Gavin Hong
Escondido,USA
Summary
Scientist with extensive experience in antibody and protein engineering within the pharmaceutical industry. Proven leader in discovery campaigns targeting challenging proteins, with deep expertise in molecular biology, protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization. Recognized for mentoring junior scientists, and progressing toward formal management responsibilities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Scientist I
Enlaza Therapeutics
La Jolla, CA
05.2023 - Current
- Lead scientist on multiple scFv and VHH antibody discovery campaigns against challenging and protein targets
- Directed and managed War-Lock (non-natural amino acid, nnAA) discovery campaigns, overseeing strategy, execution, and hit identification
- Train and mentor multiple junior scientists, providing hands-on guidance in molecular biology, protein expression, purification, and assay execution
- Act as technical lead within the group; recognized as being on a trajectory toward formal management responsibilities
- Executed recombinant protein expression, purification and refolding; purified proteins using IMAC, SEC, and IEX workflows
- Performed protein characterization using flow cytometry, ELISA, and BLI to assess binding, specificity, and affinity
- Collaborated cross-functionally to advance early discovery programs and support platform development
Senior Associate Scientist
Tentarix Biotherapeutics
San Diego, CA
03.2021 - 05.2023
- Engineered and generated antibody-like molecules with improved biochemical properties and drug functionality
- Designed antibody libraries (VH/VHH) and executed phage display campaigns
- Characterized antibody-like molecules using ELISA, DSF, and BLI to assess binding affinity, stability, and kinetics
- Developed mammalian expression plasmids and workflows for antibody production in Expi293 and ExpiCHO systems
- Established molecular biology workflows supporting low- and high-throughput cloning
- Implemented Expi293 expression systems for semi-high-throughput screening and protein production (50 mL-1 L)
- Integrated Benchling into company workflows to organize plasmids, primers, and protein sequences
- Contributed as a core member of the Platform/Technology Development Team, supporting advancement of engineered IL-2 (THOR-707, THOR-809) into the clinic
Senior Research Associate
Synthorx / Sanofi
La Jolla, CA
03.2019 - 03.2021
- Optimized protein expression conditions in engineered E. coli strains to improve purity and yield
- Performed and refined cloning strategies to generate engineered cytokines and proteins
- Expressed and purified engineered cytokines and nanobodies using benchtop purification techniques
Research Associate (Contract)
Celgene
San Diego, CA
12.2017 - 02.2019
- Maintained and optimized LC/MS systems (Agilent, Shimadzu, Waters)
- Purified synthetic compounds using HPLC/MS in support of medicinal chemistry programs
- Developed and optimized LC methods; assessed compound purity and quality
Research Technician
The Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, CA
03.2016 - 11.2017
- Trained under Nobel Laureate Ardem Patapoutian
- Generated high-quality membrane protein samples for cryo-EM using shake-flask HEK293 cultures
- Performed routine cloning (Gibson Assembly, site-directed mutagenesis) for mammalian expression
- Managed HEK293 suspension cultures and purified membrane proteins using FPLC systems (AKTA, Shimadzu)
Analytical Scientist
MicroConstants
San Diego, CA
09.2015 - 04.2016
- Performed liquid-liquid extractions for small-molecule purification prior to LC/MS analysis
- Optimized high-throughput UPLC/MS assays to assess compound stability in biological matrices
- Followed GLP and SOPs to meet regulatory requirements (USFDA, OECD, MHLW)
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR03.2015
Skills
- Protein Expression, Purification, Refold
- Transient expression of antibodies
- ScFv, VHH, Fabs, mAbs
- FPLC (IMAC, SEC, IEX)
- ELISA
- Flow cytometry
- BLI (Octet, GatorBio)
- DSF
- Cloning (Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate, Restriction Enzyme, SDM)
- NGS library preparation
- Protein Engineering
- Antibody Engineering
- Phage display
- NnAA-enabled discovery platforms
- Benchling
- SnapGene
- Geneious
- GraphPad Prism
Publications
Co-author, 'Structure of the Human Volume Regulated Anion Channel,' eLife (2018) 7:e38461
Poster Presentations
- Using a novel synthetic biology platform to generate a homogenous dipegylated IL-10 with native potency (SITC, 2019)
- Abstract 2956: TNRX-257, a novel multifunctional biologic effectively blocks LAG3 and conditionally delivers IL2Rβ/γ agonism to LAG3+ cells for robust anti-tumor immunity (AACR, 2023)
Timeline
Scientist I
Enlaza Therapeutics
05.2023 - Current
Senior Associate Scientist
Tentarix Biotherapeutics
03.2021 - 05.2023
Senior Research Associate
Synthorx / Sanofi
03.2019 - 03.2021
Research Associate (Contract)
Celgene
12.2017 - 02.2019
Research Technician
The Scripps Research Institute
03.2016 - 11.2017
Analytical Scientist
MicroConstants
09.2015 - 04.2016
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of Oregon