Princeton offers a wealth of opportunities to engage in undergraduate research. From smaller projects found in writing seminars to the ever-looming senior thesis, research is woven throughout our academic journeys. Still, outside of this mandatory exposure to research there are also unique opportunities to explore research as an undergraduate. One of the most interesting of these is the Princeton iGem team. I was able to sit down to speak with a member of this year’s team, Dowon Seo ‘27, after he returned from the annual iGem conference in Paris.
The International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGem), is a synthetic biology competition between students from all over the world. When Seo first heard about the program as a first-year student, he was excited but hesitant. Joining the Princeton iGem team involves an application process, a spring course, and an on-campus summer research project in preparation for the iGem jamboree. Adding a fifth class onto his spring semester felt particularly daunting, but Seo dived right in. Seo noted, “After that, it was like the first time since AP Bio where what I was learning felt really exciting.” That excitement only grew throughout the summer and left him eagerly awaiting the summer research project.
The on-campus summer research arm of the program involved work in a wet lab with different bacterial and mammalian cell cultures, as well as in a dry lab with complex laboratory equipment. This year’s iGem team proposed a probiotic specifically designed for patients experiencing ulcerative colitis. Seo’s working group focused on harnessing quorum sensing, a unique method of density regulation where cells use specific genetic regulators and signals to communicate with each other. For him, this lab experience was transformative. “This is stuff you only expect to read in textbooks,” Seo commented, “so I never imagined I’d be getting to do this or work with this equipment.” Over the course of the two month summer program, the team assembled their research and prepared for the October journey to Paris.
The annual iGem jamboree in Paris, France represented the culmination of all of this hard work throughout the program. The conference provided a unique opportunity for Seo and his team to share their work with peers from across the world. This meant tabling their booth throughout the week and even presenting their work during a live-streamed exhibition of their research. Additionally, throughout the judging component of the conference the team generated ample interest. In between the intense work of the conference, there was also time to explore Paris. From the Louvre to Eiffel Tower, the team got the chance to really take in their environment and decompress from the excitement of the week.
When we spoke, Seo recalled a particular moment that struck him as unique throughout their exhilarating turn in Paris. He and the team were floating down the Seine late one night, alongside the shimmering lights of the city, just chatting about anything and everything. Even with the presentations, networking, and phenomenal food and music, Seo identified this moment as “very human.” It’s always important to think about the many opportunities research brings. New mentors. New experience. New understanding. But it’s just as important to remember that perhaps the most important aspect of research is the way it can tie us together in ways we would never expect, but can only dream of.
— Stanley Stoutamire Jr., Social Sciences Correspondent
