• Led development investigations of numerous S. frugiperda insect cell culture parameters (e.g., seeding cell density, baculovirus MOI, time of feed, time of infection, etc) aimed at maximizing recombinant adeno associated virus (rAAV) productivity and improving quality. Identified point-of-failure conditions and provided recommendations for robust viral vector production.
• Developed in-house insect cell feed formulations for the production of high titer, high potency rAAV9 vectors.
• Provided scientific support on development programs using HEK293 cells to produce rAAV by transfection of multiple plasmids. Contributed on experimental design and statistical analysis to optimize DNA concentration, plasmid ratio, transfection reagent concentration and complexation time.
• Drafted technical reports to support regulatory findings and briefed department leadership to help steer technical decisions.

• Screened insect cell feed components and proposed in-house feed formulations that boost rAAV5 potency by 2-fold and reduced baculovirus DNA impurities as much as 50%.
• Evaluated the impact of insect HSC70/HSP40 overexpression on rAAV productivity and DNA impurity content, by providing additional expression cassettes through alternative baculovirus constructs.
• Executed AVB affinity chromatography and anion exchange chromatography to provide highly purified rAAV material for quality assays.
• Supported cell culture scale-up activities for non-GMP >100L engineering runs.
• Supported bioreactor scale-down modelling experiments using 3L single-use vessels and AMBR250 multi parallel bioreactor systems.

• Designed a small-scale, 4-plasmid transformation process for AAV vector production in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.
• Characterized basic fermentation process design space and identified optimal pH and temperature settings, key nutrients for constant growth and key process attributes associated to high productivity such as plasmid copy number, respiratory quotient, and byproduct concentration.
• Tested different product recovery strategies using sonication, enzymatic digestion and homogenizer.
• Executed proteomics experiments to assess yeast response to rAAV2 vector production. Performed bioinformatics analysis to identify leads of interest for strain development.

• Performed Sf9/baculovirus insect cell culture at small scale for viral vector production.
• Acquired practical knowledge in qPCR/ddPCR methods for rAAV and baculovirus titration.
• Provided scientific support on feed development programs using stable CHO cells to produce recombinant enzymes.
• Monitored cell growth and metabolite parameters by using Cedex BioHT metabolite analyzer, BGA pH/oxygen monitor, ViCell cell counter, and Advanced Instruments osmometer.

• Executed 2L bioreactor runs for a CHO mammalian culture continuous system and performed routine sample analysis.
• Operated Delta V-based automation system (TruBio) for daily feeding rate monitoring and adjustment.
• Troubleshot problems related to analytical equipment malfunction and bioreactor/controller response.
• Became proficient in daily operations with shake flasks and roller bottles.

• Performed chromatography scale-down studies for the purification of plasma-based Factor VIII.
• Acquired proficiency in the use of AKTA Avant system, for downstream process development studies.
• Performed AHF-M sample preparation, column packing, loading, and other chromatography operations on a routine basis.

• Performed DoE-based media development studies aimed at optimizing production of a monoclonal antibody.
• Acquired technical proficiency in lab-scale CHO cell culture operations, mainly using shake flasks and benchtop bioreactors.
• Operated cell culture laboratory analytical equipment (ViCell XR, Bioprofile FLEX) and digital automation systems (Applikon and BioNet controllers, Delta V software).
• Led a team of 4 to explore the landscape of cell line development technologies for monoclonal antibody production. Provided data comparison and recommendations on top 2 candidates to pursue licensing agreement.

• Screened promoter-reporter genes in Pichia pastoris, and optimized electroporation conditions for production of recombinant proteins.