Author: Sarah Bennett

Applications close for 2017 entry to SynBio CDT

The application deadline has just been passed for SynBio CDT PhD studentships starting in October 2017. The 4-year studentships cover UK/EU Overseas Tuition Fees in full and pay an annual stipend.

The SynBioCDT draws upon the breadth and depth of multidisciplinary expertise within the research environment at the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick to offer comprehensive training in the design and engineering of biologically based parts, devices and systems as well as the re-design of existing, natural biological systems across all scales from molecules to organisms.

Students from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

For more details see the SynBioCDT website.

Synthetic Biology Goes Bananas in FabLab Coventry

The WISB lab went on the road in Autumn 2016 to give children from a number of local schools the chance to try their hand at synthetic biology.

WISB Researchers worked alongside FabLab Coventry, the Midlands Academy Trust, and Think Higher to deliver an interactive and engaging short-course programme that was centred on synthetic biology, related STEM subject areas, scientific techniques and principles.

Over two days, Year 10 Students took part in a series of synthetic biology experiments. Following the eau that smell protocol they used their noses to test if their E. coli had been genetically engineered to produce a banana scent. Through this work they learnt about a new frontier of research and the implications for society. They also had an opportunity to find out what University could do for them.

FabLab Coventry is a not-for-profit partnership between Coventry University, Coventry City Council, the University of Warwick, and other partners from both the private and charity sectors.

WISB @ Cafe Scientifique

Five WISB Researchers were at the Leamington Spa Cafe Scientifique on Monday 16th May 2016.

This event introduced synthetic biology and its potential applications through a series of short presentations, panel discussion and questions from the audience.

Please visit the Cafe website for more details.

Panel Members: (left to right opposite): Dr Sara Kalvala, Dr James Stratford, Dr Nick Lee, Dr Emmanuel de los Santos, Professor Alfonso Jaramillo

ELSA Workshop

Why all the fuss about public engagement?

WISB hosted a 2-day workshop exploring how synthetic biology research is connected to the external world and how it can be opened up and shared with the public.

Watch the video to find out what our researchers discovered when they examined the ethical, legal and societal aspects (ELSA) of their research with the help of Britt Wray, a collaborator from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Look out for: Biological Insights from Synthetic Biology, a special issue of the RSC journal Integrative Biology 4 (2016) 371-578

Synthetic Biology is increasingly used to implement novel applications in which designer organisms perform complex tasks not easily amenable to traditional engineering methods, such as cancer detection, fuel generation, drug production, and recently even the re-creation of extinct species. From a more fundamental perspective, synthetic biology can also be used to probe the limits and capabilities of cells. A special issue of the RSC Journal Integrative Biology, guest edited by John McCarthy, Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo and Ahmad Khalil, has just been published that features emerging research using synthetic biology to achieve new biological insights.

WISB Small SynBio Grants

WISB has already invested RC-UK funding to build
an interdisciplinary community of more than 50
synthetic biology researchers in Warwick.

In the second phase of our strategy we will expand
synthetic biology support to include an even bigger
community.

Applications are invited from University of Warwick
researchers, who are not already members of WISB, for
small grants (up to £5000) to help kick-start new
synthetic biology research projects. Proposals should be
submitted on our application form,  and will be
evaluated by the WISB Management Board. It may be
advantageous, at least in some cases, for these
SynBio projects to be co-supervised by a member of WISB

Successful applicants may be granted access to the
WISB Research Technology Facility if this is required
for the proposed research.

Please contact Graham Jones for more information.

Big Bang 2016

Slime Mold, Mazes and Microscopes.. 

WISB was part of the University of Warwick’s Faculty of Science stand at the Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, 16-19 March 2016

Held at the NEC, The Big Bang Fair is an award-winning combination of exciting theatre shows, interactive workshops and exhibits, as well careers information from Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) professionals.

Alongside University of Warwick staff and students from Physics, Life Sciences, Engineering and Chemistry, WISB members have been at the Big Bang Fair talking to children, young people, parents and teachers about the fascinating life of a slime mold..

Visitors were able to view the slime mold under a microscope and see how its external memory enables it to respond to light, heat, gravity and chemical (food) stimuli.  It’s so adept at finding food, it will even solve a maze to reach a target nutrient!

Our stand volunteers also gave out more than 100 ‘grow your own’ kits to schools so that they can set up their own experiments to test the slime mold’s external memory abilities.