Science Olympiad Student Team Training Resources Prebuild Model

This webpage includes all the resources needed for Protein Modeling Event Supervisors to obtain event materials, organize their event space, and judge the event prebuild models and onsite exams.

All Event Supervisors, State Directors, and Tournament Officials should complete this form to receive access to digital Protein Modeling Event judging materials. Judging materials will be shipped to State Directors for distribution to tournament sites across each state. Please coordinate with your State Director to confirm how judging materials are shared within your state and to ensure a model is available on your tournament date. Materials may take up to one month to arrive, so please request materials early!

Thank you for helping us run the Science Olympiad Protein Modeling Event!

Component 1: The Prebuild Protein Model – 40% of total score

The 2026-2027 prebuild model should represent residues 153-252 of chain A of the protein structure file 3ube.pdb.

Before the event, teams will build a physical protein model to be impounded for judging the day of the competition. Students will use the Prebuild Jmol User Design Environment (JUDE) web page as a guide when creating their prebuild model.

Event Supervisors should require prebuild models to be impounded before the start of the competition and should make them available for pickup after the competition is completed, as students can reuse the same prebuild model for higher levels of the competition.

Student teams can create their protein models using 3D Molecular Designs’ Protein Structure Modeling Kit or materials of their own choosing. Prebuild models must not exceed 50cm x 50cm x 50cm in size and should include an accompanying notecard that lists what features are shown on their model, how those features are displayed, and why they were chosen.

Prebuild model scoring rubrics are developed for the regional, state and national levels of the competition. The rubrics include a list of specific features to identfy, a recommended point value for each feature, and an illustrated guide to help visually explain each feature to the event judges. A 3D printed physical model of the prebuild protein structure will help event judges visualize the features identified in the scoring rubric.

In addition to basic protein structure features, the prebuild scoring rubric will include a section on creative additions. These are features a team should add to their basic prebuild model to set it apart from other teams. The rubric includes information and recommended point values for common creative additions, but Event Supervisors should also award points for valid creative additions not specifically mentioned in the rubric.

Event Supervisors are strongly encouraged to begin grading prebuild models during event sessions, rather than waiting until all sessions are finished. This will help prevent a scoring bottleneck at the end of the day.

All Event Supervisors, State Directors, and Tournament Officials should complete this form to receive access to digital Protein Modeling Event judging materials. Judging materials will be shipped to State Directors for distribution to tournament sites across each state. Please coordinate with your State Director to confirm how judging materials are shared within your state and to ensure a model is available on your tournament date. Materials may take up to one month to arrive, so please request materials early!

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During the event, student teams will complete a written exam with a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions.

Onsite written exams are developed for the regional, state and national levels of the competition. Printable written exam PDF documents and answer keys will be included with Event Supervisor judging materials. Answer keys include recommended point values for each multiple choice and short answer question, along with suggested answers for all short answer questions.

Event Supervisors are strongly encouraged to begin grading written exams from early event sessions, rather than waiting until all event sessions are finished to begin grading. This will help prevent a scoring bottleneck at the end of the day.

All Event Supervisors, State Directors, and Tournament Officials should complete this form to receive access to digital Protein Modeling Event judging materials. Judging materials will be shipped to State Directors for distribution to tournament sites across each state. Please coordinate with your State Director to confirm how judging materials are shared within your state and to ensure a model is available on your tournament date. Materials may take up to one month to arrive, so please request materials early!

As part of the written exam, teams will explore a new protein structure using the online Jmol User Design Environment (JUDE) web page and answer a set of multiple-choice questions related to protein structure and the protein being explored.

A unique JUDE web page has been developed for the regional, state and national levels of the competition. Links to the JUDE web pages for each competition level will be included with Event Supervisor judging materials. Click here to view an example JUDE web page.

Students are instructed to bring a device with internet capability (laptop, Chromebook, tablet, or phone) to the event. The Event Supervisor must either provide Wi-Fi credentials to allow students to use their own devices on the local network or arrange for a computer lab with internet access and login information for each team in each event session. Event Supervisors are strongly encouraged to test the login credentials (computer lab or wifi) and the JUDE web page before the event to avoid unexpected technical issues.

Note that student teams should not access any web pages or content outside of the JUDE web page and PDF documents directly linked to from the JUDE web page. At the beginning of each event session, student teams should be reminded that accessing other web pages is not allowed.

All Event Supervisors, State Directors, and Tournament Officials should complete this form to receive access to digital Protein Modeling Event judging materials. Judging materials will be shipped to State Directors for distribution to tournament sites across each state. Please coordinate with your State Director to confirm how judging materials are shared within your state and to ensure a model is available on your tournament date. Materials may take up to one month to arrive, so please request materials early!

How Students Will Prepare for the Event

To successfully compete in the Protein Modeling Event, student teams should complete three training modules and then create their prebuild physical model to bring to the competition for scoring by Event Supervisors.

As time allows, Event Supervisors are encouraged to explore the three training modules that students will use. While not necessary, this will provide Event Supervisors with a wholistic view of the Protein Modeling Event and what student teams will have studied leading up to the event.