Automating Molecular Biology Procedures Using Liquid-Handling Robots

January 2024 – Present

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cătălin Voiniciuc
Institution: University of Florida
Department: Horticultural Sciences

Research Focus

This research project focuses on enhancing the speed and accuracy of molecular biology experiments through the use of liquid-handling robots, specifically the Opentrons OT-2.
These advanced robots manage numerous liquid samples simultaneously with exceptional precision, providing a significant advantage for high-throughput biological testing.

By developing Python protocols for the two OT-2 robots in our lab, I streamlined and scaled up key molecular biology tasks such as DNA assembly and plasmid extraction.
This automation reduces human error and manual labor, allowing scientists to accelerate discovery in plant synthetic biology and related disciplines.

Responsibilities

I am working with Dr. Cătălin Voiniciuc at the Designer Glycans Lab and postdoctoral researcher Moni Qiande.
My responsibilities center around programming Python protocols for the Opentrons OT-2 robots to assist my PI and fellow lab members in automating standard wet-lab procedures.

I have developed:

Modular, customizable scripts for DNA assembly and plasmid extraction
General-purpose liquid transfer protocols that can be adjusted for different mixing, pipetting, and tip-handling parameters
Optimized OT-2 deck layouts and workflow structures to improve experimental efficiency

Currently, I continue to develop and refine protocols for scaled plasmid extraction and other complex molecular biology processes.