The Biomakers
Chris Thompson
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Charlotte Hoo
Charlotte is a junior in Biomedical Engineering from the Windy City (Chicago), which is fitting because she loves to sail! Despite her passion, she is very afraid of deep water, an interesting mix… Charlotte has an identical twin, so if something ever goes wrong, it was her twin’s fault! If Charlotte is not running or biking, you can probably find her eating, thinking about what to eat, or sleeping. Did you know that Charlotte can breakdance? Probably not, because she can’t. But learning to breakdance is on her lifelong agenda!
Peter Mercado-Reyes
Peter is a senior in Biochemistry and entrepreneurship. He thoroughly enjoys a good drama series like House of Cards, Ray Donovan, and The Mentalist. Peter likes to go to the gym, stroll around campus on late nights, and chill on weekends. He has had a variety of internships at institutes, corporations, and universities but overall thinks he’ll end up starting multiple businesses with his friends. Peter learned this about himself after working with iGEM as treasurer! His life goal is to retire his mom, then move to Dominican Republic and live off the land. If you really want to bond with Peter, find an isolated spot and an stimulating topic and he’ll be yours for life.
Ryan Wagner
Ryan is a senior in Biological Engineering. He has been on the iGEM team since sophomore year, where he worked on the Human Practices aspect of the project. Originally from sunny Fort Lauderdale, he enjoys fishing, wakeboarding, going to the beach (which sadly isn’t much of an option in Indiana), and working out. He also really enjoys cooking and grilling. His specialty? Steak and guacamole.
Nidhi Menon
Nidhi (also called Needy by her International friends, just because) is now a senior, majoring in Biological engineering and minoring in Biotechnology. Over summer, she worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, raising polyclonal antibodies against GAPDH(a glycolytic enzyme found in the Plasmodium genus that causes malaria). She’s originally from one of the most fun to be places in the world- Mumbai, India. She plays Badminton with the Purdue Badminton Club and occasionally enjoys swimming, volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Don’t be deceived by her tender looks, she has a blue belt in Karate and does not hesitate in showing off her skills. (This is subtle warning for Chris). She enjoys adventure sports and has been river rafting, skydiving, paragliding, and mountain biking! She also plans to go Scuba diving in the following year! Apart from having a keen interest in Forensic science and Genetic engineering, she also enjoys history, exploring new places, and learning new languages. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and French, and is now in the process of learning Arabic. She loves animals and has had a little red crested bulbul, a European shorthair, and a Labrador as pets. She was also lucky to pet a good number of Swiss mice she worked with over the summer but had to end up sacking them herself. :(
Swetha Vinjimoor
Swetha Vinjimoor is a senior majoring in Biological engineering. This is her second year on the iGem team and she is working on organizing and developing the human practices aspects of this year’s project. Some of her favorite hobbies include singing, reading and hanging out with her friends. She particularly enjoys singing Indian Classical music and has given vocal performances at various events and places (California, Ohio, India, etc). A crazy fact about her: She has never had meat in her life (ever!), and is actually pretty proud of it.
Betsy Benner
Betsy is a senior in Biological engineering and this is her second year on the iGEM team. Last year she worked mainly on the human practices aspect, and enjoys continuing to help with their projects while also being more involved with the science aspect of this year’s project. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, and watching movies.
Sriram Boppana
Sriram is a sophomore at Purdue University and is planning to pursue the pre-med track, and major in Biomedical Engineering. He is from the suburbs of Chicago and has not explored the city enough or had any famous Chicago style Pizza and is shameful for it. This is currently his first year in iGEM and is acting as its Chief Liaison. In addition to being liaison of iGEM, Sriram served as a project leader for EPICS at Purdue University where his team designed engineering based projects to foster the growth and development of practical and computational skills for local Junior High School Students before they transition to high school. His goals in life are to become a doctor studying medicine and to engage in Biomedical research for the National Institute of Health. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, watching Doctor Who on BBC America, and occasionally talking to himself(joking of course, or is he..?).
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Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Casey Martin
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Hailey Edmondson
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Tianyu Tan (Goes by Tony)
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Mark Aronson
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Joshua Saliutama
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Deborah Lee
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Zach Oberhaus
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
James Welch
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
Michael Drakopoulos
Chris is a junior in Biological Engineering and is getting a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. This is actually Chris’s 5th year in iGEM! Chris was part of the very first high school iGEM competition in 2011, and has been involved ever since. Along with iGEM, Chris is also president of Purdue NORML, a cannabis legalization club on Purdue’s campus. After he graduates, Chris plans to work for NORML and start a industrial cannabis production company, and wants to sell name-brand cannabis products around the world. When he’s not bent on taking over the world, Chris loves to read, play with his kitten Scout, and waste time on the internet.
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