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Meet Our Team!
At Newcastle iGEM we are proud to have interesting individuals from varied backgrounds on our team. Click on our mugshots to find out more about us...Jessica Birt
Background: Studied MSc Synthetic Biology at Newcastle. This year is my second time competing in iGEM, having previously been a member of the 2013 Manchester iGEM team. Now moved to University of Edinburgh for a Bioengineering PhD. Interests include 80s horror films, animation and beer.
Interesting Fact: I lived in West Africa during the Ebola Outbreak.
![Jessica Birt](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/f/f2/Jessica_Profile.png)
Jessica Birt
Sophie Badger
Background;A 3rd year MBiol Biology student. I joined iGEM to learn more about synthetic biology and the work that is being doing in this field, as well as to gain experience in a laboratory. Outside of my degree I am a mentor to younger students, am a member of the University LGBT society, and in my spare time I enjoy reading and drawing both by pencil and digitally.
Interesting fact; I love yoga
![Sophie Badger](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/e/ea/Sophie_Profile.jpg)
Sophie Badger
Michaela Chapman
BackgroundGraduate in MSc Industrial and Commercial Biotechnology. I joined the team as part of my thesis and to gain an understanding of the world of Synthetic Biology. Outside of university I am an avid skier and was on the SnowSports society committee during my undergrad degree.
Interesting fact; I can also (used to be able to) speak French.
![Michaela Chapman](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/8/86/Michaela_Profile.jpeg)
Michaela Chapman
Jack Cooper
Background; I graduated from Computer Science in 2016 and just finished my MSc in Synthetic Biology this August. I joined iGEM to have the chance to participate in a global university level competition, on a team attempting tasks spanning multiple difficult topics which go beyond the more traditional areas of synthetic biology projects. Having to think about legislative processes and how to communicate with the public and present our ideas has really fleshed this project out and made it a lot more substantial in my eyes. In my spare time I like to play the piano.
Interesting Fact; I love Declan Kohl.
![Jack Cooper](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/f/fc/Jack_Pic.png)
Jack Cooper
Declan Kohl
Background; A 3rd Year BSc Cellular and Molecular Biology student. I joined iGEM to have the chance to conduct my own research project and to gain insight into the workings of a Synthetic Biology Lab. Outside of my degree, I play for Newcastle University Gaelic Football Men's 1sts and sit on the club committee. I am also a keen runner, recently completing the Great North Run and Great Scottish Run.
Interesting Fact; I love Spanish music
![Declan Kohl](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/9/97/Declan_Profile.jpeg)
Declan Kohl
Marcia Pryce
Background; A 3rd Year Chemical Engineering MEng student. I joined iGEM to broaden my understanding in an alternative field in a way that is challenging and aims to tackle important issues. Other than living in the Library in my free time I volunteer, teaching children coding and helping them with their extra-curricular activities, and have two other part time jobs with Newcastle Uni advertising STEM within schools and Student Ambassador.
Interesting Fact; I have a rabbit which is trained like a dog, he also likes to eat through wires and shock himself.
![Marcia Pryce](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/2/25/Marcia_Profile.jpg)
Marcia Pryce
Zoe Wilson
Background;Third year English Language and Literature student. I joined iGEM for the challenge of working in an unfamiliar environment; the opportunity to learn new things and work with new people; and the chance to see how skills from my degree could be applied in a different context. To relax outside of uni I enjoy listening to music, reading, writing, watching cricket and practising yoga.
Interesting fact; I love old books- one of my favourite possessions is a 1904 edition of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass.
![Zoe Wilson](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/6/67/Zoe_Profile.jpeg)
Zoe Wilson
Anil Wipat
Background; I am a Professor of Bioinformatics at the School of Computing Science at Newcastle University. I co-direct Newcastle's Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS) research group. I am also affiliated with the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, associate-director of the Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioexploitation and director of the Centre for Health and Bioinformatics.
![Anil Wipat](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/7/76/Anil_Picture.png)
Anil Wipat
Jem Stach
Background;Principal research interests include the ecology of marine actinomycetes, (diversity, abundance and biogeography), novel natural products from marine actinomycetes, the application of peptide nucleic acids in species-specific bactericide and the development of antisense-based antibacterial screens
![Jem Stach](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/e/e7/Jem_Profile.jpg)
Jem Stach