Team:SDU-Denmark/Team
Team
Abstract
On this page, you will get to know the members of this year’s SDU iGEM 2021 team.
Meet the team of PsiloAid
We are the SDU iGEM 2021 team. Our team consists of 20 members studying courses such as Biomedicine, Biology and Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, International Business Communication Medicine, Sport Sciences, Biology and Philosophy. Some members are finishing up their bachelor’s degrees, while some are getting their masters’ degrees. As you can see, we are a very diverse team, and we have used this diversity to shape our project into reality. Every member has put their own little mark on the project. Let us meet the talented members of this year’s SDU iGEM team.
The photos of us on this page is taken by Jacob Fredegaard Hansen.
Andreas Hyllerød Haugaard
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular biology
My contributions are located within 4 different fields which is: Bioinformatics, programming of Wiki, philosophy and modelling enzyme kinetics. My focus is on enzyme kinetics modelling, there we are creating a model which should simulate our design to see the rate limiting factors within our production of psilocybin. I joined iGEM because I love the idea of participating in a project where different skills are needed to be acquired throughout the process such as programming and modelling as well as the idea of working within a larger group.
I have been a part of the dry lab in the beginning and then working on the designs of our experiments for the wiki and the business plan. I have also been a part of the Human Practices where I have contributed to the educational part and conducted interviews. Last, I have also been a part of the coordinator group. I joined iGEM because I wanted to work in lager group across different studies. I also wanted to learn more about the possibilities science can give you in the future.
Caroline Riisager Sørensen
B.Sc. Biomedicine
My work in iGEM have been in the lab, where I have been working with the PsiDKM part of our project. My job here has been to ligate and transform our part into E. coli and make sure it produces psilocybin. Additionally, I have been working on the design and graphics of the whole project. I joined iGEM as I wanted the chance to go to lab without having to follow a certain guide or instructions. I also wanted a chance at being part of a bigger project with a team with people.
My contributions for the iGEM project lie in the Wet Lab where I primarily have worked with PsiH, CPR and the chaperone, GroES/El. Furthermore, I also took part in the written aspect of our Wiki, while simultaneously being involved in the SoMe group, where I have mostly contributed to Instagram. I joined iGEM as it includes another dimension of science, which I was missing from my course in Pharmacy. iGEM has given me the opportunity to explore my passions in synthetic biology which I plan to pursue later in life as well.
Ida Høyer Duvander
B.Sc. Biomedicine
In the iGEM project I have primarily been part of the Wet-Lab team, where I have worked on PsiH, chaperone and CPR. In addition, I have helped the Human Practices team, where I have worked with Integrated Human Practices. I have also had minor tasks in relation to collaborations and research. I became part of iGEM because I wanted to try working in a larger project with people from different fields of study. In addition, I also saw the opportunity to develop my skills in the laboratory.
My contribution has been working on the construction of our primary Biobricks utilized in this project, in addition to function as a backup for human practices whenever needed. Midway through the project, my contribution shifted primarily towards coding the wiki, and during the same period my secondary objective became contributing to the modelling aspect. I wanted to participate in the iGEM competition due to the aspect of doing my own research to a product that could benefit the world, without restriction or following a premade syllabus from a university course.
Johannes Skræp
B.Sc. Biomedicine
I have contributed primarily through bioinformatics with a focus on PsiH, CPR and the transport systems. Regarding the transport systems, I have even been a short-term part of the wet lab. In addition, I have also helped in various ways within human practices, such as collaboration and partnership. Last but not least, I have been part of the coordinator group. I joined iGEM because I love devoting myself entirely to a project and focusing on the small details, which synthetic biology indeed requires.
I have contributed primarily to Human Practices on the collaboration, communication, video and research aspects. In relation to our partnerships and collaborations, I have designed a game and partaken in podcast production. Additionally, I’ve provided research evidence on physiological mechanisms of psilocin and current treatment options and assisted in video production. I wanted to join iGEM due to the interdisciplinary nature of the project. I’ve always found that the greatest personal and professional development comes from working in teams with a multidisciplinary approach to real world problems.
Jonas Bladt Thomsen
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular biology
During the early stages of our iGEM project, I primarily worked in the bioinformatics group, with secondary involvement in human practice research. However, as we moved into the summer, I became more involved in the media aspect, planning and being responsible for editing and recording our Promotion Video, Podcast and Team Presentation Video. Besides that, I’ve also worked on the wiki and the modelling aspect of our project. My initial reasoning for participating in iGEM is that I found the project and the idea of using synthetic biology to solve problems innovatively to be very interesting. The process of identifying problems and finding solutions is something I’ve worked with before, but not on the same scale as iGEM.
My contribution to our iGEM project has primarily been in the wet lab, where I have been performing the experiments related to the PsiDKM part of the project and thereby the production of psilocybin. Furthermore, I have contributed to Human Practices due to my involvement in collaboration with other iGEM teams and education of high school students. Besides from this I have contributed by being one of the leaders of our Instagram. I signed up for iGEM, because I wanted to evolve my laboratory skills, furthermore I saw it as a great opportunity to become a part of a larger project working with people with different competences and field of studies.
Julie le-Fevre Hansen
B.Sc. Biomedicine
My contributions relate mostly to the work in the wet lab, concerning the PsiDKM part and knockout experiments. I have also helped the Human Practices team, where I have worked with Integrated Human Practices. Furthermore, I’ve been hustling in the social media group, where I’ve been creating content for our Instagram and TikTok. I signed up for iGEM, because I wanted to challenge myself, learn new things and evolve my skills in the laboratory, as well as meet new people from different fields of study.
I have primarily been a part of the Wet-lab group, where I have been working on the PsiDKM part of our project. I have furthermore contributed to Human practices within collaborations with other iGEM teams, creating our questionnaire, and education of high school students. I joined iGEM as it provided an opportunity to work on a project with students from very different fields of studies. I also signed up for the project to gain experience within the laboratory.
Laura Pejs Wernich Thomsen
B.Sc. Medicine
During the iGEM project, my responsibilities have been within the wet lab and primarily related to the chaperone, PsiH and CPR. In addition to this, I have also helped in bioinformatics in order to include the practical aspect in the idea generation and designs. Besides from the above, I have contributed to our project videos. Joining iGEM was, for me, a unique opportunity to experience focusing completely on a project with almost unlimited possibilities. Also, the laboratory work is something I often miss in my everyday studies.
I have been part of the early bioinformatics team as we created our biobricks, later joining the Wiki Team, helping the Human Practices team with minor side projects and interviewing civilians during the People’s Meeting on Bornholm. Lastly, I have been working on the plan of proposed implementation, bringing our psilocybin production to industrial scale. I joined iGEM after having seen a presentation from previous members, this presentation inspired me to partake in the project as it simulates what work I will do in the future while also being interesting.
Moritz Schaefer
B.Sc. Biomedicine
I contributed to the team with my work in the wet lab, performing the experiments involving PsiH, CPR, and GroEL/ES. Furthermore, I designed our presentations with a focus of the scientific understanding of the target group. Finally, I supported our video productions and the graphic explanations of the experiments. My interest in iGEM has been from the start to be part of a cross functional team from various scientific disciplines working together on a project in synthetic biology.
As the philosopher on the team, I have compiled our ethics and defined depression. Besides from this I have contributed to planning and recording our podcast and videos, conducted several interviews, and helped creating our questionnaire. Furthermore, I have been a part of the coordinator group. I signed up for iGEM, because I wanted the experience in working on a larger scale project and cooperate with students from different fields of study.
Olivia Zier Jeppesen
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular biology
I have primarily been a part of the Wet-lab group, where I have been working on the initial part of our psiH lab group and later on the transport aspects. I have furthermore contributed to Human practices within researching the historical aspect of psilocybin and collaborating with Taiwan including the podcast episode. Furthermore, I have been part of creating educational content related to synthetic biology. The reason I joined iGEM was mainly the possibility for lab experience. The project also allowed for interdisciplinary work otherwise not included in my education.
My work has focused on the human aspects of the project, mainly in Human Practices and Outreach. I've also contributed to the wiki development and helped in the lab when they could use the help of a humanities student. I have worked on our survey, education, collaborations, and promotion video, to name a few aspects. I have been the proudest of being one of the leaders of our Instagram profile. The reason why I joined iGEM is mainly the fact that I got to meet and work with students from other fields of studies. I also wanted to experience something new than what happens at The Faculty of Humanities and try out some of the skills I have learned from my education.
Simon Andreasen
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular biology
I have been working in the bioinformatics group, in the early part of the project. Besides that, I have been in the human practices group where my work was composed of minor tasks. Then I have been a part of the wiki team. Furthermore, I have worked on a design for a potential bioreactor for future use. The reason for why I wanted to join iGEM is that I wanted to be a part of a bigger project, with other students from both from within my field of education and other fields while applying the knowledge I have acquired throughout my education while learning new things form the sides of the project that do not lean into the field of synthetic biology.
My contribution to the iGEM group is in bioinformatics and Human Practices. My primary focus is on creating a business plan for our project, so that our way of producing Psilocybin can be introduced into the real world. Secondary focus has been on the promotion video, budget for business, podcast, and designing. I joined iGEM because I wanted to get more experience working with a bigger team and to achieve new knowledge in other fields. I also saw this as a great opportunity to experience how synthetic biology can help people in their everyday.
Partnership
