Team:Brasil-USP/Team/Members
Team Members
Team
We have collaborated with several iGEM teams, sharing experiences and problems we have faced during the development of our project. In the following, we described each of our partnerships.
Instructors
Ana Paula Ulian de Araújo
University of São Paulo/USP Professor
Her areas of expertise are biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics, with emphasis in heterologous expression, protein purification and structure characterization using circular dichroism and fluorescence. Currently, her research is focused in ribosomes inactivators protein (RIPs) and human septins. She also teaches Molecular and Cellular Biology for undergraduate and graduate courses. Ana Paula has supported the whole progress of the project, advising on circuit design and providing the infrastructure of the Biophysics group for our circuits experiments. Whenever possible, she also attended our meetings at night, being the most present instructor of our team.
Richard Charles Garratt
University of São Paulo/USP Professor
Richard Charles Garrat is high experienced in structural biology using crystallographic techniques for proteins and molecular modeling. His area of research is focused in septins, superoxide dismutases, purine rescue pathway in parasites, nuclear receptors, planning vaccines and drug design based on protein structure, protein engineering and the development of educational tools for teaching structural biology. He helped our team in circuit design, more specifically in chimerical protein study.
Advisors
Otavio Henrique Thiemann
University of São Paulo/USP Professor
His experience is based in biochemistry, with emphasis in Molecular Biology and Structural Parasites, especially Leishmania and Trypanosoma. He studies mainly Molecular Cloning, Target Validation, Structural Biology, Protein Translation, Synthesis of selenocysteine and Virus Structure. Otavio provided the infrastructure of the Laboratory of Structural Biology for our Molecular Biology experiments.
Cristina Kurachi
University of São Paulo/USP Professor
She has experience in Biophotonics area, with an emphasis on interaction of light in biological systems, optical diagnosis and photodynamic therapy applied to cancer and infected tissues. Cristina has research areas that involve the development of biomedical instrumentation and clinical protocols to apply photonic techniques. She advised us in some of the aspects of the project and provided the infrastructure of the Optics labs.
Valtencir Zucolotto
University of São Paulo/USP Professor
Valtencir Zucolotto, better known as Xuxa, works in the development and characterization of nanomaterials and biosensors for diagnosis and therapy. He also investigates the effect of these nanomaterials in humans cells and in ecologic systems. He provided the infrastructure of the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group for our characterization experiments.
Juliana Cancino Bernardi
University of São Paulo
Postdoctoral in Nanotechnology
Juliana works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Group. Her research is focused on the following topics: synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for biomedical applications; development and characterization of electrodes modified with biomolecules to use as sensors and biosensors in medicine; Development of new methods for studying the toxicity of nanomaterials by means of membrane models and molecular biology. She supported our team in the characterization experiments, specially in the use of cytometry flux.
Student Members
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Graziele Vasconcelos
Undergraduate Student in Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She works in the Molecular Biotechnology group, studying structure-activity relationship of drugs. On her spare time, she helps the iGEM project’s experimental part, working in DNA circuit construction. She believes that Science can turn the world into a better place for everyone.
Why iGEM: I believe that making part of a project which aims to use synthetic biology in order to solve an environmental problem can be really challenging, therefore, is an amazing experience for personal development.
Paula Maria Pincela Lins
Undergraduate Student in Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
On her last year of college, she works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group, with synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Paula always tries to help the team whenever she can, and her main contributions to the project were: literature review in modeling and devulcanization, project presentation in Jamboré, and searching for sponsors to the team.
Why iGEM: I believe that the team gives me the opportunity to develop new abilities. Studying synthetic biology helped me to expand my horizons, going out of my comfort zone. I lost my fears of presentation, which is a big step for me. Learning that, this competition is a great opportunity to increase my professional and personal experiences. I never thought I would enjoy studying modeling and working in Entrepreneurship!
Thiago Schiavo Mosqueiro
PhD candidate in Physics
Thiago is finishing his PhD in computational neuroscience, investigating mostly how the Brain conveys and codifies information. Although in a larger scale (millimeters to meters), mathematical modeling always has been Thiago’s passion, having briefly experienced Solid State physics, Financial Market, Neuroscience and Population Dynamics. He helped in the organization and discussion of results and designed all the predictions models of our project.
Why iGEM: Science itself is reaching that point where there aren’t anymore boundaries separating different areas of expertise anymore. In this sense, Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology appear to be the flagship towards multidisciplinarity. For this transition, modeling and data analysis are certainly on the spotlight. I thought iGEM would give me a chance to strengthen my knowledge base and expand my skills on modeling and data analysis. I could learn a lot with my teammates and contribute to make this huge project happen!
Letícia Camargo Tavares
Undergraduate in Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
Leticia is currently working in the Medicinal and Computational Chemistry Group with neuronal ensembles involved in the context-induced reinstatement of ethanol seeking in rats. She has been helping the team mainly in scientific researches for project development, in topics such as : construction of the kill switch system, product transformation and bioreactors. She also aided iGEM by writing, revising texts and searching for sponsors.
Why iGEM: My participation in iGEM competition is giving me the opportunity to learn much more than I would learn just in the classroom. It has improved my ability to think and to join together different knowledge fields in order to build a whole project. Furthermore, it has been a really great experience to work with a team that has the same passion as mine: Science!
Fabiane Fantinelli Franco
Undergraduate in Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
Fabiane is currently in the last year of her course. She works at the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Group in the synthesis of magnetic and metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. She has helped iGEM by writing and revising texts, studying modeling and searching for sponsors.
Why iGEM: It is important to expand your knowledges and discover new areas. Therefore, iGEM seemed as an opportunity to explore a subject I have never worked with before and it proved to be as instigating as I expected. I have learned and I am still learning a lot, whether in the synthetic biology field or working as a group. I am excited to contribute to science and the environment with this project.
Mariana Lopes Garcia
Applied Physics Master student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
Mariana works in the Medicinal and Computational Chemistry Group in São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC), studying computational models on quantitative prediction of small molecules bioactivity against malaria. Her contributions to the team were mainly: studying modelling, developing images for folders/banners/wiki and Jamboré’s organization.
Why iGEM: Since I found out about iGEM last year, I wanted to be part of it because I saw passionate people who believed in our potential to do great things. The exchange of experiences is one of the most important parts in group work: with our team I learned more about synthetic biology, modelling and even entrepreneurship. I believe that iGEM is an unmatched opportunity to represent Brazilian young students in an international competition and that we are doing our best to make this project be awesome.
Ana Laura de Lima
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She is currently studying Trypanosoma brucei spliceosome as part of her PhD project in the Laboratory of Structural Biology. She helps in many areas of the iGEM project, but her main focus is on planning and executing wet lab experiments and on anything that involves drawing (wiki design, t-shirt, logos and the mascot). Her specialty is disturbing the weekly meetings with non-important topics.
Why iGEM: I decided to be part of iGEM mainly due to its contribution to my knowledge in molecular sciences and for the possibility to work in solving problems that affect society. Also, I spent the whole year of 2014 hearing my friends talking about how great it was the competition.
Ivan Rosa e Silva
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
Ivan is currently studying Trypanosoma brucei spliceosome at the Laboratory of Structural Biology of the Crystallography Group as part of his PhD thesis project. He was part of Brasil-SP wet-lab team in IGEM 2014 and is now helping our team with wet-lab, genetic circuit design and literature review. His contributions to the team are mainly related to molecular biology experiments design.
Why iGEM: I joined iGEM teams in 2014 and 2015 because I was interested in developing projects that aim to tackle major problems in human health and environment using synthetic biology.
Karen Freire Carvalho
Undergraduate student in Biotechnology
Karen, who is at the last year of her bachelor’s degree, has worked with Molecular Biology and is currently developing a project in the Microbiology field, which involves isolating and studying biosurfactant producing bacteria. She has helped the iGEM team mainly working in the wet lab, but she also aided by seeking contacts of potential sponsors and collaborators around the world and with text writing and revising.
Why iGEM:As it is my last year at college, I wanted to do something really special. When I heard of the possibility of being part of the team I recognized the perfect opportunity for that - and I couldn’t have been more right about it. It has been a wonderful experience, never thought I would be able to learn this much about so many things in so little time!
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.
Laís Canniatti Brazaca
Applied Physics PhD Student
Physical and Biomolecular Sciences
She currently works in the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology group developing biosensors for biomedical applications. Her main contributions to our project were: funding searching, organizing team’s tasks, reviewing wiki texts; and in the biosafety and finance areas.
Why iGEM: Besides iGEM being a great opportunity to work in a highly developing area and to interact with amazing people from all over the world, it also stimulates the development of new abilities, as organizing a team and developing a project fully – which not only includes wet lab and discussions, but also searching for funding, dealing with finances, developing a website, etc. That said, I believe that iGEM is a great opportunity for professional and personal development; and that’s why I’m a recurrent participant.