Testimonials

Junlan - “iGem this year has been such a wonderful experience. Even though I still have much to learn, iGEM has exposed me to new topics that I wouldn’t have explored before, and engendered a genuine interest in biology. I really enjoyed the labs we performed, especially the pGLO lab, because it helped me realize that research requires much patience and meticulous planning. Often, even the smallest mistakes can cause an experiment to fail, and it takes perseverance to learn from one’s mistakes and improve. We eventually achieved the results we hoped for and are extremely proud of our hard work. The labs also helped me gain an understanding of how bacterial gene regulation differs from eukaryotic gene regulation, and how the products of gene expression can in turn affect regulation. I think it’s interesting how many of the sciences come together in biology; chemistry is essential for understanding the molecular properties of a system, while physics is essential for understanding energy, the fundamental laws governing existential things, and building the tools used in biological research. Math and computers are also extensively used to model systems and perform calculations. Biology integrates all of these fields and applies that knowledge to understand the implications for a living system. I find this level of collaboration fascinating, and it’s something I want to explore in the future. I have iGEM to thank for opening my eyes.

Bhargav - “When my brother came back from college (or as I like to say, rejoined my household), he came back with many stories and one of them was about his "adventure" of finding a major. In fact, he changed majors three times; however, he did find a major that he was truly in love with - Biomedical Engineering. I decided to pick up one of his biology textbooks and have loved synthetic biology ever since. I have always been a science/math person, but at times, the school curriculum seemed like a series of closed doors. However, when I first encountered synthetic biology through iGEM, I saw how much future potential the field had. I now see biology as a new frontier of knowledge, and, following in the footsteps of my brother, I plan on studying Biomedical Engineering to satisfy my love for synthetic biology and helping others. I attribute my decision to iGEM.”

Mritika - iGem at Montgomery High School was a lot fun and I learned many things through my involvement. I didn’t understand things at first, never having taken a formal course in biology, and I failed to see biology for what it was. I at first saw it as a body of boring facts to memorize, however, as we gradually started to learn about enzymes, proteins, and the process of engineering biological circuits, I became fascinated by the junction between biology and engineering. Before I thought biology was just about understanding cellular and organismal processes, but iGEM has allowed me to see biology in a different perspective; biology can be highly innovative and used to make tangible products. The pGlo lab was one of my favorite activities of the year since it was cool to see the numerous colonies that grew and how they glowed under the UV light! Overall, Montgomery iGem had a great start for its first year and I greatly enjoyed my time! I highly look forward to next year

Aman - IGEM has significantly impacted my life. While I was largely unknowledgable about biology and scientific protocol prior to my involvement, I was able to learn about the cellular properties of bacteria, their interactions in a colony, and how tiny changes at the molecular level can lead to large-scale changes through iGEM. I have also learned about the fundamentals of lab procedure and safety, which I hope to apply in future lab experiments. While I have only scratched the surface, I’ve gained a full appreciation for the vast body of knowledge that science constitutes, and I’m motivated to continually expand my understanding. This has been a highly rewarding experience for me, as I greatly enjoyed having fun with friends, completing labs and learning about biology. iGEM will provide with valuable experience as I pursue my dream of becoming a biomedical engineer.

Avi - iGEM teaches many valuable laboratory and research skills, including common biotech procedures such as DNA ligation, the proper usage of lab implements such as the micropipette, the formation and evaluation of hypotheses and proper experimental design. I have also realized that scientific research involves a significant amount of time and hard work and often results in failure, but also that it is ultimately very rewarding. Looking at the final results of our lab, I can’t help but smile and feel proud of what we have accomplished. Synthetic biology has huge potential for improving people’s lives, and IGEM provides an experience that is highly relevant for those pursuing careers in science, one that has sparked my passion for synthetic biology.