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Thank you for your interest in the 2015 Melbourne University iGEM Team! Please read the following information about iGEM, the team, and what you need to do to get involved.

What is iGEM?

iGEM is a unique opportunity to get involved in enterprising student research and make a scientific impact.

iGEM is short for the International Genetically Engineering Machine competition. iGEM is an undergraduate science competition held each November in Boston. In the months leading up to iGEM, university teams use the latest tools from synthetic biology/biotechnology to create a novel single celled organism or “biological machine”.

iGEM teams manage everything from the conception to the execution of the iGEM project, with the aid of faculty supervisors.

The benefits to participating in iGEM include:
-Get valuable scientific and leadership experience
-Develop a useful, novel biotechnology and gain experience in the latest in interdisciplinary biological research

-Make an impact
-Have an amazing experience!

Learn more about iGEM in general at: https://igem.org/About

Learn about this year’s team by clicking on the links above.

Also browse the previous Melbourne Uni iGEM team at:
http://openwetware.org/wiki/IGEM:Melbourne/2008
http://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/news/the-bioclock---bacteria-to-mark-time-for-melbourne-university-te

What is involved and what is needed

We are always on the lookout for enthusiastic students with an interest in science.

 

A biological science background is helpful, but not required. Team members will need to use knowledge from second-level biology subjects. However, we have had team members without a biological science background who have excelled.

 

As part of the iGEM team, you would help with the following tasks:

·         Research on the iGEM project ideas. The ideas for the iGEM project are student driven, and team members often need to answer specific research question to design new experiments or come up with new ideas. This will typically involve doing quick searches of the literature using Google Scholar and reading scientific articles.

·         Help with developing experimental methods. The 2014 team has built up a library of protocols and experimental methods. However, the project for 2015 will likely require new methods. You will need to look up protocols in the literature and adapt them to the project requirements.

·         Wet lab work OR modelling/computation OR engineering design. By joining the iGEM team, you will have an opportunity to participate in the lab and learn many standard techniques in molecular biology from fellow lab members. Alternatively, many iGEM teams make use of the skills of engineers, computer scientists, and other non-biological science disciplines. This may take the form of, for example, modeling a biological system using software like Matlab. It might also involve designing microfluidic devices with biological applications or designing an electrical device which interfaces with a biological system. If you have an interest in interdisciplinary research between your field and biology, it is likely iGEM will be able to accommodate it.

·         The scope of iGEM also extends into non-traditional science areas, including biotechnology entrepreneurship, biotechnology ethics and the law, and science outreach, and so we are actively seeking students with business, law, design, and arts backgrounds. You could, for example, create a business plan for a iGEM-created company, examine bioethics within synthetic biology, or even explore the potential of biologically-inspired art.

 

There are several traits needed on the iGEM team:

·         Research skills. IGEM is an exciting opportunity to undertake self-directed research in synthetic biology. We will therefore need students who are keenly interested and adept in research. To participate, you will need to have the capacity to quickly get up to speed in the field of biotechnology and to eventually excel in a lab with limited instruction.

·         We’re looking for team members from a range of backgrounds. iGEM is about cross-disciplinary research, so in addition to biological and biomedical science students, we welcome students from engineering (electrical, mechanical, chemical, software etc.), computer science, maths, physics, chemistry, and other physical sciences. Also, students from non-science backgrounds are very welcome to get in touch to explore how they can contribute to the team.

·         Participation would be most suited to students with a high level of academic maturity. Typically, this includes third year, honours, or Masters students, butstudents from all levels who can demonstrate an aptitude for research or leadership are welcome to apply.

If you are interested in being a part of iGEM, please email Sean Lowe at MelbourneUniIGem@gmail.com and indicate the role(s) you are interested in.

Further information about iGEM and updates about the recruitment process will be made available at https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneUniIGem.

Thank you again for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you.