PFAS are an invisible part of our everyday lives. Used in products like non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and waterproof textiles, these so-called “forever chemicals” are valued for their durability. Yet this same persistence has become a growing environmental and public health concern, as PFAS accumulate in water, ecosystems, and living organisms. Reliable, accessible and low-cost detection remains one of the key challenges in addressing this issue.

Our Team is an interdisciplinary mix of students, working at the intersection of synthetic biology, environmental science and design. Supported by the Naseri and Lindlich labs and in exchange with leading researchers, we are part of the iGEM competition, representing the next generation of Berlin’s synthetic biologists.

With our project Sense PFASt, we aim to develop a yeast-based biosensor capable of detecting harmful PFAS compounds such as PFOA and PFOS in water in real time. By combining biological systems with practical applications in water monitoring in existing infrastructure, we strive to contribute to more transparent, responsive and wide-spread environmental management. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in details!