants. ExLENT and ATE Supplement Opportunity “Expanding AI Career and Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities in Support of High School Students”
Info: The Align Foundation