Undergraduate Researcher
Current
The mission of ASU's iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) 2024 team was to create an accessible hardware device and biological tool for researchers for the advancement of protein engineering as a field. We developed an open-source continuous bacterial culture system for directed evolution and novel optogenetic controls utilizing UirR (UV intensity response Regulator) and UirR (UV intensity response Sensor), a chromatic two-part protein system native to the cyanobacterium Synechocystis, to create a cheap, accessible system to run Phage Assisted Continuous Evolution (PACE), a cutting-edge method utilizing bacteriophages to rapidly evolve E. coli, producing biomolecules with novel functionalities much faster than traditional methods. I collaborated with another student to prototype, test, and implement our system's hardware and software using Arduino.International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) is an annual international synthetic biology competition held in Paris, France where cutting-edge biological systems or products, designed using novel engineered biological components and molecular biology techniques, are created to advance the field of synthetic biology and genetic engineering. Our ASU 2024 iGEM Team won the gold medal prize at the 2024 Paris Jamboree.