User Research

OVERVIEW

We conducted user studies of our programs with volunteer subjects from the MIT and BU iGEM teams as well as students from Wellesley College who had a range of knowledge and exposure to synthetic biology. Receiving feedback from both target and non-target users during the design process is vital for improving our projects.

BASIC WET-LAB TRAINING WITH NATALIE KULDELL AT MIT

At the beginning of the summer, the Wellesley Desyne team received an introduction to synthetic biology and wet-lab training by Professor Natalie Kuldell at MIT. After reviewing the core concepts of synthetic biology, we also discussed in detail the safety concerns of working in this multi-disciplinary field. During the wet-lab training, we were able to participate first hand on well-known and highly regarded experiments such as E.chromi. Through this experience, our team realized that several factors could strongly affect the success or failure of a synthetic biology experiment: labeling equipment properly, meticulously following clearly written instructions, and communicating with other team members. In addition, we discovered that there are many technical difficulties of working in a laboratory environment, especially for those who are nonscientists. Most importantly, there are many safety concerns that are not understood or well known to the public because of synthetic biology’s recent emergence as a leading field. Thus, we realized the importance of educating the public, especially the next generation of synthetic biologists, on the safety concerns of working in a wet-lab environment, and put those considerations into many of our projects.

BRAINSTORMING AND COLLABORATION WITH BU

SITTING IN ON MIT & BU LAB MEETINGS

NEXT STEPS TO TAKE IN THE UCD PROCESS