DTU BioBuilders 2022

Fun4al

About Us

To the north of Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, deep in a misty pine forest, there emerges a humble university called DTU. At this place is where a humble iGEM team was born with 10 ambitous young scientists working towards the same goal. They call themselves the DTU BioBuilder 2022. Within 6 months, they have brewed millions of potions, consumed all the books in the great library, traveled across the world to find the legnedary fungi strain that can change the world forever. PLease welcome them in the next section!

Our Team

Jake Pham

Administration, Dry Lab

Hi! My name is Jake!
I’m 22 and originally from Vietnam.
I study for my M.Sc. in Bioinformatics where I apply AI models to different biological problems. More data, baby! 😎
In our iGEM team I take part in administrative, dry lab and some wet lab works. 👨‍💻
To me, iGEM means a small step to help human to become an interplanetary species.
My friends would describe me as ambitious, work hard but party harder. 🕺
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Milnesium tardigradum (water bear). They can survive in space and there is a high probability that they will be the first alien species we will encounter.

Dóra Jánoska

Design, Outreach, Collaboration, Economy, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Dóra!
I’m 24 and originally from Hungary.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology, and I am especially passionate about living models of tissues and organs. 🧠
In our iGEM team I take part in PR/outreach, Collaboration subgroups, where I try to use my creative side. I am also part of our economy and wetlab teams. 💸👩‍🔬
To me, iGEM means a place where I can look at science from different points of view and I am thrilled that I am part of this enthusiastic group. 🤩
My friends would describe me as a kind and always smiling person. 🥰
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is lynx because when I was a child I thought I could speak their language. They are so cute with their ears. 🐱

Giovanni Gendarini

Administration, Team Building, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Gio!
I’m 24 and originally from Italy.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology with a specific interest in plant synthetic biology. 🌱
In our iGEM team I keep up the good spirits through our teambuilding subgroup, and contribute with knowledge on especially SynBio in plants. 😜👨‍🔬
To me, iGEM means creating something completely new and developing international relationships. 🤝
My friends would describe me as weird. 😅
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Panda-ants (Euspinolia militaris), despite the name they are neither pandas nor ants but a species of parasitic wasps! They are also super cute.

Magnus Haahr

Human Practice, Wetlab

My name is Magnus!
I’m 22 and originally from Denmark.
I just finished my B.Sc. in Human Life Science, but will study Biotechnology as my Master's, because synthetic biology is extremely interesting. 🧬
In our iGEM team I take part in the wetlab group that developed the synthetic transcription factor expression system cassette, and in the Human Practice and promotional video subgroups.
To me, iGEM is a way to get together about a project that is entirely ours and really understand the small details.
My friends would describe me as a person that spends way to much time with my bacteria… But I just think they are jealous. 🦠🧫
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is an unicorn because they are mystical and fantastical opposite of me… I also have one horn on my forehead just like an unicorn. 🦄

Naiara Hurtado Lopez

Outreach, Collaboration, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Nai!
I’m 23 and originally from Spain.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology, and I find fungi so FUN to explore novel natural products towards sustainability; from bio-controls in agriculture to bio-fuels. 🍄
In our iGEM team I am part of PR and collaboration subgroups, where I try to establish cool networks but also design the possible paths along our project. Motivation is important so I try to apply it at the lab and at the daily day life so the whole team can keep grinding (LFG!). 🥳
To me, iGEM means teamwork, bi-directional learning and dawn-to-earth creation of the project. 🤓
My friends would describe me as creative and funny, but also as sauna-lover. 😛
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Aurelia aurita aka jellyfish of the Baltic Sea. An organism with two life stages: on the substrate (polyp) or swimmer (medusae). Do you also have these “moods” in your daily life? 🏊‍♀️

Jacob Mejlsted

Advisor

Hi! My name is Jacob!
I’m 23 and originally from Denmark 🇩🇰
I recently finished my Master’s thesis in biotechnology where I applied synthetic biology tools (learned through doing iGEM) to construct and characterize biosensors related to protein production 👨🏻‍🎓
In our iGEM team I am an advisor, which means I help guide the team throughout the iGEM process. This means I can answer questions about what it is like to be in the lab during summer, or how it is to attend the Giant Jamboree. Furthermore, I can help with designing their DNA and experiments, as I was involved with that when I did iGEM. 🧬
To me, iGEM is a community of wonderful people who also really loves science and synthetic biology, and want to show the world what they can do 🧫
My friends would describe me as nice and very focused😁
My favorite organism is Vibrio natriegens. It can double every 10 minutes! That is crazy fast! 🏃🏃

Fabiano Contesini

Supervior

Meet Fabiano! Fabinao is one of our supervisors, and he is an expert in the field of Aspergillus niger. 😎
For me iGEM means an aweome opportunity for the developement of synthetic biology and students' development. It is the perfect oppurtunity for students' evolution by exploring their knowledge. 🤓
My favorite organism is any filamentous fungi capable of producing nice aroma compounds but also a good arsenal of secondary metabolites to compete for food with my peers and protect myself from being eaten by humans and other animals. 💪🍄

Trine Rasmussen

Outreach, Drylab, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Trine!
I’m 25 and originally from Denmark.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology and I’m especially passionate about strawberries with whipped cream. 🍓
In our iGEM team I take part in the wet lab and dry lab teams, but also the PR, Wiki, and Video subgroups. 👩‍💻🎥
To me, iGEM means an opportunity to live out me and my friends own odd ideas.
My friends call me disco-Trine and say that I laugh too much at my own jokes. 💃
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Noctiluca scintillans because they lighten up the seashore in the dark night. Just like iGEM lightens up my life. 😍

Christian Wistrøm

Administration, Economy, Outreach, Collaboration, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Christian!
I’m 27 and originally from Denmark.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology, and I love working with mammalian and fungal cells. 🍄
In our iGEM team I take part in the admin and economy subgroups, as well as wetlab. 👨🏽‍🔬
To me, iGEM means challenging yourself while creating something awesome. Oh, and having fun with all the friends you make on the way.
My friends would describe me as super nerdy and driven. 🤓
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Ailurus fulgens (the Red Panda), simply because they look super cute (also not an evolutionary mistake, like some other Pandas 🐼).

Varun Shankar

Team Building, Outreach, Collaboration, Drylab

Hi! My name is Varun!
I’m 24 and originally from India.
I study for my M.Sc. in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, and I am really excited to explore the fields of computational precision medicine. 👨‍💻
In our iGEM team I take part in the Team building, PR , collaboration and dry Lab subgroups, but I would like to say I try to help out wherever there is a requirement. 🤓
As I am a firm believer in learning by doing and as such, to me iGEM means the ultimate learning experience.
My friends would describe me as clowney, outgoing ,great at storytelling and destroyer of USBs. 🤡😜
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is the Hammerhead shark. I love that they’re an apex predator, and they also have full panoramic vision along with very sensitive electrochemical sensors that allow them to sense and track prey from very far away. 🦈

Nanna Koefoed

Administration, Economy, Outreach, Human Practice, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Nanna!
I’m 24 and originally from Denmark.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology, and I love everything synthetic biology in yeast and filamentous fungi, with a specific interest in natural product discovery. 🍄
In our iGEM team I take part in PR/outreach and human practices subgroups, where I try to create meaningful relationships with stakeholders and spread the word on SynBio. 🗣I am also part of our economy and administration subgroups, where I manage people and money. 💰
To me, iGEM means innovation and being creative while having fun with your buddies. 🥳
My friends would describe me as energetic and driven.
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is Ailuropoda melanoleuca aka giant panda. An organism that warms my heart, but does not seem to serve an important purpose in nature. 🐼

Sebastian Bundgaard

Administration, Economy, Collaboration, Human Practice, Wetlab

Hi! My name is Sebastian!
I’m 23 and originally from Denmark.
I study for my M.Sc. in Biotechnology with a focus on biosystems engineering. 🧬
In our iGEM team I take part in the economic and administrative work (buying and sharing snacks). 🍩🍬
To me, iGEM means a great opportunity to try the many different aspects of working on a fun, interesting project related to synthetic biology.
My friends would describe me as that guy with a nice butt. 🍑😅
Fun facts:
My favorite organism is my parents fat red cat called Manfred. He will follow you for at least 3 meters for some shrimp until he decides it is below him. 🐱

Christopher Workman

Supervior

Meet Chris! Chris is one of our supervisors, and he knows his way around a lot of stuff - especially our dry lab problems. 👨‍💻
For me iGEM means a great opportunity to work with the amazing iGEM students, of course. 😁
I would be Saccharomyces cerevisiae, because they get to make beer. 🍻

Henrik Toft Simonsen

Supervisor

Meet Henrik! Henrik is one of our superviors, and he always has witty comments ready for our stupid questions.
For me iGEM is a great thing to be a part of, and there are always new and inspirational ideas that allow us to grow in the field of synthetic biology
If you were a microorganism, which one would you be and why?
CosMoss 😉 ok, hmm not really sure. Can I be a Redwood tree instead? 🎄

Bloopers