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Fernando Zavala

Hello, my name is Fernando Zavala, I am 16 years old, and I am a student here at FDR, American school of Lima. I was born in Lima, Peru in the year 1999, but I moved to New York at the age of 5, and I lived there for 8 years. Recently, I moved back to Lima about 3 years ago, and I am so grateful to have become a part of this new FDR school community. In terms of science, I have always had a passion for it ever since we did physics and biology in the 5th grade and it has been growing and accumulating ever since. I found it so fascinating how anyone could practice it, and, with a little critical thinking and dedication, could bring something new to the table, making us more knowledgeable about the world around us, and advance our society. However, personally I have always been at a crossroads between physics and biology. I love the perspective of physics and how it breaks everything down fundamentally to understand the world and its processes, and that’s what I chose as an IB subject. But I also love how biology deals with the details and blueprints of real, living things, and how it impacts me on a much more personal level (since it makes me more intellectual about my own body), and I didn’t want to miss out on not knowing what the biology road would have been like. So that’s why I joined iGEM. To help me make the decision about which career path I want to take by enriching me in some of the best genetic engineering work done at this school.

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David Lin

My name is David Lin and I’m a 16 year old student at Colegio FDR. I was born in Jinanxi, China and have lived in Lima, Peru for more than 8 years. As a science enthusiast, I find the topic of genetic engineering and synthetic biology fascinating. I believe that through this area of science, mankind will undergo great progress and create countless innovative solutions. My passion for science has always been a defining feature of my academic career and personal philosophy. It has influenced my future career choices and helped me learn more about this amazing world. This is why I have joined iGEM, my goal is to learn more about these areas of science through experimentation and creation.

A fun fact about me is that I share a common interest in mechanical engineering, for I have constructed a functional motorcycle for the MYP Personal Project.

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Daniel Sanchez

My name is Daniel Sanchez and I am 16 years old. I am Peruvian and American. I am a student Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt the American school of Lima. Biology has always interested me and I think that synthetic biology is an area where many breakthroughs are occurring. iGem seemed like a great way to explore my interests.

Fun Fact: I have played different sports throughout my life including lacrosse, soccer, and football. I have also been playing the trumpet for many years.

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Sofia Gonzales

My name is Sofia Gonzalez, I’m 16 years old and currently a junior at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Lima, Peru. I was born in Lima, but lived in Chile for 6 years before coming back to Peru. Ever since I took an Anatomy and Physiology course in the summer of 8th grade I’ve had a very strong interest in science– specifically biology and chemistry. Last year for science class we had to conduct our own original lab, and I chose to research the effect of UVA exposure on planaria (flatworms). This project sparked my interest in scientific research, and in the future I hope to pursue this passion by studying biology in college. I joined iGEM because I find synthetic biology fascinating and with the hope of being able to make a difference in the world through science.

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Guillermo de la Torre

I am a 15-year-old student at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I was born in Lima, Perú. I am aware of the vast wanders in the world of science, hence why I enjoy biology so much. I am currently a sophomore at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American school of Lima. I am particularly passionate about biology as a whole and pharmaceuticals. Regarding my future, I hope to become a osteopathic surgeon or work in a pharmaceuticals company creating and developing medicine. My passion for science has always been around, and is key for when my professional endeavors take place.

Fun Fact: I went to a summer program and the Johns Hopkins University and I enjoy playing Water Polo very much.

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Janella Schwab

I am Janella Schwab, a 16-year old Junior at FDR. I have lived in Peru, Colorado en Ecuador. Ever since I can remember I have been interested in all sciences and in understanding the world around me. I will definitely pursue a career regarding the sciences, specifically veterinary medicine. I have visited veterinaries and been able to watch three operations, which has helped me confirm my interest in science. I believe that iGem will not only help me explore this passion but will also help me become more skilful and have more initiative.

Fun fact: I had open-heart surgery in 2010 in Cleveland to cure a VSD (a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart).

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Hyunjun (Jared) Park

My name is Hyunjun (Jared) Park and I’m a 17 year old student at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I was born in South Korea and have lived in Lima, Peru for about 5 years. Ever since I studied biomedical science during the summer of 8th grade, I have acquired a strong interest for science. The concept of genetic engineering caught my attention as I wish to study biomedical engineering as my career. After joining the iGem team, I not have only learned the scientific knowledge but have also learned the hard process that the team had to undergo. I simply would like to thank everyone in the team for all the amazing experience and support.

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Mikhail Lujan

My name is Mikhail Lujan, and I am a 16 year old student at Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I joined iGem because of my interest in synthetic biology and general chemistry. I hope that the skills I learn from iGem will help me later in life as I hope to pursue a career in synthetic biology. I believe that iGem is a challenging yet worthwhile group for those interested because of the freedom it gives students to create truly unique ideas for a better future.

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Juan Luis Quispe

My name is Juan Luis Quispe, and I am a 17 year old student at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I joined iGEM as an opportunity to learn about synthetic biology, and keep developing my pre-existing skills on coding.

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Fernando Chero

My name is Fernando Chero, I am a Senior at FDR and have lived in Peru and attended this school my whole life. Starting in middle school and all the way through High School, science has always interested me and captivated me more than any other course, reason for why I decided to take two science courses once I entered the IB Diploma. I am certain that iGem will aid me in exploring this passion I have for science and also become more skilled at it.

Fun fact: I caught all the Pokemon in Pokemon Go.

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Frances Fischman

My name is Frances Fischman, and I am currently a junior in Colegio Roosevelt. I was born here in Lima, Perú, 16 years ago, and have attended the school throughout my whole academic life. I have always been an avid learner and a curious student, but my passion for science-related careers started in high school when I came in contact with a surgeon. She let me into her operation room and allowed me to take notes and ask questions, I learned a lot from this experience. My main field of interest is biology and the neurosciences, but I am open and eager to learn much more.

Fun fact:I have attended to two open surgeries, a cerebral angioplasty and a liposuction and abdominoplasty. These operations lasted several hours, yet were of low risk to the patients. I was able to observe and learn from the doctors leading the surgeries.