Matteo
WHO ARE YOU?
Hi! I’m Matteo, nice to meet you!
I am a young economist and researcher of the University of Edinburgh that joined the Edinburgh's iGEM 2020.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
Reading: especially books related to technology and the economy.
Gardening: when I am back to my hometown I always make my own vegetable garden
Watching documentaries: Documentaries are such a nice format, you learn by being entertained.
WHY ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN IGEM?
I think that biotech is a fascinating industry that has a lot of latent potentials but many structural constraints.
I joined the iGEM competition to gather information and find alternative models of innovation for the biotech industry.
I believe that the iGEM initiatives are one of a kind, not only the competition is an exciting shared experience for many but it could also be the secret ingredient in changing the biotech industry for the good
EDUCATION
I obtained a Bachelor’s in Business and Economics in 2018 and recently I completed my dissertation for my Master’s in Management of Bioeconomy Innovation and governance that I started last year (2019) at the University of Edinburgh.
University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, UK --- Master’s in Management of Bioeconomy Innovation and governance
LUISS Guido Carli University Rome, Italy --- Bachelor’s in Business and Economics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I worked as a Freelancer Business Analyst/Consultant to do quantitative and qualitative research for various startups in the fields of logistics, media, and technology.
And I have been constantly involved in entrepreneurship endeavours.
WHAT PERSON DO YOU WANT TO BE/ASPIRE?
Generally, I want to to become a reliable expert that help people including my fellow biologist colleagues to finds solutions to problems that affect people locally and globally
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS
That’s difficult but I’ll try… Sturdy, Determined, Perceptive
WHY DO YOU LIKE BIOLOGY?
I like biology since it could represent the next major technological frontier.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY BIOLOGY?
(Not applicable to me since I am not studying biology)
HOW YOUR PROJECT/DISSERTATION INTEGRATES WITH THE OTHER TEAM
MEMBERS PROJECTS?
My research gave us insight on how teams and biologists in iGEM could create innovative products and services in new ways. My research does not directly integrate with the work of the team members, but I am trying to apply the finding and insight gathered during my research to our iGEM project.
WHY IS YOUR PROJECT USEFUL?
My research studies how iGEM teams and the iGEM foundation operate and the results could guide the future generation of iGEMers in understanding how the practices of openness and valorisation could shape the biotech industry, academia and the iGEM competition.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY?
If the right values are applied to synthetic biology and the right people work on it, synthetic biology could democratize science.
WHY DO YOU THINK A UNIVERSAL BIOSENSOR IS USEFUL?
Our project idea is very cool, I can already imagine people using our universal biosensor everywhere…. Future generations of iGEMers, kids during their biology class, people in developing countries trying to stop the outbreaks…. In fact, the potential of a universal biosensor is limitless
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BIOSENSORS?
They don’t necessarily solve problems, but a biosensor is the essential first step toward a final solution.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS TEAM?
What I like most about my team is that everyone is very knowledgeable and everyone is working on very different things…. Riboswitches, logic gates, T7 polymerase…
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW SUPERVISOR HELPED THE TEAM?
I did most of the work without relying on supervisors, but on occasion, they gave me some useful insights
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW TEAM MEMBERS HELPED YOU?
Since this is a biology competition and their work is very different from mine, I think that all their work is amazing even if I can’t comprehend most of it, and I am grateful that my team members had the patience to explain to me various unfamiliar biology concepts.
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