Team roles
2025 Schedule
2025 Hackathon projects
What is a hackathon? and other FAQs
Hackathon team roles
Code of conduct
Background reading
A great aspect of hackathons is that you work in teams on specific projects. Teams can function more smoothly when team members have different roles. The team members will work together to assign roles on the first day. *These roles are the most critical.
| Roles | What does this person do? |
| Team lead* | understands and communicates scientific objectives. The team lead coordinates work, schedules meetings, helps organize the steps |
| Tech lead (computer)* | helps team members with Slack, Google Drive, and other software. |
| Tech lead (wet lab) | understands the experiments, helps with lab technique |
| Writer* | records group progress, enters information in template |
| Technical writer | write instructions |
| Data hunters | find data, know databases |
| Quality control, testing | testing software, or testing instructions, identify QC points for wet lab experiments |
| Subject matter experts | find and read papers, find details |
| coding (only some teams) | write short pieces of code |
| artist | help design team logo |
| subject matter expert | person who knows about the subject |
| purchasing expert | find where to order things |
| slide maker | This can also be the writer, or team lead. This person makes the Powerpoint or Keynote slides for the presentations |