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SoundBio Lab
EstablishedMarch 11th, 2017
Location
  • Seattle, Washington
Websitehttps://www.sound.bio/

SoundBio Lab (also, known as SoundBio) is a BSL-1 biomakerspace located in Seattle, Washington. Opened in 2017, the organization provides laboratory space for independent research projects, offers classes on biological techniques, and hosts community biology and STEM education programs.[1] SoundBio is part of the DIY Biology movement, which promotes public access to biotechnology education and research infrastructure.[2]

Facilities

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SoundBio, a 501(c)(3) organization[3], operates as a BSL-1 community laboratory equipped with: PCR machines, centrifuges, autoclaves, incubators, an Opentrons liquid-handling system, light microscopes, orbital shaker incubators, refrigerators, gel electrophoresis equipment, etc.[4] Much of the equipment was acquired through donations, grants, or second-hand purchases, however, they are professional-grade.[5]

Education

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SoundBio regularly offers classes on biological techniques on topics, such as: synthetic biology, gel electrophoresis, and plasmid minipreps.[6] These programs are designed to accommodate participants across a range of experience levels, from high school students to software engineers.[7] These workshops are subsidized through 4Culture, the cultural funding agency for King County, through fee waivers; otherwise, workshops are paid for by attendees.[8]

The makerspace also partners with STEM education programs in the greater Seattle area to provide science education opportunities for youth, including hosting a high school team that participates in the annual iGEM competition.[9][10] In 2017, SoundBio's iGEM team developed a project focused on engineering Escherichia coli to express PCB-dechlorinating enzymes derived from Dehalococcoides mccartyi, with the goal of exploring biological methods for breaking down persistent PCB pollutants.[11] In 2018, SoundBio's iGEM team developed a project exploring a synthetic biology alternative to the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate(LAL) assay, a medical sterility test traditionally produced using horseshoe crab blood. The project aimed to synthesize Factor C, a protein involved in endotoxin dection, in Bacillus subtilis as a potenital alternative to animal-derived production.[12] In 2019, SoundBio's iGEM team developed Bacto-Basics, a project investigating the use of engineered bacterial cellulose for wound treatment applications. The project explored methods for spatially controlling the attachment of functional proteins to bacterial cellulose using optogenetics and synthetic biology, with the goal of improving tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation in wound healing.[13]

For middle school students, SoundBio hosts the after-school program Life Science Explorers, in which participants learn molecular biology techniques through the collection and sequencing of moss samples gathered from their local environment.[14][15] In partnership with the STEMTAC Foundation, SoundBio hosts the National Youth Laboratory Internship, an eight-week hybrid summer program for students ages 16-20 that provides practical research experience in microbiology, biochemistry, electronics, etc.[16][17]

The makerspace has also provided laboratory space, equipment access, biosafety oversight, and mentorship for high school students conducting independent research projects and science fair entries.[18] Students from schools including The Overlake School, Roosevelt High School, Tesla STEM High School, and Mountlake Terrace High School have used SoundBio facilities for projects involving: plant genetics, bacterial quorum sensing, algal grwoth, antibiotic resistance, plant pigment production, etc. Several projects were conducted for competitions including the Central Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair.[19][20]

History

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On March 11, 2017, SoundBio Lab launched; founded by Michal Galdzicki, Zach Mueller, and Regina Wu.[21][22] The founders first met at HiveBio Community Laboratory, where the idea for the organization originated in 2014, specifically, as a result of the iGem competition.[23]

Previous projects

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Citizen Salmon

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Originally developed at HiveBio Community Laboratory, Citizen Salmon was a community science project led by Galdzicki that used DNA testing and genotyping to identify the origins and species of store-bought salmon.[24] The project aimed to develop portable genetic testing methods capable of tracing salmon to their river of origin, with applications in sustainable seafood sourcing and consumer transparency. After the founding of SoundBio Lab, the project contiuned there with participation from community volunteers conducting DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, and computational analysis.[23] In October 2016, Citizen Salmon presented its work at Biohack the Planet, a DIYbio conference held in San Francisco.[25]

Regina Wu, a co-founder of SoundBio and member of the project stated,

"That has large implications for if you want to sustainably harvest and buy your fish, because a lot of people don’t want Atlantic salmon anymore because it's farmed"

Kombucha Science

Kombucha Science was a collaborative community research project involving SoundBio Lab and other community laboratories, including Counter Culture Labs and BosLab.[26] The project focuses on characterizing the microbial composition of kombucha through culturing, DNA barcoding, genome sequencing, and other synthetic biology and microbiology techniques. SoundBio hosted community gatherings for the project in which participants analyzed kombucha samples and discussed fermentation processes, often involving volunteers and researchers from the greater Seattle area.[1]

OpenCovid19

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On March 1 2020, SoundBio co-founder Zach Mueller and Thomas Landrain, founder of Just One Giant Lab, launched the OpenCovid19 Initiative to develop and disseminate open-source methods for safely detecting the presence of COVID-19.[27] However, SoundBio's status as a BSL-1 laboratory limited its ability to handle human clinical samples though work with non-viable viral material was permitted.[28] Within one month of launch, the initiative attracted tens of thousands of particpants from over 180 countries, including several thousand active contributers who developed more than 90 projects, including: low-cost medical devices, diagnostic tools, and open-source health applications.[29]

Bionic Leaf

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The Bionic Leaf project received $100,000 as part of the Amazon Catalyst program. This project, created by Mark Minie, was done in collaboration with SoundBio members. The project builds on earlier Bionic Leaf research by developing open-source kits intended for use in educational settings by students and amateur scientists. Minie worked alongside SoundBio co-founders, Michal Galdzicki and Zach Mueller, as well as University of Washington Professor Herbert Sauro, and the project was opened to contributions from SoundBio volunteers.[30]

SoundBio Ignite Prize

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As part of the 2026 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge, SoundBio awarded the Ignite Prize to team TPT-Finder for creating a handheld device that helps surgeons distinguish parathyroid tissue during thyroid surgery to prevent life-threatening complications. The prize itself was a free 6-month membership.[31][32]

Outreach

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In 2017, SoundBio held a booth at MiniMaker Faire Seattle.[33]

In 2018, SoundBio participated in several public STEM outreach events in the greater Seattle area. On August 18-19, the makerspace hosted a table at its second MiniMaker Faire Seattle at MoPOP, where participants engaged in a "Filtration Challenge" demonstrating principles of filtration and a "Black Box" challenge intended to illustrate how science can function as a "black box".[34] On September 29th, SoundBio presented at Amazon's fourth annual Women in Engineering(AWE) Tech Expo, offering hands-on STEM activities for the children of Amazon employees.[35] On October 27th, SoundBio was featured as a Maker group at the Museum of History and Industry(MOHAI) Maker Day event, where it hosted a "Painting with Bacteria" activity.[36][37] On November 3rd, SoundBio held a workshop for middle school students at Juno Therapeutics sponsored by Celgene.[38]

In March 2019, in Washington DC, Dr. Herbert Sauro, a founding board member and professor at the University of Washington, spoke about K-12 Educational Outreach Initiatives at the Interagency Modeling and Analysis Group(IMAG) Conference.[39]

At the conference, Dr. Sauro stated:

This is a group of enthusiasts who have put together a fairly extensive molecular biology wet lab that can be used by laypeople and other interested groups such as the Seattle iGEM High School team. SoundBio also goes out to elementary and middle schools, as well as other locations, to organize after-school science activities. In addition, SoundBio has Saturday science events for anyone who wants to attend. The initial development of SoundBio was supported by outreach components from the National Science Foundation.

In 2019, SoundBio continued its outreach activities through workshops, conferences, and public events. In October, the makerspace attended the "Up Your Ave" orientation event in the University District for incoming freshmen at the University of Washington, where members presented community projects including Citizen Salmon, Dirt Life, and Biomodeling; students were offered a two-month triall membership to join the projects.[40] In November, SoundBio held its second middle school workshop at Juno Therapeutics, sponsored by Celgene, introducing middle school students, particularly young women and underrepresented minorities in STEM, to biotechnology through hands-on activities.[41] That same month, representatives attended the 2019 Global Community Bio Summit 3.0 hosted by the MIT Media lab, where iGEM team member JJ Wheeler presented his work.[42][43] In December, SoundBio hosted a laboratory workshop for Cub Scouts focused on basic laboratory equipment and pipetting techniques.[44]

In 2020, SoundBio continued its public outreach through education workshops and demonstrations. In January, SoundBio participated in a Curiosity Day event at the Pacific Science Center, where members demonstrated bioengineering concepts through a pipetting workshop.[45] In February, SoundBio hosted a 'Science Saturday" workshop at the Sammamish Library in which middle school students practiced pipetting and extracted DNA from fruit samples.[46]

On March 14, 2025, SoundBio was invited by UW Riverways to run workshops at South Shore K-8.[47]

On June 20, 2025, Seattle Science Lab toured SoundBio and participated in a fruit DNA extraction workshop.[47][48]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Powers, Zach (2023-07-05). "At SoundBio Lab, researchers can explore whatever quenches their curiosity". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  2. ^ Erikainen, Sonja (17 January 2022). "The Promissory Visions of DIYbio: Reimaging Sciencefrom the Fringe". Science as Culture. 31 (3): 302–3 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  3. ^ Suozzo, Andrea; Glassford, Alec; Ngu, Ash; Roberts, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Soundbio Lab - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  4. ^ "Community science: Not just a hobby". www.science.org. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  5. ^ de Lange, Orlando; Dunn, Kellie; Peek, Nadya (29 April 2022). ""Short on time and big on ideas": Perspectives from Lab Members on DIYBio Work in Community Biolabs". Association for Computing Machinery – via Arxiv.
  6. ^ "Workshops, Courses, and Events". SoundBio Lab. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  7. ^ "Microscopy with SoundBio Lab|Iurbanteen org". Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  8. ^ "Awardees". 4Culture. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  9. ^ Chappell, Callie R; Quiroz, Ana Paulina; Kong, David Sun; Endy, Drew (Summer 2025). "Creating a Popular Foundation for the Bio-Age". Issues in Science and Technology. 41 (4): 61 – via ProQuest.
  10. ^ "Team:SoundBio/Project - 2019.igem.org". 2019.igem.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  11. ^ "Team:iTesla-SoundBio - 2017.igem.org". 2017.igem.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  12. ^ "Team:iTesla-SoundBio/Project Description - 2018.igem.org". 2018.igem.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  13. ^ "Team:SoundBio/Project Description - 2019.igem.org". 2019.igem.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  14. ^ "Bagheri Lab | Outreach". bagherilab.com. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  15. ^ "Life Science Explorers". SoundBio Lab. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  16. ^ "National Youth Laboratory Internship". SoundBio Lab. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  17. ^ "Stemtac Foundation | Other Programs and Services". Stemtac Foundation. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  18. ^ "Senior Projects Like No Other". www.overlake.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  19. ^ "SoundBio High School members participate in Science & Engineering Fairs - 2019". SoundBio Lab. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  20. ^ "SoundBio: More than Just a Laboratory". SoundBio Lab. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  21. ^ "Geeking out with a goal: Regina Wu brings Hutch research to classrooms". The Seattle Times. 2019-07-10. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  22. ^ You, Weimu; Valkjärvi, Mira; Ofosu, George (13 June 2021). "What it takes to make it: profile and characteristics of DIY bio laboratory founders". Technology Analysis & Strategic Management: 6 – via UTUPub.
  23. ^ a b "Seattle's only community lab puts a DIY spin on biotech". Cascade PBS. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  24. ^ McGrane, Clare (2017-01-03). "New nonprofit lab SoundBio hopes to spark Seattle's DIY biology community". GeekWire. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  25. ^ "2016 BioHTP Conference – CitizenSalmon". citizensalmon.org. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  26. ^ "Kombucha Genomics". sphere.diybio.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  27. ^ "JOGL launches a call to design an open source Covid-19 test". Makery. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  28. ^ Zulkefli, Khalisah; Tan, Jaymi; López-Vergès, Sandra; Malone, John; Kagansky, Alexander; Veerakumarasivam, Abhi; Kolodziejczyk, Bartlomiej (2 March 2022). "Empowering Do-it-yourself Biology by Doing-it-together: Collective Responsibility in Maximizing Benefit and Mitigating Risk". Leverhulme Centre For The Future of Intelligence: 4 – via Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository.
  29. ^ Kokshagina, Olga (23 March 2021). "Open Covid-19: Organizing an extreme crowdsourcing campaign to tackle grand challenges". R&D Management. 52 (2): 2 – via Wiley Online Library.
  30. ^ McGrane, Clare (2017-02-23). "Bionic Leaf project that can 'make food out of thin air' receives $100,000 Amazon Catalyst grant". GeekWire. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  31. ^ Entrepreneurship, Buerk Center for (2026-03-05). "2026 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge Awards Give Life to Innovative Solutions". Foster School of Business. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  32. ^ Schlosser, Kurt (2026-03-05). "University of Washington team working on CPR feedback device wins health innovation challenge". GeekWire. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  33. ^ "Seattle Mini Maker Faire at MoPop". Do206. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  34. ^ "Seattle's Mini Maker Faire 2018 is in the books!". SoundBio Lab. 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  35. ^ "SoundBio presents at Amazon's Women in Engineering (AWE) TECH EXPO". SoundBio Lab. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  36. ^ "Maker Day at MOHAI". SoundBio Lab. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  37. ^ "Maker Day: Painting with Bacteria". Museum of History & Industry. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  38. ^ "Celgene & SoundBio are Teaming Up for a Biotech Workshop!". SoundBio Lab. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  39. ^ "SoundBio travels to Washington, DC". SoundBio Lab. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  40. ^ "SoundBio attends 'Up Your Ave' in U-District". SoundBio Lab. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  41. ^ "SoundBio Teams up with Celgene for Middle School Biotech Workshop". SoundBio Lab. 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  42. ^ "SoundBio attends Global Community Bio Summit". SoundBio Lab. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  43. ^ "Team:SoundBio/Team - 2019.igem.org". 2019.igem.org. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  44. ^ "Cub Scout STEM Night". SoundBio Lab. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  45. ^ "Engineer It @ the Pacific Science Center!". SoundBio Lab. 2020-01-16. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  46. ^ "Sammamish Library Science Workshop". SoundBio Lab. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  47. ^ a b "2025 Outreach Events". SoundBio Lab. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  48. ^ "Seattle Science Lab - Laboratory Visits". www.seattlesciencelab.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
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