Abdul Muntakim Rafi

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology and later pursued my Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Windsor.
My current research concentrates on employing machine learning to design cis-regulatory models, develop methods to interpret them, and explore ways to enhance their performance, contributing to a quantitative comprehension of cis-regulatory logic. I have expertise in various programming languages and machine learning libraries, publications in top-tier ML conferences, and experience of working as a machine learning engineer in software companies and startups.

Maya Kaul

César Aarón Villalobos

I am a biotechnologist interested in bioengineering, especially the application of mathematical modelling to biomolecular systems and bacterial population dynamics. I work on plasmids, antibiotics, and genetic engineering.

Massimo Bellato

I got my Master’s in Bioengineering at the University of Pavia – Italy, in the BMS lab headed by Prof. Paolo Magni, with a thesis on modeling metabolic burden in Synthetic biology. I then started a PhD in Bioengineering and Bioinformatics in the same laboratory, focusing on CRISPR interference genetic circuits and metabolic burden. I also spent a visiting period at the Del Vecchio laboratory – MIT.
In the last years, I moved to the University of Padova where I’m starting in collaboration with other Professors a research line in medical synthetic biology, focusing on quorum quenching and phage engineering against AMR. I’ve also been PI for the Italian iGEM team 2023

Joshua Atkinson

Dr. Atkinson’s research aims to use approaches from synthetic biology, protein engineering, biophysics and electrochemistry to understand and control how microbes and proteins transport electrons. The Atkinson Lab seeks to elucidate the critical role electron transport plays in energy and information processing in cells and microbial communities and to use this knowledge to engineer new biotechnologies that address societal challenges in sustainability, environmental monitoring & remediation, chemical synthesis, and resource recovery & extraction. Areas of current emphasis are the development and application of design rules for (i) how microorganisms use proteins to regulate electron transfer in metabolic networks, (ii) how electron flows shape the structure of microbial communities that impact geochemical cycles, and (iii) how living electronic materials can be built that couple the information processing and catalytic capabilities of biology with electrochemical devices.

Feilun Wu

I received my BS in Biomedical Engineering from University of Virginia where I conducted research in systems biology, tissue engineering, and neuroscience. I joined Lingchong You’s Lab at Duke University for my PhD where I studied microbial community ecology using synthetic biology approaches, machine learning, and microfluidics. I am currently a research scientist working with John Glass at JCVI on expanding the toolkit for whole genome transplantation, which is a foundational technology that enabled the construction of the minimal cells.

Hajar Estiri

I hold a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine and currently serve as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Synthetic Biology Group at JCVI. My career is defined by a deep commitment to leveraging synthetic biology to combat diseases and create a sustainable, secure environment for future generations and all life on Earth. This dedication drives me to seek innovative solutions for a healthier, safer world.

Aishwarya itra

Sparky is a Master’s student at Columbia University. Her research at the J. Craig Venter Institute has focused on climate-related applications of synthetic biology and genetically engineering JCVI’s minimal cell. She fills her time outside of the lab as a writer and activist finding unexpected allies in unexpected spaces to develop unexpected solutions to problems, such as housing and gun violence, facing the community at-large.

Nathan Lanclos

Hi, my name is Nathan! I am a PhD student in the joint UC Berkeley and UCSF bioengineering program. I study metabolic engineering and protein engineering for the production of various chemicals and products. I have a background in economics, and I’d like to pursue commercializing industrial bioprocesses in the future.

Ilenne Del Valle

Ilenne Del Valle is a Research Staff Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Chile and her Ph.D. in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology from Rice University, where she worked in the Silberg and Masiello lab. Following her Ph.D., she served as a postdoctoral researcher in the Eckert lab at ORNL. Currently, her research focuses on engineering new synthetic biology tools to facilitate ecosystem engineering, with a specific emphasis on environmental, energy, and sustainability applications.

Leili Rohani

Dr. Leili Rohani is a Stem Cell Scientist at the School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, and upcoming Research Scientist at MIT Synthetic Biology Center and Department of Biological Engineering. Her research has been focused on stem cells, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and cell-fate engineering with the intent to provide a platform for future gene and precision therapies for heart diseases. She is passionate about combining tissue engineering, single-nuclei RNA sequencing and synthetic biology tools to create a human single cell atlas of heart disease as a basis for understanding, diagnosing, monitoring, and treating heart diseases. Her end goal is to look at the SynBio platform (tissue engineering, single nuclei RNAseq, synthetic biology) as a new vocabulary for disease studies to determine the ways in which cells and disease genes act, which cells are disrupted in disease, which programs change in them, what mechanisms underlie their (dis)regulation, how their cell-cell communications are affected, and what would be the impact of therapies. Beyond her research, she is passionate about science communication, networking, and collaboration.

Cameron Kim

Cameron Kim is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and member of the Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at Stanford where he studied protein and RNA-based control systems within alternative splicing devices for mammalian synthetic biology applications. Since coming to Duke in 2020, Dr. Kim has been researching ethics-guided design frameworks for emergent biotechnologies, including gene and cell-based therapies, to improve the classroom experience for biomedical engineering students through team and project-based learning. He serves as the research advisor for the Duke International Genetically Engineered Machine undergraduate research group to promote authentic research experiences and mentor the next generation of bioengineers. Currently, Dr. Kim and his undergraduate team of 15 students are initiating a project on developing high-throughput screening of novel protein secretion signals to stimulate chimeric antigen receptor T cells for signal amplification. He also serves as the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering. In recognition of his teaching, he received the Bass Connections Leadership Award and the Klein Family Distinguished Teaching award in 2023. Overall, his work aims to advance the field of biomedical engineering through innovative education and research, with a focus on improving society through emergent biotechnologies.

Laura Guerrero

I am interested in using cell free systems to better understand peptide-level disease associations.

Immuno US 2023

Featuring 30+ presentations, the event brings together over 120 attendees from leading pharma, biotech and academic organisations designing innovative strategies and technologies for more effective cancer immunotherapy development.

Expand your knowledge & discuss future priorities in:

Discovery & Development: Cell Therapies & Antibody Approaches
Biomarkers, Precision Medicine & Spatial Biology in Immuno-Oncology
Discovery & Development: Intra-tumoral Immuno & Combination Therapies & Small Molecules as IO Therapies
Translational & Preclinical and Clinical Development

View the agenda here – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/immuno-series-us/agenda/?utm_source=ebrc&utm_medium=eventlisting&utm_campaign=immuno&utm_content=immunous2023

Co-located with Biomarkers US 2023 attendees receive access to both events. For more information contact marketing@oxfordglobal.co.uk

Targets and Cell Types in Immuno-Oncology Europe 2023

With new & emerging targets and drug candidates in immuno-oncology, key opinion leaders from pharmaceutical & biotech companies as well as academic & research organisations will be presenting on innovative approaches & methods for target identification & validation, such as AI-based strategies, novel checkpoint inhibitors and latest developments & case studies in cellular therapies : TILs, gamma deltas, myeloid cells.

Expand your knowledge & discuss future priorities in:
– Emerging Technologies, Strategies & Methods for Novel Targets & Target Validation in Immuno-Oncology
– Novel Cell Types to Develop Effective IO Therapies

View the agenda:https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/immuno-targets-cells/agenda/?utm_source=ebrc&utm_medium=eventlisting&utm_campaign=immuno&utm_content=tacell2023

Co-located with Biomarkers Europe 2023 and Precision Oncology Europe 2023, attendees will receive access to all three events. For more information contact marketing@oxfordglobal.co.uk

RNA Therapeutics & Delivery 2023

Join RNA leaders, experts and distinguished scientists in Europe, delivering breakthrough research, technologies & connecting global pharma, biotech and academia for high-level discussions on the latest innovations within the formulation and delivery of RNA-based therapeutics.

Formulation & Drug Delivery US 2023

Join leaders, experts and researchers at West Coast’s scientific Hub – San Diego, delivering breakthrough research, technologies & connecting global pharma, biotech and academia for high-level discussions on the latest innovations in formulation, drug delivery & inhaled science

Spatial Biology Europe 2023

Explore spatial research: from the application of spatial technologies in biology through to topical updates from spatial genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and spatial bioinformatics.

Expand your knowledge and discuss future priorities in:
– Spatial Multi Omics Techniques & Approaches
– Applications of Spatial Research & Technologies in Biology
– Spatial Biology in Pharma & Translational Drug Research
– Spatial Bioinformatics, Data Analysis and Interpretation

Benefits to attending include:
– Learn from Applications on Therapeutic Areas – Case Studies on Cardiovascular Development, Oncology, Neurobiology
– Explore the latest Spatial Technologies and Overcome Challenges in the Adoption of Translational Drug Research
– Gain insights into Spatial Multi-Omics applications for thr Tumor micro-environment
& much more!

View the agenda here: https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/spatial-biology-europe/agenda/download-agenda/?utm_source=ebrc&utm_medium=eventlisting&utm_campaign=omics&utm_content=sanaeu2023

NextGen Omics 2023

NextGen Omics 2023 features 4 outstanding programmes, bringing together Europe’s most successful omics research experts under one roof. The series provides an excellent networking platform which consists of key discussion topics in: Next Generation Sequencing & Clinical Diagnostics, Single Cell & Spatial Analysis, Synthetic Biology in Discovery & Therapeutics and Digital PCR & Liquid Biopsies.

Expand your knowledge and discuss future priorities at:
– NGS & Clinical Diagnostic Congress – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/ngs-clinical-diagnostics/
– Single Cell & Spatial Analysis Congress – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/single-cell/
– Synthetic Biology in Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Congress – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/synthetic-biology/
– Digital PCR & Liquid Biopsies Congress – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/digital-pcr/

The event also features the NextGen Omics Young Scientist Awards including the best poster presentation award and are intended to honour an outstanding individual performance for a scientific work by a PhD student, PostDoc or early career scientist. – https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/young-scientist/

View the full agenda here: https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/nextgen-omics-series-uk/agenda/download-agenda/?utm_source=ebrc&utm_medium=eventlisting&utm_campaign=omics&utm_content=ngsuk2023

Nidhi Mehta

Nidhi is a graduate student in the Chemistry department at the University of Washington under the supervision of Jesse Zalatan. She is working on engineering synthetic bacterial communication for applications in biosynthesis and therapeutics. She graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington. Outside of research, Nidhi will serve as the Mentee Recruiting chair for EBRC.

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