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 seeing my S.O. as frequently 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:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

Mokhshan Ramachandran

Senior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

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:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

Christina Baek

Sophomore at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

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:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

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:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

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Favorite Quote:

Nikki Nikkhoy

Junior at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

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Favorite Quote:

Alexander Wen

Freshman at Torrey Pines High School

Why I'm Doing iGEM:

Coolest thing about science:

Hobby:

Career plans:

Skills:

Favorite Quote:

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