MIT’s How to Biomanufacture (Almost) Anything 2026 — BioClub Tokyo Node

What is BioClub Tokyo?

BioClub Tokyo is a community biology lab and bio hackerspace that brings together artists, scientists, makers, and biology enthusiasts for hands-on projects spanning bioart, biodesign, DIY bio, open science hardware, and citizen science. All experience levels welcome.

Every Tuesday, 7–9PM: Weekly talks, study groups, workshops, and open lab time.

About this course:

Over the term, students explore the frontiers of biomanufacturing: microbial, mammalian, and cell-free systems, and the automation that runs them, from microfluidics to desktop liquid handling robots to cloud labs. Weekly lectures and recitations are led by faculty and by guest lecturers who are pioneers in their fields. For the first time this year, HTBAA students have access to the new MIT Cloud Lab for Learning, which means you can design an experiment in Tokyo and have it run on instruments you never have to touch.

Classes are delivered in English and run on US Eastern time, so most sessions land overnight in Japan. Every lecture and recitation is available on demand, and BioClub Tokyo’s teaching assistants provide support in Japanese throughout the term. You do not need to be awake at 3:30am to take this course.

There are two ways to take part:

Global Listener — join the Zoom lectures and recitations live, or watch the recordings whenever it suits you. No coursework.

Committed Listener — complete the weekly homework, labs, and a final project alongside the registered MIT students, through one of HTGAA’s nodes worldwide. Taking this route with the BioClub Tokyo node gives you a local cohort to work with and access to the lab at FabCafe MTRL.

How to apply

Applications to join HTBAA 2026 with the BioClub Tokyo node are through this form.

Application deadline: September 11, 2026, 11:59pm PT (September 12, 15:59 JST)

Questions about taking the course through the Tokyo node can go to BioClub Tokyo please visit here.

• Anyone curious about how biology is actually manufactured at scale, with no prior lab experience required
• Designers, artists, and makers who want to work with living systems and lab automation as a material
• Students and researchers who want hands-on experience with cloud labs and liquid handling robots
• People who have followed HTGAA or synthetic biology from a distance and want a structured way in
• Anyone who would rather study alongside a local cohort in Tokyo than take an online course alone