A space for learning through making
At the BioMakerSpace at NUS, students can learn how to apply the design-build-test-learn cycle in order to engineer microbes for medical and industrial applications. Maybe you have a brilliant idea that can help patients or optimize an industrial process. Maybe you are just curious. Come an visit us! Here you will find an enthusiastic group of people eager to learn and work with you!
Optogenetics
We aim to control bacterial behavior with high spatial and temporal resolution using electromagnetic signals.
Make you dream project a reality
Do you have a brilliant idea that nobody thought of yet? Would you like to do some initial testing before jumping to create you own start-up? Visit us and get hands on into your project!
Meet a talented group of people
You are not alone, there are other students with just your same interests and ideas in mind! Come and meet them! From a creating a long lasting friendship to meeting a future business partner, everything can be expected!
Have lots of fun!
Because, of course, science and engineering can also be fun! Feel the thrill of discovery, the satisfaction of a well done job and share it with a group of like-minded great people! Don’t be shy and join us!
About
iGEM is an international synthetic biology competition aimed at high school, undergraduate and graduate students to inculcate the spirit of engineering biology in a worldwide community. Students work together in an interdisciplinary environment to tackle real world problems and develop actionable solutions, culminating in the Giant Jamboree in October of every year where they get to present the fruits of their labour. iGEM has been instrumental in the development of the next generation of synthetic biology pioneers, with many alumni founding companies such as Ginkgo Bioworks and Benchling, or becoming academics, policy makers and much more. NUS has been a participant in iGEM for a number of years, and has consistently achieved sterling results, with NUS 2021 attaining the highest-ever position of 1st Runner Up across 350 teams.
Projects
iGEM 2021: PRYSM
In 2021, the NUS iGEM team developed a novel biomanufacturing system, known as PRYSM (Photo-Regulated Yeast for Synthetic Manufacturing). PRYSM uses yeast to produce environmentally friendly and human safe biopesticides for indoor farms in Singapore and leveraged optogenetic circuits and modelling to create a decentralized, automated bioreactor for non-trained personnel. This system was a product of many iterations of design, combined with consistent feedback from stakeholders such as the indoor farms and regulatory bodies in the government to create a holistic, end-to-end solution.
iGEM 2019: Eco. LIVE
NUS iGEM 2019 team developed an innovative “ON/OFF” growth switch to prolong the functionality of engineered bacteria. This novel solution addresses the short-lived productivity in bacteria and aims to achieve long-term, controlled productivity in engineered bacteria developed for a variety of real-world applications. Inspired by the phenomenon of hibernation, the growth switch regulates the activity and energy consumption of the bacteria to extend their usage.
iGEM 2018: Coup Dy’état
Eco-friendly biomanufacturing of flavonoid dyes in Escherichia coli via computer-mediated optogenetic regulation. The NUSGEM iGEM 2018 team developed a computer-mediated optogenetic regulation system as a technological platform for future biomanufacturing. The expression of enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway can be rapidly regulated by light. Burden-based cellular stress is monitored and regulated using custom hardware. More information can be found at their iGEM page.
News
2021
1st runner-up & 3 special awards!
NUS iGEM 2021 team with their novel biomanufacturing system, known as PRYSM (Photo-Regulated Yeast for Synthetic Manufacturing) to produce environmentally friendly and human safe biopesticides for indoor farms in Singapore, has clinched them the first runner up for the Grand Prize in iGEM 2021, along with the awards for Best Wiki, Best Part Collection and Best Manufacturing Project – making it NUS’s best-ever showing at iGEM thus far.
2019
Two special awards!
NUS iGEM 2019 team has showcased their project, E.co LIVE, at the annual iGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston, USA and achieved outstanding results. Not only did they clinched a Gold Medal for the project, they also won two special awards – Best Foundational Advance Project and Best Part Collection Awards; and were nominated for the Best Poster, Presentation, Wiki, Basic Part, Composite Part and Finalist awards. They were among the top 5 teams out of 194 undergraduate teams which participated in the competition!
NUS iGEM team does it again! Wins Gold and more at the 2019 iGEM Giant Jamboree
Our NUS iGEM team has showcased their project, known as E.co LIVE, at the annual iGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston USA (31st Oct to 4th Nov 2019) with outstanding results! iGEM is the world largest annual synthetic biology student competition, with over 340 teams participating from universities around the world. This was NUS’s and Singapore’s best ever showing, where the team not only clinched a Gold Medal for the project but also went on to win two special awards – the Best Foundational Advance Project and Best Part Collection Awards. Apart from this they were also nominated for the Best Poster, Presentation, Wiki, Basic Part, Composite Part and Finalist awards. They were among the top 5 teams out of 194 undergraduate teams which participated in the competition!
This year the NUS iGEM team came up with the project to develop innovative solutions to enable the prolonged functionality of engineered bacteria, addressing the current bottleneck which limits the use of engineered bacteria to solving real-life problems, from cleaning up our environment to diagnosing diseases. Inspired by the phenomenon of hibernation, the students developed a “ON/OFF” growth switch to allow for fine control of the activity and energy consumption of the bacteria, extending their usage and thus bringing it closer to viability. Working hard throughout the year, the team demonstrated that the growth switch worked!
The team comprised of 9 highly motivated undergraduates from different faculties and disciplines, including Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Architecture, working closely to achieve this outstanding results. The team was mentored by NUS faculty, Prof Poh Chueh Loo (BME), Prof Jimmy Chih-Hsien Peng (ECE), Prof Matthew Chang (Biochemistry) and Prof Yew Wen Shan (Biochemistry), along with past ex-NUS iGEMers and members at SynCTI. From left to right in the picture: Joanne Lim, Suhasini Iyer, Cheng Kai Lim, Sheena Chan, Low Xi Zhi, Song Chun Yang, Zhao Hao, Prof Jimmy Peng and Prof Poh Chueh Loo.
We are very proud of our NUS 2019 iGEM team for their outstanding work and for being sterling ambassadors of NUS. For more information about their project, please click here.
If you are inspired and want to know more about NUS iGEM team, please contact A/Prof Poh Chueh Loo at [email protected].
Brainstorming session in the NUS iGEM team!
The NUS iGEM team 2019 is now in full swing! Here you can see them after meeting Professor Paul Freemont after a very productive brainstorming session! More information can be found in their NUSGEM page.
Presentation of the new NUS iGEM team!
Here we have the NUSGEM iGEM 2019 team! Ready to learn the tools of the trade before getting to work on their project! More information can be found in their NUSGEM page.
Great performance of the NUSGEM iGEM 2018 team!
The NUSGEM iGEM 2018 team rocked at the iGEM 2018 competition! They not only obtained gold but also were nominated in the categories of Best Manufacturing Project, Best Hardware and Safety Security Commendation. You can see the results at the iGEM 2018 webpage.
iGEM Giant Jamboree 2018
On 24-28 October, the iGEM Giant Jamboree 2018 will take place in Boston. Check out what the iGEM teams have been working on! More information can be found at the iGEM web.
Gallery
