This project will provide partial support for students, postdoctoral fellows, and young independent investigators to attend the 2025 Protein Engineering Gordon Research Conference (GRC), which will take place July 26 - August 1, 2025 at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. The conference will foster interdisciplinary interaction and spark innovative collaborations across fields such as directed evolution, AI-guided rational design, metabolic engineering, biosensor engineering, and immunoengineering. By bringing together scientists from academia and industry, the meeting will advance understanding of the relationships between protein structure, function, and dynamics—a critical foundation for breakthroughs in medicine, industry, and technology. In doing so, the project supports NSF’s mission to promote scientific progress, enhance national health and prosperity, and contribute to societal well-being. Moreover, by emphasizing education and the development of early-career researchers (through a dedicated Gordon Research Seminar series), the conference will ensure that emerging talents receive collaborative opportunities needed to drive future innovations. The meeting will focus on three specific aims: (1) Assessment of Current Technologies: Delineate the present status of various biotechnologies within protein engineering and evaluate their current applications in industrial and medical practices; (2) Exploration of Emerging Fields: Facilitate in-depth discussions on cutting-