Team:UMaryland/Team
Meet the team
Iowis Zhu
President, Fearless Leader
Iowis Zhu
4th year: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Public Leadership, Statistics, Technology Entrepreneurship
After leading last year's inaugural iGEM team to a gold award last year, Iowis returned this year to further grow the team. Outside of iGEM, he studies the characteristics of DNA looping protein in Dr. Kahn's lab. He has had the entire periodic table memorised since 8th grade. Outside of lab, he loves reading manga, watching sports (a NE Patriots fan), and following the global stock market. He recently visited India last winter and Germany last summer. After graduation he plans to enter MD/PhD program.
Stephanie Sansbury
Vice President, Team Mom
4th year: Microbiology, Arabic Studies
I am a senior at the University of Maryland researching mechanosensitive channels in V. cholerae. When I'm not in the lab, you can find me wandering organic farms trying to find my spirit animal or exploring the rocky paths of the local Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River. In addition to basic scientific research, I am interested in science education and policy and plan to work in that arena after earning my PhD.
Kevin Fan
Finance Director, Tallest Asian
4th year: Neurobiology, Technology Entrepreneurship
Standing at 190cm, Kevin is the tallest Asian on the team. He joined iGEM because of its fast-paced, multidisciplinary, problem solving nature. He is the founder of SuperScore Inc, and serves on the national board of Kids Are Scientists Too. He hopes to attain a MD/MBA someday. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys boxing, parkour, and reading.
Robert Hand
Community/Outreach Director, Handyman
3rd year: Bioengineering
Chun Mun Loke
Website Director, Best Kohai
2nd year: Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Physics, Music
"Has Iowis-senpai noticed me yet?"
Hailing from Singapore and Australia, Chun Mun's strong interest in genetic engineering prompted him to join iGEM. He hopes to conduct research in this field after attaining an MD/PhD. Outside of school, he is a self proclaimed piano prodigy, having won consecutive local competitions and finalising in international ones. He can solve a Rubik's cube in a very slow average of 17 seconds and is an avid video gamer. He is actually not a weeaboo as some aspects of his profile may suggest.
Aditya Biswas
PCR Design Director, Modeler
4th year: Bioengineering
"When I am not tinkering with the PCR you will find me modeling in the finest versions of matlab"
After leading last year's inaugural iGEM team to a gold award last year, Iowis returned this year to further grow the team. Outside of iGEM, he studies the characteristics of DNA looping protein in Dr. Kahn's lab. He has had the entire periodic table memorised since 8th grade. Outside of lab, he loves reading manga, watching sports (a NE Patriots fan), and following the global stock market. He recently visited India last winter and Germany last summer. After graduation he plans to enter MD/PhD program.
Juhye Kang
Graphic Designer
2nd year: Neurobiology
After leading last year's inaugural iGEM team to a gold award last year, Iowis returned this year to further grow the team. Outside of iGEM, he studies the characteristics of DNA looping protein in Dr. Kahn's lab. He has had the entire periodic table memorised since 8th grade. Outside of lab, he loves reading manga, watching sports (a NE Patriots fan), and following the global stock market. He recently visited India last winter and Germany last summer. After graduation he plans to enter MD/PhD program.
Dylan Taylor
PCR Team Member
2nd year: Neurobiology, Mathematics
A member of the Integrated Life Sciences Honors College, I am heavily involved in the design of various components of the team’s PCR machine. This is my second research experience and firstwet-lab experience. Outside iGEM, I am a member of the University of Maryland Gymkana Troupe and I am almost obsessed with Rubik's cubes and all other Twisty Puzzles.
Dania Benalla
Programmer
2nd year: Computer Science, Microbiology
After leading last year's inaugural iGEM team to a gold award last year, Iowis returned this year to further grow the team. Outside of iGEM, he studies the characteristics of DNA looping protein in Dr. Kahn's lab. He has had the entire periodic table memorised since 8th grade. Outside of lab, he loves reading manga, watching sports (a NE Patriots fan), and following the global stock market. He recently visited India last winter and Germany last summer. After graduation he plans to enter MD/PhD program.
Kara Huie
PCR Team Member
2nd year: Bioengineering
Hi, I'm a sophomore bioengineering major at the University of Maryland. While I am not sure, at this point in time, what exactly I plan to do in the future, I hope that experiences like iGEM will help me to find my interests and give me more exposure to the many careers related to biology. Outside of school, I enjoy running and keeping up with track & field. I also enjoy doing kungfu (martial arts) and just recently started indoor rock climbing this summer. Basically, I love doing sports.
Samiha Ahmed
Team Artist
2nd year: Neurobiology, Public Health
Hi, my name is Samiha Ahmed and I'm a sophomore Neurobiology and Physiology and Public Health Sciences double major. I hope to go to medical school one day, and I love all things arts and crafts related.
Adam Wahab
Lab Member
4th year: Neurobiology, Physiology
Hi, I'm a senior neurobiology and physiology major at the University of Maryland. This is my first research experience and exposure to synthetic biology. In the future I hope to attend medical school and pursue more research opportunities. Outside of the lab, I'm a huge news junkie and I love following politics. I also enjoy traveling, weight lifting, and browsing reddit.
Sarah Wain
Programmer
2nd year: Chemical Engineering, Computer Science
I am a sophomore and member of the Gemstone Honors College. I was predominantly involved in the Wiki design. In addition to iGem, I work in a Polymer Chemistry lab and enjoy finding as much free food as possible.
Kimia Abtahi
Photographer
2nd year: Neurobiology, Public Health
I am a sophomore majoring in Physiology & Neurobiology and on the pre-med track. I might consider pursuing obstetrics in the future. I would like to travel and apply my knowledge to developing countries or disaster relief. Beyond that, I have interests in nutrition and business. I am a student photographer for the Honors College and play on the Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team. My favorite way to spend my free time is staying active in nature, such as jogging or doing adventure courses. As the team's photographer, most of the pictures you see on here were taken by me.
Pavel Vlasov
Returning Member
4th year: Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics
Wanna hear a joke?
I am a senior and member of the Integrated Life Sciences Honors College at UMD, and am originally from the distant land of Russia. Outside of iGEM, I also have another internship at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where I am working with thyroid cells. Outside of academics and scientific work, my hobbies include video games, model kits, fencing, anime, and writing science-fiction stories.
George Zhang
Coder
4th year: Bioengineering, Statistic
Hi everyone - I am a senior bioengineering major and statistics minor at the University of Maryland. I hope to attend medical school after my undergraduate education. In my time outside of the classroom, I enjoy running, playing basketball, and taking long naps in the library when I really should be studying. Recently, I have also been occupied with self-learning new computer programming languages. Expect big things from UMD iGEM this year – go Terps!
Advisors
Dr. Jason Kahn
Biochemistry
University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. 1990
Research Interests: DNA structure and topology in multi-protein DNA complexes and DNA loops. Construction of nanoscale objects using DNA and protein-DNA complexes. DNA packaging by peptides used for transfection of DNA and siRNA. Role of DNA structure in transcription and gene regulation.ps!
Dr. Ed Eisenstein
Bioengineering
Ph.D., Georgetown University, 1985
Research Interests: Professor Eisentein's laboratory is investigating a number of questions involving plants, including their remarkable capacity to produce a complex array of interesting compounds, the way they respond to pathogens and disease, and also the feasibility of engineering their biosynthetic apparatus for applications ranging from human health to biofuel production.
Dr. "Boots" Quimby
Biology
Ph.D., Emory University, 1997
Dr. Quimby's research interests are related to the interface between nucleocytoplasmic transport and cell cycle regulation and on the effects of reading primary research literature on student learning. Her awards and recognition for teaching include a Center for Teaching Excellence Lilly Fellowship and she was named an American Society of Microbiologists Biology Scholar for 2010-2011. ps!
Nathan Barber
Bioengineering
Filler
I am a former vice president of the UMaryland iGEM team and had served many roles this past year as we formed the team. I graduated with a degree in Bioengineering and currently work in the Life Sciences consulting field while also working as a mentor and advisor to this years team. My background primarily consists of metabolic and genetic engineering research, and in my spare time I am an avid rock climber and play ice hockey.ps!
Tanya
Bioengineering
Navadeep
Chemical Engineering