Rúben Gonçalves Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

As a Process Development Scientist at Touchlight DNA Services, my main responsibility is to develop and implement new dbDNA products and manufacturing platforms. This involves using statistical/data analytics and Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies to tailor our products towards client specifications or our manufacturing processes towards higher efficiency, robustness and process control.Focused on the synthesis of dbDNA (upstream development), I work closely with the R&D, MSAT, CPD, Mol. Bio. and Manufacturing teams to ensure effective end-to-end process cost engineering, development and implementation up to small-scale pilot batches. As a lab-based expert, I translate process/client feedback into testable hypothesis and carry out extensive DNA isolation, manipulation and testing (developing assays and analytics tools where needed) to guarantee project success.

As the lead Biochemist at Chip[S] Board, I led the creation and development of a manufacturing process for the production of Polylactic acid (PLA) based on the hydrolysis and fermentation of food waste sources, mainly potatoes.Being a fledgling startup, this was a challenging undertaking as everything had to be created from scratch. In my time with the company, I implemented a sterilization process for contaminated food waste streams, enzymatic processes for food breakdown and two fermentation modalities (batch andfed-batch) up to the 12L bioreactor scale. In-process analytics (i.e. assays to track sterility, fermentation efficiency, productivity, bacterial growth etc...) were also established which meant the implementation of various spectroscopy and HPLC-based detection methods as well as SOP and QC protocols for the fullprocess.The simple but effective and verifiable manufacturing process allowed thecompany to capture significant venture backing to further scale-up the processinto industrial pilot scale.

Porto E Região, Portugal

As a Junior Research Scientist, I conducted discovery and engineering of tailor-made antibodies through Phage Display as a research service for large pharmaceutical companies.Within the project workflow, I designed phage display libraries which consist of creating large collections of phages with unique antibody fragments on their surface. This would commonly involve codon optimization for bacteria, PCR, cloning, bacterial transformation and validation of the insertion of the antibody fragments DNA sequences Into Phage genomes. Post library generation, I would carry out hit detection to target molecules by following cycles of bespoke panning and mag bead-based selection to maximize preferred antibody properties. Hits were then reconstructed into vectors for bacterial expression for antibody production and subsequent characterization by ELISA-based assays and for sequencing and DNA sequence analysis.

Porto E Região, Portugal

Genetic engineering of Synechocystis sp. mutant strains for increased membrane vesiculation and for the transport of key immunogenic proteins for the immunization of fish.

Porto E Região, Portugal

Master's thesis work focused on understanding the cell signalling pathways related to the premature death of a yeast model for the rare neurodegenerative disease Niemann-Pick type C1. Directed to understanding the role of sphingolipids and calcium signalling in the compromised late-endosomal and lysosomal transport that is one of the hallmarks of the Niemann-Pick type C diseases.

Madeira, Portugal

Batchelor's degree internship looking to test the efficacy of using Titanium Dioxide and chitosan as coatings for plasmid DNA for HEK293T cell uptake - An approach dedicated to improving the current human cell transfection methods by experimenting with novel nanomaterials.

Mestrado, Biochemistry

Licenciatura, Bioquímica

• DGES 2015/2016 Merit Scholarship – Awarded to students with exceptional college performance in portuguese colleges. • Ribeira Brava Town.