Harnessing the Power of Community for a Stronger Biotech Future
An ECI Conference Series
April 26 – 30, 2026
Puerto Rico
About This Conference
Natural systems are remarkably complex, yet they offer unparalleled precision and control, which engineers are increasingly harnessing to drive innovation across fields including medicine, manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence are now enabling us to tackle long-standing challenges in engineering microbial communities, developing health interventions, and designing novel data storage systems. At the same time, we are witnessing exciting progress in translating these innovations from the lab to real-world applications. New frontiers are opening up across the kingdoms of life: from using microbes in mining, agriculture, food production, and waste upcycling, to engineering a wide range of eukaryotic and human cell types, including immune cells, for therapeutic purposes. Chemical and biological engineers are at the forefront of these transformative advances.
The Biochemical and Molecular Engineering Conference Series brings together leading researchers from engineering and the natural sciences to share cutting-edge developments, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and explore new strategies to amplify biotechnology’s impact on society. Now in its 24th edition, this storied conference traces its roots back to the early days of recombinant DNA technology. This year, we are thrilled to host the conference in Puerto Rico, a vibrant hub for biotechnology and biopharma. Our goal is to strengthen existing connections, offer opportunities to expand our global network, and inspire the next generation of innovators.
We warmly invite you to join us for a week of dynamic scientific exchange, networking, and community building. Please help us spread the word, especially to early-career researchers, so we can continue the tradition of cultivating a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking community of biochemical and molecular engineers.
Conference Chairs
Mark Blenner, University of Delaware, USA
Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Northwestern University, USA
Amanda Lewis, Moderna, USA
Abstract Information
Venue Information
General Information about ECI
Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.
The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.
All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.
Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.