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Department Events

Events

• Apr

  17

  BTP Seminar Series: Cynthia Collins, Ginkgo Bioworks

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  12:00 PM LR4, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Making biology easier to engineer

  Synthetic biology is the key to sustainable biomanufacturing. At Ginkgo, our mission is to make biology easier to engineer so that customers can achieve the performance indicators that enable economically viable production of their targets. We bring together expert scientists, bespoke software, state-of-the-art instrumentation and automation to tackle pathway optimization through iterative DBTL cycles. At the core of every cell program are the enzymes that catalyze conversion of substrate to product. Ginkgo's end-to-end Enzyme Services can be applied to identify new enzymatic activities and improve enzyme specificity, activity and stability in industrially relevant conditions. In the Bioworks foundries, we assemble these enzymes into complex metabolic pathways, optimizing expression and flux. We use highly automated strain engineering tools and high-throughput analytical capabilities to test thousands of prototypes. We recently added automated adaptive evolution and encapsulation into nanoliter reactor technologies to augment the design space we are able to explore.

  This talk will discuss Ginkgo’s platform and provide some examples of projects and successes to date. I will also discuss my career trajectory and things I’ve learned as I transitioned from a career in academia to a career in industry, and from technical roles to my more recent operational and leadership role.

  Cynthia Collins received her BS from the University of Toronto in Chemistry and Biochemistry and her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from Caltech in the Arnold lab where she focused on the directed evolution of transcription factors involved in microbial quorum sensing and their use in synthetic biology applications. Cynthia then moved to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, where her group applied synthetic biology and protein engineering approaches to engineer communication and collaboration in microbial communities. She earned a NSF Career Award and was named a World Economic Forum Young Scientist. Cynthia joined Ginkgo in 2021, where she led projects in her role as a Principal Organism Engineer. She is currently a Senior Director of Organism Engineering, and leads the Microbial Engineering Operational Excellence team.

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  LOCATION LR4, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Will Chaussee    william.chaussee@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Aug

  14

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

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  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Aug

  15

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Thursday, August 15, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Sep

  24

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

  more less

  TIME Tuesday, September 24, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Sep

  30

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  more less

  TIME Monday, September 30, 2024

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Dec

  7

  Fall classes end

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall classes end

  more less

  TIME Saturday, December 7, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar