I’ve read a lot of things about something called proteins.

I wanted to extend my knowledge related to team-managing to a whole new level.

My favorite meal: tagliatelle carbonara with mint and prawns.

I am three-dimensional (3D): Diplomatic, Dynamic and Diligent.

I do crossfit most of the time! I also like reading and watch series.

The potential it has to solve real life problems by genetically modyifing microorganisms.

My responsibilities refer to the design of the experiments related to the molecular biology field. I also care about the content of the wiki.

Xavi is a highly committed, efficient and methodical person. I have to say that he owns great artistic taste and radiates such inner peace that is hard to beat! Undoubtedly, it has really been a pleasure to have known him during the last year. To sum it all up, I consider him a person to learn from.

Biotechnology

Not everyday you get the chance of building your own project with your friends. Putting together basic ideas to create something bigger that could help someone has been a pleasure. In addition, I am the celiac of the group so IGEM is definitely made for people like me.

The worst part of being celiac is to modify your own habits and even worse, the ones from the people around you. What I miss the most is the typical catalan bread with tomato on top.

To define myself in three words I would use pragmatic, kind and versatile.

I love diving, sealing and fishing. If it were up to me, my natural environment would be the sea.

The role I had in this project was to get and develop the idea for the project, provide genetic material and work in the genetic extraction and purification for further expression and production.

The role I had in this project was to come up with the idea for the project, provide the genetic material and work in the genetic extraction and purification for further expression and production.

If I had to describe Roger, I would say he is the reason why we enrolled in the iGEM project. This is basically because he became celiac four months before we first heard about this competition. He is a very positive person, friendly and very intelligent. He is always willing to invite us all to his house to do some networking while we make a round of beers and some pizzas.

Biotechnology

It gave me the opportunity to develop a project designed by ourselves and work with my colleagues to pull it forward.

cakes, ice cream and all kinds of sweet food.

Friendly, passionate and hard-working

I like dancing, travelling and meeting new people. I also Iove the world of furniture restoration and crafting.

The idea of combining elements from nature so as to obtain new functions that would not have been possible otherwise.

Managing the different tasks of the team, disseminate and promote the project as well as participate in the laboratory tasks.

She is a very chill and happy person who always has a funny story to tell about her adventures.

Biological systems engineering

Marc told me about the contest when we had just begun the Bioengineering master in IQS. Together with him, I started getting motivated about synthetic biology and eventually engaged in the project.

PIZZA!(Obviously, a mainstream answer for a mainstream question)

Stressed, half-cynic, half-dreamer and obsessive about some topics.

I love leaving Barcelona’s stressful streets to go climb a mountain peak. Likewise, as often as I can, I try to plan a trip as wild as I possibly can.

Synthetic Biology is a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms underlying biology. It allows us to modify life. Therefore, Richard Feynman’s words acquire great sense to me: “what I cannot create, I do not understand”.

My contribution is related to the development of the DryLab section of our project.

Victor is a very charming person to be with. He is always there to help you and offer a shoulder you can cry on. He is very resourceful and likes problem-solving.

Biotechnology

It's an incredible opportunity to manage every aspect of a real-life science project, make contributions to the synthbio community and promote public awareness of science.

Sweet chocolate cookies.

Creative, hard working and curious.

Trying to get people involved in projects like iGEM, creating fun but stupid scripts (If you want to encode a text message into DNA, I’ve got one for you!) and playing music with my band.

Everything from synthetic life to DNA information storage, including programming microorganisms in a predictive way.

As team leader I worked hard to introduce iGEM to our university. I've also been programming the wiki and, as I was completely new to that topic, I decided making the wiki editing tutorial. I also coordinated the progress of the project and prepared some activities outside the lab.

I would describe Marc as a well-organized, self-disciplined and resourceful scientific. He always finds a way to solve any problem.

I studied chemistry, although I still haven’t watched Breaking Bad.

I found it a great opportunity to learn more about synthetic biology and to work as a team.

Without pizza... “Crazy Telepizza Tuesday” has become a ritual.

I would describe myself as a lively, friendly and impulsive person.

I love doing sport, specially running and climbing mountains. In winter, skiing is just the perfect plan for the weekend, although I always try to have time to hang out with my friends.

What fascinates me the most about synthetic biology is how we are able to redesign new artificial pathways using microorganism as our own machines.

My role in the project has mainly been managing the social networks, specially Instagram as well as taking photos and videos of our daily work in the laboratoy.

She is a perfectionist. The laboratory journal is her most precious gem. She is a runner and so she spends most of her day up and down the stairs to get everything you need.

Biomedical Sciences

Because our team leader was so enthusiastic and excited about it that fooled me to sign up straight away.

Chinese food

Chill, focused but distrustful

Chill, have a drink with friends, read a nice book, music (especially jazz) and sports.

Its potential application to any aspect of life.

I almost became the PI of the group.

If you looked up the word efficiency in the dictionary, you’d probably find Jordi's picture. He is the kind of person that is always ahead of everything. He will be the first person to help you when you need it.

Biotechnology

An IGEM fellow team mate who lives in the best city in the world.

Ramen

Easy-going, sports lover and Competitive.

Judo

The way science improves yourself.

Putting together the machinery for the expression of HLA with traductional modifications in Pichia Pastoris.

Edu is that kind of person that everyone loves. Most of the time he can be pretty annoying, but in the end, he is adorable (and you will never understand why). He is hard-working, and super competitive, but we can say he is a really good friend (out of the lab).

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (yes… the science of tiny things).

Because I wanted to live the experience of team working and science communication.

Pizza! Friday night is pizza night with my flatmates.

Passionate, hard-working and dynamic.

In my free time I enjoy playing volleyball, reading any kind of book and driving anywhere.

I’m still wondering what synthetic biology is… I think the best point is that it is endless, there are no limits to this area of research.

A bit of everything… Lab work, communication activities, sensor design...

Coral is the one person everybody wants to work with. She is always the first to finish her tasks and help you out if you need a helping hand. You have great chances to find her reading a book in some corner.

Pharmacy because being a licensed drug dealer it’s a real highlight.

Obviously, the laboratory tasks, which I love even during summer time.

Flour, because I love baking.

Consequent, open-minded and sweet-toothed.

Go out of the cave to collect mushrooms.

I like it when the experiment is a success.

Being a secretary, you basically get everything done without even noticing it. From Science to Marketing.

Mireia is a very friendly and cheerful person. There is no day that you don’t see a smile on her face. She is also original and creative, aspects that have been of great help during the project.

I studied biotechnology focusing on bioinformatics.

I decided to participate because it is a great opportunity to improve collaborative work skills as well as to face new and inspirational challenges.

Candy. Contrary to people belief, candy is not normally labelled as ‘gluten free’ due to possible cross-contaminations during manufacturing. A life with no candy is much blander.

I’m passionate, spontaneous and very clumsy.

I am very passionate about music, always looking for new songs. You will never see me without my blue headphones.

What I like the most is that it makes scientists able to solve real world issues by genetically modifying living organisms.

I have been in charge of the bioinformatical aspects of the project.

Aitor is always fighting for his ideals and discussing current topics. When he is not outraged for some political scandal, he is fascinated by autonomous robots, artificial intelligence, new technological gadgets and superheroes. Coupling this interest with his bioinformatic knowledge, one day he might create one of his favourite heroes from the Avengers…who knows.

Biotechnology

It was the perfect opportunity to better understand all the necessary steps to carry out a project from scratch.

Bread. I can’t imagine a breakfast without the typical “pa amb tomaquet” from Catalonia.

Perfectionist, constant and friendly.

I love traveling. I think that it’s the perfect way to discover new cultures and traditions completly different from ours.

The fact that you can produce improved products with important applications by just mixing parts from the DNA of different organisms.

Mainly, I’ve been part of the marketing team.

Marta is a nice and sociable person. She is always taking care of our celiac fellow (Roger). In addition, she is the chef of our group, her gluten free chocolate cake is delicious. Can’t wait to try it again!