Team
Meet the wonderful people who made this project possible and learn about the specific ways they contributed in this endeavour.
Jimena Fuentes-Arias
Team leader
Why are you in iGem?
Since I heard about it in 2016 I loved the idea, it was all about changing the world which is all I ever wanted to do. iGEM is an opportunity to explore complex projects which only fit in this competition, it allows to push the boundaries of synthetic biology (my favorite area of biotechnology because of its limitless possibilities) and it involves interdisciplinary work which, for me, its fundamental. Also, getting to know people from all around the world is great.
Something you learned in iGem
Project management & human resources... it's harder than it looks
What superpower would you like to have?
Controlling time
Share a song you like :)
La fugitiva - Natalia Lafourcade
Mariana Sáenz Ramírez
Dry lab
Why are you in iGem?
Because I love synthetic biology
Something you learned in iGem
How much I like to work with others
What superpower would you like to have?
Flying
Share a song you like :)
5 years time -Noah And The Whale
Jose Daniel Lizano-Bolaños
Implementation Team
Why are you in iGem?
Because of my experience in Molecular Biology field in the Biotechnology Research Center at my university I fit the teams since the beginning, so I joined and since then I’ve been working in the Biology section of the team.
Something you learned in iGem
Importance of cooperation with teams from other countries and how interaction and different perspectives make your project grow. Also the importance of comunicating and educating the non-scientific society about synbio topics and latest works in this field.
What superpower would you like to have?
Teletransportation
Share a song you like :)
A tu Merced - Bad Bunny
Ysis Lanzoni-Vargas
HP & IHP developer
Why are you in iGem?
It is one of the projects in which I have felt the social and scientific impact of interdisciplinarity more closely, and I have met not only Costa Rican colleagues from other universities, but also people from many other countries with very different backgrounds and I really appreciate those experiences.
Something you learned in iGem
Communication is necessary not only to accomplish tasks, but also to give some mental stability to keep the team standing and not saturate it.
What superpower would you like to have?
To understand and communicate with the flora and fauna
Share a song you like :)
It's Your Time - Planet funk
Alonso Segura Valverde
Implementation
Why are you in iGem?
To learn, explain, improve myself and make a contribution to the scientific community in my country and around the world
Something you learned in iGem
Everything can go worst or better in just a second
What superpower would you like to have?
Cloning myself
Share a song you like :)
Fight the Feeling-Mac Miller
Marco Herrera-Valverde
Software Developer
Why are you in iGem?
To try new things and seek discomfort.
Something you learned in iGem
I learned that life and biology in general is way more complex than I ever thought, and I am way to far from even beginning to comprehend it.
What superpower would you like to have?
Regeneration
Share a song you like :)
Rut - The killers
Gustavo Segura-Umaña
Guide
Why are you in iGem?
I've always felt an special conection with Biotec, and knowing we could combine our disciplines to create something made me feel extremly excited
Something you learned in iGem
Patience, time management and to make great web pages lol
What superpower would you like to have?
Superfast coding please
Share a song you like :)
Lo que construimos - Natalia Lafourcade
Johan Guillén-Meza
Math Model
Why are you in iGem?
I want to apply my knowledge in a real world application that could be useful to hopefully many people.
Something you learned in iGem
You have to keep fighting for your dreams no matter what, even when there is no certainty of what you are doing could be done, just keep pushing and good things will come, and it is better to do it as a team or with a group of people that support you and share your vision.
What superpower would you like to have?
Manage time
Share a song you like :)
Beautiful Day-U2
Josue Montoya
Experience Designer
Why are you in iGem?
I wanted to go out of my comfort zone, so I start to work with scientists :)
Something you learned in iGem
Teamwork
What superpower would you like to have?
Flying
Share a song you like :)
Como un bebé - Oasis
Andrea Vargas-Umaña
Design Leader
Why are you in iGem?
wanted to gain experience working with people from different career paths.
Something you learned in iGem
Teamwork and communication
What superpower would you like to have?
Teletransportation
Share a song you like :)
People - Agust D
Camila Flores-Rojas
UX-UI Designer
Why are you in iGem?
Funny story, I have never been a fan of biology but throughout my life I have surrounded myself with many biotechnologists. Our leader was my roommate in college and a great friend throughout my life, she inspired me to change the world and thats why I started to help them in the design part. I have learned that biology is much more interesting than I imagined and that it is actually very similar to design which is something I love.
Something you learned in iGem
Patience, lots of patience. Also change is the only constant and working with biotechnologists is more fun that it seems
What superpower would you like to have?
Refill, anytime you need something again just refill it.
Share a song you like :)
Lento - Julieta Venegas
Jimena Fuentes-Arias
Team leader
-General project management
-Organizing meetings with possible users for our Human -Practices,
along with
the Biocontainment round table, and the Synbio Club
-General project management
-Organizing meetings with possible users for our Human -Practices,
along with
the Biocontainment round table, and the Synbio Club
-Promotion video conceptualization
-Education and communication strategizing, development of content
for
interactives, revision of interactive design and usability,
collaboration icon
management
-Conceptual framework development
-Research and design of genetic suicide circuit and its
characterization plan
-Overview of implementations and applications
-Feedback and advisory for mathematical model
-Collaboration executio
-Social media management
-Lab
Mariana Sáenz-Ramírez
Dry lab
-Conceptual framework development
-Research and design of genetic suicide circuit and its
characterization plan
-Conceptual framework implementation
-Organizing meetings with possible users for our Human Practices
-Collaboration execution
-Presentation video script development
-Feedback on software development
Jose Daniel Lizano-Bolaños
Wet-Lab
-“Proposed Implementation” and “Proof of concept” medal criteria
including research of safety aspects, possible applications and
adaptation and definition of limitations of the project based on
literature and experts criteria.
-Support of HP team with the “Integrated Human Practice” medal
criteria.
-Collaboration execution including, biocontainment roundtable
research and presentation.
-Wet-lab leader
Ysis Lanzoni-Vargas
HP & IHP developer
-Proposal and development of Human practices and Integrated Human
Practices
-Search and contact with other teams for the development of
collaborations
-Research and proposal of parts of the death system and
biocontainment of the project's genetic material.
-Support criteria for the design team.
-Synbio Club's logistics and organization.
-Research about biosafety, intellectual property and regulation of
biotechnological products and applications in Costa Rica.
Alonso Segura-Valverde
Implementation
-Implementation leader: “Proposed Implementation” medal criteria:
risk assessment, end users, stakeholder analysis, applications,
SWOT, future snapshots, etc.
-Support of the HP team with the “Integrated Human Practice” medal
criteria.
-Biocontainment roundtable research and collaboration aspects.
-Content development and design support for the educational
interactives and virtual labs.
Marco Herrera-Valverde
Software Developer
-Genetic suicide circuit research, topology proposals and
feedback
-Conceptual and software framework design and implementation
-Software and tools development
-Mathematical modeling feedback
-Wiki
Gustavo Segura-Umaña
Instructor
- Guidance of the wiki programming
- Orientation and feedback regarding the conceptual framework, software framework and software development and implementation
- Assistance for the animation of interactives
Johan Guillén-Meza
Math Model
-Mathematical model development
-Work in public engagement
-Support to HP in team- possible users meetings and in
collaborations
-Contact with experts for advisory
-Participation in experimental design characterization
Josue Montoya
Experience Designer
-Visual Design for the LabX interactives support
-Human practices conceptualization and documentation
-Presentation and promotion video conceptualization and production
-Education and communication strategizing
-Communication revision and improvement
-Communication experience strategizing and development
-Design and storytelling portrayal and implementation
Andrea Vargas Umaña
Design Team Leade
-Social Media Manager (Instagram)
-Content Creator
-Logo and Brand Design
-Design and Development of Virtual Labs and Interactives
-Content Creator for LabXchange collaboration
-Graphic Design for the Wiki Page
-Development of Wiki wireframes
-Communication revision and improvement
-Communication experience strategizing and development
Camila Flores-Rojas
Design Team
-Content Creator
-Branding
-Development of Virtual Lab 1
-Visual and Interaction designer for the Wiki Page
-UX-UI
David García
Project PI
-Administrative matters
-Contact with sponsors
-Human Practices advisory
-Project advisory
Attributions
Project Advisors
-PhD Pakpoom Subsoontorn & PhD Jerome Bonnet: genetic counter circuit and its modeling
-Pablo Vargas: general project with specific focus on modeling
-Pablo Delgado: circuit and DNA fragments design
-Diego Rojas: circuit characterization and wet-lab
-María José Durán: human practices and shipping policy
-Prof. Carolina Peláez: human practices and shipping policy
-PhD Juan Gabriel Calvo Alpízar, Professor of Mathematics and Researcher, UCR: modeling
-PhD Óscar Zamora Luna,Professor of Mathematics and Researcher, UCR: modeling
-PhD Maikol Solís Chacón,Professor of Mathematics and Researcher, UCR: modeling
-PhD Daniel Campos Salas,Professor of Mathematics and Researcher, UCR: modeling
-PhD Carlos Montalto Cruz,Professor of Mathematics and Researcher, UCR: modeling
-PhD Alexandra Pokhilko,Clinical Research Associate at University of Oxford: modeling
Human Practices Users
-M.Sc. Mauricio Chicas Romero
-PhD. Karla Meneses Montero
-M.B.A Karla Valerín Berrocal
-M. Eng. Randall Chacón Cerdas
-M.Sc. Jason Pérez Chaves
-PhD. Andrea Laura Calvo Castro
-PhD. Monserrat Jarquín Cordero
-PhD. Carolina Centeno Cerdas
-M. Sc. Alejandro Hernández Soto
-M. Sc. Raúl Trejos Espinoza
-Dr.rer.nat Miguel Rojas Chaves
-M. Sc. Silvia Castro Piedra
-Ing. Johan Morales Sánchez
-M.Sc. Carola Scholz
-Lic. Rossy Guillén Watson
-MSc. Luis Alfredo Barboza Fallas
-Bach. Laura Chaves Martínez
-Lic. Kendall Alfaro Jiménez
-Ph.D. Candidate Kattia Nuñez Montero
-Ph.D. Candidate Olman Gómez Espinoza
-Lic. Victoria Zamora
-Lic. Juan Carlos Hernández
-PhD. Candidate (M.Eng) Alexander Schmidt Durán
-PhD. Candidate (MSc) Catalina Rosales López
-M.Ed. Carolina Sancho Blanco
-PhD. Pablo Jiménez Bonilla
-M.Ed Jorengeth Abad Rodríguez Rodríguez
-PhD. Stefany Solano González
-PhD. Frank Solano Campos
-PhD. Pablo Bolaños Villegas
-PhD. Rodrigo Mora Rodríguez
-PhD. César Rodríguez Sánchez
-PhD. Adrián Pinto
-MSc. candidate Silver Ceballos
-PhD. Aníbal Mora
Shipping Policy Interviewees
-Mónica Zamora: Speratum
-Richard Carit & Andriu Brenes: Smatter
-Victoria Portuguez: Biomiracle
-Luis Barboza: Hemoalgae
-Andrea Fuentes: Metless
-Mario Porras: Biocient
-Randall Chacón: ITCR
-Miguel Rojas: ITCR/CONAGEBio
Synthetic Biology Club Organizing Team
-Andrea Calvo
-Luis Eduardo Muñoz
-Kate Willis
-Alejandro Chaves
Involvement of the Social Sciences
-Alhana Chavarría
-Ilvo Adrián Guillén