Fashion Institute of Technology

Luma Moss

FINALIST PROJECT

MORGAN BROWN, MILLA LIMA, MADISYN GUDINO, SOPHIE LIPTROT

Luma Moss is a genetically engineered biosensor designed to detect lead contamination in household water, a hidden but serious health risk. Using multiple promoters, it emits visual and olfactory signals when lead is present. The moss is easy to maintain and can be transformed with bioengineered plasmids via Agrobacterium vectors. A flow cell draws water from a home faucet to expose the moss, allowing real-time sampling. By making lead detection accessible and visible, Luma Moss empowers individuals to protect their health and advocate for improved water quality, reinforcing the fundamental right to clean, safe water.

Evelyn Rynkiewicz (PhD) is an Assistant Professor of Ecology at FIT. Before coming to FIT, she earned her PhD from Indiana University and subsequently conducted research as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Edinburgh (National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow) and Columbia University. At FIT, Evie teaches classes in ecology and biology. Her overall goal is to increase science literacy among non-science majors.