Kalon Armstrong
Molecular Genetics
Subteam: Plasmid construction

I've recently completed my BSc in Molecular Genetics and will be entering the Engineering program in the fall of 2009. Most of my growing-up took place in the small town of Cochrane, Alberta. My ultimate goals consist of working in the Biotechnology or health care industry. While my interest in music, movies, snowboarding, and hanging out with friends may seem stereotypical on the surface, they feel unique in their own right and keep me busy most of the time. This will be my first year on the U of A iGEM team and I am excited to help take the competition to a new level. I think that iGEM will be a great experience because it demands innovation and collaboration on levels rarely seen in undergraduate programs.

Eric Bennett
Electrical Biomedical Engineering
Subteam: in vitro brick assembly development

I am entering my final year of engineering at the U of A. After graduation, I hope to do research either with a biotechnology company or in graduate level studies. I think that iGEM is a great way to gain valuable experience and is an effective way of accelerating the field of synthetic biology. My interests include brain-machine interfacing, genetic engineering, and robotic control systems. My hobbies include playing guitar, video games, the occasional sport, reading, and fixing my car.

Max Buchko
Honors Biochemistry
Subteam: Cell reboot trigger development, Recombineering, Ethics, Business development

I am in my third year of Honors Biochemistry and wish to pursue a career in medicine. In my time away from the lab I enjoy a wide variety of sports including soccer, boxing, and rifle silhouette shooting. I have also been known to strum a chord or two at an intolerable volume to the annoyance of the people living upstairs. I hope for the best with iGEM at MIT in 2009. This competition is a means of proving yourself at an exemplary level amongst many of the top international minds, and it is this challenge that I look forward to the most.

Oscar Cortes
Bsc. Specialization molecular genetics
Subteam: Plasmid construction

My future plans include entering into a Masters program in Medical Genetics or Human Genetics, and pursuing this discipline towards a PhD. I enjoy reading books about the human genome and advancements in stem cell research. In my spare time I like to play a variety of sports that I am not necessarily good at like: soccer, softball, and dodge ball. I have also been known to pound on a drum set from time to time without any rhythm whatsoever. I see iGEM as an extraordinary opportunity for me to be exposed to real life research, in which my knowledge of molecular genetics will be challenged, and will help me further my understanding of Synthetic Biology. "Man with all his noble qualities still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin"- Charles Darwin

Daniel Cotfas
Biological Sciences
Subteam: Website, Business, Ethics

Since I was young I was driven toward Science, which in my language literally means "knowledge". To learn and to know is something spectacular. When I enrolled in University I was looking for a challenge. I found it, and in the last four years I have changed and perhaps refined myself. I aim to continue to learn throughout my life, but what will differentiate my past from my future is that I will also contribute to knowledge rather than just consume it. I plan to start a business in research and development within the next few months, and to dedicate my life to living the dream I have had since as far back as I can remember. I see iGEM as a tremendous opportunity to learn and to create - to not only glimpse the future, but to shape it. The scope of the project is so vast that it has the potential to change the way that Life Sciences research is done and indeed how we all live our lives. I feel humbled and fortunate to have been given such a chance.

Anh Dao
Biological Sciences and Chemistry
Subteam: Project research literature resource management, Cell reboot trigger development, Recombineering

I am interested in a research career after I finish my degree. I am leaning towards the field of Microbiology to study the many micro-organisms that have not yet been discovered. However, I may enroll in graduate studies after my undergraduate degree to expand my knowledge and gain more experience in the laboratory. iGEM is a beneficial educational program that teaches students about Synthetic Biology, how to work in the lab and record notes in a lab notebook, how to use business methods and PR techniques, and how to collaborate with others. Being in a competitive team and atmosphere is a motivating and exciting opportunity that I do not want to miss out on. By creating the smallest artificial E. coli genome we can extend future research. We are attempting to understand and standardize the E. coli genome so that this methodology can be applied to more complex model organisms.

Uchechukwu Davidson
Honors biochemistry
Subteam: Cell reboot trigger development,ethics

I am in my third year of Biochemistry at the University of Alberta. I wish to pursue a career in medicine after my degree. I enjoy sports, movies, and music at my time away from my studies. The iGEM provides an opportunity to experience creativity, innovation, and ingenuity which are sometimes absent at the undergraduate level of science.

Youness Elkhalidy
Honors immunology and infection
Subteam: Cell reboot trigger development

Justin Fedor
Honours Biochemistry
Subteam: in vitro brick assembly development

I have completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry this year and will be starting my Ph.D. program in September. I play piano and am attempting to learn the cello. My nerdy tendencies are obvious when I say that I like Star Trek TNG but not DS9. Last summer I worked in the biomedical research lab of Dr. Larry Unsworth of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT), which has further piqued my interest in the field of nanotechnology. In the hopefully not too distant future I plan on becoming a researcher studying the mechanisms of membrane bound enzymes, particularly oxidoreductases.

Jason Gardiner
BSc. Specialization in Botany
Subteam: Business development, Informatics

Jason is a veteran of iGEM 2007, where his team "The Butanerds" won first place in the Energy track. Jason is currently in his fourth year of his Bachelor degree specializing in Botany. His hobbies include Softball, Beach volleyball, soccer, as well as playing the guitar and fiddling with the iGEM 2009 Wiki. Jason has applied to continue his education in graduate studies at the University of Alberta in 2010. His degree in Botany focuses mostly on the molecular side of plants and he hopes to use this knowledge applying Synthetic Biology to plants. One day he hopes to solve all of the worlds problems using plants and Synthetic Biology.

Erin Garside
Biological Sciences
Subteam: Literature management, plasmid construction and brick ensemble testing

I completed my BSc. degree this year and plan to do graduate work in biochemistry or library and information studies sometime in the future. After that - who knows? I think iGEM will be a great experience, and that it's about time Synthetic Biology really took off. In my spare time I like to read, play computer games (especially the Sims) and raise cats.

Boris Henriquez
Biological Sciences
Subteam: Plasmid Construction

I have just completed the third year of my BSc. degree. My favorite classes so far have been in the fields of Biochemistry and Genetics. I am most interested in human development and embryogenesis and hope to learn more about these topics in my fourth year. My ultimate goal is to have a career in the medical industry as both a physician and as a researcher. When I'm not busy with school or work my usual activities are pretty standard. I like to hang out with friends and family and I crave the outdoors. This is my first year with iGEM and I'm really excited to learn more about Synthetic Biology.

Stephen Jahns
Molecular Genetics
Subteam: Cell reboot trigger development, Recombineering

I am in my second year at the University of Alberta. After taking a year of engineering, I decided to transfer to molecular genetics in order to fulfill my childhood desire of creating an army of giant bat-rabbits. I plan on going on through to graduate school to earn a PhD in order to reach my goals. Also, health research could be pretty interesting too. In my spare time I like to run around, ride my bike, play music, cook delicious food, and pretty much all the other fun things kids are doing these days. In my first year I helped to build a car with the U of A's Formula SAE fabrication team. I had a good time building stuff out of metal, and this year I know that I'm going to have a blast building (or at least attempting to build) a novel organism out of chunks of DNA. I have a lot to learn but I know it will be worth it.

Denis Joly
Major Biological Sciences, Minor Physical Sciences
Subteam: N/A

I am a third year campus-Saint Jean (U of A) student. My future plans include going to medical school and the going back home to Northern Alberta to work for a few years.

Eric Leung
Honors Pharmacology
Subteam: Essential gene/ Brick Amplification

I would like to enter medical school following my pharmacology degree. I have not finalized my plans for what I want to specialize in. Hopefully, I can also become a professional baker in my spare time. Traveling to Europe, Mexico, and Japan is also in the books somewhere along the way. My nationality is Chinese. What results we come up with during this project may be used one day for large complex cells. This could be the beginning of bigger things such as new targets for drug therapy because of the identification of the essential genes in a prokaryote.

Qiwei Li
Biochemistry
Subteam: Bioinformatics, Plasmid construction, Brick ensemble testing

As a part of the amazing iGEM team last year, I can vouch that the iGEM experience is the one that any student, regardless of faculty and interests, will thoroughly enjoy. Being able to work with a team of dedicated fellow students on an innovative research project at the scientific frontier, and competing at an international level among top universities is perhaps the highlight of my academic career.

David Lloyd
Biochemistry
Subteam: Bioinformatics, Recombineering, Business Development.

I am a third year student, studying at the University of Alberta. While Biochemistry is my major, I have many interests including Genetics, Immunology, Cell Biology, Bioinformatics, and Microbiology. In my spare time I can be found playing sports like soccer, volleyball, or squash, as well as playing piano, listening to music, and playing video games. In the future, I hope to continue into a graduate program in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, or in another field. iGEM is of great interest to myself because of its application to the future of Synthetic Biology. Also, iGEM is an awesome challenge which will hopefully help me to cultivate myself.

Enoch Ng
Biological Sciences/Business
Subteam: Informatics support, Business Development, Website management, Ethics

I am entering my fourth year of studies at the University of Alberta, and am looking forward to the challenge that iGEM provides. In the future I hope to travel across the world and meet people ranging from Meshaal to Obama and remain a glorified generalist.

Emera Nguyen
Biological Sciences/Economics
Subteam: Business Development, Website management

I am a BSc student entering my fourth year with a Biological Sciences major and an Economics minor. This year will be my second year on an iGEM team, and my first year representing the U of A team. In my downtime, things I enjoy include spending quality time with friends and family, traveling to lesser-known parts of the world, delving into various arts and sports, and reading for fun. One year's experience later, the iGEM competition still impresses me with the opportunities it provides for student growth. Textbook learning in class is very different from doing the research and delving into the Biotechnology industry. iGEM allows undergraduate students to explore both avenues in the course of preparing for the competition. Furthermore, students are able to apply their knowledge to create something useful for society. This research competition is one of the highlights of my undergraduate experience.

Chongya Niu
Honors Cell Biology
Subteam: Essential gene/brick amplification, Ethics.

I have just finished my second year at the University of Alberta. I want to do research in the future in the areas of complementary and alternative medicine so that it can be incorporated into contemporary western medicine to improve patient care and recovery. In my spare time, I enjoy watching movies, ballroom dancing, and a midnight bowl of cereal.

Mitch Paquette
Major: Physical Science, Minor: Biological Science
Subteam: Cell reboot trigger development, Recombineering

I plan to transfer into the honors program in Molecular Genetics starting in the fall. After my degree is completed I plan to apply to graduate studies in Molecular Biology, after which I hope to work in research or academia. What excites me most about iGEM is the opportunity to gain research experience in such a new field.

Amber Paul
BSc. Specialization Immunology and Infection
Subteam: Bioinformatics, Essential gene/brick amplification, Website management, Ethics

I plan to find the cure for cancer. Seriously. Will be attending graduate school to earn a PhD following my undergraduate degree. I would like to live somewhere warm that allows me to do research, preferably Maui. My nationality is Irish, Czechoslovakian, French, and Ojibwa. iGEM is a developmental forefront to Synthetic Biology, something that I love to be part of. Its challenging and fun. To be able to determine the minimal genes for a simple prokaryote, we provide a scaffold to future research on larger, more complex cells such as cancerous tissues, simple eukaryotes, etc.

Julia Pon
Honors Molecular Genetics
Subteam: Bioinformatics, Essential gene/brick amplification, Ethics.

My future plans include pursuing PhD in Medical Genetics. I’ve worked in biological research labs for the past two summers, with last summer spent at the German Cancer Research Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. I'll be working in both the iGEM lab and a Medical Genetics research lab during summer 2009. My heritage is a mixture of English, Chinese, and Danish. iGEM helps move biology to a streamlined, standardized, abstracted process that opens the door to interdisciplinary collaborations and new applications. I’m excited about the many applications of Synthetic Biology and am enjoying the student-directed and team oriented nature of iGEM.

Alina Ponomarev
Biological Sciences/undeclared minor
Subteam: Plasmid construction.

I am originally from St. Petersburg, Russia and I moved here in 2000. My ultimate career goal is to become a Pediatrician, specializing in the treatment of hormonal disorders. However, I will essentially be happy with any job in the health care field that directly improves the lives of others. I am super excited about participating in iGEM, because it’s an amazing learning opportunity that not every first year student gets. I know this is going to be a big challenge, but also an unbeatable learning experience. It is wonderful being part of something that has the potential to positively impact Synthetic Biology and, in the long-run, society in general.

Kelly Robinson
Hon. Biochemistry
Subteam: in vitro brick assembly development

I have completed my BSc. in Biochemistry this year and have enrolled in the University of Alberta's Chemical Engineering program in hopes of fusing the fundamental science of biological machines with the entrepreneurial world of engineering. I got involved in iGEM a couple of years ago when I went to a presentation put on by one of the past teams. I ended up applying in the middle of the night on the last day of registration. That said, it has been a great experience ever since. Volunteering and carrying a full-time research student position didn't leave a lot of extra time, but what else are summers for? I'm glad that this year I should get the opportunity to do some full time work and really get myself into the project. The freedom to help design a project like this, to pool one's knowledge and try to use it to create something novel is rare. Not to mention the opportunity to collaborate with people of different disciplines. iGEM is also a great opportunity to get undergraduate students into the lab to do something interesting. Overall, iGEM has a lot to offer anyone who gets involved (including incorrigible advisors: you know who you are!).

James Rodway
Electrical Engineering
Subteam: Informatics support,Bioinformatics

I am currently finishing up an Electrical Engineering degree, and am aiming to do some graduate work in more of the computer area, specifically modeling. I've worked at a few cool places during co-op work terms and have done things like environmental monitoring and a whole mess of smaller projects during my time in the 'cube farm'. At the University I've been involved with the ARVP and iGEM, as best as time has allowed me. I haven't really had too much time for hobbies in the last while, but when I did I played more video games, the guitar, and I actually read books for entertainment value. During my time on last year's iGEM team I found that it was a pretty cool multidisciplinary project, which drew in a few different disciplines that I have never really interacted with at all previously. It was an excellent learning experience, both with respect to the scientific aspects as well as things like team organization. It was very impressive to see what we, and all the iGEM teams, had accomplished by the end of last year's competition.

Andy Spencer
Honours Biochemistry
Subteam: Website management

In 5 years I see myself on one of two different paths. I'm currently preparing for my MCAT, to be written in August and would like to become a General Practitioner or Oncologist. I will start applying to medical colleges this summer. Alternatively, I am interested in discovering novel treatments for cancer, and am considering a career in Research Oncology. My heritage is a mixture of Dutch and English. I grew up in the Okanagan, in British Columbia, and love spending my summers at the beach . In my spare time I enjoy playing squash and bouldering. iGEM to me represents a fundamental value of science as a discipline; that people can from diverse backgrounds with a common interest and curiosity can work as a cohesive team to overcome barriers and problems. Synthetic Biology is a relatively new field and represents many such barriers and problems, and I believe this is part of what feeds my interest in it. Additionally, I am excited to meet iGEM participants from around the world, and to visit MIT in November.

Jonathan Tam
Honors Cell Biotechnology
Subteam: Informatics support.

I have completed my Bachelor's degree in Honors Cell Biotechnology and intend to pursue a medical degree in Germany in the near future. I am very interested in the fields of Molecular Biology and Immunology. For the last two years, I have been keeping myself busy studying the development of macrophages in the lab of Dr. Daniel Barreda. Outside of the lab, I am an avid photographer and downhill mountain biker. The iGEM competition accelerates the development of Synthetic Biology as a field. To be a part of our University of Alberta team is an excellent opportunity for collaboration and advancement.

Jennifer Yau
Honors Biochemistry
Subteam: Project research literature resource management, Ethics.

I am currently in the second year of my undergraduate program with the ultimate goal of attending graduate school to pursue a research career in Geriatric Medicine. Additional science related activities of mine include my interest in astronomy and promoting science to elementary students through volunteer work. Otherwise, I dedicate the majority of my free time to the arts of chainmaille, knitting, and jazz/classical piano. My nationality can be most accurately defined as Canadian-Chinese. This is my first year on iGEM and I am ecstatic to be partaking in a project that requires such diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Not only will this be a great learning experience in so many perspectives, but also an opportunity to contribute significant ideas to the ongoing research in Synthetic Biology

Zach Wiltshire
Bsc. Specialization in cell biology
Subteam: Business Development and Brick Ensemble Testing

I am entering into my fourth year in the Cell Biology program at the U of A and have already experienced iGEM once before as a member of the 2008 National Institute for Nanotechnology team. Through my degree I have found myself to have interests ranging from Immunology to both eukaryotic & prokaryotic Cellular Anatomy & Physiology. I also happen to be very fond of molecules that fluoresce. My experience with iGEM last year opened my eyes to the possibilities which engineering biological systems can offer. Over the course of the 2009 competition I hope to have just as many opportunities to learn as I did last year.