Department News

iGem team develops award-winning devices to ‘save syrup’

November 28, 2022

Undergraduate students on Rochester’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team developed methods to detect and repurpose defective maple sap and syrup—creating new tools, including several novel biosensors and a glucometer, to help reduce waste in the maple syrup industry. “Team Saptasense” entered their research in the iGEM competition, competing against 356 other teams from six continents, where it was nominated for best hardware, best composite part, and best measurement awards and won a gold medal—making the team the second-most-awarded iGEM team in North America.