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Achivements

UGM Wins Overall Champion at the 2025 National ONMIPA Competition Faculty of Biology Contributes to UGM’s Historic Achievement

Achivements Monday, 24 November 2025

Universitas Gadjah Mada proudly secured the title of Overall Champion at the 2025 National Mathematics and Natural Sciences Olympiad (ONMIPA) held from 16–20 November 2025 at Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD), Bandung. This year’s competition brought together 251 students from 96 universities across Indonesia who had previously qualified through regional selection.

This achievement marks a historic moment for UGM, breaking the long-standing streak as runner up and reaffirming its position as a leading institution in science and mathematics education.

Among the outstanding accomplishments, the Faculty of Biology made a significant contribution through the success of Tsaqifa Zuhayra Emery Bagus, who earned a Bronze Medal in the national-level Biology category.

In total, UGM’s Biology team achieved: 1 Gold Medal; 1 Silver Medal and 2 Bronze Medals These results reflect the academic excellence, dedication, and hard work of UGM students and mentors, as well as the university’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in science.

The Faculty of Biology UGM extends its congratulations to all participating students and supervisors and expresses its gratitude to the entire academic community for their continuous support. May this achievement inspire further innovation and outstanding contributions to scientific advancement in Indonesia.

Profile of International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) UGM 2025 Team: Winners ofthe International Synthetic Biology Competition in Paris, France

AchivementsNews Release Friday, 7 November 2025

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) UGM 2025Team represents Universitas Gadjah Mada in the annual international synthetic biologycompetition held in Paris, France. The UGM iGEM Team was first established in 2021 and hascontinued to grow ever since. In 2025, the team is were supported by Anandita Amalia (Biology),Salma Rohmaniah (Biology), Erwinda Dwi Chofifah (Biology), Tsaqifa Zuhayra Emery Bagus(Biology), Nauval Rajwaa Raysendria (Biology), Geraldine Yara Amritarashmi (Biology), TanRendy (Biology), Shainna Nur Sharfina (Biology), and Pamastadewi Pryankha Hijrianto(Biology) in collaboration with 11 other people from faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy,Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, and Faculty of Agriculture.


Despite their impressive gold medal win at the iGEM Grand Jamboree 2025, the team’s journeyhas been long and full of milestones since 2024. That year, the UGM iGEM Team participated inthe Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology Competition (BIOS) 2024, organized by synbio.id.They entered two sub-teams — Team Phytovac and Team Gamanthrax — both of whichachieved remarkable success. Team Phytovac won Best Presentation, Best Website, and theGrand Prize Winner, while Team Gamanthrax earned the Best Poster award. Both teams proudlybrought home gold medals, reflecting their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance.

Not stopping at the national level, the UGM iGEM Team also competed in the Global OpenGenetic Engineering Competition (GOGEC) 2025, an international synthetic biologycompetition. At GOGEC, the team won several distinctions, including Runner-Up for BestWritten Communication and Best Project Value, and took home the title of Best ComputationalProject.

Their molecular farming research to produce a Dengue vaccine was thoroughly documented andtransformed into a science dissemination video, earning the team a digital learning contentdevelopment grant in 2025. The proposed video, titled “Tobacco, the Heritage of theArchipelago: From Cultural Rituals to Dengue Vaccine Innovation”, was led by apt. SetyowatiTriastuti Utami, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

With all the achievements they’ve accomplished, the UGM iGEM 2025 Team stands as a symbolof passion and creativity in advancing synthetic biology. The team hopes that their innovationscan be applied widely and inclusively across Indonesia, creating a meaningful impact andcontributing to the advancement of science and prosperity of Indonesia.

UGM Double Degree Doctoral Student from Faculty of Biology Wins Poster Prize at the 77th Annual Conference of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) 2025

AchivementsNews Release Friday, 26 September 2025

Yogyakarta/Jena – September 2025

Tiara Putri, a double-degree doctoral student from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the University of Greifswald, Germany, has been awarded one of the Poster Prizes at the 77th Annual Conference of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, DGHM), held this year in Jena, Germany.


The DGHM conference is one of the most renowned microbiology meetings in Europe, attracting hundreds of researchers and clinicians working in the fields of infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology. Winning this prize underscores the high quality of UGM’s international research collaborations and the contributions of its students to global scientific advancement.

Out of 188 poster presenters from various countries, including Germany, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Algeria, only five participants were selected for the award — with Tiara being among this distinguished group of winners.

The awarded poster, titled “Impact of pneumolysin, hydrogen peroxide, and Streptococcus pneumoniae strains on blood–CSF barrier integrity in a human choroid plexus co-culture model,” presents novel insights into the mechanisms by which Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major human pathogen, compromises the integrity of the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier. The study contributes to a better understanding of bacterial meningitis pathogenesis, with potential implications for future therapeutic strategies.

“This recognition is not only a personal honor but also a reflection of the strong academic collaboration between UGM and the University of Greifswald,” Tiara said.

Tiara also shared that the conference was especially meaningful for her because the organizers provided a free childcare facility throughout the three-day conference. Children of participants were cared for by a professional Tagesmutter (childminder), allowing parents to attend the scientific sessions with peace of mind. “I truly appreciated this family-friendly facility that understands the needs of researchers who are also parents. It was very helpful for me, especially since I live in Germany alone with my children and could not leave them at home,” she added.

This achievement shows how strong academic support, combined with a family-friendly conference environment, can truly help researchers (especially those who are also parents of young children) to thrive and gain recognition internationally.

Fast-Track Master’s Student of Biology UGM Wins Favorite Poster Award at Indonesia Research and Innovation Fair (IRIFair) 2025

Achivements Friday, 12 September 2025

Indonesia Research and Innovation Fair (IRIFair) 2025 is a scientific competition for undergraduate and master’s students showcasing their thesis research. This event represents the commitment of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to discover young research talents from higher education. The fair aims to improve both the quality and quantity of Indonesia’s research and innovation talents through scouting missions and comprehensive, sustainable, and innovative mentoring programs. This year, IRIFair 2025 was held on September 9–10 at the Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology, coinciding with its 40th Dies Natalis celebration.

In this prestigious event, Tiara Putria Judith, a Fast-Track Master’s student at the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (class of 2024/2025), won the Favorite Poster Award in the Research Poster Competition (RPC). She also received a research grant to further develop her undergraduate thesis entitled “Genetic Variation and Phylogenetic Relationships of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) Based on the Chloroplast rbcL Gene”.

Tiara’s poster effectively optimized visual communication by combining impactful graphics with concise text, enabling her to present research findings clearly and attractively. Beyond serving as a medium of scientific communication, the poster also sparked engaging discussions with audiences, offering new insights into the advantages of DNA barcoding for overcoming the limitations of conventional identification methods in potential parental candidates for sugarcane hybridization in Indonesia.

This achievement underscores Tiara’s active role as a UGM Biology student in advancing innovations in life sciences and technology to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture. Her success is expected to become an early milestone for more innovative and impactful research explorations in the future.

Lecturer of Faculty of Biology, UGM, wins Indonesia Toray Science Foundation (ITSF) Research Grant 2025

AchivementsNews Release Thursday, 30 January 2025

Jakarta, January 30, 2025 – Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., a researcher and lecturer from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has successfully secured a research grant from the Indonesia Toray Science Foundation (ITSF) under the Science and Technology Research Grant (STRG) category for 2025. This grant is awarded in recognition of his innovative research proposal focusing on yeast biotechnology development for sustainable lipid-based energy production from Rhodotorula glutinis.
Ganies is one of the 18 national recipients of the STRG-ITSF grant in 2025 with his research titled “Yeast Bioengineering for Sustainable Lipid-Based Energy Production from Rhodotorula glutinis“. This research aims to optimize the utilization of microorganisms for bioenergy production as an alternative renewable energy source. Through genetic engineering approaches, this project is expected to provide innovative solutions in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and support the transition towards a sustainable green economy.

 

This grant is part of ITSF’s commitment to supporting scientific and technological advancements in Indonesia, which has been ongoing for 31 years since its establishment by Toray Industries, Inc., Japan. “I feel deeply honored and grateful to receive this research grant. The support from ITSF will greatly aid the development of my research, particularly in promoting the utilization of microorganisms as a more environmentally friendly renewable energy source,” said Ganies Riza Aristya.
The 31st ITSF awards ceremony was held at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta, on January 30, 2025. The event was attended by prominent figures, including ITSF Chairman Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko, Toray Industries, Inc. Chairman Akihiro Nikkaku, as well as representatives from the Indonesian government and leading academics.

 

This achievement further strengthens the role of UGM’s Faculty of Biology in driving research-based innovation to address global challenges, particularly in the fields of renewable energy and industrial biotechnology. The research contributes directly to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, by developing more sustainable and environmentally friendly bioenergy;
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through biotechnological approaches for efficient utilization of biological resources;
  • SDG 13: Climate Action, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.
This success further reinforces UGM’s Faculty of Biology’s position in promoting research-based innovation that not only has scientific impact but also offers real-world solutions to global challenges related to energy and the environment.

UGM Biology Students Win Silver Medal at International Competition with Red Bean-Based Food Innovation

Achivements Monday, 13 January 2025

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A team of students from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), comprising Muhammad Faris Khiar Calosa and Ridho Nur Alam, successfully secured a silver medal at the International Youth Summit 2024. The prestigious international essay competition took place on November 9-10, 2024, at Universiti Putera Malaysia, Malaysia, where hundreds of participants from various countries showcased their innovations across multiple categories.


The UGM Biology team competed in the Food category, presenting Boba Bean: An Innovative Instant Red Bean Beverage for Anemia Prevention Among Adolescents. This innovative idea captivated the international panel of judges through its creative approach, combining a science-based nutritional solution with current food trends popular among adolescents.
Through meticulous preparation and interdisciplinary collaboration with team members from the Faculties of Cultural Sciences, Engineering, and Pharmacy, the UGM team stood out among competitors, earning this prestigious recognition.

The Boba Bean offers an instant red bean-based beverage rich in plant-based iron and designed to appeal to younger generations who enjoy trendy beverages. By utilizing natural ingredients such as red beans, tapioca flour, and coconut sugar, this product provides a practical solution for increasing daily iron intake and preventing anemia, particularly among adolescent girls who face a high prevalence of this condition. Beyond its nutritional benefits, Boba Bean also excels in flavor and texture, aligning with the preferences of today’s youth.

This achievement highlights not only the research quality of UGM Biology students but also the ability of Indonesia’s younger generation to contribute meaningful solutions to global challenges through relevant and impactful innovations. Specifically, this project supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by offering a nutritious food alternative to prevent anemia, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

[Writer: Ridho Nur Alam]

Biology Students Win First Place in UGM Cendekia Days Essay Competition with Innovation on Sustainable Electric Nanogenerator

AchivementsStudent Activities Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Kotimah, an undergraduate student from the 2022 cohort of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), secured a remarkable achievement by winning first place in the Essay Competition held during Cendekia Days 2024, organized by UGM’s Cendekia Teknika. Khotimah collaborated with Rahayu Murti Ayuningtyas from the 2022 cohort of the Faculty of Engineering in the ”Biochem” team.


The Cendekia Days Essay Competition is an annual event aiming to promote critical thinking and innovation among students. The 2024 competition carried the theme: “Digital Native, Green Activists: Synergy for a Better Planet.” Participants could choose from sub-themes including energy and the environment, food security, technology and digitalization, creative industries, education, and sustainable development. The event seeks to broaden students’ knowledge in science and technology, foster innovative attitudes, and cultivate their roles as agents of change in advancing green technology for a sustainable future.

The competition, including registration and essay submission, took place from September 21 to October 12, 2024. The finalists were announced on October 26, 2024, with the top eight teams advancing to the final presentation stage on November 10, 2024, followed by the awarding ceremony on November 16, 2024. Among 152 submissions, Team Biochem achieved the highest score during the initial essay evaluation. Team Biochem successfully maintained its leading position and was ultimately awarded First Place.

The Biochem team’s essay focused on the energy and environment sub-theme, presenting their innovative concept of a Sustainable Electric Nanogenerator (SENG). SENG is a groundbreaking green energy solution designed to convert wasted mechanical energy into electricity. The innovation addresses critical environmental challenges, particularly those arising from the hydrodesulfurization process in petroleum refining, which poses significant risks of releasing hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into ecosystems. These substances are associated with severe health risks, including cancer, immune system damage, and miscarriages.

The SENG innovation is polymer-based and sulfur-rich, offering three key advantages: economic feasibility, sustainability, and environmentally friendly performance. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential for transformative contributions in renewable energy technologies, aligning with global efforts to address pressing environmental issues.

Author: Kotimah

Biology Student Win Second Place in Biology Scientific Writing Competition with Innovation on Polyethylene Biodegradation Using Bacterial Enzymes

AchivementsStudent Activities Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Yogyakarta – Kotimah, an undergraduate student from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has once again achieved a remarkable achievement by securing Second Place in the Biology Scientific Writing Competition. The event was themed “Enhancing the Role of Students in Building a Golden Indonesia 2045 through the Synergy of Culture, Innovative Education, and Ethics to Shape a Quality and Integrity-Driven Young Generation.” with sub-themes that aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


The competition, including registration and essay submission, took place from August 12 to September 25, 2024. The finalists were announced on October 10, 2024, with the top 3 essays advancing to the final presentation stage and awards ceremony on October 17, 2024, at Universitas Siliwangi in Tasikmalaya.

Kotimah’s essays address the global issue of plastic waste, particularly non-biodegradable polyethylene, which constitutes 35% of annual plastic production. With approximately half of all plastic products being single-use items, polyethylene waste contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Its natural decomposition can take over 500 years, during which microplastics form, disrupting ecosystems and accumulating in organisms. Current disposal methods, such as incineration and chemical degradation, often release toxic substances and require costly catalysts, further complicating the issue.

To tackle this challenge, Kotimah developed a novel approach utilizing lipase enzymes from microorganisms to biodegrade polyethylene. These lipase enzymes, sourced from the anaerobic bacterium Pelosinus fermentans, demonstrated the capability to initiate polyethylene biodegradation.

This environmentally friendly solution presents numerous benefits, such as the ability to be mass-produced using renewable resources while remaining non-toxic, effective, and sustainable. By utilizing biological methods, Kotimah’s innovation provides a viable alternative for addressing the environmental challenges posed by plastic waste.

Author: Kotimah

UGM Biology Master’s Students Win Silver Medal at Kaohsiung Invention and Design Expo (KIDE) 2024

Achivements Thursday, 12 December 2024

The Kaohsiung International Invention and Design Expo (KIDE) 2024 serves as a prestigious platform for researchers to present and compete their innovations at the international level. Organized by the World Invention Intellectual Property Association (WIIPA) and the Taiwan Invention Products Promotion Association (TIPPA), KIDE 2024 took place from December 5-7, 2024, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The competition featured 447 innovations from participants representing 31 countries.


The principle “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” aptly describes the success achieved by two UGM Biology Master’s students, Syefrina Rosyada and Yessy Ratna Siwie, along with their interdisciplinary teammates Alan Mulana K. (Faculty of Engineering) and Sunardi (Faculty of Agriculture). Their collaboration resulted in a silver medal at KIDE 2024 for their groundbreaking innovation, the SEATTER (Seawater Converter).

The SEATTER project was inspired by the clean water crisis faced by residents of Jerowaru District in East Lombok Regency. The area experiences low annual rainfall and high sunlight intensity, which forces local communities to purchase clean water for daily needs. Addressing this challenge, the team developed SEATTER, a solar-powered desalination technology that converts seawater into clean, usable water. This innovation provides a sustainable solution for coastal communities struggling with clean water scarcity.

The SEATTER technology directly contributes to Indonesia’s efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. This innovation enhances clean water access for underserved coastal areas.

This remarkable achievement underscores the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to nurturing student potential and encouraging excellence at the international level. It is hoped that this success will inspire other students and young Indonesians to continue innovating, creating, and making meaningful contributions to science and global society.

[Writer: Syefrina Rosyada]

Collaborative Research Across Campuses, Two UGM Biology Students Win Gold in Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology Competition

Achivements Friday, 6 December 2024

In the 2024 Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology (BIOS) competition organized by Synbio.id from August to December 2024, UGM Biology students once again achieved remarkable success, securing a gold medal and the position of Undergraduate Runner-Up. The two students, Muhammad Ode Rahmadhani (Class of 2021) and Renada Oktavia (Class of 2021), were part of Team Can-Con, which collaborated with students from various universities: Rafly Mochamad Rivaldo from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran; Tristan Kenneth Yudhistira from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya; Zaki Sidqi Aaliyya from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman; and Yonathan Henry Christianto, Bryan Wu, and Ruby Belinda Gunadi from the Faculty of Computer Science, Universitas Bina Nusantara. The team, led by Muhammad Ode Rahmadhani and guided by Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si., explored the compound phloroglucinol’s anticancer potential against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using an in-silico metabolomics approach.


This research addressed the pressing need to discover new anticancer compounds due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance and the significant side effects associated with current cancer therapies. Notably, the potential of phloroglucinol as an anticancer agent against NSCLC remains unexplored. The study aimed to unravel the pharmacological network and interactions between phloroglucinol and proteins associated with NSCLC progression. This focus is crucial as NSCLC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Indonesia.

The research, conducted throughout the competition, lasted from August to late November 2024. On December 1, 2024, during Synbiotechfest 2024, which also served as the Awarding Ceremony, Team Can-Con was announced as the gold medal winner and Undergraduate Runner-Up.

This outstanding achievement was made possible through the multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from diverse academic backgrounds, which united diverse perspectives and approaches to develop a comprehensive study.

Author: M. Ode Rahmadhani