2025 HACKATHON REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON FEB. 12 FOR NORD SCHOLAR APPLICANTS AND
FEB. 23 FOR ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS
REMINDER: YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PRE-FORMED TEAM TO REGISTER.
WE WILL FORM TEAMS FOR INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS.
From Saturday, March 1 to Sunday, March 2, 2025, join us for the 2025 Harvard Rare Disease Hackathon, a dynamic weekend where students collaborate to create innovative and data-driven solutions for rare diseases.
Participants will have the opportunity to work in teams to analyze public and patient-sourced genomic and clinical datasets to develop impactful deliverables for partnering patient organizations. Deliverables may include data reports, computational tools, or web or mobile applications that improve the lives of patients or furthers research in the rare disease field. Problem statements will be released on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Each track will select a winning team, which will be awarded a $2,000 cash prize.
Participation is free and open to all undergraduate and graduate students, irrespective of their geographic location, with an @_.edu email address. Participants will tackle track-specific problem statements in teams of 2-4 students. If you have already formed a team, please designate a team leader and decide on a team name. Every member of a team must register separately and fill out the relevant sections in the registration form below. If you want to participate, but have not formed a team, you can register to be matched with other participants by Hackathon organizers.
Participants must attend the hackathon in-person and are responsible for acquiring their own transportation to Harvard’s Science and Engineering Complex (150 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134); students may apply for subsidized transportation through our NORD Scholars Program. All meals will be provided during the event.
Students applying for our National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®) Scholars Program must complete the Hackathon Registration below and additional NORD Scholars Program application by Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Students will be notified if they are selected to be a NORD Scholar by Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
For all other participants, registration closes on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. General registration is a sign-up, not an application process.
NORD SCHOLARS PROGRAM
This year, in collaboration with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®), we are excited to offer a merit and need-based scholarship to to reduce financial barriers for students passionate about rare disease research and solutions. By covering travel and other related costs, the program ensures equitable participation, empowering students from diverse socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds to contribute their skills and ideas.
A dedicated panel from NORD and the Harvard Rare Disease Hackathon organizing team will review scholarship applications. Applications will be judged anonymously, ensuring fairness and impartiality. Scholarship awards will not influence hackathon competition outcomes.
Students applying for our NORD Scholars Program must complete the Hackathon Registration above and additional NORD Scholars Program application by Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST.