Have questions? We've got answers.
Find information about registering, building a team, traveling to Norman, competition rules, prototyping, mentoring, judging, and event logistics for the 2027 National Medical Device Make-A-Thon.
Registration and payment questions.
Registration is open through the University of Oklahoma's official registration platform. Review the current pricing and key deadlines below.
When does registration open and close?
Registration is currently open. Early registration continues through December 31, 2026, and standard registration begins January 1, 2027. Registration closes February 14, 2027.
How much does it cost to participate?
Early registration costs $45 per participant through December 31, 2026. Standard registration costs $60 per participant beginning January 1, 2027. Additional platform processing fees may apply.
Where do I register and pay?
Participants register and pay through the official University of Oklahoma registration platform. You can access the registration portal through the Registration page .
Is the registration fee per student or per team?
Registration pricing is listed per participant, not per team. Each participating student must complete the required registration process.
What if I need help with my registration?
For questions about registration, payment, or eligibility, contact the planning committee at mdm2027@groups.ou.edu . Include a brief description of your question so the appropriate committee member can assist.
Ready to register?
Visit the Registration page for pricing, deadlines, eligibility requirements, and the official registration link.
Registration DetailsBuilding your competition team.
MDM 2027 welcomes undergraduate students from institutions across the country, with teams designed to encourage collaboration between students at different stages of their education.
Who is eligible to compete?
The competition is intended for undergraduate students at colleges and universities across the country. Students interested in biomedical engineering, medical technology, mechanical or electrical design, healthcare innovation, and related disciplines are encouraged to participate.
How many students are required on each team?
Competition teams must have four or five undergraduate students. This allows teams to distribute engineering tasks while maintaining a collaborative working environment.
Do teams need first- or second-year students?
Yes. Each team must include at least two first- or second-year students. This requirement supports student mentorship and gives newer engineering students hands-on design experience alongside more experienced peers.
Can I register without an existing team?
Yes. Individuals and partial teams may request assistance with team formation through the event's team-building process. Team placement depends on available participants, team composition requirements, and event capacity, so placement is not guaranteed.
Visit Schools and Teams for more information.
Do all team members need to attend the same university?
For questions about forming a team with students from different universities, contact the committee before finalizing registration. Team eligibility and composition must satisfy the official competition requirements.
Do participants need prior CAD or prototyping experience?
The competition is intended to provide an applied engineering experience for undergraduates with different levels of experience. Participants benefit from familiarity with CAD, engineering design, and problem-solving, but teams may draw on multiple technical backgrounds.
The schedule includes Fusion 360 / SolidWorks workshops on Friday and a 3D printing workshop on Saturday. Review the full event schedule for times and locations.
Need help finding teammates?
Review the team-building information, undergraduate requirements, and participating university resources.
Schools and TeamsTravel, facilities, and logistics.
The University of Oklahoma will host the competition March 5-7, 2027, with Gallogly Hall serving as the primary event hub.
When and where is participant check-in?
Check-in is scheduled for Friday, March 5, from 12:00–5:00 PM at Gallogly Hall. Participants can check in, receive event materials, and attend optional facilities tours.
The Fusion 360 / SolidWorks workshops begin at 5:00 PM. The opening presentation and problem statement release begin at 7:00 PM in GLG 127.
Where will the competition take place?
Gallogly Hall is the primary event hub. Activities also use nearby Engineering Quad facilities and assigned team workspaces.
Some professional mentoring, presentations, and fabrication activities take place in other designated facilities, including REPF 200 and the Tom Love Innovation Hub. Specific locations are listed on the Schedule page .
Where should participants park?
Participant parking instructions, designated areas, and campus navigation information will be provided through the Travel and Parking page . Review those instructions before arriving, as campus parking restrictions may vary by location.
Will food and drinks be available?
Yes. The working schedule includes meals throughout competition weekend:
- Friday: Dinner, 6:00–6:45 PM
- Saturday: Breakfast, 7:00–9:00 AM; lunch, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM; dinner during the Career Fair, 6:30–8:30 PM
- Sunday: Breakfast, 7:30–9:30 AM; lunch, 12:15–1:00 PM
Additional snacks and drinks are planned. Participants should contact the committee in advance regarding specific dietary concerns.
Will showers be available?
Shower access is included in the current event plan. The published schedule notes that showers open at 10:00 AM Saturday and close at 4:30 PM Saturday.
Specific facility locations, access procedures, and any required personal items will be communicated before the event.
Can students remain on campus overnight?
The competition is structured around an extended design period beginning Friday at 8:00 PM. Instructions regarding overnight access to designated workspaces, building access, and participant expectations will be distributed before the competition.
Where will teams work during the competition?
Teams will be assigned workspaces within the Engineering Quad. Final room assignments and access instructions will be shared with participants before the event.
Will Wi-Fi and engineering software be available?
Access to university network resources and engineering software facilities is part of event planning. Participants should review pre-event instructions regarding Wi-Fi access, computer lab availability, required software, and personal devices.
Teams are encouraged to prepare their own devices and design tools where possible. Refer to Participant Resources for updates.
Arriving from another university?
Find driving information, campus locations, parking guidance, and additional travel resources.
Travel and ParkingDesign, submissions, and judging.
The competition follows multiple phases of design and evaluation. Official rules, submission procedures, and detailed judging materials will be communicated to participants before the competition.
When will the clinical challenge be announced?
The competition problem will be released during the opening presentation on Friday, March 5, from 7:00–8:00 PM in GLG 127.
The official design period begins at 8:00 PM on Friday.
When are Phase 1 materials due?
Phase 1 submissions are scheduled for Saturday, March 6, from 1:30–2:00 PM. Materials will be submitted electronically according to the official instructions.
Round 1 presentations are scheduled for 3:15–6:00 PM that afternoon.
When are Phase 2 materials due?
Finalist teams will submit Phase 2 materials on Sunday, March 7, from 12:00–12:30 PM. Submission instructions and required materials will be distributed to participating teams.
How many teams advance to the final round?
The competition schedule calls for the Top 15 teams from Round 1 to advance to the final stage.
Finalists are scheduled to be announced Saturday, March 6, from 8:15–8:30 PM at Gallogly Hall.
Can mentors help with our designs?
Yes. Mentors can provide feedback, answer technical questions, discuss clinical considerations, and help teams evaluate engineering decisions.
Mentors may not complete design work, develop final materials, or produce submissions on behalf of a participating team. The design and presentation must remain the work of the student participants.
How are competition projects judged?
Judges evaluate the proposed medical devices using an official competition rubric. Expected areas of evaluation include:
- Clinical relevance and problem definition
- Engineering design quality and feasibility
- Prototype development and testing logic
- Implementation and practical considerations
- Presentation quality and communication
- Team understanding of the proposed solution
Final evaluation criteria and scoring procedures will be shared through the event's official competition materials. See the Awards page for additional information.
Will teams have access to 3D printing?
The schedule includes a 3D printing workshop Saturday morning, along with dedicated fabrication activities for Top 15 finalists Saturday evening.
Finalists travel to the Tom Love Innovation Hub from 8:30–9:00 PM Saturday and finalize approved print files from 9:00–10:00 PM for overnight fabrication.
Print pickup is scheduled for Sunday, 8:30–9:30 AM in Gallogly Hall 126. Specific print limitations and file requirements will be shared with participants.
When do the final presentations and awards take place?
Final presentations are scheduled for Sunday, March 7 in GLG 127.
- Session 1: 1:15–2:45 PM
- Session 2: 3:00–4:30 PM
- Awards Ceremony: 4:45 PM
The top five teams will receive a combined $3,000 in confirmed prize money, with additional planned trophy recognition.
What should we bring to the competition?
Participants should plan to bring a laptop, charging equipment, personal identification, and any personal items needed for an extended competition weekend.
Specific supply lists, permitted materials, fabrication requirements, and equipment policies will be provided through the Participant Resources page .
Need the exact competition timeline?
The Schedule page is the authoritative source for session times, competition deadlines, and event locations.
View Full ScheduleMentoring, judging, and partnerships.
The Make-A-Thon connects students with professionals from engineering, healthcare, research, product development, and industry.
How can I volunteer as a mentor or judge?
Professionals interested in providing mentorship, evaluating student projects, or supporting the event can complete the Mentor and Judge Interest Form .
Additional role descriptions are available on the Mentors and Judges page .
Will there be a Career Fair?
Yes. The Career Fair and Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Gallogly Hall.
Students will have opportunities to connect with employers, recruiters, sponsors, mentors, judges, and other industry professionals.
Visit the Career Fair page for more information.
How can a company sponsor the event?
Organizations can explore sponsorship opportunities that support participant meals, event resources, prototyping, awards, and professional engagement.
Complete the Sponsorship Interest Form or visit the Sponsors page for more details.
Can an organization provide in-kind sponsorship?
Organizations interested in contributing food, equipment, materials, services, or other in-kind support can discuss custom sponsorship opportunities with the organizing committee.
Submit the Sponsorship Interest Form to begin the conversation.
Contact the MDM 2027 team.
If your question is not covered above, contact the organizing committee. We can help with registration questions, team requirements, event logistics, accessibility, professional participation, and general inquiries.
Email the TeamReady to take part?
Join undergraduate students, mentors, judges, and industry professionals at the University of Oklahoma for the 2027 National Medical Device Make-A-Thon, March 5-7.