Griffin Bast
Charleston,USA
Summary
Results-driven laboratory professional with extensive experience in conducting detailed experiments and analyses. Advanced technical skills support research objectives and ensure precise data collection. Proficient in laboratory safety protocols and equipment maintenance, fostering a safe and efficient research environment that consistently yields reliable outcomes. Committed to advancing scientific knowledge through meticulous attention to detail and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Research Technician
Ingevity
Charleston, SC
02.2025 - Current
- Responsible for a contract to scale-up and optimize a synthetic graphite polymerization process. Contracted to provide 100 kg of synthetic graphite after a 2-year period along with large scale reaction vessels for liquid polymer, carbonization, and graphitization. This project involves both developing the original polymer recipe and improving the industrial processes in between each of the aforementioned steps. This project is ongoing and has an active NDA.
- Actively provide over 70 kg of activated carbon for battery applications. Involves activating and milling granular carbon to specific particle sizes with low volumes of metal impurities. This project is ongoing and has an active NDA.
- Supports plant processes by performing audits on several activated carbon products; milling, producing, and testing over 150 kg of carbon pellets. This involves both receiving samples from Ingevity plants and producing materials in the pilot test plant in Charleston, SC.
- Explored the impact of high-pressure water washing on impurity removal from wood-based carbon scaffolding. This project examined the limits and feasibility of high pressure washing to specifically remove phosphorous from activated carbon, observing variables such as temperature, dwell time, water:carbon ratio, and chemical additives. Currently has a report under review: “Evaluation of High-Pressure Washing for Phosphorus Removal in Wood-Based Carbon”.
Lab Manager
MUSC
Charleston, SC
03.2022 - 01.2024
- Responsible for procurement and inventory, handling purchase orders and storage of high value products like engineered cells, live mice, and RNA. Included cell culture, -80C storage, and liquid nitrogen storage.
- Transfected CAR-T cells through electroporation to study the effects of various structures on Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC). Mouse T cells were transfected and re-introduced to irradiated mice, confirmation of transfection was seen through green fluorescent proteins (GFP), tumor shrinkage, and flow cytometry. Responsible for T cell collection, cell culture, transfection, irradiation, and mouse observation. A similar study was also conducted for mesothelioma.
- Participated in a study involving the use of CAR-T cells as a carrier for multiple targeted cytokine payloads, allowing for a localized application of antitumor products. The CAR-T cells were modified through either CRISPR knock-in strategies or electroporation. The DNA was modified through PCR to make small changes like the addition of fluorescent markers. T cells were administered to mice and tumor homing was confirmed through flow cytometry and an in-vivo luciferin/luciferase bioassay.
- Provided DNA for projects through purification from E. coli culture and from rt-PCR, allowing for a variety of plasmids to be tested.
- Received whole blood samples for separation and recovery of plasma to study T-cell amounts in various stages of immunotherapy.
Student Researcher
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
09.2019 - 05.2021
- Modified long chain thiols with a cyanide functional group to observe and map the electromagnetic surface environments of proteins. Specifically was responsible for thiol modification and optimization of chain length for probe functionality.
- Navigated a changing work environment due to COVID-19, assisting in the conversion of the lab to focus on computational chemistry rather than in-lab experiments.
- Modeled bond frequencies in cyanide groups based on different thiol groups and catalogued their changes in reaction to electromagnetic stimulus.
Education
Chemistry B.S. -
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC05-2021
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Boston College High School
Dorchester, MA05-2017
Skills
- Lab operations (maintenance, procurement, inventory)
- DNA/RNA purification
- Research design
- Mouse handling and management
- In vitro cell culture
- PCR and rt-PCR,
- Research reporting and data analysis,
- Process scale-up and optimization
- Polymer synthesis
- Specimen and sample preparation
- Flow cytometry
- In vivo project management
Certification
- Counter-Balance Forklift Certification, Ingevity - 5/25-Current
Timeline
Research Technician
Ingevity
02.2025 - Current
Lab Manager
MUSC
03.2022 - 01.2024
Student Researcher
College of Charleston
09.2019 - 05.2021
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Boston College High School
Chemistry B.S. -
College of Charleston