AI in Pharma Students Challenge

An Innovation & Solutions Competition for Future Leaders in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Gain practical experience, solve real-world business challenges, and present your talent to the leaders of major pharmaceutical companies. This is your chance to launch your career before you even graduate.

Registration Closed

Learn More

Hackathon Sponsor:

November 16, 2025

8:30 AM – 7:15 PM

Hotel Novotel Poznań Centrum

Hackathon Materials

Challenge and materials will be revealed on:

Sunday, November 16, 2025

at 9:45 AM

Materials will be distributed to registered participants on the event day

Your Co-Hosts: The ISPE Student Chapter

Poznan University of Medical Sciences students leading the way

The Student Voice of the Hackathon

Working with our partners to ensure the challenges are meaningful and the event is designed with student needs in mind.

The Link Between University and Industry

They facilitate direct connections between student talent and the professional world, creating opportunities for both.

Have Questions? Just Ask!

They are the friendly faces behind the event, ready to help with any info you need about the hackathon or student opportunities.

Get Info & Get Involved

Contact the friendly faces at ISPE Student Chapter for event details or to learn how you can join their supportive community of future industry leaders.

Get in touch with ISPE Student Chapter

Gain Experience That Gets You Hired

This isn’t just another competition—it’s your launchpad

Solve a Real Business Case

Work on an actual pharmaceutical challenge with direct mentorship from industry experts. This is hands-on experience you can’t get in a classroom.

Network with Industry Leaders

Connect with managers and experts from GSK, Databricks, and other top pharma companies. Build relationships that could define your career.

Present on the Main Stage

Showcase your solution to conference attendees on Day 2. Winners get to present their work to 150+ industry professionals.

Career-Defining Experience

Add practical, measurable achievements to your CV. Show employers you can solve real problems under pressure—before you even graduate.

What to Expect

A full day of learning, problem-solving, and networking

8:30 – 9:45 AM

Registration, Welcome Coffee & Team Formation

Meet your team, meet the mentors, and prepare for the challenge ahead

9:45 – 10:00 AM

Challenge Briefing & Evaluation Overview

Challenge revealed! Learn what you’ll be solving and how you’ll be evaluated

10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Development Time with 3 Checkpoints

Work on your solution with mentor support. Includes lunch break and strategic reflection time

5:00 – 6:15 PM

Team Presentations

7 minutes to present your methodology and findings to the jury panel

6:45 – 7:15 PM

Winner Announcement & Closing

Results revealed! Winners announced and immediate conference access granted

Note: Full detailed schedule available on the Program page

Semi-Random Team Formation

Before the event, students self-assess their strengths:

Group A

More technical/IT focused

Group B

More life sciences/pharma focused

Group C

Both equally OR neither particularly strong

Teams of 3-4 students with diverse skill mixes

Random selection within groups for fair competition

English-speaking teams matched with English-speaking mentors

Why semi-random? Balanced capabilities, networking, real-world diversity

Process Over Product

Your thinking process and team collaboration matter more than perfect technical results. Well-reasoned approach beats undocumented success.

40%

Critical Thinking & Analysis

• Understanding pharmaceutical data principles
• Root cause analysis and problem identification
• Risk assessment and control measures
• Problem decomposition and systematic approach

25%

Process & Methodology

• Clear methodology documentation
• Quality of assessment deliverable
• Adaptation quality and pivots
• Reproducibility of approach

20%

Team Collaboration

• Everyone contributing meaningfully
• Clear roles and responsibilities
• Collective decision-making
• Effective team communication

15%

Presentation & Deliverables

• Clear presentation and explanation
• Quality of deliverables
• Honesty about limitations
• Professional delivery

6 Expert Mentors

One mentor per team for the entire day – your supportive guide (not a leader):

Dr. Tomos Williams

ISPE GAMP AI Guide Co-Author

Oleksandra Bovkun

Senior Solutions Architect, Databricks

Rafał Wojdan

Data & AI Advisor, Onex Group

Agnieszka Kubiak

Principal Product Manager, GSK

Somnath Pan

Senior Quality Engineer, GSK

Dr. Jacek Kujawski

Professor, Poznan Medical University

2 English-speaking mentors available for international teams

3-Member Expert Jury

Dr. Piotr Ratajczak

Poznan University of Medical Sciences – EBM & AI in Education Specialist

Dr. Nico Erdmann

ISPE GAMP AI Guide Co-Author, Deloitte Germany

Wojciech Siemiątkowski

ISPE Poland Vice President & Conference Founder

View full mentor and jury profiles on the Program page →

What You Need to Bring

• Laptop/device for working on the challenge
• Willingness to collaborate with diverse team members
• Open mind and curiosity about AI in pharma
• Critical thinking and problem-solving attitude

What We Provide

• Internet access and workspace
• Challenge materials and datasets
• Templates (optional to use)
• Lunch & refreshments throughout the day
• Expert mentorship from industry professionals

Note: The challenge is designed to be accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Teams are intentionally balanced with complementary skills – technical, pharmaceutical, and analytical.

Required Deliverables

1. Presentation (5 minutes + 2 minutes Q&A)

Format is flexible – slides, paper, demo, etc. Show your approach, findings, and learnings. Focus on substance over polish. Followed by 2 minutes for questions from the judges.

2. Tangible Output

Something demonstrating your methodology or findings – methodology doc, prototype, analysis, workflow, etc.

Submission: All materials uploaded to team Google Drive folder by 4:30 PM

Prizes & Recognition

Winners Receive:

• Professional Development Fund – 1,000 PLN per winning team member to support your professional growth, learning goals, and skill development
• Full conference access Nov 17-18 (if not already purchased)
• Present on main stage at Day 2 conference (150+ attendees)
• Direct exposure to industry leaders and hiring managers

All Participants Receive:

Certified Hackathon Contributor certificate for your portfolio
Networking opportunities with mentors and jury
Professional experience solving real pharma challenges
Special access considerations for 2026 conference
Individual feedback from mentors on your approach

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Student Challenge for?

The Challenge is open to all students of Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Engineering, Computer Science, Management, and related fields who want to build a future in the pharmaceutical industry. All backgrounds welcome – from pure tech to pure pharma!

When and where does it take place?

Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 7:15 PM at Hotel Novotel Poznań Centrum (Plac Andersa 1, 61-893 Poznań). The full conference continues Nov 17-18.

Do I need programming skills?

While some technical skills may be helpful, the challenge primarily focuses on critical thinking, pharmaceutical understanding, and AI methodology. Students from all backgrounds (technical, pharma, management) are needed and valued. Teams are intentionally diverse, so you’ll work with people who have complementary skills. Your thinking process and analytical approach matter most.

How many spots are available?

To ensure a high-quality, interactive experience with proper mentorship, participation is limited to approximately 20-24 students (6-7 teams). We recommend registering early to secure your spot.

What if I don’t have a team?

Perfect! Teams are formed semi-randomly on the day to ensure diverse skill mixes. You’ll be matched with 2-3 other students with complementary backgrounds. This is actually a great networking opportunity!

What’s the challenge about?

The specific challenge will be revealed on the day (9:45 AM), but it will focus on AI applications in pharmaceutical quality and processes. It’s designed to be meaningful for the industry and accessible to diverse student backgrounds.

Can international students participate?

Absolutely! The event is multilingual (Polish and English), with participants naturally switching between languages. We have 2 English-speaking mentors and 1 English-speaking judge to ensure international students feel fully supported. English is widely used throughout the event, making it accessible to both Polish and international participants.

How much does it cost?

Registration for the 2025 Hackathon is now closed. We invite you to join us for future hackathons, webinars, and workshops! Follow our updates to be the first to know when registration opens for our next events.

Join Us for Future Events!

Registration for 2025 is now closed, but this is just the beginning.

Stay connected with us for upcoming hackathons, webinars, and workshops designed to advance your career in pharmaceutical AI.

Explore Our Events View Conference Program

Have More Questions?

For event info & coordination: Contact the ISPE Student Chapter co-hosts (UMP Poznań)

ispepoznan@gmail.com

Visit ISPE Student Chapter Website General Inquiries (ISPE Poland)