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Team:UC Davis/Team
From 2012.igem.org
Who we are
This year's UC Davis team is composed of ten undergraduates, two advisors, and a graduate student. We come from different areas of study, but we're all working together on this year's synthetic biology project. Due to the global impact of plastic pollution, we have decided to focus on biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is a commonly and widely used plastic, but only a small percentage of them are recycled, meaning a majority of the trash ends up in landfills and the oceans. It is a global issue, and achieving our goal would have a big impact on the issue of plastic degradation.Undergraduates
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Akshay Sethi
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hey guys, my name is Akshay Sethi and I am a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This is my first year participating in iGEM and I have since taken a great interest into synthetic biology and its importance in the near future. I aspire to attend medical school, and to furthermore pursue a career in medicine or health care management. When I am not working in lab, I enjoy volunteering at a student-run clinic for the underserved and also staying active through tennis and basketball.
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Christine Olson
Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior
RAHH (You have to imagine this in a pterodactyl voice, if you have ever heard one before)! My name’s Christine Olson. I am a fourth year neurobiology, physiology, and behavior major. Basically, that means that I am able to find something amazingly funny about anything you say or do. Actually, about anything that happens! I think the best thing in the world is a neuron. I mean, they look like trees! On my free time, I love biking out to huge fields of sunflowers and taking pictures. I also adore the farmers’ market here in Davis. After college, I plan on working in the biotechnology industry and then returning to a graduate school. Fun fact: I am an underground rapper. Real talk.
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Colin Deniston
Biological Sciences: Molecular & Cell Biology
I go by many names: Cookie D, Ser Keith, and even, on occasion, Colin Deniston. I’m a drifter, a roaming scholar. I jump from iGEM team to iGEM team, imparting my knowledge, only to disappear in the night soon after. I’ve out titrated bears, ran gels faster than lions, and done more minipreps than the gods themselves. Who are you, many have asked. What are you, even more have pondered. The answer has always been simple for those who can see it:
I’m a fifth year Biological Sciences major at UC Davis. I joined iGEM due to my interest in learning how to manage a realistically scaled research project, as well as, to increase my knowledge of in lab protocol and technique. On the iGEM team I work on the protein engineering and mutant creation/screening protocols. I hope to continue on to graduate school and eventually become a professor. On my free time I’m an avid video game enthusiast of all game types. I also enjoy reading books, manga, and spending time with friends. -
Deborah Park
Biological Sciences
I'm a fourth year and I love brains! I love all things related to science, but neurobiology is something I would love to study more after graduation! I like to draw, play the violin, and listen to my favorite band, the ______! I love animals, so I like to help out at a ranch to take care of horses and dogs! I also like exclamation points!!!
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Mattan Hamou
Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior
I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis. As an undeclared Life Science major at UC Davis I am currently exploring all the opportunities available to me in the college of biological sciences. I am currently debating between cell biology and neurobiology, physiology and behavior. Both majors provide the material necessary to pursue a career in the medical field, whether research or practice. To me service is the highest cause someone can pursue. This mindset has led me to dream of a career in medicine. Through my Emergency Medical Technician training, I obtained a stronger sense of what life in the emergency medical world entails. After learning on a deeper level the value of genetic engineering this past year I wanted to shift to the laboratory spectrum of the medical field. My intention in joining iGEM was to research possible solutions to medical problems which would allow me to combine both of my aspirations of research in a practical medical field. My main interests in research are in cell functions and how they interact with one another, particularly in immunology and oncology, biomedical devices, and bioremediation. I hope to understand more of the global issues and find innovative ways to solve them by applying myself inside and outside the lab. To me iGEM is a gateway to pursuing my dreams of tackling real world problems by working with peers to help others as an undergraduate. Outside of the lab I am involved in many student run organizations on campus. As treasurer of The Triple Helix (a science and society journal), Outreach Assembly member, Garamendi for Congress volunteer, and brother of AEPi I am an active member of the UC Davis student body. In my spare time I play the saxophone, video games, sports, and watch a lot of movies. My favorite superhero is Batman :).
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Nick Csicsery
Biological Systems Engineering
Hi, I'm Nick. This is my second year doing iGEM and I'm very excited to complete another project! I'm very interested in all things engineering and in learning more about synthetic biology. When I'm not in lab or studying for classes, I'm usually busy organizing events for the Biomedical Engineering Society at Davis. Otherwise, I like spending my time running long distances or playing guitar.
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Pui Yan Ho
Biotechnology: Microbiology & Fermentation
Hello everyone, I’m Pui Yan! My ambition is to pursue a career in the biomedical field after completing my undergraduate studies. In the future, I plan to continue onto graduate school and become a college professor. In my spare time, I like to play piano and discover new restaurants to try. I would say that I’m a big fan of dessert and tapioca drinks, so I eat something sweet everyday all day!
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Sahar Hojjat
Biological Sciences: Molecular & Cell Biology
Hi!!! My name is Sahar and I am a senior at UC Davis. My major is Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Molecular and Cell Biology. I am pursuing to be a doctor but I also am really interested in the field of synthetic biology and so also want to pursue more research in the field. Some of my personal interests are dancing, yoga and meditation. An odd but interesting fact about me (that my team discovered actually) is that in all ways possible my name can be heard as laughter. “Saharhar,” “Rahahas,” (which is Sahar backwards) and even my middle name Rose, has been turned into “Rohohose.” OH! And a new, recent discovery, so my last name is Hojjat, is that the “ja” at the end is “ha” in Spanish; so now it’s “Hohojaja.”
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Sergio Waqued
Biomedical Engineering
Hello and good day, I'm Sergio Castro Waqued fourth year Biomedical Engineering student. I'm the team's renaissance man and resident troubleshooter. I enjoy transmuting ideas into a physical form and finagling with electronics.
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Spencer Wong
Genetics & Economics
Hello!!! I’m Spencer, a junior who magically studies both Economics and Genetics. I speak with a lot of sass, and I love baking chocolate cakes. Food is amazing to me, and I think I should have been a Food Science major sometimes. I love learning about genetic manipulations, such as making things glow in the dark! I play volleyball, listen to Shwayze, and watch Teen Wolf. I’m a bobaholic, true story. I get tapioca (boba) at least once a week. After graduation, I hope to work at a biotechnology firm and then attend graduate school.
Advisors
Two UC Davis professors and one graduate student provide valuable insight, laboratory space, and academic clout to the undergraduate portion of the team.-
Dr. Marc Facciotti
Ph.D. in Biophysics
Position: Primary Investigator. The Boss.
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Facciotti Lab Wesbite -
Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering
Position: Co-Primary Investigator
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science
Tagkopoulos Lab Website -
Graduate Student
