Café Synthetique

Café Synthetique is a meetup for the Cambridge synthetic and engineering biology community with informal talks, discussion and pub snacks. Speakers range from students and group leaders to industry professionals and entrepreneurs.

On Monday 2 March, we will welcome 3 short talks: Talks will start 6pm prompt.

"From the steak to the nanomedicine: the power of proteins"

Gabriela Guedes, Department of Pharmacology, Laura Itzhaki Lab

Many of the foods we eat every day, such as a steak, beans, lentils, or tofu, are rich in proteins. These tiny molecules are not just part of our diet, they are essential for life itself. Proteins act like microscopic machines, working together in a highly coordinated way to keep our bodies functioning. In our research, we take this idea a step further. We redesign proteins and turn them into nanoscale tools that can help diagnose and treat diseases. By engineering these biological building blocks, we are opening up exciting new possibilities in nanomedicine.

“Hunting for Plastic-Eating Enzymes in Nature”

Joel Roca, UCL (Florian Hollfelder Collaborator Lab)

Plastic waste is a global challenge, and only a few known enzymes can naturally break it down. We use computational tools to search billions of DNA sequences from environments around the world to discover new plastic-degrading enzymes. By predicting promising candidates and testing them in the lab, we are uncovering hidden biological solutions that could help make plastic recycling more sustainable.”

"Exploring the potential of urethanases as generalist plastic degrading enzymes"

Gorjan Stojanovski, Department of Biochemistry, Hollfelder Lab,  

It would be great to see the community coming together again with free aromi food available from 5.50pm! Drinks available to purchase at the bar. Talks start at 6pm. We look forward to seeing you at the Panton Arms, Cambridge 5.45pm-7.30pm.

Places are limited to 35. Please sign up here with full name and affiliation.

For questions or queries please contact Vicky Reid at vr314@cam.ac.uk