User:Brendan J. Hussey

Contact Info



 * Brendan J. Hussey
 * Toronto Ontario, Canada.
 * bjohnhussey@gmail.com

I am currently applying to grad schools. I learned about OpenWetWare from iGEM and Andrew Hessel, and I've joined because competing in iGEM secured strong interest in synthetic biology. Ever since i have been overwhelmed with optimism for the future of synthetic biology and it has dominated my scientific interests to the extent of me pursuing career in this area.

Education

 * 2010, BSc Honors Molecular Biology & Genetics, Minor Neuroscience, University of Guelph
 * Currently looking for grad school opportunities in synthetic biology in my interest areas

Synthetic Biology Experience

 * Awarded Bronze metal in iGEM 2008 representing the University of Guelph with goal of engineering food grade bacteria to produce beta-carotene. Proof of concept completed in E.coli.
 * Theoretical work on removal/metabolism of small molecule contaminants, particularly contraceptives such as EE2, from wastewater using engineered floc bacteria as part of WEAO competition.
 * Current "weekend project(s)". see Pharmbiants - http://openwetware.org/wiki/User:Brendan_J._Hussey/Notebook/Pharmbiants

Synthetic Biology

 * Introduction and optimization of novel metabolic pathways in microorganisms for production of medically and economically important compounds.
 * Genetic manipulation/rational design of symbiotic bacteria for therapeutic purposes; elaborating host/microbe interactions, controlled drug delivery, etc.
 * Organelle-like, compartmentalization of select metabolic components for introducing modularity and increasing pathway efficiency.
 * Harnessing cellular energy for powering electronics
 * Reliable, targeted gene manipulation in eukaryotes (gene therapy).

Other Interests

 * Epigenetics: particularly of neuroplasticity.
 * Brain-machine interfaces
 * IPSC's

Favorite Synthetic Biology Related Publications

 * 1) coolpmid pmid=18607005
 * 2) coolpmid pmid=15064770
 * 3) coolpmid pmid=19177133
 * 4) coolpmid pmid=19648908
 * 5) coolpmid pmid=19693014
 * 6) coolpmid pmid=19563759
 * 7) collpmid pmid=20081846

Useful links

 * Introductory tutorial
 * OpenWetWare help pages