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Polygence Lab Bootcamp

Foundations of Genetic Engineering Bootcamp

Learn the fundamentals of genetic engineering, conduct real experiments, and work with a UC Berkeley microbiologist to get the Wet Lab experience you need for a future in biology.

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Students participating at the Lab Bootcamp

Who is the Bootcamp for?

  • Open to ages 15 and up

  • Beginner-friendly

  • For students considering majors in Biomed, Agricultural Science, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Biomedical Engineering.

  • 9th grade Biology completion recommended, but not a must

What you’ll learn

In this hands-on bootcamp, we’ll break down the fundamentals of genetic engineering—like cell culture, DNA extraction, and real lab techniques. You’ll get to work with real tools, real experiments, and real mentors who started out just as curious as you are, and you'll earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the Lab Bootcamp.

Lab tools

Day 1: Microbial Culture

Learn how to grow an E. coli strain using petri dishes, test tubes and more.

Day 3: DNA Fundamentals

Learn how to extract DNA from human cheek cells then copy & visualize its DNA segments.

Day 5: Advanced Skill Building & Project Ideation

Discover advanced techniques & brainstorm future project ideas.

Day 2: Genetic Transformation

Learn how to identify, harvest, measure and transform bacteria.

Day 4: Capstone Project - Plant Genetic Engineering

Genetically engineer your own plant using the skills you’ve learned.

Curriculum

Things you'll learn during the one-week lab bootcamp onsite at a local biology lab at the Bay Area to get hands-on in bioscience.

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Meet Your Instructor

The bootcamp is taught by Anthony Tan, UC Berkeley Trained Bioengineer, former researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is an expert in Microbiology, Genetic Engineering, Horticulture, Bioinformatics and a great advocate for STEM Education.

Anthony Tan, UC Berkeley Bioengineer and Bootcamp Instructor

How It Works

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Bootcamp Cohorts

The bootcamp is a 1-week commuter program held at a local BSL-1 lab in Santa Clara, CA. Choose one of the two bootcamp cohorts: June 22-26 or July 20-24.

Workshop hours

Workshop Hours

The bootcamp takes place daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Break for lunch is at noon till 12:30 pm.

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Tuition includes

One week of training by a UC Berkeley Microbiologist instructor, 1 month of lab membership so you can continue your lab work, and a Certificate of Completion.

Reserve your spot now

Fill out this interest form to lock in your spot for the bootcamp!

Students participating at the Lab Bootcamp