The 2019 BioBuilders team
These are the members of the DTU BioBuilder team 2019:
| Marcus Medom Ryding
BSc Quantitative Biology and Disease Modelling
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I really like the idea of synthetic biology (engineering and biology? sign me right up!) and the great potential it holds for making the world a better place. And the idea of taking part in a student-driven project which at the same time would allow me to indulge my competitive side sounded simply too good to pass up!
What do you do in your spare time?
So, so many! Ask me 3 months in a row, get 5 different answers. Recent ones include hydroponics, knitting, 3D printing, programming, juggling, and a short-lived foray into thin-shell and tensile fabric structures. Despite the variety, some main themes persist: growing/building/making things, and complex systems admitting interesting mathematical descriptions. Guess it's no wonder I'm so fond of systems biology?
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Philip George Hau Sørensen
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
This is my second time doing iGEM! I really missed the freedom of doing iGEM, and I reckon most of you will end up really missing the good old iGEM times as well once you finish your project. So just remember to enjoy it while it lasts - even though I know how frustrating iGEM can get sometimes.
What do you do in your spare time?
I have a lot of interests, including Formula One, aviation, infrastructure design. I mean, I do study to become an engineer after all, so I just went all-in on the whole fascination with mechanical stuff. I also quite like to craft stuff myself, and I used to do some cosplay. Cosplay is a great way to build something by yourself, and have fun with it! Also, I feel that the whole community around cosplaying is really nerdy and positive.
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Philip Thomsen
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
Oh you know, for totally normal, non-nefarious reasons. Making the world a better place with synthetic biology, and all that - the whole shebang.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy sleeping, reading, and minding my own damn business.
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Mathias Laursen
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I joined iGEM because it is a good opportunity to be involved in a project, from the very beginning to the finish line. That is something I find very exciting and appealing.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to travel and have a good time. At the moment I'm in the process of becoming an international spy - watch out...
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Jacob Mejlsted
Bsc. Engineering in Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
iGEM is a wonderful way of getting to work on a cutting edge project with a team of awesome students.
What do you do in your spare time?
I am facinated by systems and how things interact with each other, which is part of the reason I like strategy games, both boardgames and electronic.
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Louise Almer
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I have heard a lot about iGEM from previous participants and had to try it for myself!
What do you do in your spare time?
When I am not working on iGEM, I like to cook, bake, read, travel, and spend time with my cat?
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Helena Utzon
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
iGEM offered a great opportunity to learn new things
What do you do in your spare time?
I drink bucketloads of coffee, read interesting books, play piano, do jigsaw puzzles, and run (away from my responsibilities)
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| Elisavet Angeli
MSc Quantitative Biology and Disease Modelling
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I was always fascinated by the power of nature and how everything is perfectly designed in order to balance. Joining iGEM is a huge opportunity to challenge myself, learn new things , combine knowledge, meet people with different backgrounds and create something that will promote scientific activity for a good reason.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love practicing yoga, walking by the sea, reading and travelling.
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Mikkel Hansen
MSc Biotechnology
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
Very curious and wanted to get more hands on experience with a project and learn a lot of new skills.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to travel and spent most of my money doing this. I like to meet new people and learn new things.
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| Michelle Lind Østrup
MSc Digital Media Engineering
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I created the wiki last year, and this year I intend to win best wiki ;)
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I like to learn. It can be anything from woodworks to surviving in the wilderness, but the thing that I have consistently spend the most time on is creating stories, which is why most of my spare time is dedicated to writing, drawing, 3D modelling and animation.
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| Christy Yao
BSc Computer Engineering
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team:
I was a part my high school iGEM team and we did really well. I was on the wetlab and drylab team. Therefore, I'd like to join iGEM again but this time with a different role - the wiki!
What do you do in your spare time?
I love travelling and exploring new places! I've lived in Vancouver, Taipei, Tokyo, and Copenhagen for extended periods of time. And I love travelling to even more cities when I have the time and money. I may seem nerdy studying Computer Engineering, but I love a great outdoorsy adventure! Hiking, camping, road trips... count me in!
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Supervisors
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Christopher Workman
Associate Professor, DTU Bioengineering
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team?
I am a complete believer in the importance of Synthetic Biology as an enabling set of technologies that will transform the way we manufacture drugs, food, fuel and many other important commodities in a more sustainable future society.
What’s your favorite fermentation product?
My favorite fermentation product right now is beer. A fresh over-hopped IPA cannot be beat on a hot summer day.
What did you work on during the project?
My role was most often moral support and encouragement. There are so many challenges when going into the lab and experiencing repeated failures. This can be very trying on the patience and it is important to keep the spirits up in order to persevere.
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| Henrik Toft Simonsen
Associate Professor, Biotechnology and Biomedicine
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team?
Synthetic biology is a key part of the research we do. Thus, adding supervision of iGEM teams was obvious. Likewise, it is a great pleasure to work with engaged students
What do you do in your spare time?
Like to read crime novels, and love outdoor activities.
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Kyle Rothschild-Mancinelli
PhD Fungal Genetic Engineering
What is your motivation for joining the iGEM team?
I competed in iGEM when I was a student at Edinburgh University and wanted to get involved again, so being a phd supervisor was a logical next step.
What do you do in your spare time?
I am a competitive bagpiper and fly to Scotland and Ireland to compete at various championships including the European and World Championships during the summers. In addition to this, I love travelling the world and seeing new cultures and places, which is one of the reasons I am an expat American living in Denmark. I also like to eat and cook, but mostly eat.
If your five-year-old self suddenly found themselves inhabiting your current body, what would your five-year-old self do first?
Easy. Go to the store and empty my bank account buying chocolate and ice cream. Was there another acceptable answer to this question?
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