is an early standing sophomore studying biology at MIT whose research interests cover
a wide range of topics. Charles decided to participate in iGEM because he felt it was an excellent
opportunity to be able to explore the ways in which scientists can manipulate the fundamental
principles of life to engineer innovative solutions to challenging problems. He hopes to use the
leadership and technical skills he gains from iGEM to help him in his future aspirations to become a
physician and to own his own clinic. Charles also has previous lab experience from working at the
National Yang-Ming Medical University Department of
Physiology Clinical Medicine Core Lab. While there, he
researched the effect of anti- inflammatory chemicals on
the recovery rate of wounded alveolar epithelial cells and
helped design a new measurement technique utilizing
basic geometry software to reduce overall degree of error.
Outside the lab, Charles spends his free time leading the
MIT Freshman Heavyweight Crew to success as a
coxswain. Charles is also an Emerson scholar studying the
viola with Professor Marcus Thompson and an Eagle Scout.
Jenny Cheng
is a recent graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology receiving her
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in June of 2011. Jenny decided to
join the iGEM team to gain further experience in synthetic biology after becoming interested in the
subject while working as an undergraduate researcher in the Lab of
Molecular Self-Assembly with Peter Carr. During her time working in
this lab, she created the TraceData application, which generates a
Microsoft Excel document from DNA sequencing files and analyzes
the DNA sequence. She looks forward to being able to continue to
combine her solid computer science skills, which include the ability
to code in more than 5 languages, with her lab experience to solve
biological problems through iGEM. In her free time, Jenny enjoys
video game design and animation and has worked in the Singapore-
MIT GAMBIT Game Lab where she was part of a team that created
the game Phorm. She also likes to travel and is fluent in both English
and Mandarin Chinese. Last summer, she taught computer science
to students at Hebrew University in Israel as part of the Middle East
Education through Technology (MEET) Program.
Michelle Dion
is a rising junior pursuing a degree in chemical-biological engineering with a minor in
literature. Michelle decided to participate in iGEM because she felt it was an ideal opportunity to utilize
her knowledge of engineering and of biology to design and implement an innovative synthetic biology
project in a team environment. Her interest in iGEM and synthetic
biology stems from her belief that, as an athlete and MIT student,
no one should be kept from pursuing their passions by physical
limitations, such as disease or disability. She hopes in the future to
be able to pursue a career in either medicine or biological
engineering in which she is able to use synthetic biology to
improve the lives of people suffering from chronic diseases.
Michelle also looks forward to gaining extensive experience in a
lab environment through iGEM as well. When not in lab, Michelle
is a starter for both the MIT Varsity Field Hockey and the MIT
Varsity Softball teams, where she has been a two-time NEWMAC
Academic All Conference selection. She also spends time
volunteering in the greater Boston area as a tutor for Tutors for All,
a program dedicated to providing one-on-one instruction to
students in underserved urban schools.
Divya Arcot
is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering as a member of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Class of 2014. Divya decided to participate in iGEM because she
believed it would give her an unparalleled insight into the field of
synthetic biology and the ways in which she could apply it to use in
solving problems in immunology, an area in which she is extremely
passionate about. Outside of biology, Divya’s interests include
aerospace and space exploration. She is a member of the executive
board of MIT Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
where she serves as publicity chair. Divya also interned at the NASA
Johnson Space Center where she created the infrastructure for an
Asbestos Exposure Assessment Database, which compiles hazardous
material exposure data into a well-organized format for NASA, OSHA,
and the EPA. Divya was the 2010 National Winner of the National
Center for Women and Information Technology Award for Aspirations
in Computing and the Colorado State Winner and National Finalist for
the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.
Clara Park
is a rising sophomore pursuing a degree in Biological Engineering. Clara became
interested in iGEM because she enjoys the way in which synthetic biology is a dynamic, interactive field
with infinite potential to be able to solve global issues. She was also excited to join iGEM because she
felt it was one of the very rare opportunities that she would get to build something out of her
imagination with minimal restrictions. Clara hopes to use iGEM to gain
skills to build a foundation for her future career in synthetic biology.
Outside of iGEM, Clara’s research experience includes being a research
assistant in OLED Research at Hongik University in Korea where she
developed a theoretical model for view angle dependent emission
pattern of OLEDs and was a second author of a thesis published in
Journal of Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Materials
Engineers (KIEEME). Clara also has a patent under examination in Korea
for a travel carrier that resembles a drawer to facilitate the process of
packing. Clara won the Kyungki State government Global Leadership
Award and the Taiwan Ministry of Education International Intelligent
Creativity Contest, both in 2009.
Jonathan Chien
is a rising sophomore at MIT, studying Biological
Engineering. He’s participating in iGEM because he’s fascinated by the
idea of manipulating and programming biological life as a system of
circuits. Prevous to iGEM, he’s worked in a biochemistry laboratory,
purifying enzymes and synthesizing deuterated RNA for structure analysis
and has also had programming experience. In his free time, he serves as a
Tour Guide, Treasurer for the MIT 2014 Class Council, and Vice-President
of his fraternity. After graduation, he hopes to work at a local
biotechnology company.
Grant Robinson
is a rising junior at MIT, studying Biological Engineering. He was a member of MIT’s
2010 iGEM team and is back because he really enjoyed the pairing of a
group collaborative and friendly atmosphere with intense novel
research last summer. As an iGEM alumnus, he has valuable synthetic
biology and laboratory experience. Outside of iGEM, he assisted with
running a synthetic biology class this year, and helps fellow students as a
MedLink. After MIT, he hopes to continue his education as a graduate
student, potentially studying modularity, control, and design in the field
of biology.
Tyler Wagner
is a rising senior at MIT, majoring in Chemical
Enginering. He hopes that through iGEM, he can complement his
background with synthetic biology. Previous to iGEM, he has worked
in both government and MIT labs and has prior programming
experience. Last year, he published a report on a bomb facility and
propellant burning for the government. Outside of iGEM, he’s a
member of MIT’s Varsity Football Team. He is currently deciding
whether to pursue a PhD or medical school after graduation, and he
hopes that iGEM can help him decide which career path to choose.
Mariola Szenk
is a rising senior in the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, majoring in
Biophysics and Economics. She’s especially interested by the emerging
technological advancements in biology and is working on iGEM through the
EBICS REU program to be on that frontier of development. She brings
exhaustive lab experience to the team, having worked in studying genetic
mutations, bioinformatics, and in programming software for biology.
Outside of iGEM, she sings as President of her college’s choir and has
studied abroad in both Italy and Poland. After graduation, she wishes to
manufacture biological devices to help others and wants to pursue a PhD.
Semon Rezchikov
is a high school senior at Somerset Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.
He’s extremely curious about the potential applications that the field
of synthetic biology and bioengineering have, which is why he’s
applied to be a part of the iGEM team. He brings an experienced
programming background to the team and has an avid interest in
mathematics beyond his high school curriculum. His current plan after
college is to do research in an industry setting or to start his own
biotechnology company.
Louis Lamia
is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as a member of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s class of 2014. Louis decided to participate in iGEM because he
felt it was a unique opportunity to use his knowledge of computer science and programming to solve
biological problems that could possibly lay the foundation for
future technology in areas such as medicine and industry. He
was also excited to further his research in the dynamic field of
synthetic biology after having previously conducted research in
the lab of MIT professor, Timothy Lu. When not in lab, Louis is
kept busy with his involvement in his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi,
where he is the recording secretary. He also enjoys acting in his
free time and is a director for the Dramashop Theatre
Ensemble. Louis also participates in a wide variety of volunteer
activities such as going on the Saint Marcellin Society Service
Trip to Peru in July of 2010 where he assisted in the
construction of a local school.
Kenneth Hu
is a rising junior at MIT. His participation in iGEM came from the realization that
synthetic and systems biology uses the elegant fundamentals of physics
to solve the interesting problems of biology. He has extensive
biochemical laboratory experience through working with Toxoplasma
gondii, and has gained valuable experience in analyzing gene sequencing
data, designing gene constructs for transgenic research, and
fluorescence microscopy. Other skills include tissue hood protocol, RNA
extraction, and microarray analysis. He has a paper published, titled “σE
Stress Response in Mutagenesis.” During the semester, he is also a
teaching assistant for MIT’s introductory biology course, teaching bi-
weekly recitations and preparing course materials for around 20 hours
of work per week. In addition to his research experience, he ranked top
in the nation as a finalist for the three separate competitions National
Physics, Chemistry, and Biology Olympiad. Upon graduation, he hopes to continue his research in
synthetic and systems biology as a graduate student, and then continue his work as a postdoc and
secure a position at some academic institution.
Tiffany Huang
is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as a member of
MIT’s class of 2013. From the cutting edge research and technology, to the infinite possibilities of
working with the fabric of evolution, it was hard for Tiffany not to find synthetic biology interesting. She
wanted to return to the lab to gain an appreciation for research and help pioneer an emerging field
through this unique opportunity, although she anticipates devoting her future to programming and
computer science. She has a strong command over Java and Python through years of experience in
using the two languages, and has worked with front-end web design as well as back-end programming.
Tiffany exercises her artistic side through web design, photography, drawing, and violin. She also enjoys
teaching, having worked closely with high school students to teach a weekly three-hour Advanced
Placement Physics class.
"
is an early standing sophomore studying biology at MIT whose research interests cover
a wide range of topics. Charles decided to participate in iGEM because he felt it was an excellent
opportunity to be able to explore the ways in which scientists can manipulate the fundamental
principles of life to engineer innovative solutions to challenging problems. He hopes to use the
leadership and technical skills he gains from iGEM to help him in his future aspirations to become a
physician and to own his own clinic. Charles also has previous lab experience from working at the
National Yang-Ming Medical University Department of
Physiology Clinical Medicine Core Lab. While there, he
researched the effect of anti- inflammatory chemicals on
the recovery rate of wounded alveolar epithelial cells and
helped design a new measurement technique utilizing
basic geometry software to reduce overall degree of error.
Outside the lab, Charles spends his free time leading the
MIT Freshman Heavyweight Crew to success as a
coxswain. Charles is also an Emerson scholar studying the
viola with Professor Marcus Thompson and an Eagle Scout.
is a recent graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology receiving her
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in June of 2011. Jenny decided to
join the iGEM team to gain further experience in synthetic biology after becoming interested in the
subject while working as an undergraduate researcher in the Lab of
Molecular Self-Assembly with Peter Carr. During her time working in
this lab, she created the TraceData application, which generates a
Microsoft Excel document from DNA sequencing files and analyzes
the DNA sequence. She looks forward to being able to continue to
combine her solid computer science skills, which include the ability
to code in more than 5 languages, with her lab experience to solve
biological problems through iGEM. In her free time, Jenny enjoys
video game design and animation and has worked in the Singapore-
MIT GAMBIT Game Lab where she was part of a team that created
the game Phorm. She also likes to travel and is fluent in both English
and Mandarin Chinese. Last summer, she taught computer science
to students at Hebrew University in Israel as part of the Middle East
Education through Technology (MEET) Program.
is a rising junior pursuing a degree in chemical-biological engineering with a minor in
literature. Michelle decided to participate in iGEM because she felt it was an ideal opportunity to utilize
her knowledge of engineering and of biology to design and implement an innovative synthetic biology
project in a team environment. Her interest in iGEM and synthetic
biology stems from her belief that, as an athlete and MIT student,
no one should be kept from pursuing their passions by physical
limitations, such as disease or disability. She hopes in the future to
be able to pursue a career in either medicine or biological
engineering in which she is able to use synthetic biology to
improve the lives of people suffering from chronic diseases.
Michelle also looks forward to gaining extensive experience in a
lab environment through iGEM as well. When not in lab, Michelle
is a starter for both the MIT Varsity Field Hockey and the MIT
Varsity Softball teams, where she has been a two-time NEWMAC
Academic All Conference selection. She also spends time
volunteering in the greater Boston area as a tutor for Tutors for All,
a program dedicated to providing one-on-one instruction to
students in underserved urban schools.
is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering as a member of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Class of 2014. Divya decided to participate in iGEM because she
believed it would give her an unparalleled insight into the field of
synthetic biology and the ways in which she could apply it to use in
solving problems in immunology, an area in which she is extremely
passionate about. Outside of biology, Divya’s interests include
aerospace and space exploration. She is a member of the executive
board of MIT Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
where she serves as publicity chair. Divya also interned at the NASA
Johnson Space Center where she created the infrastructure for an
Asbestos Exposure Assessment Database, which compiles hazardous
material exposure data into a well-organized format for NASA, OSHA,
and the EPA. Divya was the 2010 National Winner of the National
Center for Women and Information Technology Award for Aspirations
in Computing and the Colorado State Winner and National Finalist for
the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.
is a rising sophomore pursuing a degree in Biological Engineering. Clara became
interested in iGEM because she enjoys the way in which synthetic biology is a dynamic, interactive field
with infinite potential to be able to solve global issues. She was also excited to join iGEM because she
felt it was one of the very rare opportunities that she would get to build something out of her
imagination with minimal restrictions. Clara hopes to use iGEM to gain
skills to build a foundation for her future career in synthetic biology.
Outside of iGEM, Clara’s research experience includes being a research
assistant in OLED Research at Hongik University in Korea where she
developed a theoretical model for view angle dependent emission
pattern of OLEDs and was a second author of a thesis published in
Journal of Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Materials
Engineers (KIEEME). Clara also has a patent under examination in Korea
for a travel carrier that resembles a drawer to facilitate the process of
packing. Clara won the Kyungki State government Global Leadership
Award and the Taiwan Ministry of Education International Intelligent
Creativity Contest, both in 2009.
is a rising sophomore at MIT, studying Biological
Engineering. He’s participating in iGEM because he’s fascinated by the
idea of manipulating and programming biological life as a system of
circuits. Prevous to iGEM, he’s worked in a biochemistry laboratory,
purifying enzymes and synthesizing deuterated RNA for structure analysis
and has also had programming experience. In his free time, he serves as a
Tour Guide, Treasurer for the MIT 2014 Class Council, and Vice-President
of his fraternity. After graduation, he hopes to work at a local
biotechnology company.
is a rising junior at MIT, studying Biological Engineering. He was a member of MIT’s
2010 iGEM team and is back because he really enjoyed the pairing of a
group collaborative and friendly atmosphere with intense novel
research last summer. As an iGEM alumnus, he has valuable synthetic
biology and laboratory experience. Outside of iGEM, he assisted with
running a synthetic biology class this year, and helps fellow students as a
MedLink. After MIT, he hopes to continue his education as a graduate
student, potentially studying modularity, control, and design in the field
of biology.
is a rising senior at MIT, majoring in Chemical
Enginering. He hopes that through iGEM, he can complement his
background with synthetic biology. Previous to iGEM, he has worked
in both government and MIT labs and has prior programming
experience. Last year, he published a report on a bomb facility and
propellant burning for the government. Outside of iGEM, he’s a
member of MIT’s Varsity Football Team. He is currently deciding
whether to pursue a PhD or medical school after graduation, and he
hopes that iGEM can help him decide which career path to choose.
is a rising senior in the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, majoring in
Biophysics and Economics. She’s especially interested by the emerging
technological advancements in biology and is working on iGEM through the
EBICS REU program to be on that frontier of development. She brings
exhaustive lab experience to the team, having worked in studying genetic
mutations, bioinformatics, and in programming software for biology.
Outside of iGEM, she sings as President of her college’s choir and has
studied abroad in both Italy and Poland. After graduation, she wishes to
manufacture biological devices to help others and wants to pursue a PhD.
is a high school senior at Somerset Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.
He’s extremely curious about the potential applications that the field
of synthetic biology and bioengineering have, which is why he’s
applied to be a part of the iGEM team. He brings an experienced
programming background to the team and has an avid interest in
mathematics beyond his high school curriculum. His current plan after
college is to do research in an industry setting or to start his own
biotechnology company.
is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as a member of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s class of 2014. Louis decided to participate in iGEM because he
felt it was a unique opportunity to use his knowledge of computer science and programming to solve
biological problems that could possibly lay the foundation for
future technology in areas such as medicine and industry. He
was also excited to further his research in the dynamic field of
synthetic biology after having previously conducted research in
the lab of MIT professor, Timothy Lu. When not in lab, Louis is
kept busy with his involvement in his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi,
where he is the recording secretary. He also enjoys acting in his
free time and is a director for the Dramashop Theatre
Ensemble. Louis also participates in a wide variety of volunteer
activities such as going on the Saint Marcellin Society Service
Trip to Peru in July of 2010 where he assisted in the
construction of a local school.
is a rising junior at MIT. His participation in iGEM came from the realization that
synthetic and systems biology uses the elegant fundamentals of physics
to solve the interesting problems of biology. He has extensive
biochemical laboratory experience through working with Toxoplasma
gondii, and has gained valuable experience in analyzing gene sequencing
data, designing gene constructs for transgenic research, and
fluorescence microscopy. Other skills include tissue hood protocol, RNA
extraction, and microarray analysis. He has a paper published, titled “σE
Stress Response in Mutagenesis.” During the semester, he is also a
teaching assistant for MIT’s introductory biology course, teaching bi-
weekly recitations and preparing course materials for around 20 hours
of work per week. In addition to his research experience, he ranked top
in the nation as a finalist for the three separate competitions National
Physics, Chemistry, and Biology Olympiad. Upon graduation, he hopes to continue his research in
synthetic and systems biology as a graduate student, and then continue his work as a postdoc and
secure a position at some academic institution.
is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as a member of
MIT’s class of 2013. From the cutting edge research and technology, to the infinite possibilities of
working with the fabric of evolution, it was hard for Tiffany not to find synthetic biology interesting. She
wanted to return to the lab to gain an appreciation for research and help pioneer an emerging field
through this unique opportunity, although she anticipates devoting her future to programming and
computer science. She has a strong command over Java and Python through years of experience in
using the two languages, and has worked with front-end web design as well as back-end programming.
Tiffany exercises her artistic side through web design, photography, drawing, and violin. She also enjoys
teaching, having worked closely with high school students to teach a weekly three-hour Advanced
Placement Physics class.
