Angela Wang
Calimod formed from a series of questions starting from, “what can we bring to Southern California, something STEM students want the opportunity for yet don’t have easy access to?” Personally, leading a team of resilient individuals with a shared drive to breakthrough the synthetic biology field as a student-run research group has been a rewarding and impactful experience. I am continuing to learn lifelong skills of time management, the art of prioritizing, and have gained a foundational network of communication with professors, mentors, and empowered peers.
Valerie Wu
This project’s huge undertaking was something I saw as a challenge which was the main motivator for this whole project. Being able to lead a team of such inspiring people who work hard for the same goals and have similar passions has definitely been the most fulfilling, especially being the first student-run research group in our area. I learned so much about navigating the scientific industry, communicating with both professors and mentors, and even the details of managing time and productivity. Although a lot of stress came with it, I wouldn’t have traded this opportunity for anything else.
Matthew To
Lab research is not an opportunity most high school teenagers have the chance to pursue; therefore, when presented with an offer to join CaliMOD, I was immediately excited to embark on a journey exposing myself to an entirely novel field of science.From beginning at “zero”, I’ve learned not just the technicalities of synthetic biology, but the profound importance of teamwork, resilience, and embracing failure as part of the creative and scientific process. Overcoming every formidable obstacle that has unexpectedly challenged the persistence and mental fortitude of our team has reaffirmed within me the proverb: “if there’s a will there’s a way.”
Joshua Wu
In a highly competitive student environment, applying for research opportunities and programs is an extremely difficult process. Moreover, at these programs you don’t have the freedom to explore your own ideas and interests. This is why I decided to join Calimod. To be at the frontier of student driven research focused on issues deeply vested in our communities was irresistible. I believe that the difficulties and adversity faced at every step is what makes it so exciting.
Cynthia Liu
When I first learned about the project, I was excited by the opportunity to conduct research beyond the level of literature review. With hypotheses we developed ourselves and resources that we gathered with team efforts, we first-handedly witnessed the unfolding of the solution to addiction. Through Calimod, the most valuable lesson I learned was persistence. From the initial idea, we persisted through the complex process of securing funds to meet a sky-high budget and navigating the intricate task of calculating measurements involving millions of cells. Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful to have experienced growth through Calimod.
Irene Oh
My vague interest in the medical field led me to join CaliMod. Soon after though, I learned about the opportunities to expand on my business skills and to gain experience in an actual lab, and I was more than excited. Starting from scratch—$0, 0 followers, and an empty Google Doc—we made our way up to meet funds, wrote up procedures and plans, and gained an audience on Instagram to educate people about addiction, share our progres in the lab, and publicize the field of synthetic biology. We faced many unforeseen challenges, but we always problem solved and persisted through, two valuable skills I gained from this project.
Evelyn Wu
Despite being a team of high schoolers low on funds and having a lot to learn, I couldn’t resist the chance to tackle a real-world problem. My passion for synthetic biology aligned perfectly with this project and though risky given our circumstances, it proved to be a thrilling experience. I’ve learned to build a strong support system with my teammates and through my chaotic browser with a million tabs, I’ve gained a new level of dedication and perseverance even when things get overwhelming.
Jake Kang
I joined the CaliMod team to challenge my coding skills in new scenarios, having worked mostly on solo projects. I was drawn to iGEM to experience large-team collaboration as well as to explore the field of synthetic biology, which I had never heard of before. From the team, I learned teamwork, and how to work with other people to make progress on a project. I also learned new coding languages, namely HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Through the past few months of working on the project, I learned both key life skills as well as practical coding skills.
Adam Ho
I initially joined Calimod since a close friend of mine invited me. However, my interest only grew as I learned more about the project. The tasks we do are both challenging and fun, and I am glad I decided to join. Through this project, I learned a lot about how to better allocate my time to get more work done, rather than laying it off for the deadline. I look forward to seeing what becomes of this project!
Brian Huang
My passion for coding and eagerness to learn new things prompted me to join Calimod. I was thrilled to have such a great opportunity to immerse myself in the field of synthetic biology and make an impact on one of the most prevalent issues in today’s world. During this experience, I learned HTML and CSS and developed my skills by tackling challenges in both front-end and back-end development. Furthermore, I also developed valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance. I cannot wait to see how much our project continues to grow in the future!
Naina Singhal
When I was offered the opportunity to join CaliMod, I was immediately excited by the chance to contribute to research tackling a real-life problem, and help make a positive impact on society. Being in a research team has taught me invaluable skills of time management, communication, and persevering even through numerous setbacks. I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity to develop my research skills, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the future.
Megan Chou
My passion for creating positive change led me to join CaliMod, the DBHS iGEM team. I was eager to apply my business and outreach skills practically and contribute to meaningful projects. Being part of the iGEM team has been an incredible learning experience. In addition to honing my technical skills, I developed valuable teamwork and leadership abilities. Collaborating with such a large team truly broadened my perspective and taught me the importance of effective communication and efficient use of time.
