Austin So Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Guilford, Ct, Us

I was assigned to a team trying to redefine the paradigm of "sequencing for the masses". I devised orthogonal strategies for surface activation and functionalization, as well as polymer/hydrogel growth via surface initiated ATRP. I also designed functional oligos for a variety of purposes and worked with the engineering group to scale internal capabilities.

I'm trying to build stuff in my "garage" - what I call (bio-)chemical widgets - to address the deficiencies in clinical sequencing for cancer diagnostics. I'm also advising startups on assay design, sample processing, and the analytical challenges they present.

Pleasanton, Ca, Us

As a consultant, and later employee, I advised on the processing of clinical samples, and designed and brought through early feasibility an upstream chemistry for the Ionic system that would allow total nucleic acid purification from FFPE materials.

Menlo Park, California, Us

Self-sponsored Green Card application, with requisite wait time under EB2 (National Interest Waiver) track.

I led a small team focused on creating, developing, and improving new automation-friendly sequencing preparation and instrument loading protocols for the Genia nanopore instrument that would translate into high quality sequencing reads.

Foster City, Ca, Us

As the founding employee, I built up and oversaw all research and development activities of the company, including lab operations, infrastructure, assay design and analytics, instrument and software vendor assessment and capital equipment purchases. With the clinical team and the input of our founding clinical oncologists. we launched the first CLIA/CAP accredited ddPCR test for 10 actionable amplifications in cancer for which FDA-approved drugs existed. With this experience, I led the redesign of our core sequencing chemistry to meet the specific characteristics of clinical samples, and, with input of the clinical team, devised an end-to-end sequencing and analytics workflow that could meet CLIA/CAP regulations that could be ported to other clinical labs. Operationally, I created and managed our intellectual property portfolio, and provided scientific insight to business strategy and operations. I also led scientific presentations at conferences, commercial clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms.

Hercules, Ca, Us

I continued the work I was tasked with at Quantalife, switching gears towards demonstrating the value of ddPCR as a cancer diagnostic. I designed and developed novel assays for more challenging targets using LNAs, as well as other conceptual designs for the QX-200 and its use of DNA-binding dyes. I helped characterize assay behavior in droplets and how their biophysical properties could be uniquely exploited through partitioning, as well as deduced how the data correlated to the inherent properties of the target species. I presented these results internally and to international colleagues, academic institutions and conferences.

Pleasanton, Us

I was part of the applications team involved in the commercialization of droplet digital PCR (employee #30). Through late-alpha to early beta and launch, I was part of a cross-functional, multidisciplinary group, that acted as internal customers that guided GUI design, data analytics features and decision trees. I worked on novel assay designs for the NIPT space, bulk droplet generation, as well as novel applications of monodispersed droplet chemistry in sample preparation for sequencing. I devised the approach for harvesting droplet contents and was involved in early discussions on technical error contributions to overall error estimates.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Ca

Vancouver, British Columbia, Ca

I continued my work on the U-STAR platform for hybridization-based gene quantification, as well as proof-of-concept applications of DNA polymerases for unbiased PCR.

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

I was leading efforts to develop minimal chemistries that would enable high-recovery release of nucleic acids from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as whole blood, for entry into SCODAphoresis-based purification. I also worked on proof-of-concept approaches for the simultaneous purification of proteins and nucleus acids from microorganisms, as well as creating alternative matrices to enhance surface adhesion and interactions with nucleic acids. I was also responsible for ensuring facility adherence to local BSL2 and chemical waste regulations.

Ph. D., Interdisciplinary

M. Sc., Physiology (Neuroscience)

B. Sc., Honours (Non-Major)

Education record