Team:UCLouvain/Team
It is very simple to describe … “Work, Learn and have Fun” is our motto. This represents quite well our crazy team. Since the beginning we are creating a great atmosphere between us. Our agenda is full of IGEM activities!! Road trip to Wageningen for the IGEM Benelux meeting, team working each week to meet us and share about the project, presentation of our adventure during a conference, etc… Though we come from various faculties, we see skills differences as a real added value and all of us have something to say around the table. Responsibilities have been allocated according to our expertise and preferences but jokes duty is exclusively for Marine.
So, we do not need to say a lot but only: “It is a great experience with great people”.
Our aim is to design a biobadge detecting excessive UV exposure and therefore warn us to seek sun protection should it become necessary. This badge would work as a capsule holding E. coli cells, changing colours as the UV intensity increases. Therefore, we investigated two approaches using photocaged tyrosine (o-nitrobenzyl tyrosine). In both cases, UV-rays will release the tyrosine and enhance a reporter signal. (1) Starting with a tyrosine auxotroph E. coli strain, a reporter RFP will be synthetized once tyrosine is liberated from its cage. (2) Using a photocaged peptide and a specific transcription factor called ComR, we also aim at UV-controlling the expression of the reporter gene. The capsule would also work as a safe and reliable containment, destroying the engineered microorganisms once the biobadge is discarded.
Hi I'm Alexandre Jolly, I'm in my first year of master degree in bioengineering and biochemistry. I'm working on the ginger's biggest problem: sunburns ;). More seriously, I joined the iGEM UCLouvain team to improve my skills in the lab. I'm glad to be part of this awesome team!
Hello, I’m Benjamin Ledoux and I’m in my second year of master in bioengineering. I decided to join the iGEM adventure because I’ve always loved genetic and challenges, and iGEM allowed me to combine both. This adventure was unique and I’m glad to have been a part of it.
Hellooow ! My name is Marine Lefèvre, I’m currently studying bioengineering after achieving a bachelor degree in Chemistry. I’m also amazed by the broad range of applications genetic engineering can bring into this world. That’s why I chose to join this iGEM team. Besides, I’m the one redhead who is able to get a sunburn in the beginning of MARCH in BELGIUM. If you don’t know a thing about Belgian climate, here is a hint: it’s rainy two out of three days! So, this was really unfortunate! In this team, I was in charge of the work in the lab, the financial aspects management and the organisation of our events. Looking forward to meeting you in Boston!
Hello! My name is Olivier Suys. I'm a master 2 biochemistry student. I studied for my bachelor degree in medical biology. I think iGEM is a great opportunity to launch your own project in our field and this is the main reason (among many others) I joined the UCLouvain2017 team.
Hello guys! I'm Pierre Van Meerbeeck (yes, you read it well, four "e" in my name!). I'm a bioengineer student in my first year of master degree. I joined in the iGEM family because I'm passionate about genetic engineering and about challenges. During this adventure, I worked in the lab but I was also responsible of the coordination of the team. Coffee is life.
Hi! I'm Roxane Schleusner and I'm in my final year studying biochemistry and molecular biology. I joined the iGEM adventure because I think it's a great opportunity to challenge ourselves and to learn more about synthetic biology. Also, we get to work with SO many new and interesting people! As part of our team, I worked mainly in the lab and I've never regretted signing up.
Hi! I'm Thomas Reginster. I'm in the second year of master degree in bioengineering. I do my master thesis in molecular and cellular biology and I love it, that's why I take part to iGEM. It's a nice way to do science and make new friends. During the project I worked in the lab and searched for sponsors. Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
On top of that, we are all studying at the Université catholique de Louvain.
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Patrice Soumillon is teaching biochemistry and enzymology at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium. He is a specialist in the functioning and evolution of enzymes. His research team is part of the group of biochemistry, biophysics and genetics of microorganisms at the Life Sciences Institute. Thanks to his help and expertise, he follows us all along our scientific adventure and he gives us valuable advice.
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Charles Hachez is teaching at the science faculty of the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve; Belgium. He is specifically interested in the molecular genetic structure ruling the development of glandular trichomes tractable in the leaf epidermis of Nicotiana tabacum. He will accompany our team during the Giant Jamboree in Boston.
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Bernard Hallet is also a teacher at the science faculty of the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. He conducts researches about the molecular system that mediate specialised DNA rearrangements in bacteria. As the other teachers, he was an important actor of our project. Thanks to his support and knowledge, we are succeeding to develop BactaSun.
