Professor Nate Cira

Hi there. I'm Prof. Nate Cira. I'm an enthusiastic iGEM supporter and help support Cornell's team as the faculty advisor. I also run the Cira Lab at Cornell, where we work on a wide range of science and engineering topics, usually connected to human health. I was an iGEM participant as a student in '09 and '10.

Professor Mridusmita Saikia

Hello everyone, I am Mridu. I am a faculty at the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. My research interests include molecular biology and genomics. I love being a part of iGem Cornell as it allows me to continue pursuing my research interests as well as connect with my students outside the classroom. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling and reading. Recently I traveled to Napoli, Italy and visited the ruins of Pompeii. It was the most engrossing and enriching experience!

Maggie Elpers

I am a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering (BME) program. I grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, and completed my B.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University. I joined iGEM as a graduate mentor because I was involved in similar student-led engineering projects as an undergraduate. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time outside and cooking.

Yannis Ntekas

Jaymee Palma

Hi! My name is Jaymee, I am a PhD student in the field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology with a research focus on protein engineering and synthetic biology. I joined iGEM as a mentor because it's an exciting opportunity to guide and support aspiring scientists. I'm looking forward to helping the Cornell iGEM team this year!

Sarah Henretta

Hi! I am Sarah, a graduate mentor from Cornell iGEM. I am a PhD student in biomedical engineering, with a strong background in mechanical engineering and chemistry. I am excited to support iGEM this year as the team works towards solving multidisciplinary, synthetic biology problems!

Adithya Prabakaran

What's up my name is Adi and I'm a junior in BME. This is my 3rd year on iGEM and I keep coming back because I like working on cool projects with cool people! Aside from iGEM, I work in the Butcher Lab, play on the club squash team, and hang out in obscure spots on campus with friends

Aindri Patra

Hi! I'm Aindri, and I'm a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. I joined iGEM for the chance to work on a student led team that works on projects that can have a positive impact on the community, while learning more about synthetic biology. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching Netflix, painting, and playing tennis.

Cameron Meyer

Hi, my name is Cameron and I'm studying Biology & Society and Economics. IGEM has given me the opportunity to explore the intersection between business and biology while being immersed in a fast paced project environment. Outside of iGEM I enjoy playing golf and traveling.

David Xiang

Hi, I am David and I'm a biomedical engineer graduating in 2025. I joined iGEM because you get to make cool stuff that does cool stuff :). I like to play tennis but not in Ithaca because the weather sucks and love reading books.

Derek Huang

Hello! My name is Derek Huang and I'm a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma majoring in Computer Science in Arts and Sciences. I joined iGEM because I've always wanted to combine my interest in computer science with a bio component, and I really like the connection I've developed with my teammates. Outside of iGEM, I enjoy playing piano, cooking, skiing, and eating cheesecake!

Javohir Abdurazzakov

Hey, I'm Javohir Abdurazzakov! I'm an Info Sci major of class 2026. I joined iGEM because it was an opportunity to combine my interest for CS and Syn Bio on unique projects. Outside of iGEM, I'm also a full-stack software engineer for The Wardrobe. I enjoy playing party games with my friends, binging shows over weekends, and throwing football outside when its warm.

Noelle Pappous

Hey! I'm Noelle! I'm a junior in the college of Arts and Sciences studying Biological Sciences. I joined iGem because I wanted to work with an innovative student led research team that would challenge me to apply synthetic biology solutions to solve local and global issues. Outside of iGem I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, and binging Netflix.

Pallavi Kondayapalepu

Hi! I'm Pallavi and I'm a junior studying Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. I joined iGEM because I was eager to work collaboratively on creating synthetic biology solutions to address local issues. On campus, I'm involved with CURB, the Smart is Strong Foundation, and the Ithaca Health Initiative. Outside of iGEM and classes, I enjoy reading, playing Minecraft, watching tv, playing basketball, and napping :D

Pedro Da Silveira

Howdy! I'm Pedro and I'm majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Health Policy and Law & Society. While I may have joined iGEM because I love going to Paris, I stayed because of the awesome and very lucrative power of syn bio to change the world. My favorite places to at Cornell are my bed and my kitchen, and if you can't find me at either of those I'll be at iGem gbody.

Rowan Gould

Hi, my name is Rowan and I am a biology major in CALS, class of 2026. I'm joined iGEM to explore all the possibilities of synthetic biology, especially with my interest in neuroscience. Outside of iGEM, I am a guide for outdoor odyssey, and a conduct undergraduate research in the Computational Physiology Lab. In my free time I like to ski, play guitar, rock climb, and be outdoors.

Shara Shanmugasundaram

Hi! My name is Shara and I am a junior in CoE studying CS. I joined iGEM because I wanted to learn more about the intersection of computer science and synthetic biology. Outside of iGEM, I am a part of the SWE outreach team and live in CS office hours. I love reading, running at 5 AM (or in general), and watching movies.

Shohum Finkelstein

Hi! My name is Shohum. I'm a second-year Biomedical Engineering major from Berkeley, California. I joined iGem because it combines my passions for quantitative and qualitative problem solving, creativity, and making a positive social impact. Outside of iGem, I love playing and listening to music and exploring Cornell's campus and greater Ithaca.

Siddhanth Bhatt

Hi, my name is Sid! I joined iGEM because I think synthetic biology is a neat way to solve the world's problems. Also, iGEM seemed really welcoming and fun! Outside of iGEM, I research at the Schimenti Lab and am part of Cornell Asha. For fun, I like playing basketball or soccer, writing, listening to music, solving puzzles, and collecting coins.

Srishti Khetan

Hi, I'm Srishti and I'm in the BME class of 2024. Outside of school, you'll catch me rock-climbing, working as a Barista at Zeus, making music and doing anything outdoors. iGEM has provided such a great opportunity to learn about how synthetic biology can change the world and help numerous lives. I joined the team because I loved how collaborative and interdisciplinary the team is and how it utilizes each person's strengths to craft the best project possible.

Vernetta Huang

Hi! I'm Vernetta, a sophomore studying Computer Science in CoE. I joined iGEM because I hope to be apart of something meaningful; to solve problems with the limitless possibilities of synthetic biology and CS. Outside of iGEM, I'm also a Media Chair for E.Motion and an AEW Facilitator. I love videography, crafting, and reading, and you will always see me around with my daily matcha latte :)