Engineered Living Materials with Fungi
Materials that stay alive after fabrication: design principles, fungal chassis, functionality and the practical challenge of keeping them viable.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Engineered Living Materials with Fungi
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Fungal Computing, Bioelectronics & Space Mycology. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
This course introduces engineered living materials made with fungi: materials that remain alive after fabrication and can grow, sense or respond. You will examine what makes a material living, why fungi are attractive chassis, and how mycelium can be combined with bacteria and polymers. The course covers programmed functions such as sensing, binding and colour, the practical problem of keeping materials viable, dormant and storable, and case studies from current research.
Engineered living materials are an emerging field with real laboratory progress and very few products, partly because viability, safety and regulation are hard problems. Understanding those limits is as important as understanding the possibilities. This course suits materials scientists, bioengineers and designers exploring biology as a manufacturing tool. In the final project you develop a living material concept for a specific use, defining the organism, matrix, intended function, viability and storage strategy, safety considerations and the experiments needed to validate it.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in fungal computing, useful in areas such as biomaterials R&D, design and architecture research, synthetic biology, academic research.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
Materials that stay alive after fabrication: design principles, fungal chassis, functionality and the practical challenge of keeping them viable.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: What makes a material living?; Fungi as chassis for living materials.
- Put them into practice: Combining mycelium with bacteria and polymers; Programmed functions: sensing, binding, colour.
- Apply everything to a real case: Viability, dormancy and storage; Case studies from current research.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your tutor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Define living materials and distinguish them from bio-based ones.
- Choose a fungal chassis suited to a living material application.
- Describe strategies for combining fungi with other organisms or polymers.
- Plan viability, dormancy and storage for a living material.
- Evaluate research prototypes for technical readiness.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Materials scientists, bioengineers and designers.
4.2Entry requirements
Basic knowledge of biology or materials science is recommended.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Research assistant in engineered living materials
- Biodesigner in a materials lab
- R&D scientist at a biomaterials start-up
- Innovation consultant on bio-based materials
- Science communicator on biofabrication
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | What makes a material living? | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Fungi as chassis for living materials | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Combining mycelium with bacteria and polymers | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Programmed functions: sensing, binding, colour | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Viability, dormancy and storage | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Case studies from current research | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Definitions of living materials
- Inert, bio-based and living compared
- Key properties of living systems
- Advantages of filamentous growth
- Common fungal chassis species
- Genetic tractability
- Fungal–bacterial co-cultures
- Hydrogels and polymer matrices
- Interfaces between organisms
- Sensing and reporting functions
- Binding and remediation
- Pigments and colour change
- Keeping cells alive in a matrix
- Spores and dormancy as storage
- Reactivation on demand
- Selected research prototypes
- Lessons from failures
- Outlook for applications
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A living material concept with organism, matrix, function, viability strategy and validation experiments.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your tutor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, exercises at the end of each module and a final project reviewed by the tutor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your tutor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
At Fungaris, the Fungal Computing school coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The tutor for each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Engineered Living Materials with Fungi?
Basic knowledge of biology or materials science is recommended.
How is Engineered Living Materials with Fungi taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, exercises at the end of each module and a final project reviewed by the tutor.
What is the final project?
A living material concept with organism, matrix, function, viability strategy and validation experiments.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
What can I study after Engineered Living Materials with Fungi?
The natural next step is Diploma in Fungal Electrophysiology and Bioelectronics.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Keep branching.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).