Team:Western Canada/Team
Dr. Bogumil Karas
Primary PI
Dr. Karas received his Ph.D. degree in Biology (2010) from Western University where his research was focused on deciphering genetics of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis. Next, he worked at the Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy group at J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) in La Jolla, CA, USA. At JCVI his work focused on developing technologies for cloning of whole natural or synthetic chromosomes as centromeric plasmids in yeast, where they can be manipulated using powerful yeast genetic tools and then transplanted inside microbial cells of the same or different species. Currently research in the Karas lab is focused on developing innovative genetic tools to enable the engineering of microbes to produce medicines, DNA storage technologies, food and next generation fuels.
Matthew Fung
Instructor
I am currently a medical student in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. I have always had a passion for translational research which was fostered during my undergraduate iGEM experience at the University of Alberta. When I am not in the lab, you can catch me listening to podcasts, playing ultimate frisbee or jamming out on my sax.
Project Coordination
Luana Langlois
President
I am currently a graduate student in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at Western University and just recently completed my bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Genetics also at Western. I am one of the co-founders of the Western Synthetic Biology Research Program (WSBR) and the Western iGEM team. I am passionate about all things synthetic biology, will occasionally rant about cyclist safety (#VisionZero), and you will always find me accompanied by a warm cup of coffee. Find me on twitter @LuanaLanglois
Wet Lab
Meet Panchal
Team Lead
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at Western University. I am completing my BSc in Neuroscience, which is a subject I love and enjoy! How did I end up participating in iGEM? I love learning new things and the thought of working with others to use synthetic biology to tackle a real-world problem was very exciting for me, so I was eager to join. Outside of academics, I enjoy snowboarding and ice hockey, and love to go for bike rides and walks.
Samir Hamadache
Team Lead
I recently completed my undergraduate degree in genetics & biochemistry at Western and am now starting graduate studies in synthetic biology with our team's PI, Dr. Bogumil Karas. I hope to work on synbio-based technologies for environmental remediation and space exploration in the future. Aside from synbio, I enjoy cooking, binge-watching Netflix, and learning about physics and philosophy.
Andrey Petropavlovskiy
Hanning Ye
I'm a current second year medical sciences student at Western University. I'm aiming to pursue an Honours Specialization in Synthetic Biology. I got involved in iGEM through my experience being a First Year Representative for the Western Synthetic Biology Research Program (WSBR). Outside of the research lab, I enjoy coaching swimming, travelling, and playing volleyball. /p>
Angelo Empleo
Hello! My name is Angelo, and I’m a 4th year undergraduate student pursuing a BSc in Genetics and a BA in Business Administration. I’ve always been compelled by how synthetic biology can revolutionize the future, and I hope to capitalize on this rising trend by pursuing a career in biotech development. I’m currently serving on the wet lab team at iGEM Western, where I have participated in protocol write-ups as well as regular day-to-day experiments at the bench. I’m honoured to be on Western University’s first-ever participating iGEM team, and I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished so far
Fouad Raouf-Alkadhimi
Hello, my name is Fouad and I am a 4th-year student studying interdisciplinary medical sciences at Western University. I am a member of the wet lab team. I wanted to join the UWO iGem team because I believe that we are trying (as well as other iGEM teams) to solve tomorrow's problems today. In an everchanging world, we require innovative and modern solutions such as synthetic biology to tackle problems that arise. In my spare time, I love to bike in the summer and play curling in the winter.
Fasih Rehman
Dry Lab
Lauren McGregor
Team Lead
I'm a fifth-year civil engineering student from McMaster University, and I have a passion for sustainability. I joined iGEM because our project this year is directly related to environmental engineering, but it was also a great opportunity to gain experience outside my own field. I like to spend my free time eating sushi, listening to podcasts, and reading fiction.
Meet Panchal
Jonathan Jiang
Hi, my name is Jonathan Jiang. I am currently a second year Western student studying integrated science specializing in biology. I have done research on Huntington's disease and gold formation within mines across Canada. I have a keen love for Synthetic biology and hope to work with this. In my free time, I teach snowboarding, swimming and piano!
Human Practices
Husnain Ali
Team Lead
My name is Husnain Ali and I am in my final year of my Honours Specialization in Health Sciences here at Western. This year I’m the Human Practices team lead for Western_iGem. In the past, I have led the Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Council as President. In my free time I like to learn about airplanes and watch documentaries. My favorite plane is Airbus A380, world’s largest passenger airplane.
Shea Tough
Team Lead
Hi! I’m Shea, a genetics graduate from Western who is now back in school for clinical trials management and genetics research. I am part of the human practices team and I originally joined the team because I would never pass up a competition, but soon realized the project management, networking, and experience that comes along with iGEM is so much more than that. In my spare time I compete in powerlifting and am on a billiards 8 ball team!
Ayushi Bhatt
My name is Ayushi and I’m a fourth year medical sciences student (pathology)! I got involved in iGEM because I’m interested in genetics and the potential SynBio so excited for the potential it has to change the world! Outside of the lab, I love reading, cooking, movies and watching sports! I’m also learning how to play the guitar!
Rudra Pandya
My name is Rudra Pandya and I am part of the Human Practices team. I am a third year undergraduate student in HSP Microbiology & Immunology.