Hello, everyone! My name is Anastasia, and I am a passionate synthetic biologist. 💚

I got introduced to SynBio during my Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia. I had an honour to be a part of the first iGEM team on the Okanagan campus. Our project LifeBulb was awarded with the Gold medal during the 2022 Grand Jamboree in Paris.

Participating in iGEM was a turning point in my life. That’s when I knew that synthetic biology is the field that matches my aspirations to help solve world problems and make a valuable impact. I saw firsthand that anyone with the willpower to do so can help make the world a better place; no matter the age, background, or qualifications.

My honours thesis was focused on discovering and characterizing enzymes involved in the production of medicinal compounds. This project got me interested in the enzyme evolution and all its possible applications in medicine, environment protection, food and textile industries - the list can go on and on. I am hoping to continue my academic journey in this topic.

Whenever I am outside the lab, I am enjoying playing piano, reading, travelling, and spending time with my cats.

If you want to talk about enzyme engineering, iGEM, synthetic biology in general, or anything else feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or shoot me an email at bernazstasy1902@gmail.com 😊