iGEM Team 2021

Match Opportunity: Aether Biomachines and Lou and Leslie Grate are generously matching all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $15,200.

We are a team of bioengineers who aim to solve humanitarian issues through the powerful tool of synthetic biology.  Each fall we submit a project to the international iGEM competition. This includes a week of presentations, collaboration, networking, and judging. We are raising money to support our project, travel fees, and the continuation of UCSC's iGEM team.

iGEM is an international organization focused on orienting innovations in synthetic biology toward solving global issues. iGEM grants undergraduates an unmatched, hands-on research and educational experience by encouraging the intermingling of different academic disciplines.


Past teams have done some amazing things! Some prior projects include:


  • using synthetic biology to negate the effects of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. 
  • making vaccines that are heat stable, giving places around the world access to vaccines without the need of refrigeration 
  • genetically engineering yeast to produce progesterone, a form of birth control that could be used in in resource-constrained areas

We aim to keep the program alive and execute additional projects in 2022. We need donations to help with buying materials and covering fees for the iGEM competition. Please help give students an amazing educational experience to create confident and skilled researchers. Support us in our goal to help the world on Giving Day! Thank you!

Check out our project here!

Follow us on social media

https://www.instagram.com/igemucsc/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/igemucsc?lang=en

Leaderboard
Afternoon Surprise
*Surprise!* Rush in before others find out. The top two teams with the highest number of donors between 3pm and 4pm will receive challenge funds awarded to their projects. Funds were generously sponsored by Molly Sims, Executive Director of Individual Giving. First place: $1,000. Second place: $500.
Rank Prize Projects Donors
1 $1,000 Rocket Team 49
2 $500 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 44
3 Okinawa Memories Initiative 31
4 Alumni Association Scholarship Fund 17
5 Slugbotics 15
Ended
Leaderboard
Final Frenzy
The top three teams with the highest number of donors will receive additional funds awarded to their projects. Generously sponsored by the UC Santa Cruz Foundation. First place is $7,500. Second place is $2,500. Third place is $1,000.
Rank Prize Projects Donors
1 $7,500 Physical & Biological Sciences 1,153
2 $2,500 All Giving Day Projects 1,062
3 $1,000 Athletics & Recreation 514
4 Humanities Division 444
5 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 382
Ended
Leaderboard
Kick Off
Start Giving Day off on the right foot. The top two teams with the highest number of gifts between 12am and 1am (PST) will receive additional challenge dollars awarded to their project. Generously sponsored by an anonymous donor and Meg Corman. First place: $1,000. Second place: $500.
Rank Prize Project Donors
1 $1,000 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 30
2 $500 Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas de UCSC 17
3 Okinawa Memories Initiative 15
4 Triathlon Team - Triathletes on Bikes! 11
5 Tech4Good 10
Ended
Leaderboard
Mad Dash
*Surprise again!* Hurry to make your gifts and secure extra funds before others find out. The top two teams with the highest number of donors made between the hours of 6pm and 8pm will receive additional funds awarded to their project. Generously sponsored by an anonymous donor and Herbie Lee, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. First place: $1,000. Second place: $500.
Rank Prize Projects Donors
1 $1,000 Okinawa Memories Initiative 100
2 $500 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 74
3 City on a Hill Press 40
4 Alumni Association Scholarship Fund 29
5 Matchbox Magazine 28
Ended
Leaderboard
Early Riser
The top two teams with the most new gifts made during the hours of 7am and 9am (PST) will be rewarded with additional challenge funds to their project. Generously sponsored by Professor John MacMillan, Interim Vice Chancellor of Research. First place: $1,000. Second place: $500.
Rank Prize Project Donors
1 $1,000 Okinawa Memories Initiative 40
2 $500 Tech4Good 33
3 Alumni Association Scholarship Fund 17
4 Friends of the Dickens Project 10
5 NCAA Cross Country Track & Field 9
Ended
2
Match
iGEM Double Your Dollar - MATCH
Aether Biomachines and Lou and Leslie Grate aregenerously matching all iGEM donations, dollar for dollar, up to $15,200. The more you are able to donate, the further your donation goes!
$15,200 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Late Night Rush
This is the finish line! Close out this Giving Day strong and help position your favorite team to win the last challenge of the day. The top two teams with the highest number of new gifts between the hours of 10pm and 11:59pm (PST) will receive additional funds awarded to their project. Generously sponsored by Byron and Etsuko Walker First place: $1,000. Second place: $500.
Rank Prize Projects Donors
1 $1,000 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 79
2 $500 Okinawa Memories Initiative 66
3 Formula Slug 20
4 Pilipino Cultural Celebration 17
5 Women in Physics and Astronomy (WiPA) 14
Ended
Leaderboard
Mid-Day Motivator
The top three teams with the highest number of gifts between the hours of 12pm and 2 pm (PST) will have challenge funds awarded to their projects. Generously sponsored by UCSC Foundation Trustee, Linda Peterson. First place is $2,500. Second place is $1,500. Third place is $1,000.
Rank Prize Project Donors
1 $2,500 STEM Diversity: Plant the Seed for Big Dreamers 74
2 $1,500 Adventure Rec Student Leadership and Development 62
3 $1,000 City on a Hill Press 55
4 Okinawa Memories Initiative 50
5 Tech4Good 38
Ended
Rank State Gifts
1 CA 21
2 OR 2
3 AA 0
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