Team members

• Rico Ballman

  Age: 21

  Studies: B.Sc. Biomolecular Engineering

  Hi! This is my first time at the iGEM team. I participate because I want to make some practical lab experience beside the normal labrotaries. Also I like the idea of working in a project so interdisciplinary as this. You can share your ideas with people from other backgrounds and include their point of view into your project.I hope for new impressions in the field of synthetic biology and I'm courius about a good time in the lab.

• Sebastian Barthel

  Age: 22 

  Subject: B. Sc. Biomolecular Engineering

  During my first semester at university, I have been in contact with the former iGEM team 2012 for the first time. Since then, I was keen to work on such a interesting project like the digestion of PET by E.coli. Unfortunately I had to learn some biological basics first, so I could not help our team in 2013. But now I am even more excited to compete with our anthocyanin project this year.

  I anticipate from the iGEM project to deepen my previously obtained knowledge by working independently in the laboratory and to improve my softskills and expertise. The possibilities to take positive influence on manhood's future life by using synthetic biology are enormous. I am glad to promote improvement in the field of synthetic biology by being a member of our team and by being part of this year's competition. 

• Malte Blumenroth

  Age: 24

  Studies: M.Sc. Molecular Engineering

  It's my second time to participate as part of the TU Darmstadt iGEM team after 2012.

  I like the innovative nature of the competition that offers ways to improve my skills and learn about synthetic biology outside of university courses. Also I expect to get further practical experience working for a more independent project and have a good time at the lab.

• Thomas Dohmen

  Age: 24

  Study: B.Sc. biology

  After hearing a lot about the last iGEM projects at the TU Darmstadt, I absolutely wanted to join. I like the idea of working in a research group for which iGEM offers the first opportunity.

  I am looking forward to gain practical experience, especially since one normally does not get the chance to do so during the regular study.

  To meet other people, to exchange ideas and get in contact with economy, thats the spirit of iGEM.

  Because of that, I am really excited to participate on this years iGEM competition and I am also really looking forward to see you guys on the Giant Jamboree in Boston!

• Maximilian Dombrowsky

  Age: 23

  Study: B.Sc. Biomoleculare Engineering

  My name is Maximilian Dombrowsky and I am studying Biomoleculare Engineering at TU Darmstadt. I first heard about iGEM from some fellow students and despite a lack of time, I participated this year because I liked the idea of working on an students only project. Through iGEM I hope to get a new insight in synthetic biology, laboratory work and design of experiments.

• Kai Fenzl

  

  Age: 22

  Study field: B. Sc. Biomolecular Engineering

  After my first time in the TU Darmstadt's iGEM team I had a lot of fun and I want to take part also in this year. I like to increas my abilities from last iGEM 2013 and I hope that I can learn new thinks, also from other field of science. I am excited to test my abilities and I hope that the iGEM-Team 2014 is  again a pleasant and constructive working group, like last year.

• Tobias Gabriel

  

  Age: 24

  Studies: M.Sc. Biology

  During by bachelor studies I already heard about the creative iGEM projects of the TU Darmstadt. Therefore, I am pleased to join the iGEM competition for the first time in 2014 during my master studies. I am fascinated by the iGEM projects due to the teamwork with highly motivated and creative fellow students that meet die challenge to realize a science project independently. Additionally, the broad range of tasks of the iGEM project always leads to the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and to deepen already existing skills.

• Sascha Hein

  

  Age: 23

  Studies: M.Sc. Biomolecular Engineering

  I absolved my education as biological technical assistent in 2010. Now I'm in my sixth semester biomolecular engineering at the TU Darmtstadt. The first time I heard about the iGEM competition was in 2009 and since then I'm fascinated by the fundamental idea of this project. I'm looking forward to an interesting summer and to learn a lot about synthetic biology. Beside a sucessful participation I hope to establish international contacts.  

• Niklas Hummel

  

  Age: 22

  Subject: Biomolecular Engineering

  Hello,

  my name is Niklas, I am 22 years old and I am studying Biomolecular Engineering at the TU Darmstadt in my second year. I joined the iGEM-team, because I want to work with young scientists on an interesting topic in a fast developing market. I think our sector has one of the biggest potencials in our century and I want to learn the tools to help develop it. I am looking forward to work in a constructive and creative atmosphere with a qualified team.

• Carmen Klein

  

  Age: 24

  M. Sc. Biomolecular Engineering

  Taking part the second time in the TU Darmstadt's iGEM team, I'm looking forward to an interesting project period. Both, new experiences and new challenges are on our way on which we provide our personal skills for a freshly planned work. Again, our team members contain students with a variety of knowledge and levels who hopefully will complement and support one another.

• Kai Kucharzewski 

  

  Age: 22 

  Studies: M. Sc. technical biology

  Hi! I’m Kai. After finishing my bachelor studies of biophysics in Frankfurt, I switched for my master studies to technical biology to get a focus on biotechnology approaches. I’m looking forward to challenges and having fun during my first time at iGEM.

• Benjamin Mayer

  Age: 26

  Studies: B.Sc. computer science, M.Sc. physics

  Hi, my name is Benjamin Mayer, I am currently studying at the TU Darmstadt for my bachelor's degree in computer science and my master's degree in physics. I initially learned about iGEM during my bachelor thesis at the Computational Biology and Simulation group. As physicist and computer scientist I am equipped with a relatively broad theoretical knowledge from which I want to contribute to the Team, e.g., in the field of modeling.For me personally iGEM is a chance to work with a large Team, in comparison to the group sizes common for my field of study, on an interesting and multidisciplinary subject. Thus, through iGEM I can broaden my scope of knowledge and learn new team competences.

Instructors

• Prof. Dr. Heribert Warzecha
  

  Research: Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering

  Prof. Dr. Heribert Warzecha is a professor for Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering at the TU Darmstadt. He initiated the iGEM project at our university in 2012 and supported us in all our efforts since then. His research focuses on the production of lipoprotein vaccines in plant chloroplasts and metabolic engineering of plant secondary metabolism with human CYP450 enzymes, that have an extraordinary broad substrate acceptance.

• 

  Sven Jager

  Studies: Ph.D. Biomolecular Engineering

  Hello! As you can see I'm doing my PhD. I'm an oldtimer and therefore can't participate as a normal team member like I did before. So this year I work as an advisor for the team. My job is to be the mediator for frictions inside between team members. As I'm residing in the field of computational biology I'm also an advisor for the modelling group of our team.I hope I can help the team with my experience and inspire the younger students for the field of bioinformatics.