David Frankel ’26, Chemical and Biological Engineering

David Frankel ’26

Major

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Project Title

Design and Development of an Optogenetically Controlled Biosensor

Minor(s): Engineering Biology

I worked to design and develop a novel type of biosensor that can be used to detect the rates of change of substances in different environments. My responsibility within the broader project was to clone and test the DNA circuits used in the biosensor, namely the Gal4-GFP and Gal1-BFP constructs. To accomplish this goal, I performed a myriad of laboratory techniques including restriction digestions, DNA purifications, colony PCRs and Gibson assemblies. In completing these tasks, I gained significant knowledge about microbiology lab processes and simultaneously built upon the soft skills I had going into the summer, for example how to trobleshoot roadblocks when experiments give unexpected results, by using meticulous attention to detail and critical problem-solving skills. I derived the most value from my improvement in these areas.