Memphis Biosolutions Lab

Empowering high school students with the skills, mentorship and opportunities to become the next generation of bio-innovators, engineering solutions to local and global health and environmental challenges.

Because every young person has the potential to use science to drive positive change.

Join the Next Generation of Bio-InnovatorsPartner With Us
Logos of the organisations bringing the Memphis Biosolutions Lab to life, including Memphis Community Against Pollution, Bee Innovation Lab, Westwood High School, Crosstown High, XQ and the SDGs

Our Mission

Provide high schoolers with the skills to become the next generation of positive change-makers

A red hexagon containing the XQ Learner Outcome "Original Thinkers for an Uncertain World"A purple hexagon containing the XQ Learner Outcome "Generous Collaborators for Tough Problems"

Nurture confidence, identity and belonging in STEM

A green and white icon of a male and female scientist in lab coats standing next to each other

Increase the number of students from historically underrepresented communities successfully applying for and graduating from STEM courses in higher education

A white icon of a university graduation cap

Empower more young people to pursue and thrive in STEM careers that advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Poster of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in a rectangular grid

Our Goals

🏫☀️

Grow the Memphis Biosolutions Lab into an extended summer program and community-wide after-school initiative

💡

Build a city-wide innovation hub in Memphis, a space where young scientists can collaborate, tackle real-world challenges, connect with mentors, and access opportunities that help them realise their potential.

🏆🏅

Open doors to global opportunities. Support young scientists from Memphis to showcase their ideas and compete in prestigious competitions such as the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge, The Earth Prize, and iGEM.

🌍💡

Scale our impact worldwide. Establish the Memphis Biosolutions Lab as a globally recognised model that inspires and enables communities around the world to create their own Biosolutions Labs.

Our Biosolutions

Young scientists from Memphis researching, designing and presenting solutions to the pollution challenges facing their own community.

Young scientists in a classroom studying articles about pollution across the world in a notice and wonder exerciseThree young scientists at desks researching a pollution problem in Memphis on their laptopsA team of young scientists researching a pollution solution together on their laptopsThree young scientists collaborating at a laptop to design a prototype of their biosolutionTwo young scientists presenting their poster on the Manta Filter, a custom aquifer inspired by manta ray filtrationA young scientist presenting her poster on Eco Moss, a biofilter designed to solve nitrogen dioxide air pollutionA young scientist presenting his poster on genetically engineered rye grass as a solution to heavy metal soil poisoningDr Jasmin Jeffery giving a presentation to young scientists as part of the meet the scientist seriesEnvironmental researcher Thalia Quaterman giving a talk to young scientistsSustainability educator Amber Lipford talking to young scientists about what a science educator doesKeShaun Pearson talking to young scientists about the Biodesign processTwo students looking at a laptop in front of a drawing of their prototype custom aquifer inspired by manta rays

Our Team

Photo of Nikki Wallace giving a talk about transforming education in front of a pink and red background

Nikki Wallace

Founder and Co-designer

Biology Teacher and Director of Innovation & Research at Crosstown High School

Headshot of KeShaun Pearson with a blurred tree and buildings in the background

KeShaun Pearson

Community Partner and Co-designer

Director of Memphis Community Against Pollution

Headshot of Dr Andrea Jacobo in front of a plain brown background

Dr Andrea Jacobo

Researcher and Co-designer

A green and white icon of two scientists in lab coats standing next to each other

Ra'Kelle Lavon

Mentor and Co-designer

Headshot of Deep Thakkar with a blurred background of a tree behind him

Deep Thakkar

Mentor, Researcher and Co-designer

3rd Year Biology Undergraduate at the University of Oxford and Laidlaw Scholar

Join Us

If you're interested in joining a future programme as a young scientist or partnering with us to support our mission, we'd love to hear from you!

Please fill in the form below or email us at memphis.biosolutionslab@gmail.com