The QGEM 2020 team would like to acknowledge and thank all of our team and friends for making this year’s project as great as it could be! Although the lab was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team stepped up remotely, and we could not thank them enough!
While our institution does not teach an iGEM or specific synthetic biology course, much of our team is supported by and takes courses through the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and Department of Chemical Engineering. Many members of our wiki team attend the School of Computing at Queen’s University.
QGEM each year begins the hiring process for a new director in early winter, shortly after the previous team attends the iGEM final jamboree. Leads are hired in late February, with a call for volunteers shortly after that. Brainstorming on this year’s 2020 project began in March, with the first models and work started in late April of 2020 after winter semester exams.
Sono Khan organized and coordinated the team, its finances, and sponsorships throughout the project. He also assisted with the Wet-Lab and conducted nanoscale molecular dynamic simulations.
Sono Khan
Director of QGEM
Kody Klupt designed the protein constructs, wrote protocols, did advanced static modelling, created the parts in the registry, and developed a seminar lecture on biohacking.
Kody Klupt
Wet Lab Lead
Geneviève Norris-Roozmon designed the detection device and modeled the fluid dynamics of ISF in microneedles. She also created an end-user phone application for Velcrion.
Genevieve Norris-Roozmon
Dry Lab Lead
Anthony Marsili
Wiki Design Lead
Liana Evans
Wiki Design Lead
Mahdi Kabir
Wiki Design Advisor
Our wiki design trio of Anthony, Liana, and Mahdi designed the wiki pages and helped implement them on the QGEM wiki using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. There work was instrumental in graphic design and delivering our project to you!
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Hannah created, organized and promoted the essay contest for high schools. She also assisted with creating our survey for CKD patients, which we are currently waiting results for.
Hannah Beddow
Human Practices Lead
Aasiya organized and executed various activities for public engagement including the design of educational programs and social media content.
Aasiya Remtulla
Public Engagement Lead
Talia helped facilitate our collaborations with many teams around the world, and worked on creating a collaborations video about common questions asked about synthetic biology.
Talia Dang
Collaborations Lead
Janis provided advice on our outreach plans, helped design our logo, and assisted in the creation of educational materials.
Janis Cheng
Outreach Advisor
Akshaj Darbar
Bioinformatics Software Developer
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University
Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology
Dr. Allingham provided protein structure advice, organized team management, aided with troubleshooting, assisted with team finances and iGEM registration/communications.
Dr. John Allingham
Principal Investigator
Professor, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University
Co-Director, Bachelor of Health Sciences
Dr. Adams provided advice on CKD biomarkers and physiology, biosensor apparatus technology, and general presentation help.
Dr. Michael Adams
Project Advisor
Nephrologist, Kingston General Hospital
Clinician-scientist, Kingston General Hospital Research Institute
Professor, Department of Medicine and Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University
Dr. Holden advised us on clinical-best practices for CKD patients, CKD monitoring protocols, biomarkers for CKD, and has helped us create a survey for CKD patients which needed approval by our institutions research ethics board.
Dr. Rachel Holden, MD
Project Advisor
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Maya helped create many of the Team Queen’s Canada graphics, along with providing insight towards the graphical layout of our wiki.
Maya Dixon
Graphic Design Lead
Hannah Beddow
Human Practices Lead
Aasiya Remtulla
Public Engagement Lead