SynBYSS

The 1st International SynBYSS Conference will unite in-person a previously online-only group of speakers and audiences, with an explicit goal to invest in the young, diverse, and international future of synthetic biology. As early-career synthetic biology researchers begin their own research, there are few conferences that provide an opportunity for them to express their ideas, network effectively, or collaborate widely. Moreover, these young practitioners are an increasingly diverse group without obvious representation.

The 1st International SynBYSS Conference will be held at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, December 9-12, 2024.

The conference will focus on what the future holds for synthetic biology as embodied by these young practitioners. The primary objective of the conference is to foster a more interactive, inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative community. Talks will be given primarily by young researchers with a few pioneer keynote speakers, mimicking the format of the online series. The conference will also include discussion panels and networking events to actively promote collaborations between researchers at different career stages, thus facilitating an effective combination of new ideas and expertise.

We envision the International SynBYSS Conference to be a biennial event, held in different areas of the world, to emphasize the importance of global participation. To ensure we reach this younger audience, funding would enable us to offset registration fees and travel costs for as many young synthetic biologists as possible.

Speakers & Agenda

Keynote

  • Ian Paulsen, Ph.D.
    Macquarie University
  • Adam Arkin, Ph.D.
    UC Berkeley
  • Lingchong You, Ph.D.
    Duke University
  • Wenjun Zhang, Ph.D.
    UC Berkeley

Speakers

  • Jonathan Dordick, Ph.D.
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Nigel Mouncey, Ph.D.
    DOE Joint Genome Institute
  • Tilmann Weber, Ph.D.
    Technical University of Denmark
  • Ben Luisi, Ph.D.
    University of Cambridge
  • Matthew DeLisa, Ph.D.
    Cornell University
  • Mattheos Koffas, Ph.D.
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Gozde Demirer, Ph.D.
    Caltech
  • Joshua Atkinson, Ph.D.
    Princeton University
  • David Truong, Ph.D.
    New York University
  • Natalie Farny, Ph.D.
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Xiaojun Tian, Ph.D.
    Arizona State University
  • Sara Molinari, Ph.D.
    University of Maryland
  • Jinjin Diao, Ph.D.
    Washington University in St. Louis
  • Clement Chan, Ph.D.
    University of North Texas

Panelists

  • Emma Yee, Ph.D.
    Cell
  • Kevin Solomon, Ph.D.
    University of Delaware
  • Scott Walper, Ph.D.
    Office of Naval Research Global

Agenda

A draft agenda will be made available soon, in the meantime please review the planned technical sessions to be held throughout the conference:

Engineering biology fundamentals for basic science advances

  • Origins of life
  • Synthetic cells and cell-free technologies
  • Current mechanism discoveries
  • Designing synthetic or minimal genomes

Engineering biology for human health

  • Novel medicines and translational technologies
  • Mammalian synthetic biology
  • Engineering microbiomes for health applications

Engineering biology for sustainability

  • Production of biofuels, natural products, and biomaterials
  • Planetary health and space exploration
  • Agricultural applications
  • Engineering microbiomes for sustainability

Engineering biology for enabling technology, innovation, and societal impact

  • Biosecurity, biosafety, and ethics
  • Genome engineering
  • Gene circuit design
  • Computational tools, techniques, and CAD
  • Multi-omics approaches

Other sessions (tentative)

  • Panel and roundtable discussions
  • Road-mapping discussions among broader global community members
  • Networking session
  • “Meet the legend” session
  • Poster presentation sessions

Registration

Registration is now open. Please register early to confirm your spot.

Register Now

Registration Fees:

  • Student / trainee / postdoc: $350
  • Faculty / nonprofit / government / independent researcher: $450
  • Industry: $800

SynBYSS Fellows Awards may be available to a limited number of participants. Please see the Travel Support section below for more information.

In registering for the International SynBYSS Conference, participants agree to the participant expectations, code of conduct, and terms, which covers presentation of unpublished results, confidentiality, non-discrimination, the code of conduct, and refund policy.

Abstract submissions

Abstract submission is separate from registration. Submissions from all attendees are welcome! We encourage you to submit your latest, ongoing work as a mechanism to engage in community dialogue.

Submit Abstract

Important dates

  • Registration Opens: August 1, 2024
  • Poster/talk abstract submissions open: August 1, 2024
  • Abstract submission closes: October 1, 2024
  • Notification of talk/poster selection: October 16, 2024
  • Registration closes: November 8, 2024
  • Conference: December 9-12, 2024

Registration may still be possible after November 8, 2024 but will incur additional costs.

Additional information

Meals

Light snacks, coffee, water, and other assorted non-alcoholic beverages as well as lunch will be provided each day of the conference.

Local hotels

Below are a few area hotels within ~10-15 minute drive of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where the conference is being held. For this conference, there is not a room block available. Please feel free to make a reservation at a hotel of your choice.

Travel support

We encourage you to make your travel plans early to take advantage of low rates as we approach the holiday season. We plan to offer a limited number of SynBYSS Fellows Awards that include conference fee waivers and/or travel support. Awards will only be available to those speaking or presenting a poster at the conference. A link to the SynBYSS Fellows Award application will be sent to speakers and poster session participants.

Travel visas

We are not providing travel visas, but can provide a letter of invitation if needed. Please email synbyss@jcvi.org to request one.

Health and safety

We are committed to hosting a safe event. We will be closely watching CDC recommendations in addition to all relevant local and state guidelines leading up to the meeting and make any changes necessary for health and safety.

Dress code

The SynBYSS team values diversity and individual expression. We encourage participants to come as they are and how they wish to present themselves to the world.

UH Manoa and JCVI logos

SynBYSS Conference

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
December 9-12, 2024

Registration open

Sponsorships

Learn more about sponsorship levels and benefits: Sponsorship Opportunities (PDF)

For information about sponsorships or exhibiting, contact us at synbyss@jcvi.org.

The 1st International SynBYSS Conference is being sponsored by the Department of Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. J. Craig Venter Institute and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are co-organizing the event.

Sponsors

Donor Level

The SynBYSS Seminar Series takes place weekly, highlighting the contributions by synthetic biology postdocs and junior faculty. Each SynBYSS session features a rising star, paired with a luminary like Jim Collins, Jay Keasling, or Frances Arnold. The series was born out of the need to provide a platform for young researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, most of the limited talk spots were given to senior faculty members, depriving young researchers of the opportunity to share their work in conferences and seminars.

The series was started in August 2021, and has allowed nearly 200 young researchers with talk opportunities. It has been enthusiastically supported by global pioneers in the community (including a Nobel laureate and 21 National Academy members), 23 US/EU government and private funders, 9 high-impact journals, and 20 editors-in-chief. The weekly, free seminar series will continue at least until 2025. An archive of past talks is available on YouTube.

SynBYSS Seminar Series

The SynBYSS Seminar Series takes place every Thursday, 10-11AM US CDT (11-11:30 for discussion).

Zoom link to weekly Seminar Series

Video archive: SynBYSS seminar series playlist on YouTube

SynBYSS seminar series 2024 speaker lineup

The SynBio Young Speaker Series (SynBYSS) was started as a virtual weekly seminar in August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Tae Seok Moon, Ph.D. to highlight contributions by synthetic biology postdocs and junior faculty. Each SynBYSS session features a rising star, paired with a luminary like Jim Collins, Jay Keasling, or Frances Arnold. The series has now evolved to include an in-person conference. Among the goals of the seminar series and conference are to highlight the contributions of and provide networking opportunities for early-career synthetic biologists.

Chair

Tae Seok Moon, J. Craig Venter Institute

Co-Chairs

John Glass, J. Craig Venter Institute

Natalie Farny, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Pierangelo Gobbo, University of Trieste

Josh Atkinson, Princeton University

Leopold Noel Green, Purdue University

Rock Du, University of Hawaii

David M. Truong, New York University

Duhan Toparlak, University of Oxford

Dirk Tischler, Ruhr University Bochum

Sara Molinari, University of Maryland

Xiaojun Tian, Arizona State University

Nigel Mouncey, DOE Joint Genome Institute

Allison Lopatkin, University of Rochester

Gözde S. Demirer, Caltech

Committee

Farren Isaacs, Yale University

Neil Dixon, University of Manchester

Fangchao Song, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Clement T. Y. Chan, University of North Texas

Manish Kushwaha, INRAE

Arnab Mukherjee, UC Santa Barbara

Jinjin Diao, Washington University in St. Louis

Alexander Fedorec, University College London

Andras Gyorgy, New York University Abu Dhabi

June Medford, Colorado State University

Pablo Iván Nikel, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Lin Su, University of Cambridge

Oskar Staufer, Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien

David Garcia, U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center