Capstone Project
Elevate your Bioproduction: A Breakthrough Solution for Scale-Up Success
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My capstone project during my master's degree focused on tackling challenges in small-scale shake flask fermentation. The primary objective was to develop solutions to overcome oxygenation limits and nutrient deficiencies, thereby optimizing growth, enhancing yields, and accurately reflecting process parameters when scaled up. Through innovative approaches, the aim was to offer cost-effective options for improving outcomes in shake flask fermentation, contributing to advancements in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing. Feel free to reach out if you would like to know more!
Industry projects
As part of the MMB curriculum, each semester student teams are partnered with biotechnology companies to collaborate on a specific project.
W. L. Gore & Associates
Fall 2022
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The team performed an in-depth analysis of the algae remediation and reutilization market and explored the applicability and viability of ePTFE as an algae harvesting material. Outreach campaigns and market research were conducted, culminating in a final market report and recommendations.
Altis Biosystems
Spring 2023
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Altis is a support service in the biotechnology industry developing expertise and in vitro platforms for researchers working to understand and treat gastrointestinal human diseases. For this project, the student team carried out an investigation for human-derived mucus, a novel product in the company's pipeline. The team provided a comprehensive report identifying markets of interest, compiling a competitor analysis, developing a production and marketing plan, obtaining insight from prospective customers, and providing SBIR phase II grant-writing support for the company.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
Fall 2023
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FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), boasts a rich history and a strong foothold in biological product manufacturing. This project encompassed the construction of an integrated database of FUJIFILM Diosynth's diverse manufacturing projects, filling critical information gaps to drive informed decision-making. The provided database will potentiate the organization's ability to analyze pivotal metrics, such as clinical trial timelines and success rates for manufactured molecules and biologics, to drive effective marketing and sales endeavors.
Communication projects
Shorter Ride to Macrolide
Our team collaborated with a PI from NC State's Comparative Medicine Institute who is developing an alternative pathway for macrolide production through the discovery of a novel methyltransferase enzyme. We performed a market and competitor analysis, as well as investigated potential expansion opportunities for the technology.
Microbial-based Approaches for Reducing Post-harvest Food Loss in Horticultural Crops: A review
This individual literature review thoroughly examined traditional microbial approaches for food spoilage management and analyzed recent literature for potential novel technologies that could be applied for increased food security.
Automate it: Assessing the Market for a Simplified ECM
Production System
For this project, the MMB student team collaborated with NC State's Office of Research Commercialization, which supports incredible technologies coming out of NC State. An analysis of the IP landscape, market research, and a commercialization plan was developed for a group of PIs who developed a way to automate a significant part of the extracellular matrix production process.
Reviewing Paclitaxel: History, Production, Optimization,
and Future Challenges
This individual writing piece dives into the history of paclitaxel and the advancements that have altered its production process, while also reviewing challenges that have not been addressed.