- Tech Transfer Lead- Process characterization- Process validation- Clinical manufacturing support and process optimization

• Created and established a complete scale down model of an AAV purification process (cassette & hollow fiber TFF, affinity, and anion exchange chromatography).• Designed, planned, and executed lab scale experiments to support and improve ongoing AAV manufacturing efforts • Authored protocols for all downstream PD lab unit operations and trained colleagues.• Analyzed and interpreted large data sets consisting of process outputs and assay results.• Led the downstream development of a new program within a tight timeline, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing an existing AAV purification process and identified areas of improvement.• Managed the downstream PD lab, taking ownership over experiment details, scheduling, and consumable procurement. • Coordinated all preparations for a successful phase 1 viral clearance study within a 6-month timeframe, from CRO and model virus selection to onsite execution.• Spearheaded a collaboration project with Repligen to develop a % full capsid and vg titer estimation tool for AAV using SoloVPE.Tech Transfer/CMC Experience • Reviewed and initiated improvements to CMO documentation ranging from GMP master batch records to change controls. • Led the tech transfer of 2 TFF steps to an international CMO, contributing to a successful 200L supply run. • Acted as the downstream person in plant (PIP) for 4 GMP runs and resolved multiple deviations within the suite.• Leveraged PIP experience to drive the implementation of 3 key process improvements that significantly increased vector recovery, improved potency, and increased % full capsids at the GMP scale.• Utilized subject matter expertise to foster incremental process improvements to the AEX step, leading to reduced collection subjectivity and improved vector recovery, potency, and % full capsids for this step.• Reviewed and contributed to IND sections and source documents.

- Created and graded weekly engineering homework questions for students - Led weekly office hour sessions to teach bioprocess problem solving skills to 20+ students

For the research component of my master’s program, I joined Professor William Klein’s Molecular Neuroscience lab, which discovered the main cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyloid Beta Oligomers (ABOs). My research project was to elucidate the initiation step of ABO induced brain damage in neuronal cells during Alzheimer’s disease. Current Alzheimer’s therapeutics have virtually no clinical efficacy, and our present understanding of how ABOs instigate and carry out brain damage is hazy at best. The main goal of my project was to identify and confirm the membrane receptors that ABOs interact with when they bind to neurons and initiate cell death pathways. These receptors could become useful therapeutic targets for drug discovery research and could lead to successful treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. A few of the techniques that I used throughout this study include, rat hippocampal neuron cell culture and fluorescence microscopy assays.

This multidisciplinary program consists of a 1000 hour research project and various coursework focusing on bioprocess engineering, molecular biology, and biotech commercialization, which facilitates a robust and specialized understanding of the industry.

• Responsible for determining the optimal parameter set for a new resin in the Anion Exchange (AEX) and Immobilized Metal Anion Chromatography (IMAC) steps of an enzyme replacement therapy purification process• Supported early stage development of an AAV9 platform process and a continuous enzyme purification process• Utilized JMP to create a DOE and performed gradient elution runs to optimize buffers

I led groups of tourists and prospective students on historical tours of the University of Notre Dame's campus.

My research project involved learning to use Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and various electrochemical techniques in order to understand the redox state of Pyocyanin under different experimental conditions. Pyocyanin is a toxin that is synthesized by the antibiotic resistant bacteria, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, which is typically involved in chronic lung infections of people afflicted by Cystic Fibrosis. There is an increasing need to understand the interaction of this toxin under different conditions due to its constant redox state flux, so that further research into suppressing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa may be supported. My work in this lab involved increasing my proficiency in these laboratory techniques, gathering data, and drawing trends to support bacterial research across the lab.

The AICHE Chem E Car Challenge is a nationwide competition where students at different universities across the country compete using shoe-box sized cars that run solely on chemical reactions. Our fledgling team is only 5 years old and throughout my college my college career, I helped contribute towards its growth and development. As a freshman, I was appointed as the Materials Officers and procured over $2000 of chemicals and equipment for our first lab from various suppliers. I then transitioned into a leader role on the Powering Reaction team where I helped lead a team of roughly 10 students on the research and development of a powering reaction to make the car move. Additionally, I helped provide insight into the deliberation process for which reactions to use for each competition year. After seeing what worked and what could be improved upon at each competition, I was able to provide thorough recommendations for reactions to use each year. At our first competition, the 2016 North Central AICHE student conference, our team received tenth place in the ChemE Car competition, 3rd place in chemical engineering jeopardy, and 3rd place in the research poster competition. At the 2018 North Central AICHE student conference, I was on the ChemE Jeopardy team when we received 1st place and we will be heading to the national conference in Pittsburgh in November.

I recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering

I was chosen to participate in the ND London Summer Engineering program for this summer, where I took two classes, the Mechanics of the Summer Olympics, and Energy & Society, in the Notre Dame London center. During my 7 weeks abroad, I was able to increase my knowledge base of engineering while experiencing a variety of cultures. I was also able to visit Dover, Stonehenge, Bath, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Paris, Bruges, Brussels, and Lisbon. Overall, it was an enlightening experience, which allowed me to assimilate myself into the European culture and gain a new worldview.

My project for this internship involved testing the viability of 2 novel fluidized bed reactor designs at a pilot plant scale. These designs would streamline a critical step in the manufacturing process for one of the company's most popular starch products. If implemented at a manufacturing plant, these reactor designs would yield reduced production costs and would make available critical process units for use in other product lines. Throughout the summer, I ran batches and performed multiple Design of Experiments (DOE) to understand how the process parameters affected the starch quality and process safety. I analyzed all of the batch data in Excel and was able to find a significant trend regarding an exothermic process hazard. Additionally, I collaborated with different senior engineers to discuss my proposed design changes to the reactor to improve its product quality. By the end of the summer, I successfully confirmed the scale-up viability of these 2 fluidized bed reactor designs and prepared and presented a detailed engineering report to upper management.

My work in this research lab involved studying the effect of different transition metals on the conductivity and density of a particular solid state electrolyte. I learned how to synthesize and change the composition of the electrolyte pellets. I used an X ray Diffractometer and a peak assignment database, MDI JADE, to determine the relevant phases within the electrolytes in order to draw connections between molecular structure and performance. During my second semester in the laboratory, I independently developed an improved synthesis process for electrolyte plates that were a critical part of the sintering process. These plates would break after only a few reactions and needed to be constantly synthesized. I researched different synthesis methods and altered them to fit the needs of our lab. Ultimately I was able to create a new process for synthesizing the plates that resulted in increased durability.

I was the leader of a four person consulting team each semester that focused on working with early stage companies that focused on social development. Some notable projects were with BDW Biotech and Cohero Health, which were biotechnology and healthcare startups. My team and I revamped product development, marketing, and outreach strategies for successful product transition to market for both of these companies.

I helped expand Professor Brennecke's ionic liquid portfolio by synthesizing 20 new ionic liquids throughout the summer. I also used different instrumentation like the calorimeter to characterize characterized their physical and thermodynamic properties. Additionally, I operated a Bruker NMR spectrometer and examined H1 and C13 NMR spectra.

I organized and ran tutoring sessions for freshman students to teach them the fundamentals of Calculus using structured examples and lesson plans.

As a worker at Ed's Cafe, I managed food supplies weekly & served a variety of products including milkshakes, smoothies and sandwiches. Ed's Cafe is a communal eating experience at the University of Notre Dame that allows students to collaborate and dine while studying within their residence hall.

I was a full service waiter at an upscale retirement community in its dining room. I accommodated customer’s needs by preparing & serving food in a timely manner in a fast-paced work environment.

I attended the 2 week long Frontiers Biotechnology Camp at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I performed a variety of Biotechnology experiments involving GMO testing, implanting PGLO genes into ecoli and determining blood compatibility between different animals for proper breeding. I worked individually and in groups of three, which helped me develop constructive problem solving skills in a lab environment.