Team:Westminster UK/Team

Team

Attributions Collaborations Team Members University

Lucas Dalla Vecchia

Biochemistry Graduate

 

Head of modelling and software work, contributed to experimental design and assisted in the development of collaborations between our team and other iGEM teams.

 

What did you learn from this project?

As part of this project, I have learned many different laboratory skills and I have also learned project management skills when coming up with strategies to accomplish our goal.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Once iGEM is done, I plan to continue in Academia and start a master's program to continue developing my career as a scientist.

Marko Obrvan

Biological Sciences Graduate

 

Project coordinator. As a participant in the previous year’s competition, I served as a guide in strategic planning to what work needs to get done on time. Contributed in all aspects of the project, however mainly on modelling and experimental design.

 

What did you learn from this project?

You will never finish everything you wanted to do - so prioritise.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

I am continuing to undertake a master’s course in neuroscience that I started this September.

Simon Usenko

Biochemistry Graduate

 

Head laboratory maniac. Knows his protocols, understands the experiments and runs of caffeine day/night until the project is over.

 

What did you learn from this project?

Over the course of this summer I’ve learned that student lead projects as such require students to take initiative. Teams should consist of people who are passionate about the project’s cause and will do it without other incentive.

What are you doing after this project is done?

I’m going to take some time off work and travel around Europe and apply for master’s programs.

Sara Hajj Ahmad

Biomedical Science Graduate

 

Labwork assistant, meet-up regulator, contributions in contacting and communications and head social media management.

 

What did you learn from this project?

Being part of the igem taught me so many things - two of the most important things are:

1) team work is a key to success - how to be patient, to believe in each other and how to support each other

2) it’s true it was a competition but I couldn’t help being so supportive to all the other igem teams, listening to their ideas was something I’m very grateful for.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Alanood Alharthi

3rd Year Biomedical Science Student

 

Oversaw the school visits and part of the social media. Minor laboratory contributions and additional work on decisions for other human practices.

 

What did you learn from this project?

This experience gave me a wonderful opportunity to not only be a member of a hardworking team but also to accomplish tasks that I haven’t done before!

One skill I am happiest to have learned was time management and quick thinking. To manage time has always been a challenge for me, however, the project helped me understand how to balance work life with personal and educational life. While hurdles that came suddenly taught me how to be quick on my feet with solutions to tackle them.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Hopefully, I will be getting a first in my last year of Biomedical sciences undergraduate!

Anastasia Viner

3rd Year Biochemistry Student

 

Head of Fundraising and laboratory assistant

 

What did you learn from this project?

1. Genetic laboratory work is prone to many hiccups (put nicely). Though theoretically you know what you expect to happen, often in reality the results can be much harder to come by!
2. How to conduct transformations! This was fun as I’d never carried them out in practice before. iGEM allows for students to put specific theory into motion and perform certain experiments they otherwise may not have the opportunity to.

 

What are you going to do after this project?

Finishing my 3rd year and hopefully pursue either an internship/placement or MSc afterwards!

Bledar Alia

Biological Sciences Graduate

 

Helped with decisions related to the team name and website font, making graphics for explaining concepts, producing biotechnology postcards for a challenge set by another iGEM team, assisting with laboratory work and doing research on the optimisation of microbial fuel cells.

 

What did you learn from this project?

I realised the capability of graduates in contributing to environmental/energy related research. Perhaps there could be more science project opportunities to inspire young people.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

After this project, I will likely continue in a scientific environment by pursuing a laboratory research job.

Khizra Hussain

Biochemistry Graduate

 

Mainly human practises including the sustainability report, minor aiding with laboratory work and assistance with parts writing up.

 

What did you learn from this project?

It matters not how strong you start but how strong you finish.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Studying Physician Associate studies at Queen Mary University London.

Milva Khandakar

Biomedical Science Graduate

 

Researched on co-culturing experiments for organisms that we’ve used and on their optimal growth condition. Have also added all the basic and composite parts to the registry. Furthermore, completed the write up on Plastic clean up  mission and Occasionally assisted with lab work.

 

What did you learn from this project?

I am most happy to have learned about the importance of teamwork through practice. Good collaboration among team members leads to great results, as we share one mission and work towards the same goal.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

I am currently doing my masters on structural molecular biology at imperial college London.

Marin Sekula

Computer Engineer Graduate

 

Project website designer and developer.

 

What did you learn from this project?

This project gave me an opportunity to hone my HTML and CSS coding skills and to give me an insight of a possible future career path.

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Look for other similarly interesting challenges like this.

Astha Gurung

 

Proof-checked everyone's work, assisted in ensuring academic integrity, providing references, citations and hyperlinks when needed. Additionally assisted in study design through offering valuable advice on last minute experimental modifications.

 

What did you learn from this project?

 

What are you doing after this project is done?

Instructors

Kyle Bowman

Biological Sciences Graduate, Head research assistant in the MFC Lab

 

Kyle helped us with realising the initial stages of our project. With his help, we got to learn the foundations of experimentation with MFCs through an early summer workshop, and with his help we were guided into designing our experiments.

Jenaagan Jenakendran

Msc Biotechnology

 

As a previous participant in iGEM, Jen helped ensure we consistently have the materials we need and are performing our lab techniques correctly. He also participated in a few humans practice activities and helped with fundraising by reaching out to various sponsors.

Kristian Emilov

Biochemistry Graduate

Along with helping with the general brainstorming on the project and teaching the new team how Biobricks work, Kris also suggested how we could fix the last year’s BioBrick, TodE.

Timofey Markin

Nutrition sciences Graduate

 

Tim was last year’s coder at work and has helped us ensure our page is good.

Principal Investigators

 

Dr. Caroline Smith

Assistant Head of School, Life Sciences Department

 

Caroline is the lead investigator for Elan Biotronics. She is the course leader for biological sciences and leads molecular biology modules for undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is the biochemistry and bioethics teacher that particularly enjoy project supervision and facilitating student research, this is why she supports iGEM. Her current research focuses on melanocortin signalling. She is a local ambassador for the Biochemical society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a member of the British Pharmacological Society and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr. Sarah Coleman

Lecturer in Biochemistry, Life Sciences Department

 

Sarah is the support academic for the University of Westminster iGEM team. She leads and teaches on large core first year Biochemistry module. She also teaches aspects of Science History, Philosophy and Practice, and on a module which brings Science students and Arts students together to co-create projects. It is exciting to step with the students out of the standard teaching zone of lecture room and teaching laboratory. Thus, she is involved with iGEM. Her research focuses on ionotropic Glutamate receptors and involves molecular biology, gene manipulation, protein expression to examine their assembly and interactions. Professionally, she is a member of the Biochemical Society and the British Neuroscience Association.

Contact us: uow.igem@gmail.com

Visit us: 115 New Cavendish St, London UK

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