Greetings, and welcome! I’m Parijata Mackey. Please do call me Jata!

I’m interested in the use of technology to radically improve the human condition, and all the philosophical questions and technological challenges that go along with it.

I’m the CSO of HumanityPlus, an intern with IEET, and I work in a synbio lab. I study neuroscience, molecular biology, computer science, and philosophy. I love cognitive science, bioinformatics, robotics, and computer security. I’m a left-libertarian atheist vegetarian, with a fondness for caffeine.

If you’re here for professional reasons, click here (or scroll down) for a CV. If you’re here because you know me, hello, and a splendid day to you! If you’re here because you’re in BIOS 20234, click here or in BIOS 20244, click here. If you’re here because you’re bored and have spent way too much time googling people you knew in high school, feel free to look around.

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Synthetic Biology (Link)

Synthetic biology has been generally defined as the engineering of biology: the synthesis of complex, biologically based (or inspired) systems, which display functions that do not exist in nature. This engineering perspective may be applied at all levels of the hierarchy of biological structures—from individual molecules to whole cells, tissues and organisms. In essence, synthetic biology will enable the design of ‘biological systems’ in a rational and systematic way (Synthetic Biology: Applying Engineering to Biology: Report of a NEST High Level Expert Group).

Our research group is interested in engineering E. coli to express Mefp-3,5 proteins, which are found naturally in mussels, and are strong bioadhesives, as well as powerful antibiofouling agents. We aim to produce results that will acheive the initial goals of genetic engineering, as well as further the conceptual goals of synthetic biology.

The basic ideas underlying synthetic biology are really quite simple:

1. Automated (DNA) Construction
2. Standards of Abstraction

Automated DNA construction will allow us to design and “print” sequence information. Our ability to synthesize custom DNA is increasing in accuracy and speed, and costing increasingly less (currently under $0.10 per base). Abstraction is the process of generalization by reducing the information content of a concept or an observable phenomenon, typically in order to retain only information which is relevant for a particular purpose. It is a mechanism and practice to reduce and factor out details so that one may focus on a few concepts at a time. For example, abstracting “a well-worn, bouncy basketball” to simply “a ball” retains only the information on the attributes and behavior of a general ball. Similarly, abstracting an emotional state to “happiness” or “sadness” reduces the amount of information conveyed about the emotional state. However, these abstractions allow us to hide complexity, and utilize a greater amount of parts in a simpler design.

In synthetic biology, genetic code is abstracted into chunks, known primarily as biological “parts.” These parts allow us to build increasingly complex systems; putting several parts together creates a “device,” which is regulated by start codons, stop codons, restriction sites, and similar coding regions known as “features.” Please visit MIT’s Standard Registry of Parts for more detailed information, and tutorials on how to make your own biological part!

In short, we are interested in designing and synthesizing artificial biological systems in a systematic, rational manner. This is about developing a biological programming language. We want to move from an ad-hoc research approach to a scalable engineering framework. We hope to accomplish this through a comprehensive and collaborative study of genetics, systems biology, computer science, and many rounds of trial-and-error.

CURRICULUM VITAE: [PDF] [TXT]

EDUCATION
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Currently Completing:
B.A. (2009) Tutorial Studies: Artificial Intelligence & Computational Neuroscience. University of Chicago.
Academic Adviser: William Wimsatt.

Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School (2001-2005) Miami, FL.
Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction (Top 1% of Class).

Additional Courses:

Comparative Physiology of the Vertebrates. Harvard University, 2004.
Concepts in Modern Genetics. Harvard University, 2004.
Marine Physiology. Duke Marine Lab, 2003.
Native American Archaeology. Duke University, 2002.
Mountain Ecosystems: Appalachia. Duke University, Appalachian State University, 2001.
Prairie Ecosystems: Entomology and Taxonomy. Duke University, Kansas State University, 2000.

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
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What is Transhumanism? Written with Russell Blackford. Exception Magazine. March 23, 2009.

Rapid Universal Pathogen Identification with Oligonucleotide Microarrays: Census, Mechanisms, and Discovery. Lawrence Livermore National Labs Research Symposium. August 10, 2006.

N6-Furfuryladenine, Phytolacca americana Lectin, Catalase, and Superoxide Dismutase-1 (CuZnSOD), as Agents of DNA Protection or Repair against Ionizing Radiation in Drosophila melanogaster. Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium. April 1, 2006.

SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, & EXTERNAL FUNDING
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DHS Scholarship Program. ISEF Scholar. 2005.
Mount Sinai Medical Center. YPC Scholar. 2005.
Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald. Silver Knight in Science. 2005.

Department of Homeland Security (June 2007 – September 2007). Construction of a Virulence Ontology.
Department of Homeland Security (June 2006 - August 2006). Rapid Pathogen Identification with Oligonucleotide Microarrays.
Massachussets Institute of Technology (August 2004 – June 2005). Reverse Polar Induction in Kinetic Fuel Cells.
Barry University (August 2003 – June 2005). Agents of DNA Protection or Repair against Ionizing Radiation.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
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Biophysics and Chemical Biology (BIOS 20244). Teaching Assistant.
March 2007-June 2007 . University of Chicago.

Molecular Biology of the Cell (BIOS 20234). Teaching Assistant.
September 2006-December 2006. University of Chicago.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
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Synthetic Biology (December 2007-present). Independent Research.
Kron Lab, University of Chicago. Chicago, IL

Philosophy of Biology (February 2008-November 2009). Research Assistant.
Wimsatt Office. University of Chicago. Chicago, IL

Pathogen Bioinformatics (June 2007-September 2007). Programmer.
Slezak Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA

Pathogen Bioinformatics (June 2006-August 2006) Programmer.
Slezak Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA

Plant Immunology (March 2005-April 2006) Research Assistant.
Greenberg Lab, University of Chicago Chicago, IL.

Science Connections: Genetics (March 2005-July 2006) Demonstrator.
Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago, IL

Emergency Department Psychology (December 2005-May 2006) Research Assistant.
Fisher Lab, University of Chicago Hospitals. Chicago, IL

Molecular Genetics and Ionizing Radiation (August 2003-July 2005) Independent Research.
Packert Lab, Barry University Miami, FL

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
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Institute for Emerging Ethics and Technology (IEET).
Intern. Feb 2009-present

Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS).
Director, University of Chicago. 2006-2007.

Roosevelt Institute (RI), Center on Science and Technology.
Editor. University of Chicago. 2005-2007.

Chicago Biological Investigator (CBI).
Editor. University of Chicago. 2006-2007.

American Chemical Society (ACS).
Student Member. 2005-present.

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
Student Member. 2005-present.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
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Children’s Care Volunteer (December 2005-June 2006)
Comer’s Children’s Hospital. Chicago, IL.

Emergency Room, Admitting, Transport (July 2005-September 2005)
Aventura Hospital. Miami, FL.

Webmaster, Student Fundraising Coordinator. (September 2004-September 2005)
Friends of the Science Fair Miami, FL

Assistant Webmaster, Awards Program Manager (August 2004-September 2005).
Web Design Miami. Miami, FL

Secretary (August 2004-September 2005)
North Miami Beach City Council Youth Advisory Board. Miami, FL.

Historian (August 2003-August 2004)
North Miami Beach City Council Youth Advisory Board. Miami, FL