Hertford undergraduate joins Oxford team for world’s largest synthetic biology competition

8 June 2026

We’re delighted to congratulate second-year Biology undergraduate Diogo Figueiredo Trovoada on being selected for this year’s University of Oxford iGEM team.

iGEM is the world’s biggest synthetic biology and bioengineering competition, bringing together over 400 teams from around the world. Each team develops a project that fits into a theme (a Village) including Agriculture, Diagnostics, Biomanufacturing, Therapeutics or Space. The competition culminates in a Grand Jamboree in Paris.

The Oxford team is looking at developing a therapeutic to address a parasite problem in honey bees caused by Varroa mites, which are a major driver of colony collapse. Diogo explains,

‘To do well, you need more than just excellent science. The best teams engage with stakeholders to develop a product that the endpoint users have an actual interest in using. This is a key part of the Human Practices portion of the competition. iGEM aims to encourage future leaders in biotech to be conscientious of the impact of their technologies and to consider how we can design solutions that meet a genuine need.

The 2026 Oxford iGEM team consists of 14 undergraduates (plus our wonderful mentors!), from across a range of years of study and disciplines. Our team includes biologists, biomedics, biochemists, an engineer and a chemist. The entire team is currently raising funds to take part in the competition, having conversations with leading academics in the field, beekeepers and policy makers, and gearing up to get started in the lab.

Our project addresses one of the key drivers of honey bee colony loss: Varroa mites. Bees are key pollinators, responsible for a third of global food production, but around the world bees are under threat from Varroa mites, parasites that feed on the bees and can transmit viruses. The Oxford iGEM team is looking to develop an RNAi treatment to reduce the mite’s reproduction, whilst providing non-toxic, long-term protection.

I applied to be on the team because I want to gain more from my time at Oxford than just a degree. There are so many opportunities at Oxford, but it’s on us to find them and make the most of them once we’ve got them. iGEM is one of the best opportunities I could have gone for, not only to grow as a scientist through experience in the lab, but also to gain a skillset outside of science by taking part in Fundraising and Human Practices. This competition feels like an incredible opportunity for growth and exemplifies one of the reasons I applied to Oxford: by making the most of extra opportunities like this, I get to continue to build skills, develop experience, and create stories and memories to share once I graduate.’

We look forward to hearing more from Diogo and the Oxford team in due course!