The University of Toronto Genetic Engineering Club (UTGEC) is a student community advancing synthetic biology through hands-on projects and mentorship. Build skills. Meet collaborators. Launch ideas.
Connect with profs, labs, and student researchers. Learn through real-world activities and panels. Be part of a supportive and inclusive science community. Gain experience through volunteering, leadership, or writing.
Join a department that matches your interests. Rotate across teams or go deep in one specialty.
Genomic analysis, pipelines, and ML for sequence and imaging data. Python/R workshops & reproducibility.
Wet-lab skills, cloning, protein expression, and device prototyping. Safety, records, and design-of-experiments.
Library prep, variant calling, and functional interpretation. Explore long-read and single-cell workflows.
Gene circuits, promoters, and CRISPR tools. CAD for biology and iterative testing with automation.
Model cellular systems; simulate regulation, metabolism, and feedback. Link predictions to experiments.
Bioethics, safety frameworks, and policy writing. Communicate science with the public and stakeholders.
Get involved through projects, panels, and mentorship — whether you’re new to genetics or leveling up.
Team up to explore genetics topics (wet-lab or computational) with support from mentors and resources.
Guest lectures and career panels with grad students, faculty, and industry scientists.
An inclusive community with events and resources that make genetics accessible for every background.
Practical workshops to build lab techniques, coding skills, and critical thinking applied to genetics.
Join UTGEC without stepping into a wet-lab. Learn, build, and contribute through code, writing, debate, and design.
Python/R pipelines, sequence analysis, visualization, and ML — all on laptops. Beginner-friendly workshops.
Paper breakdowns and lightning talks. Learn how to read figures, critique methods, and explain results clearly.
Write explainers, interviews, and event recaps for our site & socials. Build your portfolio — no lab needed.
Discuss bioethics and policy. Draft position briefs on responsible innovation and public engagement.
Simulate circuits and pathways. Use modeling tools to prototype ideas before any bench work exists.
Meet grad students and industry guests. Resume reviews, application tips, and networking — fully no-lab.
We offer opportunities in many fields. Follow us for the latest lab, volunteering, and project openings.
Learn by doing, connect with mentors, and present your builds.
Every UTGEC event is an opportunity to build real scientific connections. Meet professors, graduate researchers, and mentors who are excited to collaborate with students. Whether you’re curious about CRISPR, gene circuits, or data analysis, our sessions help you turn ideas into projects. You’ll learn how to ask research questions, find labs that match your interests, and get feedback on your goals. Every conversation begins a new collaboration.
Our mentorship events are interactive and focused on growth — expect networking with purpose, open Q&As, and pathways to join ongoing research. UTGEC is not just a club — it’s a living network of future scientists learning from those already pushing the boundaries of genetics.
Every UTGEC event begins as an idea — a moment of curiosity that turns into a shared experience. Events are more than calendar dates; they’re catalysts for innovation. By gathering students, researchers, and professionals under one goal, they spark creativity and make learning collaborative. Each workshop, symposium, and showcase builds bridges between disciplines — from biology to computer science to design — proving that discovery happens faster when knowledge is shared.
Creating events isn’t just about logistics; it’s about shaping culture. A single conversation at a poster session can inspire a thesis. A casual Q&A can open a career path. Through UTGEC events, students learn to lead, communicate, and collaborate — skills as vital as the science itself. Events are where ideas find people, and people find purpose.
The heartbeat of every UTGEC event is the people who share their stories. Our guest speakers bring science to life — researchers, physicians, innovators, and advocates who connect complex discoveries with human experiences. Each talk is a window into real laboratories, medical breakthroughs, and the challenges that inspire resilience. Through these conversations, students learn that science is not just data — it’s people, passion, and purpose.
Listening to a guest speaker means seeing possibility. A single story can redefine how you view your field, your studies, or even your future. These sessions remind us that knowledge grows when shared, and progress begins when we dare to ask the next question.
Genetic engineering is the art and science of editing life’s code — a process where scientists modify an organism’s DNA to enhance, repair, or understand its functions. By altering specific genes, researchers can create crops that resist disease, bacteria that clean pollution, and therapies that correct genetic disorders. It’s where biology meets design: combining molecular precision with imagination to reshape what’s possible in medicine, agriculture, and sustainability.
At UTGEC, we see genetic engineering as a language — one that lets humanity converse directly with nature. Learning this language empowers students to not only decode life but to improve it. Every base pair changed carries potential: to heal, to innovate, and to better understand the systems that make us who we are.
Questions, collaborations, or membership? Send us a note and we’ll get back to you.
By contacting us, you agree to our community code of conduct and lab safety policies.