On the evening of October 26, 2024, from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM Beijing time, the HiZJU-China team, primarily consisting of undergraduate students from the College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University (ZJU CBE) made history at the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) 2024 Grand Jamboree in Paris. This marked their fourth participation since the team's founding in 2021, and they earned multiple awards, including the Gold Award and four Best Nominee Awards for Best Biomanufacturing Project, Best New Basic Part, Best Measurement, and Best Hardware.
Competition Overview:
The iGEM, founded by MIT in 2003 and expanded into an international academic competition in 2005, is the premier global academic competition in synthetic biology. Each year, the competition attracts attention from leading academic journals such as Science and Nature, as well as media outlets like the BBC. The event draws young talents from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Tsinghua University, and Zhejiang University, showcasing their interdisciplinary expertise in biology, mathematics, computer science, and statistics to explore the potential of synthetic biology.
Team HiZJU-China's Success:
Guided by four instructors from the Institute of Bioengineering at ZJU CBE, including LIAN Jiazhang, YU Haoran, BAO Zehua and YE Lidan and supported by graduate students and postdocs, the 15-member HiZJU-China team overcame numerous challenges from project conception to execution, achieving a personal and collective leap in professional knowledge and scientific research capabilities. Their success at iGEM is a significant breakthrough, marking a transition from no nominations in their previous participation to earning four Best Individual Nominee Awards.
Project Synopsis:
The team's project, CaptuREE, addresses the urgent need for sustainable extraction and recovery of rare earth elements, known as the "vitamins of industry" due to their unique properties. Traditional recovery methods are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. HiZJU-China proposed an innovative bio-mining process using engineered proteins and microorganisms to leach and adsorb rare earth elements efficiently. The CaptuREE system, which integrates bio-leaching, bio-sorption, and biosafety modules, aims to provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to rare earth element recovery.
Team Profile:
Led by WANG Xinyang and GAO Yutong, the HiZJU-China team comprises undergraduate students from various disciplines, including bioengineering, horticulture, oral medicine, biological science, environmental engineering, clinical medicine, and computer science and technology. This interdisciplinary collaboration was crucial in overcoming challenges in project design, experimentation, modeling, research, integration, and defense, culminating in their well-deserved achievements.
The HiZJU-China team's accomplishments at iGEM 2024 not only underscore their dedication and innovation but also highlight Zhejiang University's commitment to fostering excellence in synthetic biology and interdisciplinary research.
