David Bernick is a professor
and undergraduate director of the Biomolecular Engineering Department at UCSC. He has been involved
in iGEM for nearly a decade and has played an integral role in the success of the project.
I am a fifth year majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and minoring in Bioinformatics. I had the privilege of
being a team member of the 2022 UCSC iGEM team in which I had such an incredible and rewarding
experience. I think very highly of the program and I am so excited to continue being a part of it
as the TA of the 2023 team! I wish to continue my education by pursuing a PhD in immunology. I
enjoy going on camping trips, hiking, sailing, and playing beach volleyball in my free time. If I
had one wish, I would wish for microcystin-free lakes.
I am a fourth year majoring in Biomolecular Engineering. I joined iGEM because I was interested in
participating in research as an undergraduate student. I liked the idea of a student driven research
project that is based on collaboration and team work. In the future, I hope to work in a meaningful
environment in the biotech space. I like going on hikes and love eating thai food! I wish I could
read and understand research papers in less than 10 mins.
I am a fourth year majoring in Biomolecular Engineering. I joined iGEM to learn how to work as a team
and design an entire research project from start to finish with passionate students. In the future, I
want to go to graduate school for my PhD in a virology-focused field. I like painting funny animals,
cooking TikTok recipes, and going to the dog beach. If I had one wish, I would wish to live the rest
of my life as a pasture-raised farm cow.
I am a 4th year majoring in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics and minoring in astrophysics.
I joined iGEM because I wanted to gain lab experience and insight into how to build an experiment from
the ground up. In the future, I intend on going to medical school. I like baking, diving, and crocheting.
I would wish for telekinesis.
I am a fourth year majoring in Bioinformatics and minoring in Computer Science. I joined iGEM because it seemed fun. In the future, I want
to be involved in research programming. I like cooking food and staying active. I wish I would always wake
up refreshed no matter how much sleep I got and could go to sleep whenever I wanted to.
Hi my name is Ashlyn Huynh and I am a fourth year Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics major. I
joined iGEM to gain hands-on synthetic biology experience and expand my experience in the biomolecular
engineering field. I wanted to take on the opportunity to tackle real world problems and develop technical
skills outside of my classes. After I graduate, I hope to take a year or two off to work in the biotechnology
industry and travel before going back to school for a master's in BME. I like to heely around the halls of
Jack Baskin Engineering, playing pokemon games on my switch, and fueling my red bull and Taco Bell addiction.
I would wish for the ability to rewind 5 seconds back anytime.
I'm Allison and I'm a fourth year majoring in Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology and minoring in
Bioinformatics. I joined iGEM to do research that will have a meaningful impact on the community. In the future,
I plan to further my education in biology. In my free time, I like sailing, collecting vinyl records, and
watching classic films. If I had one wish, I would wish for a Catalina 22 Sport.
I am the Co-Captain of the UCSC 2023 team. I am a fourth year majoring in MCD Biology. I joined iGEM to participate in student-led research, learn synthetic
biology techniques through practice, work with peers on a collaborative project, and take part in meaningful work
with a tangible benefit to others. I intend to be in a physician in the future, and would like to focus on the
therapeutic applications of bacteriophages & other topics in translational medicine. I enjoy reading science fiction
& spending time with my friends. If I had one wish, I would wish for greater collaboration between public & private
research for the common good.
I'm a fifth year majoring in MCD Biology and minoring in Bioinformatics. I joined iGEM for the opportunity to apply the tenants of synBio
to a real world problem while working with a team of fellow under grads. In the future I hope to be involved
in the field of synthetic biology and make contributions towards the advancement of humankind. I enjoy
listening to bird song and breathing Santa Cruz air. If I had one wish, I would wish for a brain exo-genetics
interface.
Hi, my name is Daniel and I am a 4th year Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major. The reason I joined iGEM was
because I wanted to work collaboratively on scientific inquiry and, as a team, create and steer the direction of
our project while also making a positive human impact. This is something that not all undergraduates have the
opportunity of doing. In the future, I hope to go to graduate school and pursue a career in cancer research. In
my free time, I love to read, play videogames, and watch shows/anime. I hope that the work we do in iGEM will
have a profound and lasting positive impact in our local community!
Hi, I am Zokhira! I'm a fourth year Biomolecular Engineering major and study abroad student from Yonsei University in South Korea. I joined iGEM because I wanted to do hands-on SynBio work and build a project from scratch in order to tackle recurrent issues that affect global populations.
I am planning to join a graduate program that is focused on synthetic biology and gene discovery.
I love sailing, rock climbing and swimming. I would wish for potable water for everyone.
I am the Co-Captain of the UCSC 2023 team. I am a fifth year majoring in neuroscience and BME. I joined iGEM to contribute to a meaningful project that
outlives my graduation. I wanted to take advantage of the incredible opportunity of developing a synbio project
with my peers that directly addresses a local problem. I intend on pursuing a Ph. D. in neuroscience or
biomolecuar engineering, and I hope to teach as often as I can. I like cats, rock climbing, and fancy food. If I
had one wish, I would wish for free food everywhere
Hi! My name is Nikita Rajesh and I am a fourth year Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics major and CS
minor. I decided to join iGEM because I wanted to work with a group of students that were passionate about
synthetic biology. In the future, I plan on attending grad school and pursuing a career in the biotech field
where I can make a positive impact on my community. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading and spending time
with my friends. If I had one wish, I would wish for unlimited time.
My name is Julia Saltz and I am a fourth year Biomolecular Engineering major. After completing the majority of
my first and second year online, I joined iGEM to work in-person on a collaborative team with people who are
passionate about science. In the future, I hope to continue my education into grad school and eventually pursue
a career where I can make a positive impact through research and innovation. In my free time I like skiing,
hiking, and cooking. If I had one wish, I would wish for unlimited charcuterie boards.
Hi! I am Katie, a fourth year Biomolecular Engineering student. I heard that iGEM was a great opportunity
during the my first year in college, and that inspired me to join. I have really enjoyed being part of the
iGEM community and getting to know my teammates. Going forward I would like to travel and explore the world.
I love the beach, hanging out with friends, and desserts. If I had one wish, I would wish for a bundle of kittens.
Timmy is a grey tabby that loves to lay in the sun. He spends most of his days running in the fields of Santa Cruz,
but he always comes home at sundown. Timmy is fortunate enough to not live near a harmful algal bloom, but not all cats
are so lucky... If Timmy had one wish, he would ban all closed doors. But if he had two wishes,
he'd wish for a world without harmful algal blooms.