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Synthetic Biology Applications

BIOL631.06
Closed
Main contact
Concordia University
Concordia University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Orly Weinberg
SynBioApps Program Manager
2
Timeline
  • September 29, 2020
    Program start
  • October 1, 2020
    Project Meeting 1: The Initial Plan
  • October 20, 2020
    Project Meeting 2: Presentation of Draft Report
  • April 10, 2021
    Program end
Program
4 projects wanted
Dates set by program
Preferred companies
Canada
Any company type
Agriculture, Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Environment, Mining, forestry & fishery

Program scope

Categories
Data analysis Product or service launch
Skills
design thinking business strategy
Learner goals and capabilities

Graduate students in the SynBioApps program learn to use modelling, microfluidics and DNA synthesis tools including automated equipment at Concordia University's Genome Foundry. Students will work in groups of 4-5 to design or elaborate a synthetic biology solution to a goal that your company would like to implement. Using computer modelling and simulation, student teams will design a protocol for a biological construct to produce a molecule or platform that responds to your challenge.

Learners

Learners
Any level
20 learners
Project
20 hours per learner
Learners self-assign
Teams of 5
Expected outcomes and deliverables

Using synthetic biology tools, students will develop a detailed plan to provide a solution to an industry-led challenge. This will include an iterated model or biological construct that answers a need within the framework provided by an industrial partner (e.g. organism type or regulatory considerations).

Project timeline
  • September 29, 2020
    Program start
  • October 1, 2020
    Project Meeting 1: The Initial Plan
  • October 20, 2020
    Project Meeting 2: Presentation of Draft Report
  • April 10, 2021
    Program end

Project examples

Synthetic biology has a wide range of applications and can be used to create sustainable materials or efficient chemical production sources using engineered biological organisms. Sector applications include: pharmacological molecule production; diagnostics or therapeutics in health; biomass conversion; agriculture; metabolic modeling and engineering; sustainable production of industrial chemicals or molecules (or their precursors).

Applied projects to date:

  1. Biofabrics materials development
  2. Engineering bacterial probiotics for inflammation
  3. Developing materials precursors using yeast
  4. Diagnostics for human health/medicine

Tools:

  • Bioinformatics; Modelling and simulation
  • DNA Synthesis: MoClo Assembly, CRISPR-Cas9
  • Microfluidics devices

Note: A second semester course will expand the project, introducing higher-level business and industry needs to the projects. These include considerations of stakeholders, IP and patents, business plans, etc. Project company/mentors may be asked to give their input and feedback during the winter semester as well (January-April), to ensure that students understand the regulatory and financial frameworks in which R&D and product development are done.

Additional company criteria

Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this program:

  • Q1 - Checkbox
  • Q2 - Checkbox