From 2014.igem.org

Revision as of 00:58, 9 September 2014

North Carolina State University Genetic Engineering & Society Center iGEM Team We are working with Antony Evans of the Glowing Plant Project to explore what it means to act responsibly with respect to genetic engineering. Specifically, we propose an iterative concept mapping framework to assess the values that people associate with responsibly releasing genetically engineered plants beyond the laboratory.

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Team GES NCSU Raleigh NC

Barry Peddycord

Barry is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science. He's the webmaster.

Elizabeth Pitts

Elizabeth is a PhD student in Communication and a National Science Foundation IGERT fellow in Genetic Engineering and Society.

Project focus: As team captain, Elizabeth kept track of deadlines, logistics and project management. She also served as lead author on the project's theoretical framework and contributed to the concept map.

Academic focus: Elizabeth's research on the governance of emerging technologies stems from a long-term interest in the accessibility of knowledge. Before enrolling at NC State, she served as a writer and speechwriter at the White House, the US Department of Education, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, and as an adjunct professor at University of Maryland University College. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Georgetown University.

Downtime focus: Yoga, traveling, and the beach.

Johanna Elsensohn

Johanna is a Ph.D. student in Entomology, with a minor in Genetic Engineering and Society.

Project focus: A bit of everything. She helped write sections for several of the core principles. She also helped design the concept map and helped put the poster together.

Academic focus: Johanna studies the ecology and behavior of agricultural pests in order to develop control solutions within an Integrated Pest Management framework. Genetic pest management has the potential to be an effective tool in IPM. However, the appropriateness of the new technology needs to address social and cultural concerns in addition to overcoming technological barriers. She joined the iGEM team because she's interested in studying the social, ethical, and legal issues that surround the release of new technology.

Downtime focus: When not chained to the computer or in the field, Johanna can be found either in the mountains exploring new places with her dog, out on the water kayaking, or in the kitchen concocting something delicious!

Rene Xavier Valdez

Rene is a PhD student in the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology program in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

Rene is studying how stakeholders perceive, communicate about, and interact with invasive species and invasive species management. This includes novel management strategies such as genetic pest management.

Jennifer Baltzegar

Jen is a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences, Genetics Program as well as an NSF IGERT Fellow in Genetic Engineering and Society.

Project Focus: She has helped to write sections for different principles as well as updated the notebook on the website and helped develop the Environmental Health portion of the concept map.

Academic Focus: Jen is broadly interested in studying the differences between populations and species via mechanisms of evolution and impacts of population change, and she is particularly interested in studying the impacts of genetic engineering in agricultural pest species.

Downtime Focus: She enjoys running, camping, playing with her dog, and renovating her house.

Tina Ndoh

Tina is a PhD student in the Department of Public Administration, and a research staffer for the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NCSU.

Project Focus: She has focused primarily on the legal and compliance components that impact biotechnology. She drafted language on the regulatory landscape and created the decision matrix components related to regulatory compliance.

Academic Focus: Tina is interested in the governance of emerging technologies and the inclusion of environmental justice populations in the early assessment of governance needs. In addition to her work as a doctoral student, Tina also works as an environmental engineer developing rules for EPA's Office of Air.

Downtime Focus: She loves reading, cooking, dance-style classes and hanging out with her family.