Inspiring Young Minds - BioZone Takes Synthetic Biology Into the Classroom

When high school students hear “genetic engineering,” their imaginations may jump straight to science fiction. This summer, Dr. Jay Gordon, a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory for Metabolic Systems Engineering (LMSE), helped bring the real science behind fiction to life. 

As part of the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP), Jay taught Mighty Microbes, a 40-hour intensive course delivered at the University of Toronto to 24 Grade 11 and 12 students from around the world. The week-long program introduced students to microbiology and genetic engineering through five themes: microbial activity related to water, land, human health, air, and remediation. 

Unlike traditional academic courses, DEEP provides an environment where students can explore their curiosity without the pressure of grades. “It’s not a formal course; there are no marks,” explains Jay. “The students come because they are curious about or already love the subject. Since there is no fear of evaluation, which I often think takes away from the learning process, it’s a really fun format for teaching.” 

Students learned foundational concepts through 15–30-minute mini-lectures before applying them through hands-on activities. These ranged from designing anaerobic digesters for compost waste to identifying an imaginary bacterial phenotype from DNA fragments. Drawing on techniques used in BioZone research (e.g., molecular biology, synthetic biology, bioprocess engineering) the activities gave students a practical introduction to bioremediation and sustainable biomanufacturing. 

For Jay, who has taught the course for two years, the hands-on approach has been as rewarding to teach as it is for students to experience. “I practiced all the activities by myself to make sure it was either something I’d done before or could do. That just felt like being a kid again! Or going back to the short and easy experiments, thinking, ‘Hey, is this going to work? Oh, yeah!’ ” 

A highlight of the week was a guest lecture on genetic engineering techniques by Dr. Annesha Sengupta, a postdoctoral fellow in the LMSE lab. The session sparked a lively discussion, with students asking questions for more than 30 minutes. 

“I just loved to see their genuine curiosity because I think when people hear [about genetic engineering], they think it’s science fiction! It’s like Spider-Man! He was bitten by a spider and suddenly had spider powers! Well, no, that’s not going to happen, but we can make bacteria produce spider silk. We’re halfway there!” says Jay. 

The impact of these interactions was evident in the students’ questions. “There was somebody who I thought was paying a bit less attention all week, so I wondered if she wasn’t too interested in the material,” recalls Jay, “and after Annesha’s talk she put her hand up and asked very nervously, ‘So how do you actually change the DNA?’ It was really nice to see because she was clearly thinking it through and trying to understand what might go both right and wrong with the process.” 

A Two-Way Learning Experience 

Programs like DEEP benefit not only students but also the researchers who teach them. For graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research associates, outreach provides an opportunity to develop teaching skills while sharing their enthusiasm for science. 

“You’re not spending your time grading, so you’re completely focused on teaching. So, if you do think you want to go on to be a professor, it’s probably excellent to put something like this on your resume. It gives you the chance to say that you have both generated and taught a course,” Jay shares. 

The position includes compensation and a materials budget for supplies. Instructors also receive support from DEEP specialists—undergraduate students who help develop course materials and assist in the classroom. Within BioZone, prospective instructors can also draw on existing lesson plans, such as those developed by Ph.D. student Lucy Ross-Blevis, and seek feedback from peers. 

“I’m happy to pass on my course set of materials too. But it’s also fun to imagine your own course, so use that as a starting place, then go create!” says Jay. 

Interested in teaching or supporting future STEM outreach programs like DEEP? Watch for upcoming opportunities in departmental and BioZone news, and connect with past instructors to learn more.