Courses, the Cal Poly iGEM team, and open tools that bring real research into the classroom, from first-year general chemistry to building synthetic cells.
01
Engineering Synthetic Cells
A course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) in which students build synthetic cells from the bottom up, working with cell-free protein synthesis and reconstituted transcription and translation systems, and run experiments of their own design.
- Course
- CHEM 4471, Special Advanced Laboratory (formerly CHEM 471)
- Enrollment
- Consent of instructor
- Topics
- Cell-free protein synthesis, reconstituted transcription and translation, synthetic cells
02
iGEM
iGEM, the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, brings student teams from around the world together to design and build synthetic biology projects. The Oza Lab mentors Cal Poly’s team.
The team’s wiki has this year’s project, the people behind it, and their results.
03
General Chemistry
Links and resources for students in CHEM 1120, General Chemistry.
04
Teaching tools
Open tools and activities from the lab that other instructors can use, each described in a paper.
- The Genetic Code Kit
An open-source cell-free platform that brings protein synthesis into biochemistry and biotechnology classrooms.
Williams et al. · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · 2020 - The Fold-Illuminator
A low-cost, portable, and disposable incubator-illuminator for running and seeing cell-free reactions anywhere.
Burrington et al. · Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology · 2021 - A manipulative activity for effective nuclear charge
A hands-on activity that uses a magnet analogy to explore Zeff in general chemistry.
Kasman, Slouka, Kiste, and Oza · ChemRxiv preprint · 2021 - Research Project Compass
A visual framework for planning research projects strategically, built for students and early-career researchers.
Oza · OSF Preprints · 2026
For instructors
Teaching with cell-free systems?
If you’d like to use these materials or bring cell-free experiments into your own course, we’d be glad to help.
Get in touch