Cambridge University Synthetic Biology Society

05/10/2021

You're keen to learn how biology can be engineered to solve humanity's big problems? Then come visit our stall at the University of Cambridge Fresher's Fair in Marquee 3!

14/10/2019

Last week SynBio Cambridge welcomed Prof Chris Myers, one of the founding fathers of SBOL, the Synthetic Biology Open Language, who was invited by the Department of Computer Science.

For everyone who couldn't attend the talk:
SBOL is an open standard for the representation of in silico biological designs. It provides a shared representation for flexibly constructing workflows that may involve many different types of biological engineering resources, tools, and processes (see image). SBOL is intended for users and software developers involved in the biology community, and scientists working within a wet lab. The scientific journal ACS Synthetic Biology recommends the use of SBOL to improve Synthetic Biology communication. (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssynbio.6b00146)

If you are interested in adopting the SBOL standard for the representation of your next synthetic biology project, here are a couple of links to guide you:

SBOL homepage: https://sbolstandard.org/
SBOL Designer: https://sboldesigner.github.io/ (biologist-friendly CAD software tool for creating and manipulating the sequences of genetic constructs)
SBOL overview paper: https://portlandpress.com/biochemsoctrans/article-lookup/doi/10.1042/BST20160347

13/10/2019

Hello everyone. Thanks for coming to meet us at the Freshers' Fair!
If you are interested in learning more about our society and the workshops which we plan to run, then please register your attendance to one of our two welcome talks!
Tue 15th: https://www.facebook.com/events/403029393985303
Sat 19th: https://www.facebook.com/events/2455666498089843

09/10/2019

For those interested: "A Standard-Enabled Workflow for Synthetic Biology", tomorrow in the Computer Lab!

A synthetic biology workflow is composed of data repositories that provide information about genetic parts, sequence-level design tools to compose these parts into circuits, visualization tools to depict these designs, genetic design tools to select parts to create systems, and modeling and simulati...

05/12/2018

Our friends at the Biomaker Initiative are running a technical challenge over the 2018-2019 winter - to produce graphical programming resources for new hardware in XOD, a visual programming interface used in the Biomaker Challenge to build low-cost sensors and instruments for biology. Successful proposals from teams or individuals will be provided with a low-cost development platform based on the Open-Smart Rich UNO R3 board, which contains a variety of embedded components. Learn more and apply via www.biomaker.org/information.

The deadline for proposals is 16 December, so get writing!

Summary: Biomaker is inviting applications for the Winter 2018-9 Challenge. Applicants will develop software nodes for integrating hardware with a new graphical programming interface, XOD. With a short-form application, all successful applicants will receive a hardware starter kit, document their pr...

06/11/2018

We were so happy to see so many people turn up to last week's workshop despite the week 5 blues, did we manage to get you in one of our pictures?

SynBioSoc is back this week with our last workshop of the term! Same place, same day, same time (BioMakespace, Sunday, 2pm).
Here is the link to the FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1993192277404015/?ti=cl

It's still not too late to join us at our workshop! Don't be shy to turn up, have a chat with us and find out what we have planned for Lent term ;)

01/11/2018

A bit of a late post this week (blame pre week 5 blues). Our workshops are still running through the term - same place, same day, same time (BioMakespace, Sunday, 2pm!).

Also, we welcome Eugene to the team as Bioproject Manager!

And if you haven't checked out our website yet, you can keep up to date with past workshops here: https://cusbs.soc.srcf.net/news-and-events/

Happy November! We're halfway through term~

Link to workshop 3 event: https://www.facebook.com/events/413198709211334/?notif_t=event_calendar_create¬if_id=1541028909192204

Uncategorized Workshop 2: Gibson assembly and transformation (28 October 2018) Posted on October 31, 2018 Today we continue where we left off at the end of last week’s workshop. After the appropriate primers were designed by our capable participants and the DNA fragments amplified by PCR, it was t...

23/10/2018

Some pictures from last Sunday's workshop featuring funky green gloves and Arin's intense dynamic explanations (things seem much calmer on Jarrod's side).

It was great to see a few new faces and we really do encourage you to join us at Biomakespace even if you haven't been to previous workshops.

Here is the link to the FB event for our next workshop: https://www.facebook.com/events/180187982870114/

See you!

15/10/2018

A big thank you to everyone who braved the rain to attend our introductory workshop at Biomakespace yesterday, we hope you enjoyed the session!
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are slightly more experienced and are interested in other opportunities with SynBioSoc. (Interested in hardware anyone??)

The FB event for our next workshop is now published to remind you of the date and the time (which should be the same every week) so go check it out!

*Anyone remember how SBS members united and solved the great problem of the not so great HDMI cable? :D

14/10/2018

Since all the bioprojects are located at Biomakespace, here are some directions to help get you there and into the building!

Arin: "Here's a map to Biomakespace. If you're arriving by bike, go straight down Hills Road and then at the intersection with Queen Edith's way, turn right onto the cycle path on the right side of the road, and the Clifford Albutt Building will be on your right."

07/06/2018

Time for elections!

Please check your email for an email from Stefan for the link to vote.

20/05/2018

Don't forget to swing round to our AGM if your interested in hearing how the society is doing! Noon, today, Plant Sciences Department

17/11/2017

Check out next week's Café synthetique - Towards Engineering Circadian Rhythms

https://www.meetup.com/Cambridge-Synthetic-Biology-Meetup/events/236722701/

11/20, 6:00 PM: Circadian rhythms and cycling patterns of gene expression have great significance for living organisms - including ourselves! Find out more from our two speakers about the molecular ba

17/11/2017

05/11/2017

Register now for this talk on Tuesday! https://buff.ly/2z0R1bs

Join us Tuesday, 7 November 2017 at CRUK Cambridge Institute.

24/10/2017

Check out our bio-project managers blog - first entry up now! http://cusbs.soc.srcf.net/projects/biomake-a-thon-cell-free-expression-22-10-17

First piece of practical molecular biology for the CUSBS Bioproject 2017-2018

08/10/2017

Thanks to everyone who came tonight, it was the committee's pleasure to meet you all. Don't worry if you couldn't make it this time, as we plan on having this year be CUSBS's most active yet!

04/10/2017

If you missed us yesterday, we're back again today at ! Also, did we mention members get use of our 3D printer?

08/05/2017

Synthetic Biology summer project being offered by the university:

Biomaker Challenge is a four-month programme challenging interdisciplinary teams to build low-cost sensors and instruments for biology. From colorimeters to microfluidics and beyond, we’re looking for frugal, open source and DIY approaches to biological experiments.

08/05/2017

Apply Now: Undergraduate Research Opportunities in SynBio

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Biomaker Challenge - apply by 19 May 2017
More info: www.synbio.cam.ac.uk/biomakerchallenge

Biomaker Challenge is a four-month programme challenging interdisciplinary teams to build low-cost sensors and instruments for biology. From colorimeters to microfluidics and beyond, we're looking for frugal, open source and DIY approaches to biological experiments.

The challenge is open to students and staff at the University of Cambridge, John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute. Participants will receive a Biomaker Toolkit and a discretionary budget for additional sensors, components, consumables and 3D-printing worth up to £1000.

For more information, to join a mixer event and apply, see www.synbio.cam.ac.uk/biomakerchallenge or email [email protected]
Undergraduates can apply by two deadlines: 19 May (for those who need their kits before the long vacation) or 23 June (for those who anticipate being in Cambridge for the long vacation)
The Biomaker Challenge is co-organised by: OpenPlant, Synthetic Biology SRI, CamBridgeSens.

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Biomaker Challenge Coordinator - 10 week summer placement

The Biomaker Challenge is a four-month interdisciplinary programme with multiple teams building low-cost sensors and instruments for biology, co-organised by OpenPlant, the Synthetic Biology SRI and CamBridgeSens. We are looking for a coordinator for 10 weeks Jun-Sep 2017 (the long vacation period) to take responsibility for supporting the participating teams and managing online communications and social media. This includes organising and publicising events, ordering hardware components and materials and making links across teams who might be able to share knowledge and skills. The placement would suit a senior or graduating student with experience of electronics and maker technologies e.g. 3D printing. Experience in other coordination and communication roles (paid or voluntary) is highly desirable. The successful applicant will receive a stipend of £250 per week.

For enquiries, please email Dr Jenny Molloy on [email protected]
To apply, send a covering letter explaining your interests and suitability for the role and a CV to [email protected] by 19 May 2017.

Biomaker Challenge is a four-month programme challenging interdisciplinary teams to build low-cost sensors and instruments for biology. From colorimeters to microfluidics and beyond, we’re looking for frugal, open source and DIY approaches to biological experiments.

30/04/2017

Applications for positions on the CUSBS Committee 2017-18 are now open! Deadline for expressing interest is Sunday 7th May. The AGM is happening on the same day from 2-3pm in the NCR (BB9), Foundress Court, Pembroke College. All welcome.

Email your interest in a particular position to [email protected]. Include your name, course/research area, year group and college. No CVs or cover letters are necessary. If competition is high, you may be asked to present a 3-5 minute pitch on your vision for CUSBS.

Positions available (to undergrads and grads) are:
President
Vice president
Project manager (x3 positions, two biological one hardware)
Treasurer
Sponsorship
Publicity
Webmaster
Secretary
Social Secretary

See the attached PDF for details on the positions.

28/02/2017

Thanks to those who filled out the poll, the finalised details for the introductory meeting are:

Thursday, 2nd March
5-7pm
Dyson Centre, Department of Engineering

Meet in the foyer by the main entrance. If you can't make the whole meeting feel free to drop in for any part of it.

28/02/2017

Want to find out more about this year's Hardware Project? We're holding an introductory meeting this Thursday, 2nd March in the Dyson Centre (Department of Engineering).

Fill in the Doodle Poll to tell us which time is best for you:

https://doodle.com/poll/kstgbrf9ad2fc56a

The main focus will be continuing the development of a programmable, 3D-printed microscope and accompanying robotic screening system (see attached PDF). This has a significant software component, requiring automation of the screening system as well as image recognition and processing.

It's an opportunity to learn or use some of the following skills:
- Computer aided design (CAD) and 3D printing
- Electronics and robotics
- Optics and microscopy
- Computer programming and image processing techniques
- Product design
- Project management

07/12/2016

In case you need something to read over the holiday 📖🎄
Integrating mammalian transcription factors in synthetic regulatory loops 👌

Full paper: http://tinyurl.com/zjufkmb

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/47563/title/Synthetic-Sensors/

Engineered circuits detect endogenous transcription factors to drive cellular outputs.

14/11/2016

Interested in finding out how to make and control this CNC machine?
Want to help us turn it into a high-throughput colony screening robot?

Come to the first Hardware Project meeting tomorrow from 18:00 in the Dyson Centre, Department of Engineering.

We're planning on adding a 3D printed microscope module to the CNC machine (see video) that will allow us to image large arrays of samples, implementing image stitching and pattern recognition software, and testing prototypes with real biological samples.

If you have any experience in these areas then we'd love to have you on board. If you don't, but want to learn as you go along, definitely come along too - the main objective of our projects is to teach members new skills.

12/11/2016

It seems that we have finally made it in Plant Sciences! 🌱🔬 🎈.
📢 Our first wetlab session is in around 1h. SAT 12.11.16, 3pm 📢
Please meet at the door on the **back** of the building (facing the main entrance of genetics). Bring your laptops. We'll update this post if we move to the Dyson Centre 📝

06/11/2016

Interested in learning how to 3D print?
Want to learn a technique that's used across the sciences?

CUSBS has a brand-new Ultimaker 2+ (pictured), and we want to get our members 3D printing.

3D printing proteins (pictured) is becoming a useful tool for visualisation and education, plus our Hardware Project will need plenty of custom-built components.

Get in touch on Facebook or via email ([email protected]) if you're interested or you'd like some more information, and if enough people are keen we'll organise a workshop!

05/11/2016

Sorry for the last minute update but the second bioproject meeting is going to be this 📢 ** SUN 06.11.16 ** in the Dyson Centre, Department of Engineering. 📢 Meet at the main door of the Department.

The meeting is all going to be dedicated to **electronics and circuits**! ⚡🔌🚦 ⚡We have bought some basic components and we'll see if we can come up with something that works . We'll also go over updates about our last meeting and start thinking about more complex stuff 📋

Thanks and hopefully see you tomorrow!

03/11/2016

Next year's project? ;)
Cool video about CRISPR/Cas9

Reporter Jon Cohen tests the claim that "any idiot" can do CRISPR.

01/11/2016

A very nice article from the summer on genetic circuit design 101 📖. Worth a read if you have time ... and of course our friend the repressilator is mentioned! 🚦🚦 (http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/46170/title/Synthetic-Biology-Comes-into-Its-Own/)

Updates about the bioproject arriving soon 🔬