User:GMcArthurIV
VGEM
George McArthur IV
George is the founder of UVA's Virginia Genetically Engineered Machine (VGEM) Team. He is a fourth-year chemical engineering and music double major concentrating in biotechnology and composition respectively.
Academic Interests
My research goals include utilizing synthetic biology principles, in particular standardized biological parts derived from marine organisms, in the genetic circuit and metabolic pathway engineering of microorganisms for use in large-scale industrial bioprocesses including the bioproduction of specialty chemicals, biofuels and biopharmaceuticals.
My undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (in addition to Music), coupled with future graduate studies in biological engineering, marine biotechnology and applied molecular microbiology will hopefully prepare me to tackle old and new bioengineering problems, including the bioremediation of our planet's coral reefs, and participate in the exciting biotech revolution that is occurring and that will continue to shape our world.
Undergraduate Thesis Project
My thesis project includes the design of an undergraduate synthetic biology course at UVA titled Biological Systems Design and the development of relevant course material including lecture presentations and discussion outlines. The goal of this course is not only to introduce the fundamentals of synthetic biology to interested students at the University, but also to equip the upcoming VGEM Team with the theory necessary for successful experimentation throughout the summer following the course.
Interesting Literature
Hydrogen Biofuel
- Light-driven hydrogen production by a hybrid complex of a [NiFe]-hydrogenase and the cyanobacteria photosystem I
- Biohydrogen
- Mutant Algae Is Hydrogen Factory
Links
- Gossamer Fidelity (the band)
- Sorcerer II Expedition
- Synthetic Genomics (the company)
- Molecular Marine Biology Laboratory
- Marine Biotech
- Institute of Biological Engineering
- homestarrunner.com
