One thing that is always important regardless of age is branching out. New challenges enhance the capabilities we already have and make us aware of and strengthen our weaknesses. A new challenge I took on my senior year at Missouri S&T was delving into the field of synthetic biology. That same year a professor of mine held an information session about the International Genetically Engineered Machines (IGEM) competion.
Synthetic biology can be defined as research that combines biology and engineering principles to build or synthesize new biological systems and/or functions and at the annual IGEM competition teams from around the globe compete in all different categories. After I attended this informational session I was interested yet reluctant to join due to the fact that I barely knew anything about this field. A few other students had the same sentiments as me but the faculty involved assured us that they would guide us.
This was the first time this competition was introduced to the university. There were so many new things to encounter. Yet in still all involved pulled together and made it work. As the work went on I began to hone in on my skills about a field a few months earlier I knew nothing of. In addition I also gained more practical knowledge of processes that I already knew, such as PCR and electrophoresis. I had a better understanding of certain skills because I used them for practical purposes instead of just in class.
Presenting our findings at the jamboree was a blast. I met people from countries I had never even heard of, compared our work to others to learn our good and improvement areas, and just had an overall very enriching experience. I know I am better from all of it and look forward to knew challenges all the time.
Team Website & Project Description
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