Postdoc representatives sought for University of Cambridge Open Research Working Group

The Open Research Working Group will convene in Lent Term 2018 to define and develop the University’s approach to open research, including open access to publications and open research data. The working group is seeking two postdoc representatives with some background or interest in open research, one from STEM and one from AHSS.

This opportunity may appeal to those working in the open technology area, with OpenPlant or who have received OpenPlant or SynBio Fund support and have some interest in or experience of open research.

Remit of the Working Group

The Open Research Working Group will be convened in the Lent Term 2018 to clarify the University’s needs and expectations on Open Research. The group will define and agree on the University’s stance on Open Research and help shape service, infrastructure and policy developments in response to the Open Research agenda. Broadly speaking, Open Research is taken to mean the overall drive towards sharing (data, method, outputs) of University research, and the changing research and dissemination practices intended to maximise public access to these. Open Research is inclusive of Open Access to research publications and doctoral theses and the processes and planning involved in research data management which can, where appropriate, lead to the sharing of Open Data.

Level of Commitment

The working group is a short-term commitment of 4-5 meetings between Feb and June 2018. It is an excellent opportunity to voice the perspective of postdocs in how the University addresses this important topic, as well as valuable experience for an academic careers.

Contact james.brown@admin.cam.ac.uk if you are interested in this opportunity.

Apply now for eLife Innovation Sprint - bringing cutting-edge technology to open research

The eLife Innovation Sprint is a two-day challenge on 10-11 May 2018 for developers, designers, technologists and researchers to collaboratively prototype innovations that bring cutting-edge technology to open research.

The eLife Innovation Initiative have been working to improve research transparency and accessibility, and accelerate discovery in the life sciences, by developing open-source technologies in collaboration with the wider community. They have heard many excellent ideas for transforming how the latest science is shared, built upon and recognised, and  they want to create a space that would help translate these ideas into action.

By bringing ideators, creators and users together for the Innovation Sprint, they hope to provide space, time and access to diverse skill sets for the community to develop their ideas into prototypes and forge new collaborations.

eLife invite you — whether change maker or web wrangler, UX champion or data tinkerer — to apply to participate in person.

Apply now >>

Applications will close at 9am GMT on March 5 2018, and we aim to communicate the outcome of each application by March 23 2018.

[Closes 16 April] Accepting applications for the 2018 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Summer Course in Synthetic Biology

We are now accepting applications for the 2018 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Summer Course in Synthetic Biology. We encourage you, your colleagues, and/or your trainees to apply if…

• You are a scientist whose training is well underway (senior graduate student to junior faculty and beyond).
• You are interested in steering your research in a new direction, towards synthetic biology.
• You are interested in a multi-disciplinary approach to biology and bioengineering. We encourage students of all backgrounds, whether the very biological or very theoretical, to apply!
• You work in the field of synthetic biology and are interested in new techniques.

Since the course began in 2013, industry professionals, graduate students, postdocs, science educators, and junior faculty have completed our immersive two-week laboratory class. The Course will focus on how the complexity of biological systems, combined with traditional engineering approaches, results in the emergence of new design principles for synthetic biology. Students will work in teams to learn the practical and theoretical underpinnings of cutting edge research in the area of Synthetic Biology. In addition, students will gain a broad overview of current applications of synthetic biology by interacting with a panel of internationally-recognized speakers from academia and industry during seminars, lab work, social activities.

Scholarships: Several stipend awards are available for applicants who are accepted into the course. Please read details about the available stipend awards at: https://meetings.cshl.edu/sponsors.aspx?course=C-SYNBIO&year=18

In order to be considered for an award, you must specifically reference which one you are eligible for in the Stipend Request section of your application.

• Course dates: July 24 - August 6, 2018
• Application deadline: April 15, 2018
• Application submission information: http://meetings.cshl.edu/courses/2018/c-synbio18.shtml
• Course blog & website: https://cshlsynbio.wordpress.com/

[Closes 28 Feb] Early registration now open for Crossing Kingdoms: an international synthetic biology symposium

Crossing Kingdoms is an international 3 day-event bringing together scientists from the microbial, animal and plant fields to present their results and highlighting how knowledge from these different life forms provide tools for synthetic biology innovations and applications.

Registration for Crossing Kingdoms is now open.

 

Abstract submission

Submissions for oral and poster presentations  are welcome.  To submit a pdf or Word file containing your abstract please complete the electronic submission form here.

List of confirmed speakers:

• Pamela Silver, Harvard University
• Matias Zurbriggen, University of Düsseldorf
• Chang Liu, UC Irvine
• Dan Voytas, University of Minnesota
• Ben Blount, Imperial College
• Sean Cutler, UC Riverside
• Alison Smith, University of Cambridge
• Giles Oldroyd , Sainsbury Laboratory – University of Cambridge
• Anne Osbourn, John Innes Centre

Organisers:

Alain Tissier (Halle) and Philip Wigge (Cambridge).
Supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and ERA-SynBio.

Download the conference poster for your noticeboard

[Closes 12 Mar 2018] OpenPlant and SynBio SRI seek new Coordinator - apply now!

The University of Cambridge is seeking a Co-ordinator for two Synthetic Biology research initiatives. The role-holder would work 50% to support the OpenPlant Synthetic Biology Research Centre and 50% with the Synthetic Biology Strategic Research Initiative (SynBio SRI).

We are seeking a Co-ordinator for two Synthetic Biology research initiatives at the University of Cambridge. The role-holder would work 50% to support the OpenPlant Synthetic Biology Research Centre and 50% with the Synthetic Biology Strategic Research Initiative (SynBio SRI). The purpose of the role is to help develop and implement a strategy that will enable both initiatives to become known leaders in the field and sustainable in the longer term.

OpenPlant (http://openplant.org) is a consortium funded by BBSRC and EPSRC comprising 20 labs spanning the University of Cambridge, John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute (Norwich). The work of the Research Centre is intended to promote novel research on tools and applied traits for plant synthetic biology, open sharing of foundational technologies, and responsible innovation. The role-holder will work with the OpenPlant Directors and Management Group, including the OpenPlant Project Manager based in Norwich, to co-ordinate a variety of activities within the Research Centre.

The SynBio SRI (http://synbio.cam.ac.uk) aims to catalyse interdisciplinary exchange between engineering, physics, biology and social sciences to advance Synthetic Biology at the University of Cambridge. The role-holder will work with the SRI Co-Chairs and Steering Committee to develop, plan and deliver the SRI's vision and strategy. They will facilitate efforts to promote development of open technologies, build shared resources, and provide a hub for networking and discussion.

Responsibilities will also include co-ordinating seed funding competitions such as the Biomaker Challenge and OpenPlant Fund; organising formal and informal scientific meetings and forums; developing and managing relationships with stakeholders within and external to the University; seeking small and large-scale funding for future activities. The role-holder is additionally responsible for ensuring that synthetic biology activities in Cambridge are actively communicated and promoted, and is supported by the part-time SynBio SRI Events and Communication Co-ordinator.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and knowledge of Synthetic Biology research, policy and practice. They will have the ability to foster relationships with and between academics at all levels in an interdisciplinary context, and build partnerships with companies, funders and policy makers. A successful track record in attracting research funding would be advantageous. Excellent organisational and communications skills are essential, together with proven problem-solving skills and initiative.

 For more information and to apply >>

[Closes 20 Feb 2018] Synthetic Biology Postdoc at Earlham Institute

OpenPlant PI Dr Nicola Patron is looking for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to work on a European Research Area (ERA) CoBioTech collaborative project based in the Patron Lab at the Earlham Institute. The project will use will use synthetic biology, comparative transcriptomics, metabolic engineering and genome editing/engineering techniques to develop plants and fungi as low-cost, sustainable production platforms for biosynthesis of insect pheromones..

Apply now >>
Closing date 20th February 2018

OpenPlant Fund supports open source multi-fluorescence imaging system published in PLOS One

The advent of easy-to-use open source microcontrollers, off-the-shelf electronics and customizable manufacturing technologies has facilitated the development of inexpensive scientific devices and laboratory equipment. In this study supported by the OpenPlant Fund, Isaac Nuñez, Tamara Matute and collaborators describe a multi-fluorescence imaging system that integrates low-cost and open-source hardware, software and genetic resources.

The illumination and optics system consists of readily available 470 nm LEDs, a Raspberry Pi camera and a set of filters made with low cost acrylics and the box design and flexible focusing allows imaging in scales ranging from single colonies to entire plates. The team also developed a set of genetic components (e.g. promoters, coding sequences, terminators) and vectors following the standard framework of Golden Gate, which allowed the fabrication of genetic constructs in a combinatorial, low cost and robust manner. In order to provide simultaneous imaging of multiple wavelength signals, they screened a series of long stokes shift fluorescent proteins that could be combined with cyan/green fluorescent proteins for 3-channel fluorescent imaging.

Open source Python code was developed to operate the hardware to run time-lapse experiments with automated control of illumination and camera and a Python module to analyze data and extract meaningful biological information. To demonstrate the potential application of this integral system, the team tested its performance on a diverse range of imaging assays often used in disciplines such as microbial ecology, microbiology and synthetic biology.

Isaac Nuñez appreciated the opportunity to work on the project with the support of OpenPlant: “OpenPlant funds were important because we are generating a real impact in research and teaching through interdisciplinarity. This project not only introduced us to new modes of work based on good practices, documentation and open source licensing but also allowed us to learn from different fields such as open hardware, design, FOSS and advanced DNA fab methods.”

In order to highlight the benefits of employing an open framework, the team formed an industry partnership with the Open Source company Backyard Brains (TM), which has significant experience in creating and distributing open educational and research technology for neuroscience in Latin America and worldwide (backyardbrains.com, backyardbrains.cl). In collaboration, the team assessed the potential use of their imaging statuon in a high school environment.  Author Tamara Matute explained “We have been able to use these resources in workshops in high schools, community spaces and cultural centres; and implement advanced practicals to teach in vitro synbio, DNA fab and microbiology. The open source and low cost nature of the resources has allowed citizens to better understand the principles behind gene expression analysis and modelling”

Together, their results demonstrate the successful integration of open source hardware, software, genetic resources and customizable manufacturing to obtain a powerful, low cost and robust system for education, scientific research and bioengineering. The paper was selected as Editor's Pick for the PLOS Open Source Toolkit Channel in December 2017.

Original Publication: Nuñez, I., Matute, T., Herrera, R., Keymer, J., Marzullo, T., Rudge, T., & Federici, F. (2017). Low cost and open source multi-fluorescence imaging system for teaching and research in biology and bioengineering. PLOS One, 12(11), e0187163.

Synthetic Biology and the Senses: volunteers wanted for Cambridge Science Festival

Synthetic biology can bring cutting edge biotechnology into everyday experiences through people's senses by harnessing the wonderful variety of colours, scents, tastes and textures produced in nature. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers and interactive exhibits or colourful posters to illustrate the theme of 'Synthetic Biology and the Senses' at the Cambridge Science Festival Life Science Marquee on Sat 17 March 2018.

'Synthetic Biology and the Senses' is a joint exhibit by OpenPlant and the SynBio SRI and will run 10:00-16:00 on Sat 17 March 2018 on the Downing Site Lawn, with volunteers required before and after for set-up and packing down. 

We are looking for volunteers to help out and talk to visitors as well as proposing activies or exhibits of their own. In 2017 we featured exhibits including:

• Bioluminescent bacteria

• Fabrics dyed with synthetic ink from bacteria

• Micro-organisms expressing plant metabloic pathways to produce rose and patchouli scents

• Design-a-plant

• Dave the DNA Robot

 We require volunteers for various times of the day and would be very happy to have 4 people at the exhibit at all times. Two hour slots are available and volunteers can stay as long as they wish. Lunch and Science Festival T-Shirt provided!

Please register via this form.

[Closes 2 Jan 2018] Postdoc in Synthetic Biology at Newcastle University

Newcastle University are seeking a highly motivated experimental synthetic biology researcher to join Dr Angel Goñi-Moreno’s team at the Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS) group and the Centre for Synthetic Biology and the Bioeconomy of Newcastle University. You will work on the project “SynBio3D: Establishing the engineering fundamentals of three-dimensional synthetic biology”.

This project seeks to integrate spatial constraints such as distances and molecular crowding into the design and construction of gene regulatory circuits. Each gene sequence and each protein may need a specific physical address in the spatial frame of a cell for optimal performance (see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssynbio.6b00397 ), a fundamental question to be addressed by the project. This will bring spatial resolution to synthetic biology. Single molecules and DNA components will be tracked inside living cells. This project offers a fantastic playground for a researcher in synthetic biology to conduct highly novel research.

You will have a PhD awarded, or be close to obtaining one, with a significant molecular biology, genetic engineering or related component. You will have skills in the construction and validation of synthetic genetic circuits in bacterial cells. You will have knowledge in genome editing techniques. You will have experience in using fluorescence microscopy and, ideally, the visualization of gene expression constituents in individual cells. Experience in super-resolution microscopy is not essential, but will be positively considered. You will possess strong interests in the application of single-molecule tracking to synthetic biology problems.

You will need to be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Good communication skills are essential – our team includes computer scientists, engineers, biochemists, physicists and molecular biologists. Working under the supervision of senior colleagues, you will develop and initiate new collaborations both internally and externally. You will need to write up research results as well as to present our developments in national and international conferences and meetings. You will contribute to identify potential areas of research within the project and develop leadership skills.

The post is available fixed term for 24 months with start date as soon as possible.
Interviews will take place in January 2018, exact date to be confirmed upon invitation.

More information >>

[Closes 14 Dec 2017] Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research awards (APEX Awards)

In partnership with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society (‘the Academies’) and with generous support from the Leverhulme Trust, the APEX award (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research award) scheme offers established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society.

The objectives of this scheme are to:

• support outstanding interdisciplinary research which is unlikely to be supported through conventional funding programmes 
• promote collaboration across disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the boundary between science and engineering and the social sciences and humanities
• support researchers with an outstanding track record, in developing their research in a new direction through collaboration with partners from other disciplines
• enable outstanding researchers to focus on advancing their innovative research through seed funding

See more information and apply by 14 Dec 2017 >>

[Deadline 15 Dec 2017] Faculty Openings at Northwestern Center for Synthetic Biology

The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Center for Synthetic Biology

Applicants should have a PhD and postdoctoral experience in a field related to synthetic biology and should have research plans that apply synthetic biological approaches to biomedical goals. Ideal candidates should also demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills, as well as an ability to contribute actively to a rapidly growing Center.

Northwestern University has recently started the Center for Synthetic Biology as a university-wide initiative to formalize and grow Synthetic Biology as a research theme. Northwestern University offers superb start-up packages with a collegial and collaborative scientific environment that is rich with core facilities, robust cross- disciplinary graduate training programs, and diverse expertise.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. and/or a M.D. degree and postdoctoral experience. Salary is commensurate with experience and accomplishment.

Deadline: review of received applications will start December 15, 2017, and will continue until the position is filled. 

More information  >>

Apply >>

[Closes 5 Jan 2018] Two post-doctoral fellowships in plant synthetic biology at Colorado State University

The Antunes and Medford Research groups at Colorado State University are looking for two (2) post-doctoral fellows to work on a new plant synthetic biology project to produce useful, living biomaterials

 A Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, cell biology, synthetic biology or a related field is required. Ideal applicants will have experience in molecular biology, plant cell biology and gene cloning. Experience in synthetic biology, design of synthetic genes and gene circuits, and basic mathematical modeling is desired; however, strong candidates without experience in one of these areas may be considered. Experience in moss culture and transformation is valued. Experience with transgenic plants is helpful but not essential.

Well-developed skills in written and verbal communication are desirable. The incumbents are expected to interact with other post-docs, graduate students, lab technicians and undergraduate students in a positive and professional manner.

Duties include applying a variety of molecular biology techniques, gene expression studies, synthetic gene construction, production and analysis of transgenic plants, planning experimental approaches based on research literature, and interpreting results. The successful individuals will be self-motivated and capable of independent thought and research.

More information and to apply >>

Deadline is January 05, 2018.

Report highlights opportunities and risks associated with synthetic biology and bioengineering

Human genome editing, 3D-printed replacement organs and artificial photosynthesis – the field of bioengineering offers great promise for tackling the major challenges that face our society. But as a new article out today highlights, these developments provide both opportunities and risks in the short and long term.

Rapid developments in the field of synthetic biology and its associated tools and methods, including more widely available gene editing techniques, have substantially increased our capabilities for bioengineering – the application of principles and techniques from engineering to biological systems, often with the goal of addressing 'real-world' problems.

In a feature article published in the open access journal eLife, an international team of experts led by Dr Bonnie Wintle and Dr Christian R. Boehm from the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, capture perspectives of industry, innovators, scholars, and the security community in the UK and US on what they view as the major emerging issues in the field. The participants included several OpenPlant researchers and members of the management team.

Dr Wintle says: “The growth of the bio-based economy offers the promise of addressing global environmental and societal challenges, but as our paper shows, it can also present new kinds of challenges and risks. The sector needs to proceed with caution to ensure we can reap the benefits safely and securely.”

The report is intended as a summary and launching point for policy makers across a range of sectors to further explore those issues that may be relevant to them.

Among the issues highlighted by the report as being most relevant over the next five years are:

Artificial photosynthesis and carbon capture for producing biofuels

If technical hurdles can be overcome, such developments might contribute to the future adoption of carbon capture systems, and provide sustainable sources of commodity chemicals and fuel.  

Enhanced photosynthesis for agricultural productivity

Synthetic biology may hold the key to increasing yields on currently farmed land – and hence helping address food security – by enhancing photosynthesis and reducing pre-harvest losses, as well as reducing post-harvest and post-consumer waste.

Synthetic gene drives

Gene drives promote the inheritance of preferred genetic traits throughout a species, for example to prevent malaria-transmitting mosquitoes from breeding. However, this technology raises questions about whether it may alter ecosystems, potentially even creating niches where a new disease-carrying species or new disease organism may take hold.

Human genome editing

Genome engineering technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 offer the possibility to improve human lifespans and health. However, their implementation poses major ethical dilemmas. It is feasible that individuals or states with the financial and technological means may elect to provide strategic advantages to future generations.

Defence agency research in biological engineering

The areas of synthetic biology in which some defence agencies invest raise the risk of ‘dual-use’. For example, one programme intends to use insects to disseminate engineered plant viruses that confer traits to the target plants they feed on, with the aim of protecting crops from potential plant pathogens – but such technologies could plausibly also be used by others to harm targets.

In the next five to ten years, the authors identified areas of interest including:

Regenerative medicine: 3D printing body parts and tissue engineering

While this technology will undoubtedly ease suffering caused by traumatic injuries and a myriad of illnesses, reversing the decay associated with age is still fraught with ethical, social and economic concerns. Healthcare systems would rapidly become overburdened by the cost of replenishing body parts of citizens as they age and could lead new socioeconomic classes, as only those who can pay for such care themselves can extend their healthy years.

Microbiome-based therapies

The human microbiome is implicated in a large number of human disorders, from Parkinson’s to colon cancer, as well as metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Synthetic biology approaches could greatly accelerate the development of more effective microbiota-based therapeutics. However, there is a risk that DNA from genetically engineered microbes may spread to other microbiota in the human microbiome or into the wider environment.

Intersection of information security and bio-automation

Advancements in automation technology combined with faster and more reliable engineering techniques have resulted in the emergence of robotic 'cloud labs' where digital information is transformed into DNA then expressed in some target organisms. This opens the possibility of new kinds of information security threats, which could include tampering with digital DNA sequences leading to the production of harmful organisms, and sabotaging vaccine and drug production through attacks on critical DNA sequence databases or equipment.

Over the longer term, issues identified include:

New makers disrupt pharmaceutical markets

Community bio-labs and entrepreneurial startups are customizing and sharing methods and tools for biological experiments and engineering. Combined with open business models and open source technologies, this could herald opportunities for manufacturing therapies tailored to regional diseases that multinational pharmaceutical companies might not find profitable. But this raises concerns around the potential disruption of existing manufacturing markets and raw material supply chains as well as fears about inadequate regulation, less rigorous product quality control and misuse.

Platform technologies to address emerging disease pandemics

Emerging infectious diseases—such as recent Ebola and Zika virus disease outbreaks—and potential biological weapons attacks require scalable, flexible diagnosis and treatment. New technologies could enable the rapid identification and development of vaccine candidates, and plant-based antibody production systems.

Shifting ownership models in biotechnology

The rise of off-patent, generic tools and the lowering of technical barriers for engineering biology has the potential to help those in low-resource settings, benefit from developing a sustainable bioeconomy based on local needs and priorities, particularly where new advances are made open for others to build on.

Dr Jenny Molloy comments: “One theme that emerged repeatedly was that of inequality of access to the technology and its benefits. The rise of open source, off-patent tools could enable widespread sharing of knowledge within the biological engineering field and increase access to benefits for those in developing countries.”

Professor Johnathan Napier from Rothamsted Research adds: “The challenges embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals will require all manner of ideas and innovations to deliver significant outcomes. In agriculture, we are on the cusp of new paradigms for how and what we grow, and where. Demonstrating the fairness and usefulness of such approaches is crucial to ensure public acceptance and also to delivering impact in a meaningful way.”

Dr Christian R. Boehm concludes: “As these technologies emerge and develop, we must ensure public trust and acceptance. People may be willing to accept some of the benefits, such as the shift in ownership away from big business and towards more open science, and the ability to address problems that disproportionately affect the developing world, such as food security and disease. But proceeding without the appropriate safety precautions and societal consensus—whatever the public health benefits—could damage the field for many years to come.”

The research was made possible by the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, the Synthetic Biology Strategic Research Initiative (both at the University of Cambridge), and the Future of Humanity Institute (University of Oxford). It was based on a workshop co-funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. 

Reference
Wintle, BC, Boehm, CR et al. A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering. eLife; 14 Nov 2017; DOI: 10.7554/eLife.30247

Link to original piece on University News

Hear OpenPlant Coordinator Dr Jenny Molloy discuss the work on BBC Radio 4 'Inside Science' 

The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

Image Credit: Reaching for the Sky
Susanne Nilsson

Open technology and democratisation of synthetic biology features on BBC Radio 4 'Inside Science'

The OpenPlant Cambridge Coordinator Dr Jenny Molloy appeared on BBC Radio 4's 'Inside Science' last week following the publication of a bioengineering horizon scanning exercise co-organised by the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and SynBio SRI, (both University of Cambridge) and the Future of Humanity Institute (University of Oxford) in Dec 2016.

In an interview with host Adam Rutherford, Jenny discussed the potential democratised future of synthetic biology and the importance of open tools and technologies for engineering biology, such as those generated by OpenPlant and the SRI's activities such as the Biomaker Challenge.

Topics covered included the ways in which synthetic biology is getting cheaper, faster and more distributed with increasing activity within institutions and education but also in community labs like Cambridge's Biomakespace. Changing ownership models in biotechnology was highlighted in the horizon scan as a long term trend that is likely to be a major issue in the next 15 years; it can potentially lead to greater equity in access to technology for public benefit but democratisation also raises questions of responsible governance and regulation. Jenny pointed to the work of the Woodrow Wilson Centre in demonstrating that the DIY biology community are typically very proactive in self-governance and drawing up community codes of ethics and engaging with law enforcement and regulators.

You can download or take a listen to the episode online. The synthetic biology segment starts at 14 min.

More information on the biological engineering horizon scan >>

Wintle, Bonnie C., Christian R. Boehm, Catherine Rhodes, Jennifer C. Molloy, Piers Millett, Laura Adam, Rainer Breitling et al. "A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering." eLife 6 (2017).

[Closes 31 Dec 2017] Applications for the 2018 EUSynBioS Steering Committee are now open !

EUSynBioS is a community for students and postdocs in European synthetic biology. Applications to join their 2018 Steering Committee are now open until 31 December 2017, where you can help facilitate horizontal connections across the synthetic biology community and convene joint events with fellow communities around the globe.

Christian Boehm, who recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge is the current EUSynBioS Chair and sends this message:

"Dear EUSynBioS community,

As you know, this initiative is run entirely by dedicated students and postdocs keen to make a difference in European synthetic biology. Over the previous year, we have had a fantastic group of people on the Steering Committee: they have amplified our social media presence, represented our voice in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's discussions on synthetic biology, organised the EUSynBioS Social in Manchester and of course our EUSynBioS Symposium at CNB-CSIC Madrid.
The fourth year of EUSynBioS shall facilitate horizontal connections across the community, further strengthen our interface to industry, and bring about more joint events with fellow communities around the globe.

Do these challenges sound appealing to you ?
Do you have an idea which would really make a difference to the community ?
Do you have what it takes to be a leader in European synthetic biology ?

Then be a part of the 2018 EUSynBioS Steering Committee!
Applications are now open until 31. December 2017. We will be in touch with you soon thereafter, and aim to announce our 2018 Steering Committee in early January."

More information and to apply >>

Technology for development and design for co-creation workshops

The Cambridge Global Challenges Initiative is running the following events for post-graduates and early career researchers in the New Year and a Global Challenges Round Table on 8th December. Book now to secure your place!

Global Challenges Round Table - 8th December

GCI will run Round Tables twice a year to give Cambridge researchers the opportunity to talk about research relating to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme of the December 2017 edition, which includes data-driven modelling of airborne diseases, digital design for development aid and innovative bacterial testing, has been shared. You are still very welcome to register to participate in the discussions that will follow the short talks and/or to share research projects to be presented in forthcoming editions of the Round Tables. 

Co-creation for Global Challenges

The following events are part of the focus of Global Challenges Initiative in facilitating the dialogue and co-creation between Cambridge researchers and end-users in the developing world. 

• • Workshop on User-Centred Design in Developing World Contexts – 10th January (application deadline: 15th December). This workshop will introduce the principles of user-centred design and explore the specific challenges and opportunities that commonly arise when using this approach to co-create innovative responses to global challenges. The workshop is open to post-graduates and early career researchers, from different research backgrounds, interested in user-centred design for the benefit of the bottom half of the world’s population. To apply please send a CV (max. 2 pages) and a letter of motivation outlining your interest and how you hope to apply learnings from the workshop to Sophie Mower (sophie.mower@centreforglobalequality.org). 

• Masterclass in Design Methods for Global Challenges – 11th January. This Masterclass will explore the similarities and differences between particular disciplinary approaches to co-creation with end-users in developing world contexts. One-to-one discussions between expert practitioners from different disciplinary and practitioner communities and established Cambridge researchers in fields within the EPSRC remit will be organized. To register for the event, please complete the online form.

Please note that a Technology for Development Graduate Sandpit – 15th January (application deadline: 11th December), aimed at Graduate students and Early Career Researchers, will take place after these two co-creation-oriented events. Winning teams of the competition sandpit will be awarded bursaries to undertake field trips to develop and test their ideas in real developing world situations. Please apply by completing the application form and submitting a CV (max. 2 pages) to winton@phy.cam.ac.uk.

[Closes Dec 2017] Eligo Bioscience seeking synthetic biologist and related positions

Eligo Bioscience are recruiting a new cohort of amazing scientists and executives to work with us on one of the most exciting synthetic biology-based drug-development platforms. To build the next generation of targeted drugs, they are looking for the most talented microbiologists, genome architects, bioengineers, and DNA hackers to join one of their R&D teams

Eligo Bioscience are recruiting a new cohort of amazing scientists and executives to work with us on one of the most exciting synthetic biology-based drug-development platforms. To build the next generation of targeted drugs, they are looking for the most talented microbiologists, genome architects, bioengineers, and DNA hackers
to join one of their R&D teams

Synthetic Biologist / Geneticist

To be able to translate our research to the clinic, we need to genetically engineer our producer strains to enable the packaging of synthetic circuits into our eligobiotics, and also to optimize the genetic circuits themselves to perform well in in-vivo models.

We are looking for excellent molecular biologists / synthetic biologists excited to tackle the ambitious challenges of diving into phage genetics and engineering bacterial strains.

The ideal candidate is passionate about genetic engineering. You’ll work hand-in-hand with Eligo microbiologists, phage biologists, and animal model scientists to optimize the engineering and validation of eligobiotics

Microbiologist

Eligo is building a platform technology to produce an arsenal of eligobiotics to target a wide range of bacterial species. With such a capability, Eligo is poised to lead the new generation of precision microbiome engineering companies. To build our library of delivery vectors based on phage capsids, we need to turn wild-type bacterial strains into engineered producer strains.

We are looking for excellent microbiologists excited to tackle the challenge of engineering and optimizing bacterial strains (aerobic/anaerobic, gram pos/gram neg, etc) to enable the production of species-specific eligobiotics. The ideal candidate is passionate about microbiology and molecular biology.

You’ll work hand-in-hand with Eligo phage biologists, synthetic biologists, and animal models scientists to optimize the engineering and validation of eligobiotics candidates for clinical trials.candidates for clinical trials.

Phage Biologist

To build our library of delivery vectors based on phage capsids, we need not only to discover and characterize a large number of phages with unique capabilities, but also validate their in-vivo activity.

We are looking for phage experts excited to tackle the challenge of both screening environmental samples and bacterial collections to discover unknown phages and characterizing them once isolated. Our whole process is now highly automatized thanks to our robotic pipeline.

The ideal candidate is passionate about phage biology and phage therapy. You’ll work hand-in-hand with Eligo microbiologists, genetic engineers, and animal model scientists to optimize the engineering and validation of eligobiotics candidates for clinical trials.

RebelBio opens call for London life-sciences accelerator - deadline 1 Dec 2017

RebelBio, the world’s first early-stage life-sciences accelerator, is seeking applications from ambitious scientists and entrepreneurs for its 2018 programmes. Science graduates, PhDs, postdocs and academics who feel a strong urge to commercialise their research or who need to advance their existing companies are particularly welcome.

More information from RebelBio 

Our investment  is given with the aim to develop a life-sciences product, commercialise research, or accelerate existing companies that can give the world something it needs.

RebelBio will invest up to $250K*, along with extensive business and scientific mentoring during the three-month period of the program, which take place in London from January 8th to April 8th 2018 & Corks programme from May - July.

During this time, RebelBio will provide laboratory space and supplies designed to allow our founders to move forward technically and business development. The program will culminate with a demo day and is part of an ongoing relationship that applicants will have with the world’s premier early-stage venture-capital fund, SOSV.

This relationship will provide many benefits including access to RebelBio’s vast network of investors, corporates and other like-minded entrepreneurs.

Application Information:

• Apply here - https://goo.gl/jXSzx1
• Review overview deck containing additional information on our programme - https://goo.gl/jXSzx1
• More details - https://goo.gl/XaN4yh

Deadlines:

• The closing date for the London programme is December 1st 2017
• The closing date for the Cork programme will be announced in early 2018.

Informal inquiries through contacting steven.oconnell@sosv.com.  

*Subject to performance

Biomaker Fayre showcases 40 open source, low-cost biological instruments

There was a real buzz in the air on Saturday 21 October, as 40 interdisciplinary teams exhibited their prototypes for the 2017 Biomaker Challenge at the Department of Engineering.

Projects covered everything from spectrometers for measuring the colour of penguin guano, microfluidics for tissue culture, to ultrasonic systems for measuring plant height and 3D printed modular microscopes. Each group was given a £1000 grant and four months to turn their big ideas for open source and DIY research tools into reality and over 100 people came along to the final event.

The Challenge and Fayre aimed to show the value of open, low-cost and DIY technologies as convening points for interactions between biologists and engineers. They are also important educational tools for those who are interested in developing technical skills and have great potential for improving the quality of science and increasing productivity in the lab for lower costs. With the proliferation of digital designs for 3D-printing and easily available consumer electronics like Arduino which has a huge community of users and lots of online help, designing your instrumentation around your experiment rather than vice versa has never been more possible.

Winners of the 3D-printed awards were:

Best Technology: A low-cost chromatography system for protein purification

Stéphanie Polderdijk (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research) and Wolfgang Schmied (MRC LMB) set out to lower the cost of column chromatography: a routine technique for the separation of components from complex mixtures.

In biochemistry and molecular biology, proteins frequently need to be purified by gravity flow, centrifugation, which are time-consuming or by using expensive automated systems that use pumps to force solutions over a column. They produced a lower cost, modular, open-source alternative to these commercial systems for performing simple, routine purifications.

Best Biology: PiRMA: A low-cost rodent physiology monitoring bed for pre-clinical experiments

Marcel Gehrung, Dominick McIntyre and Lina Hacker (all from CRUK Cambridge Institute) developed a low-cost rodent physiology monitor which is suitable for a wide range of experiments and imaging applications such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT). Parameters such as Heart Rate (HR), Respiratory Rate (RR), and Temperature can be measured which are important to reduce data artefacts. Existing solutions are in the cost range of several thousand pounds and do not support the holistic workflow required in animal experiments.

Maker Spirit: A DIY focus stacking system for macrophotography of developing ferns 

Jennifer Deegan (Department of Plant Sciences) and team Matthew Couchman (John Innes Centre), Tim Deegan (CohoData) and Richard Mortier (Computer Lab) developed a  very low-budget  focus stacking system for microphotography in order to take a series of photographs showing the development of the fern gametophyte from the very earliest feasible stage to the appearance of the first sporophyte leaf. 

Dr Jenny Molloy, co-organiser of the Biomaker Challenge and Fayre reported that “the judging panel were hugely impressed by the progress the teams made over just four months and we're excited to see where people go next with these open source designs, that are free for anyone to download, replicate and build on in their own labs”.

See more photos from the day here >>

Biomaker Challenge 2017 was jointly funded by OpenPlant, a BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre Grant BB/L014130/1 and the Isaac Newton Trust.

The Biomaker Challenge and Biomaker Fayre were coordinated by University of Cambridge's Synthetic Biology Strategic Research Initiative and the CambridgeSens Network.

Thank you also to our sponsors ARM Ltd and New England Biolabs.