Bioprocess Expert in development, optimization, scaleup, tech transfer, intellectual property, technology economic analysis, and life cycle assessment.

Expertise

• Process Development
• Process Optimization
• Process Scaleup
• Tech Transfer
• Technoeconomic Analysis
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Intellectual Property Strategy
• CMO Management
• Plant Design-Build for Lab/Pilot/Commercial Scales
• Large Scale Chromatography, Membranes, Centrifuge, Thin Film Evaporation, Drying
• Plant Protein Extraction
• Fermentation Optimization
• Nanosynthesis

Fields Applied in:

• Alt Food (beef, egg)
• Alt Protein (plant, precision fermentation)
• Biofuels (corn, algae)
• Biochemicals
• Nanomaterial Synthesis

An innovative, self-motivated, results-driven Chemical Engineer with over 17+ years' experience in bioprocessing, seeking to utilize skills and knowledge for your excellent team project. Combines innovative and analytical thinking with engineering education and experience to solve complex problems and reduce project costs. A solid individual contributor and a motivating team player with a track record of project delivery.

Experience

Undisclosed Company          2024-Present

Founder

• Consulting in Alt Food, Alt Protein, Biofuels, Biochemical, Nanomaterial Synthesis.

EVERY Company, Daly City           2021-2024

Director of Process Technology & Head of Bioprocess Development

Precision fermentation and downstream process development and scale-up.

• Program Manager for a large cross-functional program on flagship protein for scale up and commercialization.
• Led a team of 18 scientists and engineers to take the process beyond strain engg team to the manufacturing team. Team worked on strain selection, fermentation optimization, downstream processing development, fermentation and downstream processing scaleup, demonstration at contract manufacturing organization, supporting limited time offer launches.
• Attained substantial (1.5X) titer improvement in the fermentation process development and cost of goods sold reduction (2X) in the downstream process development.
• Managed successfully tech transfer to global co-manufacturing partners, continued manufacturing support for the product.
• Achieved seamless tech transfer from lab to 45kL fermentation systems, including associated downstream procesing. (1 US patent issued)

Eat Just Inc., San Francisco, CA          2018-2021

Pilot Plant Manager

Plant protein purification and associated food product development and scale-up.

• Managed pilot plant operations with up to five associates for plant protein purification and liquid egg production.
• Implemented several continuous improvement projects from ideation to implementation at co-manufacturing operations for improvement of sensory characteristics and COGs reduction. (1 US patent applied)

Unisource Nutra LLC, Lewes, DE          2017-2021

Co-Founder

Nutraceutical product and process development and marketing.

• Co-founded the startup and managed the day-to-day operations and strategic partnerships with manufacturers in India.
• Developed new processes and products to manufacture nutraceutical products from herbal sources for higher efficacy and lower cost.
• Fostered connections between the US client base with Indian manufacturers.

Impossible Foods Inc., Redwood City, CA        2013-2017

Senior Engineer

Plant protein purification and consumer food product process development and scale-up.

• Managed multiple projects ranging from $0.2-25MM to design and scale-up processes for producing plant proteins for food application.
• Developed novel processes and concepts for solving quality and viability aspects of the process.
• (9 US patents, 5 International patents issued)
• Identified and evaluated new technologies to take the burger recipe from lab to commercial plant. Orchestrated these technologies into an end-to-end process train to design-build and commissioned to a 3MM lb/year production facility. 

Heliae Development LLC, Gilbert, AZ          2009-2013

Senior Process Development Engineer

Algae culture and downstream process development.

• Pioneered novel processes for extration and purification of algae oil, utilization of the residual biomass, maximizing productivity with novel reactor designs. (52 US patents issued, 19 international patents issued)
• Orchestrated several projects from pilot optimization and process modeling phase through commissioning, tech transfer and continuous improvement phase for unit process such as dewatering, extraction, hydrocracking.
• Spearheaded development of the novel extraction process from concept to piilot scale and customer trial of the products, leading the downstream process development team.
• Developed mass and energy balance and implemented the complete end-to-end process in dynamic simulation software for chemical processes (CADSIM).
• Basic project engineering experience for the installation of a pilot plant in terms of scheduling, vendor/contractor management and basic estimation. Reviewed design basis, process flow drawings, process and instrumentation drawings, participate in Hazard Analysis/Risk Assessments, commissioning and performance tests.

Arizonia State University, Mesa, AZ          2008-2009

Research Assistant Professor

Algae extraction process development.

• Led development of groundbreaking processes for algae based biofuels including innovative extraction, purification and productivity enhancement strategies for lipids production (5 US patents issued).
• Cultivated a culture of mentorship and coaching within the team of 3 associates.

Tetravitae Biosciences, Champaign, IL          2007-2008

Process Engineer

Fermentation process development and analytical support.

• Played a pivotal role in the economic development and scale up of fermentation process for the production of valuable chemicals acetone, butanol, ethanol (ABE) from renewable resources.
• Managed the purchase and setup of lab scale (1 L, 10 L) and pilot scale (300 L) process equipment, showcasing expertise in both lab and industrial environments.
• Innovated continuous fermentation and recovery processes.

Unviersity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL     2003-2006

Research Assistant

One step protein and small molecule purification using membranes and chromatography.

• Developed a novel process to isolate and concentrate high-value co-products from corn by a combination of membranes and chromatography. These products --alcohol-soluble proteins (zein) and xanthophylls (lutein and zeaxanthin) -- could add $90 million in annual revenue to a typical 50M gallon/yeaar dry-grind ethanol plant (30% increase in profits) without additional materials coming in to the plant. (1 US patent issued, 5 peer-review papers)
• Optimized and scaled up from bench-top to semi-prep scale from the initial extraction to the final purification and concentration using a combination of solvent extraction, membranes and chromatography.
• Completed preliminary process design and economic evaluation of the process.

Honors & Publications

CREDENTIALS

• PMP-Project Management Professioinal -- Google Certification

PUBLICATION AND PATENTS

• Author of 11 peer-reviewed papers with over 2500 citations and an h-index of 30.
• Over 200invention disclosures filed and 90+ US and international patents issued.

Education

Ph.D., Food and Biochemical Engineering

M.S., Chemical Engineering

B.S., Chemical Engineering