AlgaePrize Finalist Collage

Collage of 2022–2023 AlgaePrize finalist teams

15 teams are advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 20222023 AlgaePrize competition.

Finalist teams were selected based on their 10-page research synopsis which described each team’s research plan for their proposed project within the AlgaePrize’s areas of interest. Each team’s research synopsis:

  • Described how the team’s proposed research compares to and will advance the current state of technology
  • Displayed a sound understanding of algae systems whether in production, downstream processing, or new product or analytical tool development, and the impact of their research
  • Included how diversity, equity, and inclusion will be included and addressed within their proposed effort.

The research summaries were reviewed and scored by a panel of judges and 15 teams in total were selected as finalists.

These finalist teams will receive $5,000 in funding to support their research projects. Over the next few months, teams will conduct their proposed research and will provide research updates at regular intervals, including presenting their research synopsis to AlgaePrize organizers and completing an Introduction to Algae Massive Open Online Course. Teams will then present their projects to a panel of judges during the AlgaePrize Competition Weekend, April 14–16, 2023, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The judges will select five teams as the AlgaePrize winners, and each winning team will receive a $10,000 prize. From those five, one Grand Champion will be selected who will receive an additional $5,000 prize.

Congratulations to the 15 finalist teams advancing in the competition from the following educational institutions:

Team Name Team Institution Institute Locations Zip Codes
Algaeorithm Los Altos High School
The Paideia School
Institute for Systems Biology
Los Altos, CA
Atlanta, GA
Seattle, WA
94022
30307
98109
Advanced Cultivation Monitoring E (A.C.M.E) Arizona State University
New York University
Tempe, AZ
New York City, NY
85281
10012
FitoEnergy Team University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, PR 00931
Keep Calm and Chlamy On University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093
Kelp! I Need Some Algae University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK 99775
PhycoSight Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332
Polyculture Jam Austin Community College
University of Texas at Austin
Del Valle High School
Humboldt State University
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Del Valle, TX
Arcata, CA
78752
78712
79907
95521
Pond Doctors California State University Monterey
California State University San Jose
Cabrillo College
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Seaside, CA
San Jose, CA
Aptos, CA
Moss Landing, CA
93955
95192
95003
95039
PUPR AlgaePrize Team Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico San Juan, PR 00918
Purdue ChemE Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907
The Clean Water Cultivators Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NM 87508
The Cyantific Method Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523
Toxic Ambrosia Salad Santa Fe Community College
Delgado Community College
Santa Fe, NM
New Orleans, LA
87508
70119
UC Davis Giant Kelp Team University of California Davis Davis, CA 95616
Underground Ocean Farmers Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NM 87508

About the AlgaePrize 

The 2022–2023 AlgaePrize, sponsored by BETO and supported by the Algae Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, challenges students to be the next generation of bioeconomy professionals in developing novel solutions supporting gigaton-scale algae commercialization. Products made from algae are a natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, provide nutritious food, and create jobs.

In addition to researching and developing new ideas and technologies within the commercial algae value chain, the AlgaePrize will foster workforce development and training, promote job creation in rural and urban areas, support diversity and inclusion throughout the student and judging teams, and showcase the resource potential of algal biomass in the United States to be capable of producing billions of gallons per year of economical, renewable diesel and jet fuels.

About BETO 

BETO supports research and development to lower the costs of producing algal biofuels—such as sustainable aviation fuels—and bioproducts. BETO is working to build the algae bioeconomy of the future, where fossil fuels could be replaced with an abundant, renewable, and flexible source of energy.