Introducing Synapsis by Dojo
Empowering the Future of Biotech Through Collective Insight
We are excited to announce the launch of Synapsis, a blog series authored and edited by members of the Dojo community! We envision Synapsis emerging as a beacon of knowledge and collaboration, bringing together the wealth of insights cultivated within the Dojo community. Synapsis aspires to be more than just a collection of articles; it's a testament to the collective intelligence and passion that defines Nucleate Dojo.
Synapsis: Exploring the Etymology
Synapsis, the name of our blog, embodies a multitude of meanings deeply rooted in biology and the essence of knowledge exchange. Biologically, it symbolizes the fusion of chromosome pairs during meiotic recombination, preceding crossing over—a representation of recombining ideas. Moreover, it signifies the transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next, reflecting our commitment to passing on and democratizing ideas within the biotech community. Beyond its biological connotations, Synapsis serves as a play on words, reminiscent of "synopsis," encapsulating the concise and comprehensive nature of our content. Additionally, the name resonates with "synapse," evoking connections and the dynamic exchange of information—a fitting tribute to the collaborative spirit that defines our endeavor.
Our Mission: Connecting Minds, Advancing Biotech
Being an undergraduate in biotech can be challenging and often lonely. Over the past couple of years, Dojo has cultivated an intimate community of ambitious, driven undergrads who’ve worked at cutting-edge biotech startups and labs across the globe – from the east to west coasts, Europe, protein engineering to single-cell research, computational biology to synthetic biology, neurotech to cultured meats – the list goes on.
As our community continues to grow, so will our collective sets of experiences spanning a wide range of diverse intellectual and geographical settings. We need a way to document, record, and democratize these insights. What are the most exciting startups? What are the game-changing ideas for a field? Synapsis will serve to answer these questions.
Synapsis will become a conduit for the exchange of profound biotech insights among undergraduates. It will break down complex concepts, making them accessible to a diverse audience, regardless of their background or expertise. Through collaborative contributions from community members, it will create a melting pot of multidisciplinary perspectives.
For biology-adjacent undergraduates not already aware of biotechnology research or industry career paths as viable options, Synapsis will connect them to the real-time, real-world progress of the field, making their work and learning feel more contextually relevant.
Synapsis is not merely a platform for information dissemination; it is a space where the voices of the Dojo community will resonate. By curating a diverse repository of biotech articles, the blog will reflect the multifaceted nature of our community's experiences. Our goal is to celebrate the richness of biotech by offering content that spans various thematic pillars, ensuring that every community member finds relevance and inspiration in the topics we write about.
The Pillars of Synapsis
Synapsis will have four main pillars that will drive our series:
Dojo Dynamics
Here we’ll highlight community updates and any new programs or initiatives in Dojo. We’ll also include Community Spotlights, featuring updates on 4-7 individual community members: new internships, published papers, unlocked opportunities, and more.
Biotech Insights
This will be a technical section for a given subfield of biotech, providing larger commentary/opinions on recent developments, deep dives into particular papers/publications, or explorations of specific ideas from community members.
Some topics we might cover include:
AI/ML in Bio
Neuroscience
Drug Discovery
Regenerative Medicine
Longevity
Computational Chemistry
Synthetic Biology
Genomics
Dojo Database
We’ll provide a curated list of biotech playbooks, resources, and papers that our community members are excited about, with a summary of why each resource is important in a larger context.
Human Values in Biotech
Biotech, like any other scientific or technological discipline, is built on progress facilitated by human values and collaboration. Values such as diversity and inclusion are prerequisites for ensuring that technology is ideated and developed with different groups of people in mind (with respect to geography, ethnicity, race, gender, etc.). In this section, we’ll cover programs, resources, or scientific developments oriented towards these social values.
Future Forward
As we embark on this journey with Synapsis, we are not just launching a blog but creating a beacon of knowledge and collaboration that extends beyond the Dojo community. Synapsis is set to become an invaluable resource, democratizing access to the wealth of insights and experiences that our members bring from diverse intellectual and geographical backgrounds. By fostering a space where complex biotech concepts are made accessible, and by celebrating the multifaceted nature of our community's contributions, we aim to inspire and empower undergraduates and enthusiasts who are navigating the exciting yet challenging world of biotechnology.
Join us as we cultivate this vibrant community, sharing our journeys, discoveries, and aspirations. Together, we will propel the future of biotech, ensuring that every reader finds relevance and inspiration in the stories we tell and the knowledge we share.