Apr 21

Apr 21 A Quest Driven by Care: Camila Quinonez's Contributions to the Synthetic Biology Future

Written by: Hassnain Q Bokhari

Have you ever wondered how one, single decision can set your entire career in motion? For Camila Quinonez, her journey into synthetic biology began with one decision during her undergraduate studies at the University of Westminster - to participate in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM)- that one choice set her whole career in motion.

Becoming an Independent Researcher

During her sophomore year, Camila took on a Summer internship, working with bacteriophages. At that time, her best friend was part of the university’s iGEM team and encouraged her to join it. Camila, deep in her internship, didn’t feel ready to take on something new. That year, the University of Westminster team went on to win gold at the iGEM competition without Camilla. The following year, her friend asked again. And this time, she asked Camilla to lead the team with her. This time, Camila said, “Yes!”

Under the guidance of their PI, Dr. Anatoliy Markiv, they set out to biosynthesize aminolevulinic acid, using E. coli. The experience was a rollercoaster for Camila - balancing lab work, navigating human practices, and even organizing the 2016 iGEM UK meetups! The competition gave her a rare sense of freedom and taught her to think on her feet - skills that would go on to shape her academic path and serve her well during her master’s and Ph.D. studies.

Some pictures from Camila Quinonez’s iGEM Journey.

Her iGEM experience encouraged her to pursue a master's in Systems and Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London. Without iGEM, her career could have taken a very different turn. During this period her curiosity for biology deepened and she explored computational tools, expanding her understanding of synthetic biology.

Later, while pursuing her Ph.D., she mentored the 2018 Westminster iGEM team, passing her knowledge on to a new generation of students. In 2020, she served as an iGEM judge, providing constructive feedback and gaining a deeper appreciation for the dedication of competing teams. After her Ph.D., she worked in climate biotech startups and became a Community Lead for the iGEM Startups Program.

*Camila Quinonez, in the middle, with her 2016 iGEM Team at the iGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston*

Microbial Marvels: Camila's Passion for Tiny Organisms

Camila is driven by the challenges our world faces today. She is deeply concerned about the impact of human actions, particularly in the context of climate change and health. She believes synthetic biology has immense potential to contribute to better solutions in these two areas.

She has a deep appreciation for microorganisms, seeing them as both fascinating and powerful. They play a crucial role in health, industry and environmental sustainability. Camila recognizes the long-standing relationship between humans and microbes, from their role in digestion to their use in producing food and medicine.

She also acknowledges the growing detachment from nature, despite its fundamental importance. Since her Ph.D., she has focused on finding sustainable solutions that allow progress without harming the environment. Her goal is to strike a balance between innovation and conservation, ensuring that both people and the planet thrive.

*Camila Quinonez working in a BSL-3 laboratory during Ph.D.*

Protecting What’s Left: Bioconservation Efforts

"We need to think about the future and develop solutions to our problems, but we shouldn’t forget to protect what we have left," Camila warns. This mindset led her to co-found the Brazilian nonprofit: The Atlantic Forest Association, with the goal of conserving the Atlantic Forest. This rainforest, though lesser known than the Amazon, is equally biodiverse, despite being just a quarter of the Amazon’s size. With nearly 90% of this forest’s biodiversity lost to deforestation, the Atlantic Forest Association is developing initiatives such as AI-powered conservation strategies, educational programs, and community engagement to combat illegal logging and hunting.

Why the Atlantic Forest? For one thing, it surrounds major cities like São Paulo, where Camila grew up exploring nature, including waterfalls. Now, with a career in science, she is eager to establish a research institute to map the forest’s biodiversity, from soil microorganisms to exotic fruits, medicinal plants and trees. As she puts it, "The more knowledge and understanding we have about a place, the more we can protect it."

With 20 camera traps, the Atlantic Forest Association has recorded 2,000 images of wild animals, spanning nine major taxonomic groups, including tapirs, pumas, anteaters, coatis and Teiú lizards. The goal is to expand this initiative, building a database for AI-driven analysis. The Association is also constructing eco-friendly infrastructure inspired by Guaraní indigenous huts, integrating permaculture and bio-architecture to host volunteers, researchers and nature enthusiasts.

Cracking the Code: Challenges in Scaling Microorganism Engineering

The economics of scale is one of the most complex puzzles in synthetic biology, especially when it comes to engineering microorganisms for industrial use. It’s a space where innovation thrives, and where scientific insight meets the practical demands of manufacturing. Cracking that code could open the door to producing a far greater range of molecules and biomaterials than we ever thought possible.

When Camila was pursuing her Master’s, the field was still maturing. Much of the academic focus remained on the foundational tools and frameworks needed to understand and manipulate biology at a systems level. At that time, it was difficult to find application-oriented PhD programs or synbio companies aligned with her vision for real-world impact. But just a few years later, everything began to change. In London, where she was based, a wave of synthetic biology startups had emerged, each exploring new angles and applications, from precision fermentation to sustainable materials. More students were now being drawn to synthetic biology with the intention of building, testing, and applying, not just theorizing.

But even as the field gains momentum, Camila reminds us of the responsibility that comes with it. Scaling bio-based technologies must go hand-in-hand with protecting the ecosystems that surround us. The tendency to focus only on organisms with immediate industrial value risks sidelining broader biodiversity. As synthetic biologists, she believes, we must stay mindful of the ecological consequences of our work, recognizing that progress and preservation are not mutually exclusive, but must move forward together.

Deciding to be a generalist

Camila sees herself as a generalist, with expertise in synthetic biology and biochemistry. Her projects span environmental sustainability, healthcare, animal-free proteins, microbial plastic degradation and computational modeling. While academia often encourages specialization, she values the versatility of a broad skill set.

Her transition from academia to industry deepened her appreciation for practical applications. In one startup, she worked on synthesizing milk proteins for cow-free cheese production, an innovation with ecological impact. The fast-paced startup environment allowed her to engage with commercialization, scaling and investment strategies, which contrasted with the more solitary nature of Ph.D. research. Camila thrived in the collaborative startup setting, which contrasted with the more solitary nature of her Ph.D.

Advice for young students and scientists

For students and young scientists, Camila's message is clear: Embrace every opportunity. She suggests that students should learn from hands-on experiences, whether in the lab, competitions, or interdisciplinary collaborations. She feels that participating in competitions such as the iGEM Competition will help students discover not only whether they have the potential to become an outstanding scientist but also where their true passion lies. She thinks they’ll soon realize that being an amazing scientist doesn't always require one to remain confined to the laboratory.

She also highlights the rising opportunities in synthetic biology, especially in bio-manufacturing. She feels the field is shifting toward scaling up and deploying bio-based products that could reshape industries. Additionally, Camila urges students to keep a watchful eye on the innovative strides made by startups, as they often pioneer groundbreaking solutions that inspire and shape the future of synthetic biology.

Book Recommendations from Camila:

Interested in the intersection of science and indigenous knowledge? Read Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Love animals, and want to understand their biology and how they perceive their environment? She recommends: Immense World, by Ed Yong.
If you are a fungi enthusiast, she recommends: Entangled Life, by Merlin Sheldrake.
More of a fiction fan with sprinkles of science? Then Galapagos, by Kurt Vonnegut, might be the one.
If science fiction is more to your liking, don’t miss out on Exhalation, by Ted Chiang.
Hard-core, science non-fiction more your thing? Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, or her all-time favorite: Dominant Character, by Samanth Subramanian, may be to your liking.
Want to get real and know more about one of the biggest corporate frauds in history? Bad Blood, by John Carreyrou, may be for you.