SETTING NEW STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION
We're all very different, opinionated, and picky. But there are a few things we've got in common: we're curious, love asking "how" and "why" until we can't go any further, and won't compromise on our education. And that's why we're here, with the UCLA iGEM team.
The iGEM competition and field of synthetic biology provide a platform for our students to explore the sciences and develop a wide, practical, and valuable array of skills. On their way to becoming scientists, our students become writers, designers, teachers, and leaders. We use a peer-motivated-and-mentored model of education, backed by a fantastic group of passionate advisors and faculty mentors to accelerate our research experience. Our motivated students -- whether they're a Freshman without prior research experience, or a Junior research superstar -- learn how to critically evaluate the scientific literature, design well-controlled experiments, think independently, and become stellar Ultimate Frisbee players. From start to finish, we provide an unparalleled opportunity for educational enrichment.
As part of our commitment to providing the best environment and training for our team, students receive all appropriate safety training certifications according to the standards set by the UCLA EH&S prior to participating in laboratory activities. There are many excellent research opportunities for undergraduates (visit the Undergraduate Research Center - Sciences for an expansive listing), and we're proud of being part of the effort at UCLA to innovate and reinvent the standards for science education!
The iGEM competition and field of synthetic biology provide a platform for our students to explore the sciences and develop a wide, practical, and valuable array of skills. On their way to becoming scientists, our students become writers, designers, teachers, and leaders. We use a peer-motivated-and-mentored model of education, backed by a fantastic group of passionate advisors and faculty mentors to accelerate our research experience. Our motivated students -- whether they're a Freshman without prior research experience, or a Junior research superstar -- learn how to critically evaluate the scientific literature, design well-controlled experiments, think independently, and become stellar Ultimate Frisbee players. From start to finish, we provide an unparalleled opportunity for educational enrichment.
As part of our commitment to providing the best environment and training for our team, students receive all appropriate safety training certifications according to the standards set by the UCLA EH&S prior to participating in laboratory activities. There are many excellent research opportunities for undergraduates (visit the Undergraduate Research Center - Sciences for an expansive listing), and we're proud of being part of the effort at UCLA to innovate and reinvent the standards for science education!
meet the team
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Fasih Ahsan | Advisor | MIMG & Bioinformatics
[Why iGEM?] I am truly fascinated by our ever-growing ability to harness the power of biology and shape it for our own uses and designs. Being a part of iGEM opens the door to independently exploring and discovering new paradigms of synthetic biology. I am thrilled to begin unearthing these hidden secrets with UCLA iGEM! [Favorite Hot Sauce?] Sriracha mixed with Cholula and a couple drops of Tapatio! 
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Daniel Cancilla | Advisor | Biochemistry
[Why iGEM?] This program is unique because it offers undergraduates like myself so many different opportunities. We have the opportunity to learn about new ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. We get to take these ideas and apply them in creative ways. Most importantly though, the program offers us the opportunity to meet and hang out with other bright and enthusiastic students! [Favorite Pastime?] Snowboarding. It's a lot of fun. You should try it! 
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Nithin Dharmaraj | Sophomore| Bioengineering
[Why iGEM?] IGEM allows for undegraduates like me to delve into the endless world of synthetic biology. I know IGEM will satiate my thirst for knowledge and challenge me in every step of the way. I am also very excited to work with some of the brightest minds in the school. [Favorite Sport?] Basketball Die hard Lakers fan. Mamba Out. 
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Michael Cheng | Senior | Bioengineering
[Why iGEM?] We get to choose our own synthetic biology project? We also get to execute it ourselves? Wait, and the stuff that we’re doing is awesome and is actually useful? Why isn’t everyone doing iGEM? [Favorite Drink?] Coffee. I dispute the claim that caffeine is not an essential nutrient. 
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Olivia Cheng | Advisor | Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG)
[Why iGEM] iGEM allows me to explore possibilities and potentials in science while gaining experience in research [Favorite Coffee?] - Cafe Latte - Not too strong, yet nothing fancy 
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Tristan Joseph | Advisor | MIMG
[Why iGEM?] Because iGEM offers the opportunity to study synthetic biology in the context of an international competition. The idea of synthetic biology is fascinating to me. To put it simply, you can make living things, and that's pretty cool. Did you know that at the moment, researchers are working on reintroducing the woolly mammoth using elephant surrogates? And supposedly big cats (lions, tigers, cheetahs etc.) are going extinct within the century. Maybe I can help bring them back. Also, I'm going to give myself superpowers in an "accidental" lab accident and then have a Marvel movie made about me. [Favorite Squirrel at UCLA?] Jerry. You can usually find him rummaging through the trash near Wooden on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 3pm. 
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Jessica Huang | Sophomore | Biochemistry
[Why iGEM?] It’s like being a kid in a candy store. You don’t know which combination of flavors and textures will be the best one. But you do know something good is in store, waiting (impatiently) to be discovered. [Favorite Brand of Chocolate?] Ghirardelli 
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Vinson Lam | Advisor | Biochemistry
[Why iGEM?] iGEM presents an incredible opportunity for us students to work together on a project of our choosing from the very beginning to the very end. We get to tinker with nature and coax bacteria to work in ways never thought of before. Now add in a veritable LEGO box of genetic building blocks and you get the coolest thing since sliced bread. Count me in! [Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?] Samoas. Caramel and coconut and chocolate--the holy trinity. 
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Jared Lamar | Junior | Physics
[Why iGEM?] What I'm most drawn to about iGEM and synthetic biology is the sheer number of possibilities there are in terms of the directions our research can take. It really feels like the sky is the limit as to what we can make these little microbes do. [Favorite TV Show?] Twin Peaks. Pure, unadulterated 90's weirdness. 
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Tyler Lee | Senior | Bioengineering
[Why iGEM?] Synthetic biology and genetic engineering offer the ability to fundamentally change how humanity interacts with nature and could one day provides a means to a cohesive, sustainable relationship with our planet. The UCLA iGEM program provides undergraduates with an intimate knowledge of molecular biology not found in the classroom and a creative environment to investigate and solve intellectually stimulating problems as a team. [Favorite Book?] The Prophet -Kahlil Gibran 
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Phillip Nguyen | Senior | Biochemistry
[Why iGEM?] iGEM is interesting to me since there is much room for creativity,diversity, and autonomy. Synthetic biology is a highly interdisciplinary field that allows individuals from a multitude of backgrounds to come together and produce novel systems, or reinvent preexisting ones. Being that it is primarily undergraduate, I have the impression that everyone has a bigger voice in project directions compared to a conventional university lab. [Favorite Molecule?] Phosphatidyl Choline 
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Megan Satyadi | Sophomore | MIMG
[Why iGEM?] I believe that synthetic biology is an incredibly versatile and powerful field. It possesses such enormous potential to revolutionize the scientific field and push the limits of thought. iGEM is an amazing opportunity for us undergraduates to imagine anything we want and try to bring it into reality. The possibilities are endless! [Favorite TV Show Character?] Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan. She's bad to the bone. 
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