SynBioApps
Training activities
Program goals
- Synthetic biology knowledge base
- Capacity for scientific research & problem solving
- Design skills for both product & process
- Advanced automation tools for genome building and editing
- Structural & functional genomics data analysis
- Computational simulation & use of design tools
- Capacity for independent & team-based projects
- Oral communications & technical writing capability
- Innovation, entrepreneurship and other business skills
- Knowledge of legal & ethical issues, and social & environmental awareness
Training program
Program training includes hands-on learning of various synthetic biology technologies and methodologies. Participating researchers bring a range of expertise including computer modeling, organism and protein design tools, DNA and RNA construction methods, microfluidics and bioinformatics. Students will engage in multidisciplinary team projects to apply synbio techniques and project design to real world, industry-led challenges. Training activities include:
- Thesis research project in a laboratory using cutting-edge synthetic biology approaches.
- Participation in two graduate level courses: Tools of Synthetic Biology (fall) and Bioeconomy Frameworks (winter).
- First-year rotations through two labs to master complementary bench or computational skills that can be applied to a student’s research project goals.
- Guest speakers in the field will be brought in, and attendance at special lectures and conferences is supported.
- Optional participation in academic exchanges or industrial co-operative internships.
- Optional mentoring of undergraduate iGEM competition team project.
Program courses
Students will learn about the various technologies used to engineer living systems, including bioinformatics, modeling and design tools, automation in DNA synthesis (with Concordia’s Genome Foundry), biomanufacturing (with the Bioprocessing facility), microfluidics platforms, protein- or RNA-molecular design and AI/machine learning. Students will be exposed to basic synbio engineering and/or molecular biology concepts (for life sciences and engineering students, respectively). An industry-mentored challenge will be provided by industry partners from various sectors, and students will work on these projects in small, multidisciplinary teams.
This course focuses on the contexts for applied R&D in multiple sectors of the bioeconomy. Seminar-style learning will be delivered by industry speakers and will include discussions on societal- and bioethics issues and impact; IP and patents; regulatory landscapes; communication strategies; and an introduction to business and stakeholder considerations in biotech product or platform development. Students will collaborate with an MBA cohort in team projects to explore entrepreneurship concepts and to create bio-startup business plans with a final “Pitch” presentation to potential funders.
