Team:MCIT Indianapolis/meettheteam

From 2013hs.igem.org

Meet the 2013 MCIT Catalytic Chimeras!

The Catalytic Chimeras are comprised of eleven brilliant high school seniors with interests from beaches to biology to brains. All of them are students in the Biomedical Innovations program at McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology.

Contents

Members

Meredith Gentry

Meredith, 18, plans on attending Indiana University this upcoming fall to study Biology and Neuroscience. She decided to participate in the iGEM competition because synthetic biology and cancer research are both interesting to her, which is the goal of our project. When she isn't behind her books, she enjoys being behind a soccer ball playing soccer for her high school team. She also enjoys swimming and spending time with friends.

Emma Goldstein

Emma, 18, is attending Indiana University, as a Cox Scholar, in the fall to study Biology and then attend Medical School. Her interest stemmed from the interest in tying the synthetic biology to the medical world as well as the ability to work as a group to help develop an idea and conduct research. Most of her free time is spent working, but she also enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading a good book, or having an excellent cat nap.

Grace Hershberger

Grace, 18, is going to Ball State University this fall to study Nursing with an emphasis in Pediatric Oncology. She decided to join the iGEM team because she likes the idea of working on a team and the fact that this team is focusing on cancer research. She likes being outside, hanging out with friends, and listening to One Direction on repeat!

Samuel Higgins

Sam, 18, is attending Indiana University, as a Cox Scholar, in the fall to study Russian and Biochemistry. He joined iGEM because he loves science and the project is a great way to channel that energy. Sam likes to hang out with friends, play music and watch Netflix. Code Orange is a fabulous book, he strongly suggests it.

Piper Inglis

Piper, 18, is attending the University of Southern Mississippi, to study Biological Sciences, where she may attend dental school. Joining the team meant working with people with similar interests which she thoroughly enjoys. She also believes it is a great experience to manipulate and change DNA. Her favorite science fiction show is The Magic School Bus, "Bus do your stuff!"

Tyler Knox

Tyler, 18, born in Wurzburg, Germany is attending Indiana University to study International Business and Finances. He loves how the team promotes leadership skills. He enjoys working out and partaking in community service. Jurassic Park is his favorite science fiction movie.

Molly Petrous

Molly, 18, is attending Wright State University in the fall. She plans to enroll in the Nursing program and become a Pediatric Nurse. Molly loves the concept of working as a team and having collaborative ideas to potentially develop a product that may detect cancer. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing and doing artsy crafts, along with her Irish Dance which she has participated in for 9 years. Her favorite science quote is, "Most books now say our sun is a star. But it still knows how to change back into a sun in the daytime."

Mackenzie Reetz

Mackenzie, 17, is attending Indiana University in the fall and enrolling in the Nursing program. She intends on continuing school by completing graduate school to obtain her Master's and become a Nurse Practitioner. Mackenzie is attracted to the presentation aspect of the competition. She enjoys long walks on the beach, campfires during the summertime, spending time with loved ones, and helping others. "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." ~ Wernher Von Braun

Madison Salomon

Madison, 18, is attending Indiana University in the fall and plans on studying Biology. She chose to do iGEM because of the lab experience and the team work that comes with it. Madison enjoys taking ballet and modern dance classes, spending time with her family and friends, sunshine, and helping her community. "However far modern science and techniques have fallen short of their inherent possibilities, they have taught mankind at least one lesson; nothing is impossible." ~ Lewis Mumford

Amna Sohail

Amna, 18, born in Karachi, Pakistan, is attending Hanover in the fall. She is going to study Chemistry and Biology to become a Pediatric Oncologist. She decided to participate in the iGEM project because it is a great experience to not only conduct research in the real world setting, but it is a way to potentially ameliorate the lives of many people who are afflicted with malignant melanoma. Some of her interests include reading, biking, and academic competitions. “We live in a time when the words impossible and unsolvable are no longer part of the scientific community's vocabulary. Each day we move closer to trials that will not just minimize the symptoms of disease and injury but eliminate them.” ~Christopher Reeve

Shafer Stellema

Shafer, 18, is attending Purdue University in the fall to study Biology and Biochemistry. He plans on becoming a Physician's Assistant or attending Medical School. Shafer joined iGEM to do something that has never been done before and to have the possibility to alter people's lives. As editor of the school yearbook, he enjoys to eat, watch movies on Netflix, talking, traveling, and meeting new people. He thouroughly enjoys "Through the Worm Hole" with Morgan Freeman.

Mentors

Kelly Bozoian

Mrs. Kelly Bozoian, MCIT Teacher of the Year 2013, has been teaching Sciences for thirteen years in the Indianapolis area. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Science Education from Indiana University and a Master's Degree from Mississippi State University. She enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor adventures, scuba diving, and traveling.

Paul Legge