Brandon Read

Senior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am doing iGEM to carry on the legacy left by our previous team leader, Tareq Younis, and to learn more about the synthetic biology field while practicing skills involved in participating in the jamboree.

Coolest thing about science:

The coolest thing about science is that it (in most cases) seeks to find the truth.

Hobby:

My hobbies involve being a personal pal for friends or online strangers who need help finding direction in their lives, playing League of Legends, reading the news, and being dabes. as possible.

Career plans:

My career plans involve making use of any opportunity I see fitting as a challenging and rewarding path towards something greater.

Skills:

Skills? Please, I am dabes.

Favorite Quote:

"To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities."- Bruce Lee (rest in peace).

Michael Margolis

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I’m doing iGEM because it is a great opportunity to do interesting science work with friends.

Coolest thing about science:

I think the coolest thing about science is how far reaching its application are, from helping eradicate diseases to allowing us to have computers and artificial intelligence.

Hobby:

A hobby of mine is playing the violin and viola. I love musical instruments and the expressiveness they allow.

Career plans:

I plan to become a pediatrician and hopefully do research on the side.

Skills:

Some of my skills include breathing and playing musical instruments.

Favorite Quote:

My favorite quote is one from Dr. Seuss: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”

Gha Young Lee

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

The creativity and fresh applications of synthetic biology that iGEM inspires from young scientists like us drove me toward iGEM. Also, as the team captain this year, I want to be able to spread this type of iGEM spirit to the community around me.

Coolest thing about science:

It fits and it works, but at the same time it is unknown and sublime. It is also a very effective tool that transforms an idea to something tangible valuable with the power of nature.

Hobby:

Listening to international music, diving, stargazing and... secretly dancing by myself when I’m feeling good.

Career plans:

I plan to pursue medicine with a focus on nano and biotechnology.

Skills:

Math, Physics, Organization

Favorite Quote:

"I owe all my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour beforehand." - Horatio Nelson

Mokhshan Ramachandran

Senior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am very interested in iGEM because it allows students to explore the frontier between Biological Science and Computational Design.

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

In my free time, I play squash, listen to Jazz music and engage in woodworking projects.

Career plans:

After college, I plan to attend medical school or pursue a Ph.D degree in Immunology.

Favorite Quote:

"It is the sign of an educated mind to entertain a thought without having to accept it" - Aristotle

Brian Choi

Senior at Torrey Pines High School

Hobby: Singing like Kurt Hummel from Glee and watching Big Bang Theory

What I want to major in college: Aerospace Engineering

Future job: Husband

Abilities: singing in high pitch, eating 210 pieces of hot cheetos per day, knitting, passive aggression

Interesting facts: I was casted in The Light in the Piazza as Giuseppe Naccarelli.

Favorite Quote: "Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard."

Anisa Malangone

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I love learning, especially about science, and have had some great experience in a lab at UCSD with neuroscience, but I was also drawn to synthetic biology and iGEM was the perfect way to learn more.

Coolest thing about science:

How much is unknown, and changing and yet to be discovered as well as how different areas of science link together.

Hobby:

watching movies like UP, reading things by C.S. Lewis, playing word games like hink pink, collecting quotes with my best friend, going on adventures to different counties, listening to Simon and Garfunkel, hiking at Torrey Pines reserve, having long talks, and of course synthetic biology

Career plans:

MD (neurosurgeon) & or PhD (focusing on either neuroscience or bioengineering)

Skills:

cooking 30 minute meals in 20 minutes, memorizing 2,500 vocabulary words (and forgetting a plethora of them), seeing the little things in life, solving hink pinks, eating 6 times a day, being there for anyone at anytime

Favorite Quote:

So we fix our eyes not is what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Melinda Wang

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I want to learn more about the field of synthetic biology and gain more lab experience.

Coolest thing about science:

How it can be used to help others by extending their lifespan or improving their lifestyle.

Hobby:

Drawing and writing.

Career plans:

A career where I leave a positive impact on society, or at least on the people within my sphere of influence.

Skills:

I know how to swim, dance, and play piano and clarinet.

Favorite Quote:

“One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.” - Nelson Mandela

Victoria Ouyang

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

iGEM is a great program that allows us to apply our biology knowledge to solve problems that exist in the world. It also requires a much deeper understanding of specific biology concepts than is taught in class. Most importantly, I really enjoy the hands on lab experience that it involves because I can link together what I learned and apply the knowledge practically. Through this wonderful opportunity and process, I learned a lot about synthetic biology and its applications.

Coolest thing about science:

There is always something more to know.

Hobby:

During my free time I like to paint because it is both relaxing and inspirational. I also enjoy watching dramas and spending time with friends.

Career plans:

I plan to major in an engineering field and get a Ph.D degree after college.

Skills:

I learn things very quickly and am good at working with hands on activities, from building things to lab work, etc. Prior to iGEM, I also had experience with a project that involved similar concepts.

Favorite Quote:

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

Christina Baek

Sophomore at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am fascinated by bioengineering and how it allows life to become one complex machine that can be modified and edited. iGEM also gave me a wonderful opportunity to gain more experience in the lab.

Coolest thing about science:

Science gives the best answers to the question "Why?".

Hobby:

Violin, Listening to music, Sleeping, Eating, Walking in the rain, Making candles, reading, drawing, thinking

Career plans:

undecided

Skills:

Overthinking, Circular Thinking, Doubting

Favorite Quote:

Life is not a marathon.

Evan Kallenberg

Senior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am doing iGEM because it is an amazing opportunity to perform in-depth lab research and provides insight into a field of study that I am very interested in pursuing

Coolest thing about science:

The coolest thing about science is that science attempts to explain why and how everything in the universe happens. Also, for those who work hard, science can be the key to some of the most profound discoveries in the world.

Hobby:

My hobbies include backpacking, rock climbing, reading, snowboarding, and spending time with friends.

Career plans:

I am interested in pursuing a career in biochemistry or astrophysics (or both if possible).

Skills:

Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, and Rowing.

Favorite Quote:

"I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine." (Neil Armstrong)

Ellen Ouyang

Sophomore at Canyon Crest Academy

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

How is manipulating the structure of living organisms to fulfill a decided purpose not appealing

Coolest thing about science:

How it explains the universe and the discoveries that seem magical. Learning about the process behind accepted facts of the world (and contradictions) is fascinating. New wondrous advancements exist when previously thought highly improbable.

Hobby:

Drawing, Reading, Playing instruments, Diving in the interwebs, Making paper models of icosahedrons

Career plans:

Interested in medicine

Skills:

Arts, Violin, Piano, Guzheng, Hand crafts, Filling out informational biographies

Favorite Quote:

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages ~Shakespeare

Daniel Sands

Junior at Canyon Crest Academy

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Initially I joined not only because I was interested in the material, but also because several friends recommended it to me.

Coolest thing about science:

I'm not sure if I can name just one thing about science; there's too many to choose from. However, a couple of my favorites include: Men on the moon or eradication of smallpox.

Hobby:

I enjoy reading.

Career plans:

I want to become an oncologist.

Skills:

I can camp and cook.

Favorite Quote:

"Teach thy tongue to say, 'I do not know,' and thou shalt progress." –Maimonides

Aidan Kahng

Sophomore at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am doing iGEM because I have always been interested in bioengineering yet haven't had much lab experience.

Coolest thing about science:

Nothing is everything.

Hobby:

Running, Table Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee

Career plans:

Skills:

Not knowing what I'm good at.

Favorite Quote:

"War does not determine who is right - only who is left." -- Bertrand Russell

Zilu Pan

Sophomore at Canyon Crest Academy

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I am doing iGEM because I think Synthetic Biology is a fascinating subject in that we are able to change the world and benefit lots of people by investing eforts into gene engineering; manipulating simple organisms may turn out to have a more profound impact than we have ever imagined.

Coolest thing about science:

The coolest thing about science is that everyday, scientists are discovering new things that could potentially benefit people around the world, providing powerful solutions to questions that were impenetrable in the past.

Hobby:

My hobby is to do Chinese Calligraphy during my spare time and watch an episode of TV here and there. I also enjoy reading science articles in the news.

Career plans:

I plan to pursue a career in the realm of finance and investments, discovering talents and investing in those that can potentially change the world means a lot to me.

Skills:

I know how to play piano, art and calligraphy. I know design and layouts due to my experiences as a yearbook editor. And of course, I have acquired many laboratory skills throughout my high school journey.

Favorite Quote:

“God has given you one face, and you make yourself another”-William Shakespeare

Nicki Nikkhoy

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Having always been an avid science student with a strong interest in biology, I chose to do iGEM my sophomore year of high school because I thought it would offer me everything that it has: an opportunity to expand my knowledge of biology and overall science, in a high-energy, engaging environment that also built skills for working in a team and finally produced an experience of hands-on science at an advanced level.

Coolest thing about science:

I have always been fascinated by how science bridges the natural world and the human one.

Hobby:

Reading a wide range of genres

Career plans:

Going into neuroscience

Skills:

I am good at working with people and getting others involved in large projects, and making sure things always get done by the time they need to be. I have skills in both lab and human resources areas of a science team.

Favorite Quote:

"Build your own dreams, or someone will hire you to build theirs."

Alexander Wen

Freshman at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I joined iGEM because I saw it during club day and I thought it would be interesting. After we had meetings, I got hooked to the whole idea of synthetic biology and now I’m here doing iGEM.

Coolest thing about science:

The coolest thing about science is that with research and experimenting you can unlock the secrets of how the world works. You are also able to use your imagination to change the way people look at life (through synthetic biology)

Hobby:

My hobbies are playing baseball, playing piano, and baking.

Career plans:

I hope to do something related to biology for my career. Since I was a toddler, I was always intrigued by the field of biology. So I’m going to go with my gut and pursue careers similar to my interests.

Skills:

I feel that I get along with a group of people, and I’m able to communicate with all types of people. I believe that my main strength is in the teamwork department.

Favorite Quote:

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence”-Robert Frost

Julia Wisnia

Freshman at Canyon Crest Academy

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

I love biology, and the wonders of biological engineering excites me.

Coolest thing about science:

It is limitless.

Hobby:

Drawing and writing.

Career plans:

Brain surgeon.

Skills:

Working well under pressure

Favorite Quote:

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde