1. Designing and Evolving Edible Chemistries
We are researching the design of novel artifacts—concoctions, food ingredients, and flavors—using methods from molecular gastronomy, artificial life and synthetic biology research. The research is developed as part of a residency at the The Center for Fundamental Living Technology (FLinT) and is part of the Synergene project.
Research assistant: Carolina English
2. Mycelium Tectonics
We are researching design methodologies that are based on the growth process of Mycelium and its interaction with other microorganisms. We are interested in interfacing mycelium with a variety of bacteria to explore co-habitation conditions in which the interactions between species can yield micro and macro tectonic conditions. The current research focuses on exploring the design potential of path-finding materials and building living molds.
Research collaborator: Mercan Tara
3. Microbial Interaction & Design Kits
In collaboration with Penn's Department of Biology, we are exploring the design of microbial design kits that can be used to synthesize electricity and conduct novel antibiotics and environmental remediation research.
Research collaborator: Dr. Karen Hogan
We are interested in exploring the minimal conditions for building life-like artifacts—cellular constructs, protocells, liposomes, and artificial encapsulations—that can be utilized in different design contexts, such as cell-free protein synthesis and image-making.