Meet the Team behind TRACE!

Anne is part of our amazing co-lead dream team together with Léa. She’s part of our human practices, or as she once called it by accident, our human lab. She studies biomedicine with a minor in bioinformatics. When she’s not saving our wiki, you’ll probably find her in the mountains, climbing, hiking, or camping with the most impressive camping equipment you’ve ever seen. Anne thrives on challenge and the unknown, qualities essential to being part of iGEM.

Léa is studying biomedicine with a minor in biochemistry. In her free time, she enjoys running and swimming in the Letten during winter (yes, on purpose). Thanks to Léa’s clarity, structure, and foresight, this iGEM project is in very capable hands. She loves seeing a vision take shape and is motivated to face unexpected challenges, which made iGEM the perfect choice for her.

Alex studies Biomedicine with a minor in Bioinformatics. He joined iGEM to dive into adventure, meet brilliant people, and put knowledge into action. Organized and passionate, he masterfully juggles human practices alongside complex biochemical and epidemiological models. When he’s not multitasking science, he’s perfecting his longline backhand on the tennis court, seizing every chance for a swim in the lake, testing the limits of physics by building questionable rafts out of floating wood at team retreats, or exploring hidden corners of new places.

Tatia studies Biomedicine as her major and Bioinformatics as her Minor and is our Dry Lab lead and an absolute legend. She single-handedly convinced the whole team to go for her idea, even though no one was particularly enthusiastic about it at first. Born and raised in Georgia (the country, not the state), Tatia doesn't just think outside the box, she left it behind in Georgia and hasn't needed it since. With this mindset, iGEM was the perfect place for her to turn bold ideas into reality.

George studies Biomedicine and is a key member of our Dry Lab team. He’s best known for two things: his unshakable optimism and his reflex-like tendency to volunteer for just about everything. Fun fact: he still hasn’t mastered the art of telling Tuesday and Thursday apart. He joined iGEM because he loved the idea of working on a project with people who share his fascination.

Anna studies biology with such passion that even her keychain is infected. Literally. With a tiny, stuffed syphilis bacterium. Cute and contagious. When she's not in the lab, she's baking, traveling the world, or buried deep into a book that's probably older than electricity. She loves building things from scratch, which is exactly what fascinates her about iGEM.

Selina just wrapped up her biology bachelor and has clocked more hours in the lab than any of us combined. Selina doesn’t do “maybe.” If she sets her mind to something, it’s basically a legally binding contract with herself, a mindset that drives our team forward. What excites her about iGEM is not only coming up with good ideas but also bringing them to life in the real world.

Gabi studies Biomedicine. Born and raised in Brazil, Gabi brings tropical vibes and good energy. One of her favourite games is to ask people: “Where do you think I come from?” and confuse them by speaking Italian and telling a story about her Mexican dog. In her free time, you'll catch her flowing through yoga poses and playing the piano. For her, iGEM represents a valuable opportunity to translate theoretical knowledge into practical application while sharing curiosity and enthusiasm with fellow young researchers.

Tiziana is a biology student and a true plant whisperer. For her, iGEM is an exciting chance to learn things you’d never come across in regular courses, and the best part is applying that knowledge hands-on in the lab. Also, she’s not just an incoming scientist - she’s a trained baker-confectioner too, which means she can literally sugar-coat setbacks. Fun fact: she tried to grow carrots four times last year. The results? Let’s just say she learned a lot about experimental failure… in perfect preparation for iGEM.

Having led the Dry Lab team for iGEM UZurich 2024, he was eager to share his knowledge and support his successors. With his strategic insights and expertise, he has been an invaluable mentor to our Dry Lab team.

Gabriel completed his Master’s in Microbiology and Immunology at ETH this year. A member of the iGEM UZurich 2022 team, he has since advised the wet lab and joined iDEC twice, making him a tremendous asset to our team. Beyond his passion for microbiology, he enjoys working out at the gym and attending heavy metal concerts.

Seraina was Co-Lead of iGEM UZurich 2024 and now contributes both to our wet lab team and to our team leaders. Having gone through the experience herself, she is well equipped to share her insights and guidance. She studies Biomedicine and is fascinated by the complexity of cells and how diseases affect them and the human body.