Cassie is a returning member on this year’s iGEM team. As an outdoorsy individual, she often
escapes to the mountains when not busy with school or iGEM. Her indoor activities are no less
adventurous as she engages in a wide range of hard-core hobbies including crocheting and fixing
cars. She has been described as both a nerd and a bookworm, when she finds to be a fitting
description considering her obsession with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Solitude and time to
reflect are of great importance to Cassie. Cassie’s one true love is windsurfing and no romantic
partner could ever hope to take its place in her heart. Though she is unable to concoct a decent
cup of coffee, Cassie’s passion for science and her seasoned laboratory skills make her an
invaluable component of the team.
Cassie joined the iGEM team because it offered her a
uniquely self-directed research experience that allowed her to interact with a diverse team of
enthusiastic students that shared her love for science. In her view, synthetic biology takes
all of the most exciting aspects of cellular, molecular, and microbial biology and applies them
to creating innovative and creative solutions to real-world problems. As a returning member,
she sought to use her past experience on the team to improve the design and implementation of
this year’s project whilst simultaneously fostering a fun and companionable atmosphere for
everyone on the team.