What is the BIOFAB?
The UW Biofabrication Center (BIOFAB) is a unique service laboratory operating through the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at the University of Washington. Clients use the Aquarium software to store sample information and remotely submit molecular biology and microbiology jobs. Technicians in the BIOFAB execute the protocols and upload the results to Aquarium. Therefore, cloning projects can be executed from start to finish, without the client ever having to touch a pipette! Records of all jobs and samples are permanently stored in the Aquarium inventory database, eliminating the need for messy lab notebooks and complex inventory systems.
Services
Plasmid Construction and Verification
Using Aquarium, the BIOFAB team can build plasmids and E. coli strains from scratch. Our cloning workflow includes:
Yeast Strain Construction and Verification
With the BIOFAB, it is easy to create novel yeast strains for experiments. Our yeast workflow includes:
Media and Reagent Preparation
To support DNA, E. coli and yeast protocols. Available upon request.
Yeast Media
Protein Engineering and Cell Sorting
The BIOFAB can assist with yeast surface display experiments, including:
Getting Started
Help
How do I get started with the BIOFAB?
When are staff in the lab?
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Saturday and Sunday
Why isn’t my task moving forward?
In general, the first thing to do is to check to make sure that all of the inputs for the given task are correct. Many times tasks get stuck in waiting status purely because the inputs are defined incorrectly. The other thing to keep in mind is the notifications on the home page. Tasks will update you as they proceed forward and sometimes these can take a few days.
My PCR/Yeast Transformation/Yeast QC/Gibson is not working, what should I do?
Most of the time tasks fail due to biological reasons. It’s up to you as the scientist to troubleshoot your experiments. The BIOFAB will just perform the tasks as you submit them.
All my inputs are correct but my stuff isn’t moving forward.
BIOFAB managers sometimes cap the amount of items in a given task daily. So if there are a large number of requests for a certain task one day your task may be delayed until the next day. Task priority is first submitted first served.
I submitted a Yeast Mating Task or a Cytometry Task and it hasn’t been run, why?
These two tasks aren’t in the normal workflow. To run them you must communicate with a BIOFAB manager in order to work it into that days schedule. These requests must be cleared with a BIOFAB manager the day before you want the protocol run.
What is the correct way to remove a sample from the lab or add a sample to the lab?
Delete items when they physically leave the lab. Add a new version of the item when an item returns or is created. Make sure it’s physically in the lab before being instantiated.
Software Engineers
William Bach
Allison Li
Wendi Ma
Caroline Freer
Jared Yen
Technicians
Hannah Park
Nicole Roullier
Ryan Luedtke
Saeed Mahamood
Sarah Mahan
Sasha Kravchuk
Alumni
Asmaa El-Ghazali, Technician (2014-2016)
Ernesto Coronado, Manager (2015-2016)
Nathan Hwang, Technician (2014-2016)
Lindsay Ng, Technician (2014-2016)
Delaney Orcutt, Technician (2015-2016)
Jack Lee, Software Engineer (2015-2016)
Yaoyu Yang, Software Engineer (2014-2017)
Yue Shi, Project Consultant (2017)
Aza Allen, Technician (2016-2017)
Paige Almond, Technician (2015-2017)
Muhammad Halimun, Technician (2016-2017)
Michelle Parks, Manager (2013-2017)
Brenda Robles, Technician (2016-2017)
Marielle Summers, Technician (2013-2018)
Ayesha Saleem, Technician/Software Engineer (2016-2018)
Garrett Newman, Software Engineer (2015-2018)
Lana Alabyeva, Technician (2017-2018)
Gabriella Fier, Technician (2018-2018)
James Leinas, Technician (2017-2018)
Xavaar Quaranto, Technician (2017-2018)
Sophia D'atri, Technician (2017-2018)
Abraham Miller, Software Engineer (2017-2018)
Luana Paleologu, Technician (2017-2019)
Aria Tornabene, Technician (2018-2019)
Jon Luntzel. Software Engineer (2018-2019)
Shamey Kassim, Technician (2018-2020)
Yokesh Jayakumar, Software Engineer (2018-2020)
Halie Borror, Technician (2017-2020)
Margarita Ankoudinova, Technician (2018-2020)
Aidan Cowles, Technician (2018-2020)
Noah Baker, Technician (2019-2020)
Andrew Olander, Technician (2018-2020)
Paursa Kamalian, Technician (2019-2021)
Sofia Shirley, Technician (2018-2021)
Samer Halabiya, DNA Assembly & Sequencing Specialist
Justin Vrana, Scientific Consultant
Yokesh Jayakumar, Software Engineer
Jon Luntzel, Software Engineer
Jacqueline McAleer, Technician
Izzy Shaquer, Technician
Mimi McMurray, Technician
Cami Cordray, Manager (2016-2021)
Contact Us
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