Biotechnology
In their senior capstone projects, Biotechnology seniors have the opportunity to integrate diverse biological disciplines such as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology and cell biology with technical fields like engineering, information technology and robotics. These projects combine practical, hands-on biotechnology training with robust application of the scientific method and data analysis to prepare students for careers in industries contributing to drug development, medical treatments, agriculture, food processing, biosecurity and biofuels.
Projects start in fall and spring and last 2 semesters (excluding summer). Project proposals are due mid-March (fall project start) and/or mid-October (spring project start). Submit your proposal here:
Fall Project Start Intake Form
Student Skills:
- Experiment design and execution: Designing and implementing effective, evidence-based strategies to form and assess hypotheses via existing literature, laboratory bench work and data analysis.
- Laboratory Management: Safely and effectively interacting with all components of laboratory research, including interaction with reagents and biological specimens such as plants, microbes, metabolites and DNA and RNA samples.
- Data Analysis and Bioinformatics: Applying computational and statistical analysis skills to assess large and complex datasets in addition to experimental result data.
- Effective Scientific Communication: Clearly communicating core concepts and key ideas in foundational knowledge as well as cutting-edge research and investigation to relevant audiences.
- Industrial and Regulatory Assessment: Understanding and applying regulatory and industrial standards to maintain compliance with best industry practices while considering ethical, cultural and global implications.
- Additional Skills:
- Formally and informally synthesizing and articulating knowledge in microbial biotechnology, plant physiology, microbiome, genomics, bioinformatics, ecology and biomanufacturing fields.
- Working effectively with peers and other professionals to the benefit of all involved.
Previous Projects:
Microbes for Waste Batteries
This project involved the use of extremophilic microbes and the design of special combinations of microbes by students to help improve critical elements from waste batteries. Waste batteries contain critical elements like lithium, cobalt and nickel; however, chemical and physical extraction methods can take significant amounts of energy and resources. Here, students aimed to identify microbes and their abilities to grow in waste media. For this purpose, both bacteria and fungi were selected and assessed initially through NIR, HPLC, and FTIR.
Students: Muzna Baloch, Travon Jackson, and Andrew Guzman
ACC Deaminase Enzyme Production and its Benefits
The overall objective of this project was to identify microbial strains that possess plant growth-promoting abilities, such as the production of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACCd). One example was the performance of ACCd enzyme activities on selected sets of microbes isolated from extremophilic environments, in addition to the investigation of the functional role of indole acetic acid, phosphate, and silicate solubilization potentials of microbial stocks.
Students: Jason Perez, Ky Tran, Angela Varon, Rabita Ali, Naomi Pluma
Cloning Gene(s) into Watermelon for Protein Production
Plant fruits are natural bioreactors for key nutrients and proteins for human health. The project aimed to create an efficient, cost-effective plant-based bioreactor that uses watermelon to produce glucocerebrosidase, enabling a more affordable and accessible way of biologic production - focusing on Gaucher disease. The student-designed gene construct was cloned into a plasmid to prepare it for transformation into watermelon.
Students: Daniel Diaz Rodriguez, Emily Ip, Aribake Sofoluwe
Previous Biotechnology senior design projects have been supported by an ongoing USDA-NIFA (US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture) program “to improve students’ skills in agricultural biotechnology.”