Dustin has a masters in biochemical engineering with experience in assay development and computer modeling. He has a particular passion for replacing animal products with biosynthesized alternatives as well as applying tools from fields such as programming to automate and model the life sciences.

Experience

  • Researcher and Freelancer

    Sunnyvale, CA

    April 2020 - Present

    • Studying and applying machine learning methods and how they can relate to the life sciences
    • For current projects, see my workshop
    • Skills developed: Reinforcement Learning, Git, Project Management, Spotfire, Keras, Tensorflow, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory

  • Scientist I

    Boehringer Ingelheim - Fremont, CA

    January 2019 - March 2020

    • Characterized and assessed new technologies for use in developing a next generation manufacturing platform
    • Lead, designed, analyzed, and presented experiments with primarily lab scale reusable bioreactors for perfusion processes. Experiments included scaledown / scaleup, PCS, offline models, and designing novel perfusion bioreactor systems
    • Developed process analytical technology and feedback control for controlling multiple process parameters
    • Identified need for, designed, and sourced custom parts to allow for further development
    • Skills / Equipment: Bioreactors (SUBs and reusable) at 2L to 1000L scales, cGMP, cGDP, aseptic technique, shake flasks, Python, Tensorflow, Visual Basic, SIMCA, TruBio / DeltaV

  • Volunteer

    Biocurious - California

    January 2017 - Present

    Real Vegan Cheese Project: Working to express and purify milk proteins using recombinant DNA technology with the goal of making authentic cheese from entirely vegan sources.
    • Skills / Equipment: Bioreactors, sonicator, centrifuge, FPLC, and assays

  • Project Manager

    Nanofluidics Lab, UCL - London, UK

    September 2015 - March 2016

    Master's Thesis: ``Development of an analytical method for the online detection of biocatalyst reaction rates in continuous-flow synthesis."
    • Skills / Equipment: Liquid handling, photospectrometer, automation, serial diluations, and data analysis

  • Researcher

    University of Southampton - Southampton, UK

    Summer 2015

    Investigated Molecular Dynamics simulations using the ELBA model in LAMMPS
    • Skills / Equipment: Computer modeling, python, linux, superclusters, and data analysis

  • Project manager

    How to Change the World Program, UCL - London, UK

    Summer 2014

    Managed Mixed backround team to come up with unique solutions to London's flash flooding problem
    Met with fogures from the public and private secotr as well as the community to propose feasible solutions

Skills

Lab Techniques and Hardware

Bioreactors (2L to 1000L Scales, GMP, SUBs and reusable)

Centrifuges (continuous and batch)

Micro-, ultra-, and nano-filtration

HPLC

spectroscopy (UV-vis, fluorescent)

Bradford Assays

PCR, q-PCR

ELISA

Gel Electrophoresis

USD Devices

Tecan Freedom Evo

Maths and BiochemEng Modules

Cell & Tissue Engineering

Integrated Downstream Processing

Design and Control of Biochemical Reactors

Sustainable Industrial Bioprocesses and Biorefineries

Cell and Molecular Biology

Partial Differential Equations

Laplace Transofrms

Eigenvectors

Thermodynamics

Process Engineering

Programming and Other Skills

Python

Machine Learning (Tensorflow)

TruBIO

SIMCA

C/C++

Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Superclusters

Linux

Crytography

Blockchain

State-based Probability

Education

  • Master of Engineering
    Chemical with Biochemical Engineering

    University College London (UCL) - London, UK

    September 2012 - May 2016

    Graduated with Honours

    Undergrad classes focused on chemical engineering, while postgrad was on biochemical engineering.
    Master's Thesis: Development of an Analytical Method for the Online Detection of Biocatalyst Conversion Rates

  • General Education

    De Anza College - United States

    2008 - 2012

    Simultaneous enrollment with highschool. General education classes included subjects such as human biology, differential calculus, public speaking, and philosophy.

Contact

  • +1 408 462 2709
  • Dustin.Sands+web@gmail.com
  • dustinsands.com
  • Sunnyvale, California, United States
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