molpigs, The Molecular Programming Interest Group, is an international group of researchers interested in topics such as molecular programming, DNA computing, and other aspects of biomolecular nanotechnology. We host regular podcasts, keep you up to date on goings-on in our newsletter, and run a slack for discussion and fostering collaboration.
Hello and welcome back to the molpigs newsletter! Feel free to hang out on the molpigs slack! We are also on twitter!
All the past podcasts and tutorials can be found here. Enjoy!
- Podcast with Dr. Samuel Schaffter
- Job Advertisements!
- Slack invitation
1. Podcast with Dr. Samuel Schaffter
In this episode we chatted with Dr. Samuel Schaffter. We started the conversation with the story of how he made the transition from the molecular biology of food to molecular programming. We then moved on to the details of his research on transcriptional circuits including where the idea came from and the trials of taking molecular computing from the test tube to cell systems. He told us about the differences and similarities between academic and government research and how everything is a “measurement” when you work for NIST. We rounded out the conversation with Sam’s dreams of the future of nucleic acid-based sensors for diagnostic and control purposes and the research he would like to see in the next 5, 10, 25 and 50 years to advance the field toward application.
Dr. Samuel Schaffter is a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral fellow at NIST. His current research focuses on transcriptionally encoding RNA-based circuits, equivalent to those developed in DNA computing, that can operate continuously inside living cells. He received his PhD at Johns Hopkins University, advised by Prof. Rebecca Schulman. During his PhD, he developed synthetic transcription-based networks with programmable dynamics. He received the 2021 Robert Dirks Molecular Programming Prize for his work on modular in vitro regulatory networks and feedback control of self-assembly.
2. Job Advertisements!
- The Ouldridge lab at Imperial is recruiting for a PhD-studentship using DNA nanotech to build synthetic replicators. Global applicants welcome! More information here!
- The Ti lab at UC Berkeley is looking for an ambitious postdoc to beat Moore’s law with molecular programming in 3D. Candidates must be a US citizen due to funding restrictions. DNA nanotechnolgy, cleanroom, and non-DNA nanomaterials experiences are all pluses.
- The Cellular Engineering Group at the National Institute of Standards and
Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is looking for postdoctoral researchers in Synthetic Biology and Machine Learning as part of its growing investments in engineering living measurement systems.
- Note that for non-US citizens, the process for applying is essentially to contact someone at NIST you want to work with and to discuss potential projects. If NIST has available funding to hire students for a specific project, then the student can be hired through an external university. Any interested international students are encouraged to reach out about available opportunities.
3. Slack invitation
We’re launching a slack! Come join us over there to create the first molecular programming memes, share and find job opportunities, discuss podcast episodes, and help fledgling molecular programmers find their way!
Useful Links
- Follow us on twitter
- Find our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, TuneIn, and RSS
- Sign up to the newsletter of the Molecular Programming Society