By Hassnain Q Bokhari & Cristiane Toledo

This month, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in synthetic biology who are defining the future of science and innovation. Their impact spans every corner of the globe, from Africa, Asia and Oceania, to Europe, Latin America and North America. Among these amazing women are 10 iGEMers, leading advances in synthetic biology, within the lab and beyond, while mentoring the next generation of synthetic biologists as iGEM Team Principal Investigators (PIs) and Instructors.

Historically, leadership in science was predominantly male, with women facing significant barriers to recognition and opportunity. Today, we are witnessing a crucial shift toward greater representation and inclusivity. While there is still work to be done, the growing presence of women in leadership positions is paving the way for a more equitable future in science.

Synthetic biology is a field that runs on innovation and community. It's where biology intersects with engineering, where cells become biological factories, and where experienced professionals and students globally unite to address humanity's big challenges.

These challenges demand bold creativity, and the contributions of these leaders reflect that! From designing cancer treatments to bacterial computers, the research of these leaders covers a wide breadth of synthetic biology. And beyond the science, these women share a passion for mentorship. They've led iGEM Competition teams to Gold Medals, Best Project Awards and Grand Prizes, demonstrating that the iGEM experience is as much about empowering individuals as it is about finding solutions.

These leaders are not just researchers; they’re also educators and advocates who inspire others to become synthetic biologists. Their experiences remind us that the future of synthetic biology isn’t just shaped by discoveries, but also by the people who dedicate their lives to making those discoveries happen.

Africa

**Dr. Elena Rosca** (Head of the Bioengineering Department, Ashesi University, Ghana)

Dr. Elena Rosca is the Head of the Bioengineering Department at Ashesi University in Ghana. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, she combines her expertise in engineering and biology to inspire students and advance STEM education in Africa.

As the Principal Investigator (PI) of the iGEM Ashesi team, she has played a pivotal role in establishing Ghana’s first iGEM Team, mentoring students to develop innovative synthetic biology projects that address local and global challenges. Her leadership has been instrumental in fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration in synthetic biology research at Ashesi.

Dr. Elena Rosca is deeply committed to promoting STEM education and empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers in Africa.

iGEM Competition Experience: Primary PI, Ashesi Ghana: 2017, 2020, 2022 - 2025.

**Dr. Wagida Anwar** (Professor, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Egypt)

Dr. Wagida Anwar is a Professor at the Armed Forces College of Medicine in Egypt. Her research focuses on environmental pollution, cancer, and the intersection of infection and diseases, like hepatitis and bladder cancer.

As the PI of the AFCM iGEM Team, she has guided students in developing synthetic biology solutions for cancer, including a SynBio-based vaccine for triple-negative breast cancer.

She emphasizes a holistic approach to health, integrating scientific, social and ethical perspectives. A passionate advocate for health literacy and women’s health, Dr. Anwar inspires a new generation of synthetic biologists to innovate and improve healthcare in Egypt.

iGEM Competition Experience: Secondary PI, AFCM-Egypt, 2020 - 2021.

Asia and Oceania

**Dr. Yiming Dong** (Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Atantares, China)

Dr. Yiming Dong is the Co-founder and Chief Scientist at Atantares, a Shanghai-based biotech startup combining biology with semiconductor technologies to study and produce new materials. With a Ph.D. in Biology from Peking University, she leads the development of innovative hardware devices for DNA sequencing and protein analysis.

She began her iGEM journey as a team member of iGEM BIT in 2013. Over the past 12 years, she has been an integral part of the iGEM community, serving as a PI, an Advisor and as an Instructor for multiple iGEM teams.

As a younger leader in the bio-entrepreneurial ecosystem, Dr. Yiming inspires the next generation of biofounders in China and around the world.

iGEM Competition Experience:

2013 Student iGEM BIT,
2014 Advisor iGEM BIT,
2016 Student Leader Peking,
2017 Advisor iGEM Peking,
2018 Advisor iGEM GreatBay_China,
2019 Advisor iGEM BHSF_ND,
2020 Instructor iGEM GreatBay_Sciem and Instructor iGEM SJTang,
2021 Secondary PI iGEM SDSZ_China iGEM,
2023 Instructor HS China,
2024 Instructor HS Alpha

**Dr. Dipshikha Chakravortty** (Professor, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India)

Dr. Dipshikha Chakravortty is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. A medicinal microbiologist by training, her research focuses on infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions and Salmonella pathogenesis.

As the PI of the IISc iGEM Team, she has guided students in synthetic biology projects, providing critical support from initiation to execution. Her expertise and mentorship have been instrumental in fostering innovation and scientific excellence.

A passionate educator and researcher, Dr. Chakravortty inspires the next generation of scientists in India to explore the complexities of microbiology and develop solutions to global health challenges.

iGEM Competition Experience:

2017 Primary PI, IISc Bangalore.
2021 and 2023 Secondary PI, iGEM Bengaluru.

Europe

**Dr. Eriko Takano** (Director, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre, United Kingdom)

Dr. Eriko Takano is a Director at the Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre, leading research in microbial synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. With a Ph.D. from the University of East Anglia, she is a pioneer in the synthetic biology of microbes for antibiotic production.

She founded the University of Manchester’s iGEM Team in 2013. She mentors students and fosters innovation in synthetic biology. Her research integrates computational modeling and experimental biology to optimize microbial systems for industrial and medical applications.

A passionate advocate for synthetic biology, Dr. Eriko inspires the next generation of scientists to tackle global challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.

iGEM Competition Experience: Since 2013 she has been Primary PI, for iGEM Manchester.

**Dr. Barbara Di Ventura** (Professor, University of Freiburg, Germany)

Dr. Barbara Di Ventura is a Professor at the University of Freiburg. With a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from EMBL and Heidelberg University, her research focuses on synthetic biology, optogenetics, and dynamical processes in cells, combining molecular biology, synthetic biology and mathematical modeling.

A passionate advocate for synthetic biology, Dr. Di Ventura has supervised multiple iGEM Teams from Heidelberg and Freiburg, leading them to Grand Prizes, the iGEM Village Award and Gold Medals. She also co-chairs the advisory board of the German Association for Synthetic Biology (GASB) and is active in European synthetic biology initiatives.

Her leadership and innovative research inspire the next generation of scientists, advancing synthetic biology and its applications in Europe.

iGEM Competition Experience with iGEM Freiberg:

2008, 2013 - 2015, Instructor.
2019, 2022 Primary PI.

Latin America

**Dr. Gabriela Persinoti** (Head of the Integrative Omics, Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory - CNPEM, Brazil)

Dr. Gabriela Persinoti is Head of Integrative Omics at the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory - CNPEM. With a Ph.D. in Genetics and postdoctoral experience at the Broad Institute (MIT/Harvard), she specializes in fungal and bacterial genomics, metagenomics and multi-omics data integration.

As the main advisor of the CNPEM.BRAZIL iGEM Team, Dr. Gabriela led the team to win the Grand Prize in the iGEM Design League 2023 and a Gold Medal at iGEM’s 2024 Grand Jamboree, with nominations for Best Bioremediation Project and Best Overgrad Project.

A member of the National Biosafety Commission, she is a key figure in advancing biotechnology and synthetic biology in Brazil.

iGEM Competition Experience: 2024 Primary PI, CNPEM.BRAZIL.

**Dr. Cynthia Lizeth González Trevizo** (Professor, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico)

Dr. Cynthia Lizeth González Trevizo is a Professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. With a Ph.D. from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, her expertise spans synthetic biology, biotechnology and education, inspiring students to tackle global challenges through innovative science.

She has been a key figure in advancing synthetic biology in Mexico, leading her iGEM Teams to Gold Medals and Best Project Awards in categories like Best Food & Nutrition, and Entrepreneurship. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, blending science with entrepreneurship to address real-world problems.

A passionate leader and educator, Dr. González Trevizo fosters creativity and collaboration in synthetic biology, empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers in Mexico.

iGEM Competition Experience with Tec Chihuahua:

2015: Instructor.
2016 through 2024: Primary PI.

North America

**Dr. Christina Agapakis** (Founder, Oscillator, USA)

Dr. Christina Agapakis is the Founder of Oscillator, where she leads projects blending synthetic biology, storytelling and art. With a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard, she explores the connections between science, technology and culture.

She started her iGEM journey with the 2008 Harvard iGEM Team and has since guided many iGEM Teams, fostering creativity and collaboration in synthetic biology. Her work blends scientific research with artistic expression, inspiring new ways to engage with biology and its technologies.

A passionate advocate for science communication, Dr. Christina Agapakis empowers the next generation to reimagine the future of biology and its societal impact, through storytelling.

iGEM Competition Experience:

2008: Instructor, Harvard.
2010: Instructor, Harvard.
2013: Instructor, UCLA.

Dr. Karmella Haynes (Associate Professor, Emory University, USA)

Dr. Karmella Haynes is an Associate Professor at Emory University. With a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics, her research focuses on mammalian synthetic biology, investigating chromatin-based systems to control gene expression in cancer and other cells relevant to human health.

She began her iGEM journey as a coach for the iGEM Davidson Team in 2006, engineering E. coli to solve mathematical puzzles. She later advised the ASU iGEM Team and supported iGEM as a judge and mentor, fostering innovation in synthetic biology. Her work blends science, art and advocacy to solve biological challenges.

A passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, Dr. Karmella Haynes empowers the next generation of scientists and engineers.

iGEM Competition Experience:

2006 Instructor, Davidson.
2007: Instructor, Davidson_Missouri_W.
2010: Instructor, Harvard.
2012 through 2017: Primary PI, Arizona State.

Each March, we’re reminded that celebrating women in synthetic biology isn’t just for one day, it’s a continuing commitment. These 10 iGEMers have shown us the impact of resilience, collaboration and community. They’ve turned synthetic biology into a tool for change, tackling global challenges and inspiring the next generation. At iGEM, we're proud to support so many leaders in the field, and we look forward to seeing even more women shaping the future of synthetic biology!