Team:DTU-Denmark/Tour Team Sponsors
Team
This years DTU-Denmark iGEM team, the DTU Biobuilders, have been comprised of individuals from a range of different backgrounds all contributing in their own way to the development of the final detection kit. The project would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors.
Students
Aleksander Moldt Haack
BSc. Human Life Science Engineering, 5th semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I have always had a passion for the areas of biochemistry and biotechnology. When I heard about the DTU BioBuilders it was a chance for me to learn how to apply this knowledge in a multidisciplinary research environment by solving a real-world problem.
What did you work on during the project?
My primary roles has been organization of the BioBrick tutorial, lab work, collaboration with Biotech Academy’s Biosensor project and I was the main responsible for development of the wiki framework.
Andreas Frederik Treschow
MSc. Biotechnology, 2nd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I find the world of synthetic biology to be very exciting, and I really enjoy the process of getting things to work in the lab. I wanted to be a part of the the DTU BioBuilders because I saw it as a good opportunity to learn a lot while utilizing my skills and meeting nice and likeminded people.
What did you work on during the project?
My focus has been on the lab. I have been working with discovery of new protease substrates for the venoms we have been investigating. I have also been involved in the interlab study, as well as the long and tedious process of producing BioBrick results in the lab.
Cathrine Agnete Larsen
MSc. Biotechnology, 2rd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I really enjoy working in the lab and learn new techniques along with troubleshooting. In addition, I like the idea of biotechnology solving real life problems. Furthermore, it would be very exciting to be part of a full size project from start to end.
What did you work on during the project?
I have been a part of the administrative group. My main focus has been on laboratory work where I was part of organizing the lab exercise at the BioBrick tutorial, substrate testing and assemble BioBricks.
Chrysillis Polhaus
BSc. Human Life Science Engineering, 5th semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
The reason why I joined the team is that I wanted to be apart of a project from the start to end. I love to work in the lab and learn new things which is why I could not resist applying for the team.
What did you work on during the project?
I worked on economy, organising the BioBrick tutorial, outreach, laboratory work where I worked on the BioBricks and I was the main responsible for the collaboration with Biotech Academy’s Biosensor project.
Dionysia Valkani
MSc. Pharmaceutical Design and Engineering, 4th semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
My motivation for doing iGEM was primarily an interest in undertaking a challenging project in the interesting area of synthetic biology. iGEM involved a great deal of independent research, requiring initiative, self-motivation and a wide range of skills. I was confident from the beginning that this experience would be extremely exciting and valuable for both my studies and overall general development.
What did you work on during the project?
My main focus has been on the laboratory work, being involved in both designing and performing experiments. I was also part of the administration group, contributing in coordinating and project management tasks, and the team-building group, organizing team-development activities.
Frederik Bayer Frøhling
MSc. Biotechnology, 2nd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
The iGEM competition presented an opportunity to work on a long term and extensive project, to experience what it takes to make a project like this work was exciting to me. Besides than synthetic biology was always one of my favorite fields of biotechnology, and that interest has not been made any less in doing this project.
What did you work on during the project?
I was in the economy group and in charge of the initial funding, and in the teambuilding group. I was part of working with Biotech Academy working on the Biosensor. My main responsibility has been working in the laboratory.
Ivan Doudka
BSc. Electrical Engineering, 3rd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
The DTU BioBuilders provided me with a unique opportunity to work as a part of an interdisciplinary team and explore applications of electrical engineering within the biomedical field.
What did you work on during the project?
I have been mainly working on our hardware and outreach. I am responsible for the microfluidics device and most of my outreach-work has to do with public relations. I also worked with a graphic designer to create a single theme across all presentation-media and platforms.
Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos
MSc. Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, 3rd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I joined iGEM because I wanted to test my capabilities and knowledge in trying to solve problems that affect people globally, to meet equal minded students across disciplines, and exchange ideas with them.
What did you work on during the project?
I was part of the administration group and the economy group. I participated in the organization of the lab exercises during BioBrick tutorial. I also worked in the lab on the Biosensor project, substrate discovery and testing and BioBrick design, and on dry lab performing data mining and analysis. Lastly, I was part of the wiki group.
Line Meyhoff Aastrup
MSc. Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, 4th semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I have always wanted to work on an interdisciplinary project that resembles project work on the industry. Being part of the DTU BioBuilders allows me to learn useful skills for project management and apply what I have learned in theory on real life problems.
What did you work on during the project?
I was part of the administration group and helped with the development of the microfluidics device. In addition I was main responsible for overseeing the economy and the wiki.
Mohamad El Lakany
MSc. Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, 3rd semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I gained so much experience participating on The Biobuilders team 2016 that I, post-Jamboree 2016, then and there on the Hynes Convention Center Hall floor, decided that I wanted more of the iGEM experience. I did so, by seeking participation on this year’s team - It was simply too gratifying for me to pass.
I thoroughly enjoy the learn-as-you-go approach to things - It seems more intuitive to me. In addition to that I appreciate all the things I am subject to learning, that I did not expect to learn. I sincerely believe that this kind of work contributes to my development into a prudent, patient and diligent being.
What did you work on during the project?
I coordinated and organized various ad hoc tasks for our team and -for our annual biobrick tutorial. I was main contact for communicating our project to the outside world in addition to being involved in the administrative-, the outreach- and the human practice part of our project.
Philip Hau Sørensen
BSc. Human Life Science Engineering, 5th semester.
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
At my first year at DTU, I had a lecture session on synthetic biology. It was immediately clear to me how synthetic biology was the future of recombinant DNA technology, a field I have been interested in since childhood. When I heard that DTU had a student team working with synthetic biology, I couldn’t help but apply right away!
What did you work on during the project?
I worked on outreach, human practises and as part of the wet lab team. I was responsible for the 4th International InterLab Study of the iGEM competition. As part of the wetlab, I was involved in the design and testing of our BioBricks. As a side project to this, I did some modeling on the enzymatic reactions of the BioBrick device I developed.
High school student
Minh Greulich
3rd year high school student, Nærum gymnasium
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I'm very interested in biology and so I wanted to experience a real lab and learn about the process. It has been fun but also a bit intimidating.
What did you work on during the project?
I assisted with the interlab study and I helped with some of the creative work related to the Wiki page.
Supervisors
Christopher Workman
Associate Professor, DTU Bioengineering
What is your motivation for joining the DTU BioBuilders?
I supervise DTU Biobuilders and iGEM projects because I believe in a future where synthetic biology is used to benefit society in new and diverse ways. The next generation of engineers and scientists will make the breakthroughs that will make this possible and it is exciting to be a small part of the development of this next generation.
What did you work on during the project?
My role was most often moral support and encouragement. There are so many challenges when going into the lab and experiencing repeated failures. This can be very trying on the patience and it is important to keep the spirits up in order to persevere.
Sponsors
Funding
Otto Mønsted Fonden was founded in 1916. The fund supports and contributes to the Danish Trade and industry. They also supports research and educational science within the technical science and commercial disciplines - www.omfonden.dk
The Novo Nordisk Foundation uses its independence, flexibility and long-term perspective to promote world-class research. In this way the Foundation contributes to developing solutions that address the pressing challenges of the future – to benefit both individuals and society as a whole - novonordiskfonden.dk
The Technical University of Denmark is a technical elite university with international reach and standards. Its mission is to develop and utilize natural and technical sciences to benefit society. The university houses 10,300 students and 5,800 employees focused on education, research, consultancy for the public sector and innovation, which contributes to increased growth and welfare - dtu.dk
DTU Biobuilders is one of the student projects supported by DTU, in general called a BlueDot project. All projects associated with BlueDot aims to develop a sustainable solution to a problem. During the projects the students work together across semesters, curricula and fields of study- dtu.dk
Other Sponsors
We want thank all of our sponsors for making our participation in the iGEM competition possible.
Addgene, the nonprofit global plasmid repository, archives and distributes plasmids for scientists, while also providing free molecular biology resources - addgene.com
The BIONORDIKA GROUP was founded from 1986-1989. They offer a wide range of products and services focus in the areas of Cell & Molecular Biology, Immunology & Diagnostics, Instruments & Disposables and Custom Products & Projects - bionordika.dk
Eurofins Genomics is globally known for its innovative and customised technologies in the life science industries and academic research institutions. It is an international provider of DNA sequencing services, oligonucleotide synthesis products and bioinformatic services - eurofinsgenomics.eu
In Vitro is an exclusive distributor for a number of leading manufacturers from around the world, continuously specialising and introduce new products. The range covers equipment and consumables within Life science research. - in-vitro.dk
IDT specializes in DNA synthesis, gene construction, antisense oligos, molecular beacons and a variety of molecular biology products - idtdna.com
JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH is a leading provider of innovative peptide-based services, and catalog products & kits, as well as a research and development partner for projects in Immunology, Proteomics and Drug Discovery - jpt.com
Mettler Toledo offers precision instruments and services for many applications within research and development, quality control, productions, logistics and retailing to customers worldwide - mt.com
New England Biolabs is a recognized world leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of recombinant and native enzymes for genomic research - neb.com
VWR is a global supplier and distributor of laboratory equipment, chemicals, life science, consumables, equipments, instruments, furniture and service - vwr.com
Qiagen is a provider of sample and assay technologies for molecular diagnostics, applied testing, academic and pharmaceutical research - qiagen.com
