Timothy Vernon

 About Tim

• Advisor: Dino Di Carlo
• Department: Bioengineering
• Campus: UCLA
• BioPACIFIC MIP Research: SET 1 - Bioderived Materials

 What is your research focus?

Our lab is currently making significant strides in integrating the PicoShell workflow with the BioFoundry, and we are currently developing a yeast clonal library workflow that will be available to other members of the BioPACIFIC MIP program. Our current protein evolution project can be a stepping stone toward generating E. coli clonal libraries, which are more widely used than yeast libraries. Moreover, we are collaborating with the BioFoundary to enhance bio-derived material yields. Although our current workflow only selects cells that accumulate the product intracellularly, we aim to expand our capabilities to include cell secretions. The successful completion of this protein evolution project will allow us to introduce PicoShell features that enable us to increase yields from secreting cells, which are more commonly used in this field. In summary, our ongoing work with the BioFoundry has a broad scope, and we aim to improve several automation workflows with the potential to provide unparalleled throughput to the BioPACIFIC MIP community. Our work has the potential to significantly impact the biotech industry and we are committed to advancing our research to benefit the community.

 What excites you about NSF BioPACIFIC MIP?

My interest in the BioPACIFIC MIP Fellows program stems from its comprehensive support for projects, as well as its emphasis on both technical and social development. These opportunities are essential for my growth in biotechnology.

Project Support: Our PicoShell workflow tackles current limitations in protein screening. By collaborating with the BioFoundry Core, we enhance scalability and gain insights into the potential of PicoShells to innovate new proteins.

Technical Development: BioPACIFIC MIP offers access to state-of-the-art, industrially relevant equipment and training that will be instrumental in my professional development. My recent participation in the Society of Lab Automation and Screening (SLAS) conference underscored the increasing demand for automation expertise. By utilizing the Tecan Fluent Automated Liquid Handler and other lab automation equipment, I plan to conduct large-scale experiments and gain industry-critical skills. With BioPACIFIC MIP’s resources, I can enhance my technical proficiency, which will both boost my marketability and enable me to contribute more effectively to the broader scientific community.

Social Development: BioPACIFIC MIP cultivates collaboration within and beyond UCSB and UCLA, offering a platform to share findings and collaborate with experts spanning a variety of bioderived products. This environment can help forge professional relationships and drive collective innovation in the synthetic biotech field.