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
Spring 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:
AI-Driven Enzyme Mining for Cynarine Biosynthesis
AI-Driven Enzyme Mining for Cynarine Biosynthesis's goal is to find the unknown enzyme responsible for the synthesis for Cynarine. Cynarine is a therapeutic compound, specifically an antioxidant, that provides a host of benefits, such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, etc., and that the traditional way of harvesting cynarine is slow and expensive (harvested in small quantities from mature artichoke heads). If we can isolate the enzyme responsible for synthesizing Cynarine, then we can upscale the production of the compound to an industrial scale. To take on this task, we relied on AI-Based tools, such as Autodock Analysis (Simulation of Cynarine and a Protein's catalytic pocket), KVFinder (Ball probe that scours a protein and determines their pocket volumes), and more.
Team members: Manal Benzouina, Vivian Do, Minnah Khan, Jeremy Tanueco, Jesus Villarroel
Fungal Degradation of PET Microplastics: Insights from Carbonic Anhydrase Activity and FTNIR Spectroscopy
We are working with 3 different species of fungi to discover their potential role in microplastic degradation. Fungi are natural decomposers and break down organic waste by secreting various enzymes, so doing more research on these organisms can be useful for future research in bioremediation projects. We are growing these fungi in anerobic environments in soil with microplastics. Over time, CO2 levels, soil pH, plastic chemical structure changes, and carbonic anhydrase enzyme levels will be measured to better understand how fungi can use plastics as a carbon source and how they may affect metabolic processes.
Team members: Katie King, Sofia Molina, Nicolas Hines, Kabria Earp
Phytoremediation of Watersheds Using Floating Treatment Wetlands
Floating Treatment Wetlands are floating mats that utilize the natural ability of aquatic vegetation, to uptake nutrients and lower pollutants in wetland ecosystems. Pollutants from industrial and agricultural waste runoff are harmful to not only animals but also humans as excess nutrients can promote toxic cyanobacterial from algae blooms. To combat nutrients this lab aims to gain insight into FTWs as a promising candidate for nutrient uptake through total nitrogen and phosphorus analysis.
Team members: Payton Yen and Dylan Joe