Leadership
problems.
Prairie iGEM is the University of Manitoba's interdisciplinary student team building research-driven biotech for Manitoba and beyond.
Scroll
Active members
Alumni & past members
Years competing
How Prairie iGEM works
Discover. Design. Deliver.
Every season, the team runs a full project cycle. From identifying a real-world challenge to presenting research on the international iGEM stage.
Discover
Find a problem worth solving in Manitoba and beyond.
- Scout real challenges in ecology, health, agriculture, and sustainability
- Talk to stakeholders, review the science, and define the question carefully
Design
Engineer a synthetic biology system that can actually work.
- Design DNA, proteins, and biological circuits with modern computational tools
- Test, iterate, and refine in the lab — with modeling informing every round
Deliver
Share the work with the world. Wiki, video, poster, Jamboree.
- Translate technical work into stories communities and judges can follow
- Compete at the iGEM Grand Jamboree and bring results back to Manitoba
Current project
2025 seasonWomen's HealthLive Therapeutics
H.A.L.T - UTI (LacThera)
An engineered live therapeutic using Lactobacillus strains designed to restore balance to the vaginal microbiome. By blocking the tools pathogens use to cause infection, the project offers a proactive, microbiome-friendly alternative to the cycle of repetitive antibiotic use.
UTIs disproportionately affect women and rank among the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics.
Most recent highlight
Gold Medal2024
RePLAse — Biological PLA Plastic Degradation
Engineering a compost-native bacterial chassis to break down PLA bioplastic where it actually ends up.
View iGEM wiki ↗Get involved
Two ways to be part of Prairie iGEM.
Students
Join Prairie iGEM.
Students from Science, Arts, Agriculture, Engineering, and beyond shape every project. You don't need prior synbio experience — you just need curiosity and the willingness to work with a team.
- Wet-lab, modeling, human practices, outreach, design, or operations roles
- Hands-on experience with real synthetic biology projects
- Build communication, research, and leadership skills that last
Supporters
Support the team.
Prairie iGEM runs on project funding, travel support to the Paris Jamboree, and in-kind partnerships. Every donation helps Manitoba students compete and contribute on the international synthetic biology stage.
- Fund travel and participation in the iGEM Grand Jamboree
- Partner on projects — mentorship, lab access, community work
- Sponsor the team and support the next generation of Manitoba scientists
Impact and milestones
Six years, four medals, one ambitious team.
- 2019
Team formation begins
Faculty-backed preparations start within the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Science synthetic biology ecosystem.
- 2020
Wet-lab work launches
Prairie iGEM moves from planning into active experimental research.
- 2022Silver Medal
First Paris Jamboree
Prairie iGEM's first major international showing at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris.
- 2023Silver Medal
Zebra mussel project
A synthetic biology strategy for detecting and managing invasive zebra mussels in prairie waters. Recognized with awards and nominations.
- 2024Gold Medal
PLAnet Zero earns gold
The team wins a gold medal at the Paris Jamboree for work on biological PLA plastic degradation.
- 2025
Infection treatment via protein design
Prairie iGEM shifts toward infection treatment, computational protein design, and community-focused science.
Our team
Interdisciplinary by design.
Meet a few of the students and mentors behind Prairie iGEM — one spotlight from each subteam.
Mentors
Oliver Peters
Wet Lab
Maria Celeste Ortega Montenegro
Human Practices
Kikiola Ojuko
Industry
Sahana Kandeepan
Prairie-rooted.
Globally connected.
Whether you are a curious student, a researcher, a donor, or a community partner, there is a place for you at Prairie iGEM.
Prairie iGEM, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Science, BioExM.