Team:DeNovocastrians/Team
Aakash Patel (Lab Work, Team Captain)
I am currently completing a BSc majoring in Biological sciences at The University of Newcastle. I chose this field because I aim to study microorganisms for their multitude of uses (e.g. bioremediation, production, therapy etc.) and to investigate the origins of life. My role in the project involves growing different bacterial species in benzoate and catechol to ascertain their tolerance and assess their metabolic pathways. I love to travel and experience other cultures, some of the places I have visited include Canada, USA, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Korea and Cambodia. I also loves to learn about other fields of study, play and watch sports, learn music, and rave at psytrance and techno events!
Angela O’Connor (Media & Communications, Design)
I am studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries, majoring in Media and Communications. I chose this field because communicating and connecting with others has been a passion of mine from a young age, from making short films with my cousins and friends, to writing articles for my local newspaper ‘The Coonamble Times’, I’ve loved every aspect of it. My role in the team involves using my skills in media and design to help communicate the team’s project with the public, as well as create some eye-catching content for the iGEM competition. A fun fact about me is that i'm a bit of a chameleon when it comes to talents. I have dipped my toes into all types of activities and hobbies including; sports such as netball & basketball, fine arts, photography, graphic illustration, filmmaking, writing and many more. I mainly love spending time with friends and family.
Catherine Mackay (Lab Work, Outreach)
I am studying a Bachelor of Mathematics and Bachelor of Biological Science at The University of Newcastle. During the last three years at university, I have been elected treasurer of the UoN Math Club, become a Math tutor and garnered experience working as a cashier. My role in the project involves cloning the benABCD cluster of Escherichia fergusonii, and performing functional assays to examine benzoate degradation. Aside from math and science, I am passionate about sustainability, specifically regarding reusable water bottles and eco-friendly lunch boxes. I'm also an avid plant enthusiast, rock collector, and tea drinker!
Darcy Kilvert (Lab Work, Outreach, 2IC)
I am studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in biology at The University of Newcastle. Though I have always been interested in science, it was not my first pick for a degree. I originally started studying a Bachelor of Public Communications at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), until promptly realising the last thing I wanted to study on the planet was Public Communications! My role in the project is to clone the benzene degradation cluster benABCD from the environmental bacteria Rhodoccocus into lab strains of E. coli. A fun fact about me is that, during my visits to Papua New Guinea, I managed to contract Malaria twice, almost got washed down a flooding Sepik river, and once avoided getting kidnapped by winning a tightly contest ballot. When I'm not narrowly avoiding death, I enjoy a good drink with good company and busting it down on the dance floor!
Dayna Perez (Artwork, Design, Communication)
I am studying a Bachelor of Natural history Illustration at the University of Newcastle. I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil and I have a particular passion for native flora and fauna. Since starting my degree, I have been given the opportunity to see and draw native flora and fauna that I had never even glimpsed before in person! My role in the team involves working on the design aspects of the project, helping make the science understandable to the general public through images and aesthetics. I enjoy the simple interests of life; alongside visual arts, I am quite passionate about fictional literature — reading, writing, and the sort — and i'm currently in the process of editing a 360,000 word manuscript that I hope to one day get published. I also love to travel and I am a keen collector of plush animals!
Luke Gerassimou (Lab Work, Chief Operating Officer)
I am completing my final semester of a Bachelor of Biotechnology. I chose this degree as it complemented my love of science and helping people. Growing up, I didn't have the greatest influences from my peers. What helped me was falling in love with science and dedicating myself to studying life’s greatest mysteries. My role in the project is to develop a biosensor to detect benzene in the environment and the rate at which it is degraded. A fun fact about me is that when I am not studying, I am organising my next trip across the border. Some of my travel highlights include South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Vanuatu and New Zealand.
Ruby Pippen (Lab Work, Collaborations)
I am studying a combined law and science degree and with a major in biological sciences. Since commencing my studies at the University of Newcastle, I tended to lean more towards the science side, finding that most of the areas of law which interest me involve an element of STEM such as Health law, environmental law and intellectual property law. My role in the project focuses on the benE gene which encodes a benzene transporter. My aim is to clone and insert the benE gene into plasmid vectors. In my spare time I have quite the green thumb, tending to my impressive collection of over thirty indoor plants and a herb garden. I also love to cook and i'm currently trying to teach myself basic embroidery in hopes of up-cycling old clothes. I'm basically a twenty-year-old grandma!
Joachim Steen Larsen
Joachim studies Cyanobacterial products and their biological function at the University of Newcastle. His research focuses on the natural products produced by plants and bacteria, and the bioactivity that they show. Joachim's role is in an advisory position for the team, enabling him to develop his own skills as a researcher, but mainly, he hopes to help the team become better researchers and show them research is much more than just pipetting in the lab. In his spare time, he likes to relax with a good book or a good movie, his favourites being Stephen King and ‘IT’. Joachim is also interested in the start-up community, and while he lived in Copenhagen, he investigated the different opportunities for a start-up.
Evan Gibbs
Evan has always been interested in biology. After a 20 year career in hotel management, he decided to enrol in a bachelor of science majoring in Biology at the University of Newcastle. Evan’s area of study is small molecule overproduction, utilising biosensors and high throughput screening techniques. Evan’s role is as an advisor to the team, helping the students with the construction of the biosensor as well as guidance throughout the entire project. In his spare time, Evan is an avid home-brewer with a growing library of yeast strains. He also enjoys going cycling with the ineffable Dr Mathews and trying to keep his two Jack Russell X Dachshunds, Lee & Roy Longfellow’s, in some semblance of sanity.
Catherine Dawson
Catherine is currently studying polymicrobial biofilm interactions between two clinically relevant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. She chose this field because she loves the problem solving aspect of science, planning experiments and fitting all of the results together is like a giant mental puzzle! Catherine’s role in the team is as an advisor, which involves helping the students design and plan experiments, and also teaching them practical lab skills. When Catherine isn’t designing and planning experiments, she loves mountain biking, rock climbing and back country skiing. Catherine recently got back into reading fiction and is currently making her way through the ‘Dune’ series by Frank Herbert, which has made her realise how much she’s missed the way a good book can submerge you in another world.
Professor Brett Neilan
Professor Brett Neilan is a molecular biologist and microbial chemist. Professor Neilan completed his PhD at The University of New South Wales. His first post-doctorate, funded by NASA, was in the Department of Geology at Stanford University in California, where he studied ancient micro-fossils of Cyanobacterial stromatolites. His second post-doctorate, more biotechnology focused, looked at how Cyanobacterial toxins are made and what genes are involved. Professor Neilan’s role in the iGEM team is as an overall management role, coordinating with the other academics and PhD mentors involved in the project. He also oversees the biology/biotechnology side of things and imparts his experience as a research scientist to the team. Professor Neialan's main hobbies these days are spending time with the family!
Dr Karl Hassan
Dr Karl Hassan studies the field of molecular microbiology. On why he chose this field, he stated "Microbes impact our lives in countless ways and have huge potential to help us build a sustainable future, but we are still just scratching the surface of what we have to learn about them. Over the past 15 years, there have been major developments in genomics, recombinant DNA technology and DNA synthesis that have pushed forward the field of Synthetic Biology. The combination of Synthetic Biology and the vast genetic diversity in microbes provides massive scope to do novel and interesting things. It is an exciting time to be in the field." A fun fact about Dr Karl is that he likes travelling to cities overseas and to tropical islands where he can sit by a pool with a cocktail. He also enjoys hanging out with friends and family!
Dr Benjamin Matthews
Dr Benjamin Mathews works within the Creative Industries, engaging with the meeting points of research and industry practice to solve human problems. He completed a PhD in Coomnications before becoming a professional writer in creative teams, working in digital agencies producing all kinds of media. He then started his own consultancy, before rejoining the University as a Lecturer in Design in the School of Creative Industries where he now focuses on work ready skills and entrepreneurship. Dr Matthew's role in the group is to act as a supervisor and mentor, especially around strategic communication, media production and engagement. In his spare time Dr Matthews is an all-round adventure man, enjoying cycling, swimming, surfing and hiking. He also loves hats and fermentation, lots and lots of fermentation.
Dr Bernadette Drabsch
Dr Bernadette Drabsch is a polymath illustrator, working across various areas within Natural history Illustration. When asked what lead her to this career, she said, “I love working at the nexus of science and art.” Her career allows her to work closely with the natural world and the fields that study it, from archaeology to zoology. Her role in the team is as a co-supervisor of second year student, Dayna Perez, who will be using her visualisation skills to tell the iGEM story. Bernadette has been assisting will all things illustration and visual design, focusing on how to visually present the team’s project. Bernadette lives a very adventurous life; mountain biking, kayaking and hiking in the outdoors. She also likes to volunteer as an archaeological illustrator in the field every second year and is currently recolouring the hieroglyphs on a 26th dynasty Egyptian sarcophagus.