Outreach Team
The Outreach team focuses on creating online events with the aim of bringing European Synthetic Biology to everyone.
Catarina first encountered synthetic biology during her undergraduate degree, where she bravely attempted (and failed) to start her university’s first iGEM team. Undeterred, she moved to Edinburgh to study Systems and Synthetic Biology, where she discovered two things: a deep love for using synbio to tackle sustainability challenges, and a lifelong feud with programming and mathematical modelling.
Despite being unable to keep a houseplant alive, Catarina has spent the last two years working in plant synthetic biology, most recently as a Research Technician at the University of Cambridge. Irony aside, she is now following a PhD in Bioelectrochemistry, continuing her quest to make biology do useful (and sustainable) things.
Catarina Almeida - Team Leader
catarina.almeida@eusynbios.org
Davide holds a PhD in biophysics from EPFL, Switzerland. Davide is passionate about the physics of life: understanding the principles that govern living systems as ensembles of thermodynamic reactions. His research addresses synthetic biology problems using an interdisciplinary approach combining biology and physics.
Davide Cois - Outreach Coordinator
davide.cois@eusynbios.org
yassin.chafik@eusynbios.org
Sara completed her BSc in Groningen, Netherlands, and is now working towards the completion of her MSc in Applied Biosciences & Biotechnology at Imperial College London. Her interest in synthetic biology is largely founded on making the world a more sustainable place, whether that’s through bioproduction of alternative materials or foods. Her current research at the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein focuses on producing sustainable food protein with hydrogen-oxidising bacteria!
Sara Khong - Outreach Coordinator
Yassin’s passion for Synthetic Biology began when I was 15, and since then, he has been deeply involved in the field. He is particularly interested in tackling real-world challenges through genetic engineering, focusing on oncology, infectious diseases, and bioremediation. He loves exploring different biological chassis and applying them to areas like space exploration, cell-free systems, and even plants—something he also works on as part of iGEM, where he serves as an iGEM Ambassador for Europe.
Yassin Somoue-Chafik - Outreach Coordinator
sara.khong@eusynbios.org