Senior Design Team 5 • Creating DNA from Scratch for DNA Based Data Storage

Project Overview


In our modern world, we have an ever-growing need for data storage, protection, and privacy. DNA is at the forefront of solving these problems as it has an expansive capacity for information storage. While there have been tremendous advances in DNA synthesis technologies, it is still challenging to create sequences with high accuracy and effectively extract information stored in DNA. Our goal is to continue and modify a prior team's approach to print hundreds of thousands of short DNA oligomers, which are the building blocks for larger segments. We have spent the prior semester researching and developing the solutions we planned to implement this semester. We divided into three sub-teams to tackle the main areas of focus within the project: Software, Hardware, and Flow Control.


So how exactly is our team contributing to the DNA-based storage solution and what is the goal of this project? We aim to create a system that can create strands of DNA from base nucleotide solutions cured by the UV light from a specialized projector. DNA base pairs and strands would be assembled from DNA microarrays inputted by a user into our team's developed interface. The desire is that our system design will be able to be implemented in other lab settings looking to research and develop DNA technologies. We hope to meet technical constraints and user needs to satisfy a new medium of digital storage with increasing demand in an affordable manner.


Team Members

Colin Frank

Software & Client Interaction

Member Bio:

Colin is in Electrical Engineering and assists with software development and cilent interaction for SDDEC23-05. His emphasis is Power Systems and has enjoyed challenging himself as software development for the team. He loves to travel, getting outdoors, and is active in ISU Engineers' Week where he has helped plan social events for engineering students.

Astha Upadhyay

Flow Control

Member Bio:

Astha is a senior in Electrical Engineering, helps with hardware integration, and creating the software for our microfluidics system.

Evan Walters

Software & Cilent Interaction

Member Bio:

Evan studies Electrical Engineering and handles cilent interaction and software development for SDDEC23-05. Throughout his four years at the University, he has been an active member of the Triathlon club, being an executive chair holder for three years. He enjoys studying EE and his favorite class has been EE 456, Power Systems Analysis 1.

Caden Wortman

Hardware & Design

Member Bio:

Caden studies Electrical Engineering and works with hardware integration and improvement for SDDEC23-05. He plays trumpet in the Cyclone Marching Band, the Womens' Basketball Pep Band, and in the Volleyball Pep Band. The part of EE he has enjoyed most at Iowa State has been the circuit design projects in classes like EE 230, Electronic Circuits and Systems.

Anna Hackbarth

Flow Control & Documentation

Member Bio:

Anna is a senior studying Electrical Engineering. She works on the Flow Control Subteam and handles team documentation and organization. She plays sousaphone in the Cyclone Marching and Pep Bands, is active in several engineering student organizations, and serves as Speaker of the Senate for Iowa State Student Government. In her free time, she's an avid boxer and hobby beekeeper!

Rachel San Agustin

Flow Control & Software

Member Bio:

Rachel is a senior studying Electrical Engineering and joined the team at the start of second semester. Rachel has served as invaluable help to both the Software and Flow Control Subteams. In her free time, Rachel is an active member of the Iowa State Judo and Taekwondo Clubs, and enjoys art.


Weekly Reports Spring 2023 Semester

Report 1
Report 2
Report 3
Report 4
Report 5
Report 6
Report 7
Report 8
Report 9

Biweekly Reports Fall 2023 Semester

Report 1
Report 2
Report 4
Report 5
Report 6


Final Documents

Spring 2023 Semester
Design Document
Design Presentation

Fall 2023 Semester
Final Poster
Final Report
Github Repository


Lightning Talks and Class Presentations

Spring 2023 Presentations
Lighting Talk 1: Requirements and Constraints
Lighting Talk 2: Project Planning
Lighting Talk 3: Design Talk
Lighting Talk 4: Testing Plans

Fall 2023 Presenations
Peer-Instructor Review Meeting 1
Peer-Instructor Review Meeting 2
Final Presentation