About us
What is iDEC?
The International Directed Evolution Competition (iDEC) is an international scientific competition and community dedicated to advancing education, knowledge sharing and academic exchange in directed evolution.
Directed evolution uses iterative cycles of biological variation and selection to explore solutions that may be difficult to identify through rational design alone. Rather than replacing rational approaches, it provides a complementary strategy for engineering biological systems and expanding the possibilities of biological design.
Through its annual competition and wider scientific community, iDEC encourages students and early-career researchers to apply evolutionary approaches creatively to real-world challenges, exchange ideas across disciplines and institutions, and develop the skills needed to pursue innovative research.
Our ethos is Innovation, Diversity, Equality, Co-construction & Co-operation.
Where do we come from?
iDEC was founded in Edinburgh and held its first competition in 2021. Since then, it has developed into an annual international competition and scientific community, with its in-person activities now based in Cambridge.
The origins of iDEC were inspired in part by the scientific journey of Charles Darwin, who studied at the University of Edinburgh before continuing his education at Christ’s College, Cambridge. In 1831, he embarked on the voyage of HMS Beagle, a journey that would profoundly influence the development of evolutionary thought. Nearly two centuries later, that spirit of exploration continues to resonate with iDEC: using evolution not only as something to understand, but also as a tool for exploring new possibilities in biological research and engineering.
iDEC in Numbers
Who are we?
iDEC is supported by an international community of scientists, researchers, professionals and volunteers working across competition management, infrastructure, events, outreach, creative work, and responsible research.
Executive Committee
Responsible for the strategic direction, competition management, and day-to-day operation of iDEC.
Zhongyi (Zachary) Liang
Chair of the Executive Committee
Dr Yang Liu
Executive Committee Member
Dr Nadanai Laohakunakorn
Treasurer
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees provides governance, oversight and strategic guidance to iDEC in support of its charitable objectives.
iDEC is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered in Scotland with charity number SC050826. Further information is available on the Scottish Charity Register.
Prof Tom Ellis
Shan Jiang
Prof Chang Liu
Dr Ella Watkins-Dulaney
Dr Joanna Sadler
Prof Chris French
Dr Zakir Tnimov
Dr Nadanai Laohakunakorn
Our Team
Digital Infrastructure
Dr Trevor Y. H. Ho
Chong Teng
Yinan Ren
Katherine Martin
Events
Yuancheng Ding
Swaranjeet Singh
Outreach & Partnerships
Nan Wang
Wei Miao
Fankang Meng
Jiayi Zeng
Stefan Bassler
Art & Creative
Yvonne Yan
Kening Chen
Tong Lyu
Ethics, Biosafety, and Biosecurity
Dr Svenja Vinke
Gokul Bhaskaran
Alumni
Former Trustees
Prof Jamie Davies
Former Trustee
Prof Ye Chen
Former Trustee
Alumni & Former Contributors
Dr Felipe A. Millacura
Web team leader & engineer
Ruonan Tian
Web engineer
Samuel Shum
Web engineer
Lucy Song
Web engineer
Mingzhe Chen
Sponsorship assistant
Dr Isaac Larkin
Sponsorship planner
Junhao Lu
Sponsorship assistant & Event designer
Alex Perkins
Event designer
Huandi Xu
Promotion team leader
Dr Shiyuan Li
Promotion assistant
Heyuan Ni
Promotion assistant
Dr Yeqing Zong
Promotion assistant
Dr Josh Atkinson
DE community designer
Dr Diego Pesce
DE community designer
Levin Joe Klages
Ethics, Biosafety, and Biosecurity commissioner
Irina Rais
Ethics, Biosafety, and Biosecurity commissioner
Cauã Westmann
DE community designer
Get involved with iDEC
Join our international community and contribute to the development of directed evolution through competition, mentorship, collaboration and support.
Compete · Mentor · Collaborate · Support
For general enquiries, contact support@idechq.org.
Equality and Diversity Policy
Our Goal
The iDEC HQ is committed to creating an equal, cooperative environment so that all members can enjoy a safe and warm atmosphere. We oppose discrimination of any kind and no discriminatory behavior will be tolerated by the iDEC HQ.
Code of Practice
- We will have systems in place to ensure that every member of iDEC HQ enjoys the same rights to express opinions publicly.
- The iDEC HQ will ensure that the HQ members have the right to participate in the work meeting of any group and consult on the relevant content of the meeting.
- We plan to arrange training to help new members understand the underlying causes of discrimination and to advocate measures that prevent discrimination.
- We promise to consider the needs of different individuals based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation in our work and will arrange flexible work requirements according to those needs.
- We do not tolerate harassment and discrimination of any kind. We will set up a grievance-handling channel and ensure that inappropriate behavior will be penalized.
- Members who, under unfortunate circumstances, experience harassment or discrimination in the competition are encouraged to file a complaint to their supervisors. If the issue cannot be resolved, the iDEC Executive Committee will step in and make a final decision.
- The equality and diversity policy will be explained to every HQ member.
Code of Conduct
- All HQ members, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, should not be subjected to derogatory, mocking, or offensive jokes in communication.
- At the iDEC HQ, no one should use age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation as reasons to make negative comments, harassment, or other unfavorable behavior against one another.
Handling Complaints
- The iDEC Executive Committee is responsible for responding and handling all complaints. The Executive Committee shall assign a supervisor to be responsible for handling complaints.
- The communication process between the complainant and the supervisor will be carried out under safe and confidential conditions.
- Access to complaint content and records is limited to the Executive Committee members that exclude all relevant parties and other stakeholders.
- The committee shall decide on the measures to be taken based on the principle of safeguarding the safety and sustainable development of the victims.
- Persons who have a conflict of interest with the complaint shall not intervene in the complaint case handling process.
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed every year.