As our iGEM journey comes together, we’d like to share the thoughts, reflections, and feelings that made this experience truly special for our team.
As mentioned in the introduction, I joined iGEM solely out of curiosity, expecting to learn about how the fields of engineering and biology connect. Which it was true in a conceptual sense; utilizing engineering methods to manipulate and edit genes for a desired outcome, often juxtaposed to how computer scientists code to make specific softwares. However, the parts not anticipated were how the project was equally student-led despite our school's Team being fairly new and inexperienced. Nonetheless, I'd say the journey was quite eventful, from how Student Leaders were chosen at the start to the final sprint prior to the Wiki Freeze plus everything in between.
To put into perspective, when deciding on which group of expertise to be in during the first few weeks, I chose the one dubbed "Wiki & design," expecting to help document what the Team has done from start to finish. However, the facts were subtly different as other priorities were necessary to be considered. Such as the Team's logo design and the initial setups for the Wiki, which I was not particularly interested in, so some motivation was drawn away to dedicate to the project. Still, I pushed through it by providing little suggestions to the person who designed the logo and introduced the fundamental structure of the Wiki to the programmers who joined later. Same I did for when the Team realized that dry lab simulations were needed, in spite of it being drastically different from what I imagined at first, I managed to push out some work to contribute to the overall project. After these inputs, I learned how taking responsibility for a team's project—no matter one likes it or not—is necessary for group effort to be efficient, but despite having this takeaway, it would be of great guilt if I omitted the fact that I was actually quite isolated and did not communicate well with teammates to ensure that everyone was on the same page. Instead, when I took a sick leave during the visits to NYCU's lab, I didn't initiate much contact with other dry lab team members and behind on the progress made. It resulted in some complications when returning to the lab around mid-August, even to the point of considering leaving the Team due to my passiveness and inactivity for the past sessions. This pushed me further to realize that effective communication is also of extreme importance for a functional iGEM Team. In the end, I caught up to what was going on and helped with documenting the Model section of the Wiki: what I desired to do in the first place.
When I first joined iGEM, everything in the lab felt completely unfamiliar. I still remember the first time I used a pipette, I pushed it all the way to the second stop when trying to take up the liquid, not realizing that it should only go to the first, and I had no idea what went wrong. The centrifuge, vortex, and electrophoresis chamber all looked like complicated machines that only professionals could use. During our training sessions at NYCU, I gradually began to understand the logic behind each step, such as why precision mattered, how to maintain sterile technique, and how to remain calm even when results didn’t turn out as expected. With the patient help of my teammates, I gradually went from feeling lost to feeling capable.
Through this process, my understanding of synthetic biology also changed. At first, I thought it was only about DNA, genes, and data — something that existed only inside the lab. But through our outreach events, I realized how connected science is to real people and their stories. Talking to students and community members showed me that synthetic biology isn’t just an academic topic, it’s a way to solve real problems and inspire curiosity about how life works.
Some of my favorite memories were the weekends we spent at school doing experiments together. Even though we were tired, those hours were filled with laughter, small discoveries, and moments of teamwork. They reminded me that science is never done alone.
Looking back, iGEM taught me far more than protocols ever could. It taught me patience when experiments failed, confidence when I doubted myself, and appreciation for collaboration. This project wasn’t just about building a plasmid or running a test; it was about growing as a person. I’ll always remember the people, the weekends, and the lessons that shaped who I became through this journey. Thanks to everyone who made this journey fun and memorable.
When we first began our iGEM journey, no one knew what they were doing or where they were going, as it was all our first time participating in iGEM. One of the largest issues we faced was choosing a topic too late to make the most of it, and we did not have much time left to complete our experiments. Though we were still building our base knowledge in biology, I still believe that if we had decided on our topic sooner, we could have done only research and experiments. Apart from the shaky start, things got better steadily. Everyone has been working incredibly hard and putting everything into this massive project recently. The research team itself is always the earliest to arrive at the lab and the latest to leave — they truly work hard at what they do. Every sub-team has been doing their part too; occasionally, we continue receiving notifications on our team chatbox late in the evening as people work through to the late hours of the night to finish the Wiki or complete designs. It is such a great feeling to see everyone giving their best to assist. As days went by, we also learned more about synthetic biology. We realized that it's not just a question of scientific experiments, but also a question of making science applicable to real life. Through our outreach activity, we were able to impart our knowledge to our community and have serious talks with people from different walks of life about AMR. These interactions made it clear to us that science promotion isn't merely about spreading information — it's a form of responsibility too. This project has taught us the significance of teamwork and communication. Each sub-team — wet lab, dry lab, human practices, design, and Wiki — is all interdependent on one another, and even a small problem can influence the whole process. Though miscommunication at times created conflict or delays, it was in those instances that we learned to listen, think, and problem-solve as a unit. Maybe it's those small mistakes that had us learn to become a stronger, better team — one that learns from errors and doesn't get worse, but gets better instead. My favorite experience is when we developed an idea into reality, like our ice cream fundraiser. From dream to purchase, it was almost miraculous to see things come together, and counting up the total amount we raised afterwards left us with an immense sense of pride. It wasn't a fundraiser — it was our idea, our collective effort, and our commitment. In the end, iGEM didn't just teach us science; it taught us how to work together, how to speak to each other, and how teamwork can truly make ideas happen.
Our journey started from nothing. None of us had any experience with synthetic biology, and at first, everything felt confusing — the tools, the steps, even the words we used in the lab. But little by little, we learned. With the help of the NYCU iGEM team, we started to understand how to do experiments, how to handle DNA, and how to think like scientists. When we came back to school, though, we faced a new problem — our equipment was completely different from what we used before. Nothing worked the same way. We had to read every manual, test every setting, and figure things out on our own.
There were many moments when things didn’t work. Sometimes we felt frustrated and tired, but we never gave up. I still remember one of my proudest moments — when our PCR finally worked after two failed tries. It was a small success, but to us, it meant everything. It reminded me that even when things seem impossible, trying again can lead to something amazing. There were times when I thought we might not finish our project, that our slow progress in the wet lab would hold the whole team back. But seeing how hard everyone worked — especially the human practice team — gave me the strength to keep going.
This project also changed the way I see synthetic biology. Before, I thought it was just about working with genes in the lab. Now, I understand that it’s about solving real problems — like antibiotic resistance — and helping people live healthier lives. During our outreach activities, like when we taught kindergarten kids about antibiotics, I realized that science is not only for scientists. It connects to people, ethics, and our world.
Through this journey, I learned lessons that no textbook could teach: teamwork, patience, and courage. Even when things went wrong, we kept moving forward. Every mistake, every late night, and every small victory helped us grow. We didn’t just become better scientists — we became stronger people.
When people hear “iGEM,” they think lab coats, PCR, or plasmids. But they rarely see or experience the chaos behind the scenes, the actual human side of the work. There’s no protocol for what to do when your Canva refuses to load, or when your transportation doesn’t arrive half an hour after the event has started. There’s no lab manual or international guidebook for that. You just try to figure it out to the best of your abilities and pray that it’ll work out.
Though many argue they dislike the chaos, it is also the fun part of human practice. The unpredictabilities, improvising on the spot, and everything that can’t be written down in a standard procedure. It’s figuring out a solution when things fall apart, finding the strength to tell others, “We’re going to be fine. It’s okay,” even though you’re panicking more than they are, and it’s walking into a room full of strangers and attempting to make them care about what you care about. Somewhere between all the planning, re-planning, outlines, lesson slides, and last-minute group chat messages, you start realizing that you may be “in control” or something that is completely out of your control.
Over the past six months, I’ve learned more about teamwork and communication than in any public speaking class or counseling session I’ve been to. I’ve learned to listen, to identify the truly important tasks, to be a better leader, and to compromise without hurting people’s feelings or losing direction. Plan A worked once. Plan B worked a couple of times. But Plan C, the one I invented on the spot, is usually the one that saves the day.
My proudest moment came during the outreach session. I was leading the teaching of a seventh-grade class, and if I’m being completely honest, though I planned it, I was secretly dreading it. I thought it would be tough. The topic we’re talking about might be too complex or they’d lose interest halfway through, but I was wrong. They were curious, maybe even a bit excited. They weren’t just listening halfheartedly, but they were actually engaging. And I finally woke up and reaffirmed myself that’s the purpose all along. To create conversation and promote interest. To make them care about what we care about.
At the end of all of it, our work in the human practice team isn’t about perfection, because people aren’t perfect, and that’s the beauty of it. Things can be unpredictable, creative, sometimes chaotic, but one thing is for sure: they are always worth it. And in the midst of navigating through this maze, I learned how to stay grounded, to connect, and the ability to embrace things being out of my control.
The journey of this iGEM team truly taught me the importance of teamwork and self-discipline. I joined in August, almost a year after the team started. I really wanted to help the team because they seemed to be struggling with the wiki page design. After long contemplation and discussion with my family, I decided to join. At first, I was nervous because I thought you had to be experts in science and experiments to belong in the iGEM team, but surprisingly, you don’t! I was really glad people liked my design skills enough to ask me to join the team.
I put in a lot of time and effort, mainly working on designs for merchandise, uniforms, and especially the wiki web page. I remember when I first joined, one of the team members said, “Oh, a new liver to be ground.” I completely understand that quote now, after all the hard work we have to endure. Handling all the wiki design and illustrations myself over the past two months was tough, and there were a few stressful moments due to miscommunication; however, things ultimately worked out. I realized literally everyone in the team is working tirelessly, sacrificing free time and sleep time just to finish typing the wiki input. So, I tried my best to do as much as I could, too. Waiting for the wiki input, proofreading, putting everything into the design, and working with the IT team to get it on the website took a LOT of communication and teamwork. But seeing my designs finally appear online, people enjoying the pins I made, and tasks getting checked off the list made all the stress and late nights worth it!!
It was also very refreshing when I discovered how the research team does experiments, how the dry lab IT code website works, and how the human practice conducts outreaches for our iGEM team. I never knew how these procedures function until I joined iGEM. I really want to thank all the supervisors, Mr. Teoh, Ms. Pung, and Ms. Chiu, for devoting so much time and energy to helping our team in every way possible. I also so wholeheartedly admire our captain, Bertie; she is the best captain ever, and I wouldn’t have learned so much if she hadn't asked me to join.
All things considered, this was a painful yet inspiring experience, and I will never forget the times we all suffered together but still supported each other as a team.
When I first joined iGEM, my motivation was simple…I just wanted to get more involved and participate more in school activities. I signed up before even knowing what the details of iGEM truly were. Once I learned that it revolved around biology, I honestly didn’t feel much excitement, since biology had never been one of my favorite subjects. But I’m the kind of person who, once I commit to something, wants to give it my absolute best. So, from the very beginning, I threw myself into the work and became part of the core research team.
As time went on, I started searching for the area where I could make the most meaningful contribution. That journey eventually led me to the dry lab, which simulates data and logic that instantly attracted me. The more I worked with computer models, the more I realized how much I enjoyed translating biological processes into mathematical systems. I especially enjoy generating data into graphs for a better visualization and interpreting them. Step by step, I devoted myself to this side of the project.
However, stepping into modeling was like entering an entirely new world. I had to learn so much about simulations, mathematical systems, and how they connected back to biology. It was challenging; there were moments of confusion, frustration, and countless times when I had to read, rewrite, and test far beyond my comfort zone. As well, our path was far from smooth. We faced setbacks, errors, and long nights fixing equations and models that didn’t fit our expectations. Yet, when we finally reached our results, the feeling was indescribable. All the difficulties and efforts suddenly felt worth it. I truly felt happy and a sense of accomplishment, not just by the success, but by how much we had grown along the way.
Through this journey, I learned much more than technical knowledge. I learned the importance of time management, teamwork, and leadership. Most importantly, I discovered what I truly enjoy: turning ideas into models, data into stories, and challenges into opportunities. iGEM taught me that science isn’t only about experiments or results; it’s about persistence, curiosity, and finding meaning in the process itself.
If I were asked what iGEM is about, synthetic biology, experiments, or social impact, I’d say yes, it’s all of those things. But as a “freshman” in iGEM, what truly left a long-lasting impression on me wasn’t just the challenging experiments or the packed schedule, but the sense of responsibility, teamwork, and persistence I’ve experienced over these ten months.
Signing up for iGEM was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. At first, I joined simply out of a passion for science and biology, thinking it would be simply a “club.” But soon, I realized it was much more than that. From holding weekly seminars to strengthen our understanding of synthetic biology, to brainstorming possible project topics, I found myself constantly learning and being amazed by how life works at the molecular level. I still remember the wonder I felt when I first understood how our body produces proteins through transcription and translation, how genes can be transferred between bacteria through restriction digestion, ligation, and transformation, and how bacteria evolve to resist antibiotics, all the intricate ways nature adapts and survives.
When our team started conceptualizing our project, things got much more intense. That was when I realized iGEM isn’t just about understanding scientific knowledge, it’s about applying it to solve real-world problems. As someone who loves logic but also dreams big, I found it difficult to align ideas while considering every small factor that could affect feasibility. I often felt uncertain when proposing solutions, but through that process, I learned that true success lies not only in knowledge, but in creativity, adaptability, and teamwork. I’m incredibly thankful for being part of such an inclusive and supportive team, every time I struggled, someone was always there to help. It made me want to become that kind of person too, someone who helps others patiently and wholeheartedly.
We spent countless hours in the lab, almost every afternoon activity time, after school, and weekends, to a point that the HIA lab almost became my second home. With only a month for experimentation, we began nervously, and our first trial failed because we forgot to autoclave our tools. From there, every step became a learning experience. We kept asking ourselves “why” (shoutout to Mr. Teoh), analyzing and improving after every setback. We faced issues like PCR dimerization, faint or incorrect bands, failed restriction digestion, missing ethanol during gel extraction, and acidic ddH₂O. We stayed in the lab sometimes with breakthroughs, and were often disappointed by the results. I was always touched when I heard our team members declare that we would win the gold medal, despite not having any real results. The wet lab team was about to pack up and go due to the disappointing results, and that’s where we believed the miracle of persistence and praying to supernatural powers kicks in, when a single pink colony of DH5α_BLIP-I appeared on the plate after transformation, which I literally teared up after Cherry(our research group leader) did so. Everything else went miraculously smoothly afterwards. With successful conjugation for our first attempt, the day before wiki freeze, that’s how our project is done, and we really hoped for GRAND PRIZE!!!
This experience really changed me quite a lot inside out, it almost became one of the most important tasks that I wish to accomplish and do good in despite the difficulties. I was both glad and thankful for this experience, for the opportunity, for everything I learned, and for every person I met throughout these 14 weeks. I’m now really looking forward to Paris and a relaxing weekend.
When I first heard about iGEM, I was thinking, “Wow. Synthetic biology. That sounds neat.” Even though I had no idea what it was or had any experience joining a competition like this, it sounded like something I was interested in. I thought it would be more like another class where we’d learn about genetic engineering, modifying bacteria or E. coli, occasionally get to touch one of the fancy machines we always see in labs, like the PCR machine or autoclave, and then join a competition at the end to see what we had accomplished. Truth be told, when I saw the videos of the team that had gotten first place in the past years iGem competition, I started to realize that iGem isn’t just a simple competition about synthetic biology; it was people all around the world identifying an issue they observed in the community and trying to solve it using creativity, teamwork, determination, and finally presentiung it to te world as a concrete solution.
After this point, I had a hard time understanding when we were supposed to do each experiment and how they were ultimately connected to each other in our project. I knew what we would potentially be doing in the lab, cloning, performing transformations, heat shock, but I couldn't see how it fit into our project.
It wasn’t until we went to NYCU that my understanding of the project really improved. I began to understand the procedures of our experiments, how to keep everything sterile, and the importance of managing time between steps. My concept of the experiments also strengthened, like how a miniprep is just separating unwanted fragments to get pure DNA, and how gel electrophoresis is a way to verify whether our E. Coli acquired the desired plasmid. Understanding this gradually led me to connect the dots between each individual experiment and what should come next after each step. The work that once felt confusing began to make sense, and I started to appreciate how every small action in the lab contributed to the bigger goal of our project.
Looking back, iGEM turned out to be much more than I expected. It wasn’t just something that happens in a lab; it’s a way to address real-world issues through hard work and team effort. Seeing our project evolves from an idea into a real solution to a serious medical issue reminded me how science can inspire change and make a real-world difference.
Initially, I wasn’t a member of iGEM, and I had no idea what the club actually did. Honestly, I thought it was just a biology club where people did experiments. It wasn’t until our team needed someone who could code that my teacher invited me to join the team. That’s when I slowly started to understand the purpose of iGEM and what our team was actually working on.
When I first started coding for our website, I actually didn't even understand how to use it or how to code on it; I even had problems uploading the picture. Although I had some basic coding skills, many things were completely new to me. About a month before the wiki freeze, our website was basically empty and blank, and I had no idea where to start. But things started to change when our designer, Elaine, joined the team and helped establish the basic design for our website.
Even with a basic design, the workload was huge because we didn’t have enough people. In the last two weeks before the wiki deadline, I often stayed up until 3 a.m., worried that we wouldn’t finish on time. But even though it was stressful, I learned so much. Sometimes I would finish a part, only to find that the team wanted big changes—or even to rebuild entire sections. During this process, I feel that my ability to withstand pressure and deal with emergencies has grown a lot. At first, it felt overwhelming, but I realized I could adapt and come up with solutions quickly.
Along the way, there were moments when I wanted to give up, but I reminded myself to persevere. By the end, I could truly feel the unity and dedication of our team. I believed everyone contributed their best efforts to achieve our goals and support one another. I also remember hearing that, at first, many people doubted our ability to succeed and thought we wouldn’t be able to accomplish much—but we proved them wrong. We really did it.
I am really proud of our team and the work we have done together. I also loved the weekends when everyone came to school to work on the iGEM side by side, putting in effort together. This experience has not only strengthened my technical skills but also taught me the value of teamwork, persistence, and collaboration. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing and supportive group.
This iGEM journey has been one of the most challenging and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had. Looking back, what stands out to me is not just the science we set out to do, but the way our team grew stronger through every obstacle. In the lab, things didn’t always go the way we expected, but each setback became an opportunity to learn, to adapt, and to support one another.
One of the biggest lessons I’ll never forget is that results don’t always come the way you expect them to. In the beginning, that was really frustrating. Science felt unforgiving; one small step missed, or a frozen glycerol stock, and days of work could disappear. But slowly, I started to see things differently. Every failure taught us something. They weren’t wasted time; they forced us to think differently, adapt, and eventually led us closer to success.
And when success finally came, or even just a small sign that we were on the right track, the excitement was overwhelming. It wasn’t about proving myself right. It was about proving that, together, we could overcome all the challenges. Every success felt like it belonged to all of us, built on the countless times we failed but never gave up. That’s when I realized that the real strength of our team wasn’t in how many perfect results we had, but in how determined we were to keep moving forward, no matter what.
This project also changed the way I think about science. I came into iGEM thinking it was mainly about results, like plasmids built, data collected, and protocols followed. But now I see that science is just as much about persistence, problem-solving, collaboration, and teamwork as it is about accuracy. Discovery doesn’t come in a straight line; it comes through trial and error, through the courage to try again, and through the trust we built in each other as we worked toward the same goal.
As I look back, I feel so grateful. Grateful for the teammates who stood beside me through every failure and every success. Grateful for the advisors who guided us with patience.. Most of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself, to contribute, even in a small way, to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. As this chapter closes, I don’t see it as an ending, but as the foundation for everything that comes next.
Ever since I was little, I’ve been fascinated by science. I was always curious about how things work and eager to try experiments on my own. So when I first heard about iGEM, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it. I was so excited at the idea of bringing a team from our school into the competition that I asked if we could start one, and to my surprise, it actually happened. That’s how HIA-Taiwan was born.
Before iGEM, most of my science experience came from working alone. Joining a team of 17 people was completely new to me, and it changed the way I see science. I learned that research isn’t just about doing experiments by yourself, it’s about collaboration. It’s about dividing tasks, trusting each other, and sharing every success and failure along the way.
This journey also taught me that science doesn’t always go smoothly. Sometimes things fail, sometimes the results aren’t what you expect, but those moments are just as important. They teach patience, persistence, and the courage to keep going. What made it special was that I didn’t go through it alone; we were able to celebrate small victories together and laugh through the tough days.
Being part of iGEM gave me more than just experience in the lab. It gave me a team, a community, and a chance to grow in ways I never imagined. I’m proud to have been part of our first iGEM team and grateful for everything I learned along the way.