Tobias Johnston
Creative Biochemical Specialist
Sherman Oaks,CA
Summary
Creative Biochemical Specialist with 8+ years of experience in process development, molecular biology, and research. Proven leader in cross-functional teams, combining technical expertise with project management skills to drive innovation in biopharmaceuticals.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Sr. Associate Process Development
Amgen Inc
Thousand Oaks, California
7 2022 - 03.2024
- New Product Introduction (NPI) Leadership: Led cross-functional NPI team (R&D, QA, Manufacturing) to launch 2 biologics, optimize 7, accelerating time-to-market via Agile timeline management
- Protein Analytics: Performed 200+ protein assays (HPLC, UV-VIS, Western blot) to optimize purity yields, reducing impurities by 22% in Phase III candidates.
- Chromatography Optimization: Analyzed 300+ chromatograms using Empower software, improving peak resolution by 18% through method adjustments.
- Project Prioritization: Managed 4 concurrent PD projects, realigning resources to meet 100% of critical deadlines despite supply chain delays.
- Cross-Functional Support: Assisted manufacturing team in troubleshooting 10+ harvest failures, reducing downtime by 30 hours/month.
- Process Risk Mitigation: Identified and resolved 5 critical separation issues during scale-up, preventing potential $2M in losses.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Presented cost/benefit analyses to leadership on isolation techniques, influencing $500K equipment investment.
- Kaizen Participation: Streamlined assay documentation workflows, cutting report generation time by 25%.
- Mentorship: Trained 6 junior scientists in chromatography and assay techniques, improving team throughput by 20%.
- Automation Troubleshooting: Resolved 15+ automation failures in chromatography/filtration systems, collaborating with engineers to implement logic fixes.
- Process Monitoring Systems: Designed and deployed real-time monitoring protocols for pH/temperature/conductivity, cutting deviation response time by 40%.
- Tech Transfer Leadership: Managed 33 cross-functional tech transfers (R&D → GMP), aligning with FDA timelines using Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
Research Fellow
Washington State University
Spokane, Washington
05.2020 - 05.2022
- Lab Leadership: Operated as the sole scientist and manager for a neuroscience lab, overseeing all experimental, financial, and compliance operations with zero critical audit findings.
- Strategic Research Planning: Identified 3 novel biomarkers for stroke recovery through systematic literature reviews, directing $500K NIH-funded project priorities.
- Process Optimization: Redesigned in vivo stroke models, reducing surgical procedure time by 25% while maintaining 95% survival rates (IACUC-verified).
- Data-Driven Experimentation: Applied GraphPad Prism and R to optimize statistical power analysis, increasing study validity and leading to 2 peer-reviewed publications.
- Regulatory Compliance: Single-handedly prepared for AAALAC accreditation inspections, achieving full compliance for all animal protocols (IACUC).
- Viral Vector Production: Engineered Semliki Forest Virus vectors for gene delivery, improving neuronal transfection efficiency by 40% vs. lab baselines.
- Resource Management: Controlled $200K in lab budgets, reallocating funds to prioritize high-impact equipment (confocal microscope upgrades).
- Risk Mitigation: Developed crisis protocols for equipment failures ( -80°C freezer outages), preventing sample losses worth $50K+.
- Mentorship: Trained 5 rotational students in hippocampal slice electrophysiology/ biochemistry, with 2 co-authoring published papers.
Research Specialist
San Diego State Research Foundation
San Diego, California
05.2018 - 06.2020
- Supply Chain Optimization: Overhauled lab procurement processes, reducing costs by 30% via vendor consolidation and inventory JIT systems.
- Feasibility Studies: Evaluated 5 research projects for ROI potential, reallocating $150K to high-impact cardiac toxicity studies.
- KPI Development: Designed lab performance metrics (papers/week, assays/week, contamination rates), boosting productivity by 35%.
- Mentorship: Trained 15+ interns in cell culture, HPLC, and surgical techniques; 3 later joined Pfizer/Genentech, the rest have a PhD or MD
- Budget Management: Controlled $300K annual lab budget, prioritizing equipment purchases that increased throughput by 20%.
- Safety Compliance: As Lab Safety Officer, passed 6 AAALAC audits with zero critical findings.
- Process Mapping: Redesigned ELN workflows using Visio, improving FDA audit readiness.
- Stakeholder Reports: Delivered monthly executive briefings on research progress using Tableau dashboards, and PowerPoint
Intern/fellow
National, Institute of Aging @ NIH
Baltimore, MD
06.2017 - 08.2017
- Independent Project Leadership: Designed and executed an in vivo study on genetic variant rodents, investigating cardiovascular responses to experimental PDE inhibitors.
- Data-Driven Problem Solving: Analyzed complex datasets (Excel, GraphPad) to identify 3 compound efficacy trends, informing team drug development strategies.
- Technical Execution: Performed protein characterization (Western blot, HPLC) and confocal microscopy, generating 50+ images for internal NIH reports.
- Process Innovation: Optimized organic synthesis protocols for PDE modulators, reducing reaction time by 20% while maintaining purity standards.
- Collaborative Research: Worked with 5 NIH labs to troubleshoot in vivo dosing challenges, resolving 3 critical pharmacokinetic issues.
- Equipment Proficiency: Operated LC-MS, spectrophotometers, and surgical tools, maintaining 100% calibration compliance.
- Regulatory Adherence: Followed strict NIH animal protocols, achieving zero welfare violations during 200+ procedures.
- Executive Reporting: Compiled weekly progress reports for senior scientists, highlighting risks and mitigation plans.
- Resource Management: Tracked and ordered $75K in lab supplies, preventing project delays.
- Knowledge Transfer: Trained 3 new fellows in rodent handling and confocal imaging techniques.
International Teaching
HEP
08.2015 - 06.2016
- Program Leadership: Designed and implemented a universal science curriculum for 100+ international students across 5 countries, accommodating diverse learning needs through peer-reviewed teaching frameworks.
- Performance Optimization: Developed quantitative assessment metrics (exams, essays, lab practicals) that improved class average scores by 22% over two semesters.
- Stakeholder Management: Collaborated with 15+ international educators to align teaching methodologies, creating standardized STEM lesson plans adopted by 3 schools.
- Process Improvement: Researched and integrated evidence-based teaching tactics, reducing student knowledge gaps by 35% through peer-assisted learning strategies.
- Adaptive Instruction: Customized chemistry coursework for ESL students and gifted learners, achieving 100% pass rate on international competency exams.
- Training & Development: Completed 80+ hours in instructor certification workshops, immediately implementing cognitive learning techniques that boosted student engagement by 40%.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyzed test results to identify curriculum weak points, revising 25% of course materials to improve concept retention.
- Risk Mitigation: Created contingency lesson plans for equipment failures/language barriers, ensuring uninterrupted instruction during 100% of classes.
- Resource Management: Optimized limited lab equipment usage through rotational group schedules, enabling 30% more practical experiments per term.
- Cross-Cultural Communication: Presented complex scientific concepts to non-native English speakers using visual aids and hands-on demonstrations, receiving 95% positive feedback in evaluations.
Chemistry Supplemental Instructor
Instiller of Knowledge, Humboldt State
Arcata, California
08.2014 - 05.2016
- Statistical Analysis: Applied SPSS and Excel regression models to identify weak topics, redesigning lessons to increase pass rates by 30%.
- Predictive Modeling: Developed early-warning algorithms using historical grade distributions, enabling proactive tutoring for 20+ at-risk students per term.
- Curriculum Optimization: Used ANOVA testing to validate new lab formats, improving practical exam scores by 25%.
- Performance Metrics: Created real-time dashboards (Excel) to track student progress, reducing mid-term dropouts by 40%.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Presented data-driven proposals to faculty, securing funding for supplemental instruction programs.
- Process Improvement: Implemented peer-reviewed teaching tactics based on education research papers, boosting engagement by 35%.
- Cross-Functional Training: Mentored 5 TAs in data-backed teaching methods, improving their student ratings by 1.5/5.0 points.
Intern/fellow
National, Institute of Aging @ NIH
Baltimore, MD
06.2015 - 08.2015
- Literature Synthesis: Analyzed 50+ peer-reviewed papers on cardiovascular mechanisms, identifying 3 key knowledge gaps that shaped team research priorities.
- Experimental Execution: Conducted 80+ in vivo autonomic response studies in rodents, maintaining 100% IACUC compliance with zero protocol deviations.
- Data Generation: Generated drug response curves for 12 PDE inhibitors using GraphPad Prism, with 2 compounds advancing to NIH patent review.
- Technical Expertise: Performed compound purification (HPLC) and characterization (LC-MS), achieving 95% purity standards for all test articles.
- Technology Utilization: Operated confocal microscopes and electrophysiology rigs to visualize compound effects, producing 30+ publishable images.
- Process Documentation: Authored 15+ standardized protocols for cardiac studies, adopted by 3 lab groups.
- Professional Development: Completed 40+ hours of NIH workshops on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with NHLBI researchers to validate 2 novel cardiovascular biomarkers.
- Risk Mitigation: Implemented surgical checklists that reduced postoperative complications by 20%.
- Knowledge Transfer: Trained 3 summer interns in sterile techniques and data recording standards.
Reconnaissance Marine
United States Marine Corps
11.2007 - 11.2012
- Mission Planning: Orchestrated 80% of team missions in Afghanistan, including air/artillery support coordination (JTAC-trained).
- Logistics Management: Secured insertion/extraction routes for 50+ high-risk ops, maintaining 100% team survival rate.
- Risk Assessment: Conducted terrain/weather analysis pre-mission, mitigating 12 potential threats.
- Resource Allocation: Managed $900K in equipment, ensuring zero loss during deployments.
- Crisis Response: Medically stabilized 5 wounded Marines under fire using MARCH protocols.
- Risk Intelligence & Mitigation: Analyzed 100+ historical mission files to identify patterns in enemy tactics, reducing operational risks by 40% during 2011-2012 deployments.
- Executive Briefings: Delivered multiple mission briefs to General Officers (O-7+) in Afghanistan, synthesizing complex combat data into actionable insights for theater-wide strategy adjustments.
Education
Master of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine
Washington State University
Spokane, WA 08.2020 - 08.2022
MBA -
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 08.2019 - 12.2021
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA 08.2013 - 05.2017
Project Management With Lean 6 Sigma Concentration - Project Management
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 01.2025 - Current
Skills
Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Tech Transfer & Process Scale-Up
Integrated Master Scheduling (IMS)
Risk Assessment & Mitigation
FDA/ICH Regulatory Compliance
Capital Project Management
Lean/Six Sigma Methodologies
Budgeting & Cost Optimization
Stakeholder Briefing & Reporting
Data-Driven Decision Making
Supply Chain Optimization
Operational Readiness Planning
Timeline
Project Management With Lean 6 Sigma Concentration - Project Management
University of California, Los Angeles
01.2025 - Current
Master of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine
Washington State University
08.2020 - 08.2022
Research Fellow
Washington State University
05.2020 - 05.2022
MBA -
Colorado State University
08.2019 - 12.2021
Research Specialist
San Diego State Research Foundation
05.2018 - 06.2020
Intern/fellow
National, Institute of Aging @ NIH
06.2017 - 08.2017
International Teaching
HEP
08.2015 - 06.2016
Intern/fellow
National, Institute of Aging @ NIH
06.2015 - 08.2015
Chemistry Supplemental Instructor
Instiller of Knowledge, Humboldt State
08.2014 - 05.2016
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Humboldt State University
08.2013 - 05.2017
Reconnaissance Marine
United States Marine Corps
11.2007 - 11.2012
Sr. Associate Process Development
Amgen Inc
7 2022 - 03.2024