Team:UIUC Illinois/Team
UIUC Illinois 2018 iGEM Team
The UIUC Illinois 2018 iGEM Team is made up of 3 Biochemistry majors and two Molecular and Cellular Biology majors. Four of the five members will be attending graduate school, and the fifth will be attending medical school. Outside of their academic lives, they participate in activities ranging from building bionic arms to taking the blood pressure of economically distressed patients. They have spent the summer and the beginning of the Fall 2018 semester working together with the guidance of mentors Shekar Mishra, Carl Shultz and Mathew Waugh.
Team Members
Pranathi Karumanchi
Junior | Wet Lab | Wiki | Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology | Minor: Psychology
Pranathi is a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. In addition to working on the iGEM project, she is the screening coordinator for the student organization Illini Medical Screening Society. Pranathi hopes to become a doctor and to continue binge watching shows on Netflix/reading good mystery novels.
Liam Healy
Senior | Wet Lab | Major: Biochemistry | Minor: Chemistry
Liam is a senior studying Biochemistry at UIUC. Outside of being in the lab, he is a technical design member in Akelos, an international water project, where they design water distribution systems that transport and sanitize potable water. After graduation, he hopes to perform infectious disease research somewhere with mountains so that he can also ski and rock climb.
Ziyu Wang
Junior | Wet Lab | Major: Biochemistry
Ziyu is from Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Outside of the lab, she likes looking at the stars through telescopes, going on bike rides, swing dancing, playing the guitar and climbing stuff. She aspires to be a neuroscientist who knows a little about everything.
Amie Bott
Senior | Wet Lab | Human Practices | Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Amie is senior in Molecular and Cellular Biology here at UIUC. Outside of her work with the iGEM team she also works in a plant pathology and genomics lab. She loves animals, especially cats and squirrels. She hopes to go to graduate school so she can make more money to support more cat birthday parties!
Alex Ruzicka
Junior | Wet Lab | Major: Biochemistry
Alex is a Biochemistry major from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. In addition to being on the iGEM team, he makes active contributions to two bioprocessing research labs on campus and is the president of the student organization he co-founded called the Illini Biohackers. Alex is enthusiastic about several forms of biotechnology, from cybernetics to synthetic biology. He strives to one day be a successful entrepreneur.