SBME Interfaces with Emilia Chen and Janella Schwab

 UBC iGEM and Undergraduate Innovation.
Interdisciplinary scientific exploration.
Changing course through UBC iGEM.

We sat down with iGEM Executive Directors past and present, Emilia Chen and Janella Schwab, on all this and more in our latest episode.

Guests:
Emilia Chen
UBC iGEM 2021 Executive Director
Student, Microbiology & Immunology and Computer Science

Emilia Chen is a fifth year student studying Microbiology & Immunology and Computer Science. She is passionate about finding the intersection of computational and biological sciences. Synthetic biology has opened her eyes to the infinite possibilities we and the great power of multidisciplinary collaboration. She has been the Executive Director of the UBC iGEM team, and served as both software lead and a wet lab member. Her iGEM experience has truly transformed her undergraduate path, and she was thrilled to lead the team in creating something extraordinary together.

Janella Schwab
UBC iGEM 2022 Executive Director
Student, Honours in Applied Animal Biology

Janella Schwab is a fourth year honours student studying applied animal biology. She is itrigued by the parallels between the natural and human worlds and how synthetic biology can narrow that gap. Her curiosity in this field was harboured by having the opportunity to participate in iGEM during high school, after which she joined UBC iGEM in 2019. As the Director of UBC iGEM she hopes to inspire this admiration for biological systems in others, especially those outside the scientific community. In her spare time you can find her either climbing mountains or thinking about climbing mountains.

Learn more about UBC iGEM

Host:
Miguel Eichelberger
Communications & Engagement Manager, School of Biomedical Engineering

Miguel is an unflinching optimist. He is a communicator and writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines and on stages around the world. His most recent publications include Harpur Palate, the Literary Review of Canada, Plainsongs Magazine, and Soliloquies Anthology. He believes in authenticity; in doing and saying what you actually believe, and he is an obsessive student of leadership from the biological and anthropological perspectives. You've likely heard him rant about it, and he's not sorry.

Learn more about Miguel's work here

Chapters

• 0:00 Janella on last year's project, using Salmonella as a biosensor
• 0:00 SBME Interfaces with UBC iGEM
• 2:11 Emilia on her experience with iGEM and why it's a special opportunity for students
• 5:50 Janella on her experience with iGEM as a high school student in Peru
• 9:30 Janella on the competition, what it's like to get there, and working together
• 12:12 Emilia on what the competition year entails
• 14:00 Janella on last year's project, using Salmonella as a biosensor
• 17:20 Emilia on working with experts and top scientists to get their opinions and guidance on iGEM work
• 19:20 Janella on how iGEM has changed her academic trajectory
• 23:00 Emilia on how iGEM showed her how to combine computer technology and immunology
• 25:45 Janella on how to get involved with iGEM and how it's open to everyone
• 29:00 Emilia on inviting everyone to reach out to iGEM to learn more
• 30:50 Emilia on telling her 15-16 year old self to explore more
• 32:40 Janella on representation in, and redefining Biomedical Engineering
• 36:20 Janella on tell her 15-16 year old self to explore more and find more resources
• 38:35 Emilia on delivering student-directed seminars on biotechnology and synthetic biology
• 39:58 Janella on working toward turning iGEM into something that provides credits toward a degree