Students
This year's team consists of twelve students from the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, medicine, biomedicine, physics, chemistry and philosophy!
During the summer we have been split up into five subgroups, three labgroups and two theoretical groups. One labgroup has been working with the development of the photosensor, one with hyperflagellating the bacteria and one with creating the retinal generator. The two theoretical groups have been focusing on modelling and biosafety, respectively.
Christian
I am a 2nd year medical student out of my element, doing synthetic biology for an entire summer and fall. It's been good to get away from the books, to do actual experimental work on something live. My main interests are in neurology and cognitive development, but the thought of tinkering with E. coli and fruitfly DNA was enough to get me out of my comfort zone, and into something that has shown to be more challenging and engaging than most other things I've had a chance to involve myself in.
In this years competition I've been working on the retinal part, although I've tried to involve myself as much as possible in all aspects of the project. I can't wait to show it all off in Boston!
Eddi
Glenn
Lars Christian
I'm a total baller!
Louise
I am 23 years old and a 4th year biomedicine student. I heard of iGEM first time in February this year, when Christian told me about the competition. I instantly thought it sounded interesting and a few months later LC, Christian and I started to spread the words (the words being: iGEM is awesome! Be there or be square!). And obviously we ended up uniting a fantastic team!
Through this past half year I have learned many things, including how to write and (partly) understand HTML-text! which, I think, is a grate accomplishment.
iGEM has been quite time consuming and the little time of the 24-hour day that is left (approximately 4-10 hours whereof I'd like to sleep at least 6 hours!) I like to spend with my family and friends or just lying about in my sofa, watching TV.
I'm not entirely sure what the academical future holds for me, I hope to write a Ph.D maybe concerning cancer development but that is many years ahead, and I'm not a plan-far-ahead type of person. Things change and nothing is certain.
Maria
I have been studying biochemistry and molecular biology since September 2006 at SDU in Odense. I’m 24 years of age and I'm originally from Køge, a small city 40 km south of Copenhagen.
I’m currently living in Odense with my iGEM colleague Sheila and have been for three and a half years (not lovers).
My workaholic mindset and four years of experience in a biological wet lab have won me the titles of miss Know- it-all (in lab) and Lab Mom, which the others in the lab benefits from every day.
Besides my two titles I have also accumulated significant amount of nicknames (all of them kind, I hope).
Outside the lab I enjoy being with my friends, out drinking or just watching a nice episode of CSI Las Vegas.
My hobbies include shopping, hanging out with friends and taking care of my lovely cat Clive who is also the team mascot.
During the iGEM competition I have used my knowledge and experience in a new, unexplored field which has been both educational and fun.
In my future, I hope to find an exciting position where I can use my knowledge about biology and biochemistry either as a Ph.d. student or in a job in the private sector.
Marie
Marie is 20 years old and has just begun her third year of studies of biochemistry and molecular biology. Her work in the iGEM project has primarily been focused on creating the retinal generator along with Tommy and Christian, which has probably been quite a handful.
In the rare hours when she'e not working on iGEM, she earns a little extra money in IKEA by helping people find the bookcase that’s exactly right for them, or she spends time with the people closest to her. When she's alone, she knows of nothing better than to sit in a comfortable chair with a good book, jazz on the radio and a glass of white wine.
Apart from intending to become a famous scientist and the first single person to win a Nobel prize thrice, she also aspires to becoming an author, probably of slightly supernatural novels for grown kids and young adults.
She is the youngest member of the team and the only one not allowed to drink alcohol while in Boston, which is cause for mild irritation for her and great fun for the rest of us.
Pernille
Pernille is 24 years old and studies biomedicine on her fourth year. In iGEM, her work has been focused on hyperflagellating the bacteria.
Pernille loves going to concerts and being swept up by the hordes of people around her, all being entranced by the same music.
She is very opinionated and isn't afraid of demanding to be heard. When refusing to participate in Adult Thursday, she acquired the title of the team's prude.
Pernille is perpetually envied her delicios lunch packs, often involving avocado, while the rest of us struggle with our dry bread and leftovers.
She is currently working on her bachelor project where she studies gene mutations in breast cancer.
Sheila
Sheila is 24 years old and she studies biochemistry and molecular biology. She has just begun her fifth year of study. She lives in a house with Maria and Clive (none of them are lovers (that we know of)). She has primarily focused her iGEM related work on hyperflagellating the bacteria.
Sheila has a great knowledge of films and series and she is the main provider of visual material for Adult Thursday. If you say a quote, however small and nondescript, she will know instantly what film you are referring to.
Sheila's baking skills have been greatly exercised over the summmer due to her tendency to get out of bed five minutes too late. At least.
She enjoys jumping around in the lab to the sound of "I don't feel like dancing" which is slightly contradictory.
She wants a Ph.d. degree in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, not in the least so that she can call herself "Doctor" in the USA.
Sif
Sif studies philosophy, but in reality, she is a natural scientist in disguise.
When forced to make a decision about her education, she was fascinated by so many things, she couldn't decide. In the end, she chose to start at the base of all science and study philosophy. Even though she studies philosophy, she attended the lab crash course intending to be a part of the daily lab work.
When she isn't working on iGEM, she practices aikido, a Japanese martial art, ans is generally interested in Japanese philosophy and culture. She is very educated and masters eight languages at the age of 23, largely due to several years spent abroad. She has lived in South America for half a year and in Japan for a year, and these stays have made up the foundation of her mastery of Spanish and Japanese.
She has a great passion for mushrooms which she collects, dries and displays in glass jars.
Søren
Søren is the other of our philosophy students, and, as opposed to Sif, he is a true humanist. Although he is only 22, he is easily pictured sitting in a large, cushioned chair by the fire, smoking a pipe of fine tobacco and pondering the mysteries of life.
He has been a inexpendable asset in the development of our human practice project. He has made a great effort to understand all the details of microbiology before we started the serious part of our project and has been invaluable as a mediator in our discussions, particularly in the discussion about watermarking.
When he's away from his cushioned chair, he enjoys listening to heavy metal and playing Munchkin.
Tommy
Tommy is a hardcore chemist, and during his four years of study, all the chemicals have taken their effect. He is the funny guy on the team, entertaining us all with homemade words such as his favourite swear: “Craparoo”. There can be no doubt about when Tommy has finished an experiment. He loudly exclaims “Done!” in a way that only he can reproduce.
In the lab, Tommy has been a great help calculating concentrations.
Tommy dreams of becoming a famous black rapper called Dr. T (another thing only he can say properly), but he’ll probably end up actually using his education and become the leader of a high tech lab.
When he’s not spending his time on iGEM, he enjoys drinking, gossiping and spending time with his lovely girlfriend.
By the way, he’s 24.
Clive
Clive, also known as pSB1C3, is our team mascot. He was only a tiny kitten when he joined the iGEM team but has grown into a rebellious teenager in the meantime!
While his mothers, Maria and Sheila, spent all the long hours in the lab, Clive lived in our students' association room, enriching all who entered with much joy and numerous scratches.
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