Natalie Farny

My lab works broadly in the emerging field of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology seeks to apply engineering design principles to the understanding and creation of biological systems. I use synthetic biology to design biosensors and bioremediation strategies for various environmental contaminants that impact human health, including lead, arsenic, and other toxic substances. We apply the tools of synthetic biology to address global challenges related to water, soil, and human health. Our water and soil applications focus around understanding how we can use genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) to detect and remediate contaminants in the environment. We use laboratory models of water and soil environments to measure, predict, and control GEM performance in a target environment.

Synthetic biology also has tremendous potential to positively influence human health. When cells are stressed by environmental factors, heavy metal poisoning or extreme temperatures, they will conserve resources by restricting protein synthesis. Under certain stress conditions, some cells will gather the translationally silenced mRNAs into cytoplasmic foci known as stress granules (SGs). We believe that the formation of SGs enhances cellular survival during periods of stress, though the dynamics of their formation and dissolution remain unclear. We are applying synthetic biology principles to create new tools to study SGs, and to understand how ubiquitous compounds in water and food including bisphenols (BPA) and heavy metals, affect the health and survival of human cells under both normal and disease conditions.

One of the best things about teaching at WPI is the emphasis on practice, experience, and impact. Through project work, students get the opportunity to put their classroom learning into action for the benefit of society. The students of WPI are here to change the world, and I feel privileged to be able to help give them the analytical tools they need to accomplish their goals. I employ active learning in my classrooms whenever possible – through the use of case studies, group problem-solving, and polling software – because I believe that the best way for a student to understand a concept is to apply that concept to the solution of a practical problem.