Team:FSU/Attributions
Team Lead Major: Biochemistry As the leader of FSU’s iGEM team, I coordinated virtual workshops among ourselves and other undergraduate schools worldwide to foster unique collaboration opportunities in the COVID era. I ensured each sub-team communicated effectively with one another and remained on track to complete our project. I worked diligently on the deliverables with members of our team and filled in on any necessary projects for individual sub-teams. iGEM is an incredible organization that allows maximum creativity, teamwork, and leadership, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to lead such a prominent group of students. Design Team Lead Major: Biomedical Engineering As the leader of the Design Team, I came up with new ideas and designed and reformed many of the devices. I also worked closely with Andres and Christine to analyze the models and finalize the design of our project. I constructed the design analysis and used SBOL Designer to create versions of our solution to visualize the best choice for wastewater treatment plants.
Associate Team Leader
Major: Neuroscience
I managed the team along with the Team Leader to coordinate efforts and organize the project among all three sub-teams: Human Practices, Design, and Create. I helped brainstorm the video deliverables and the design for the iGEM wiki. Create Team Lead Major: Biochemistry As the Create Team lead, I directed and edited the project promotion and presentation videos. I also contributed my creative skills to design our logo and other visual graphics within the poster and wiki. I delegated tasks to other team members in this leadership role, including the contribution requirement for the bronze medal and the protocols that would have been used if we were in a lab this year. I joined iGEM to help improve my teamwork and leadership skills, as well as to expand my knowledge of science and engineering. Human Practices Team Member Major: Environmental Science and Policy I contributed to this year's iGEM by working with the Human Practices Team to create a viable project that could best fit within our world today. Much of my work consisted of research and contact with experts and officials to build the story around our project. I focused on securing support for the direction of our project, as well as worked closely with the sub team to conduct research and outreach. I joined iGEM initially out of an interest in genetic engineering and it's future implications in the world. My membership not only increased my knowledge, but it has enabled me to be a more capable and effective team member. Design Team Member Major: Biochemistry Initially, I coordinated the search for solution ideas to the growing antibiotic resistance problem. After we decided on a solution, I designed the methane-based kill switch to ensure the bacteria would die if it were to get out of the treatment plant. However, it was important to use methane as the inducer so that we did not have to add a synthetic nutrient to the plant and increase cost for treatment plant owners. I also assisted the rest of the design team with any small things they needed like finding out optimal pH ranges for the enzymes being used and the layout of most treatment plants.
Human Practices Team Leader Major: Anthropology As the leader of the Human Practices team, I reached out to professionals in the field of antibiotic resistance and wastewater treatment plants to gain a better understanding of the project. I also directed the creation of the human practices report, detailing the possible positives and negatives of our project and its corresponding design. This was an excellent multidisciplinary experience that enhanced my capabilities as a member of a team.
Create Team Member Major: Chemical Engineering I participated in iGEM due to my interest in genetic engineering and desire to gain experience working on an interdisciplinary project. As a part of the Create Team, I documented the parts and description of the BIOFAB modular and randomized promoter libraries, which was integral for the contribution bronze medal requirement. Human Practices Team Member Major: Exercise Physiology As part of the Human Practices sub team, I looked through research articles, news reports, and government contacts to contextualize the problem of antibiotic resistance to the real world. I also found contacts from the FDEP to help the team understand the government's role in regulation of the problem. Additionally, I worked on the team focused on the Science Communication video collaboration with the University of Florida's iGEM team. What led me to iGEM was the interdisciplinary nature of the program and its push to solve problems facing the world.
Human Practices Team Member Major: Biology and Psychology As a member of the Human Practices Team, I helped our team to better understand the root of our problem. This involved researching where antibiotic pollution comes from and evaluating the effectiveness of our solution given the constraints. I also took on a role in outreach, helping to organize and produce a video promoting local high schools to get involved in iGEM. I joined iGEM to gain a deeper understanding of biology and genetic engineering. The interdisciplinary nature of iGEM also seemed like a good opportunity for experience working on a modern professional team. Create Team Member Major: Biological Sciences As a member of the Create Team, I participated in the creation of our team’s Presentation and Promotion video. I also input the BIOFAB Random Promoter and Terminator Collection into the registry. I joined iGEM because it was originally an opportunity for me to get more comfortable in a laboratory setting. However, due to the pandemic, I came out of this experience with a newfound knowledge about teamwork and getting hard work done, regardless of the circumstance.
Software Lead Major: Computer Science As the Software Lead, I collaborated with all members of the team to create & design the wiki to the teams needs and standards. I joined iGEM because I believe that opportunities like iGEM are amazing creative outputs that stimulate the development of curious students. The best part about iGEM is that it is not just for students studying scientific disciplines, but the arts, humanities, and everything in between!
Modeling Lead & Design Team Member Major: Molecular Neuroscience In the beginning stages, I was tasked with researching possible problems that can be solved using genetic engineering. I first brought up the idea of pursuing the problem of antibiotic resistance. In the later stages of the project, I created model simulations of how our modified bacteria would interact in the water treatment facility. These models helped us find out ways to improve our project in the absence of physical labs.Meet Our Team...
Sarah Fuller
Dat Vo
Miguel Sarenas
Kelly Bacherman
Zane Massengale
Christine Cremeans
Caroline Young
Miguel Brinon
Kim Pedrigal
Hannah Champ
Jennifer Roque
Kajoyrie Purcell
Andres Ramirez