Xiao (Jay) Cai
About Xiao (Jay) Cai
Xiao (Jay) Cai is an Associate Scientist II at ElevateBio, specializing in vector process development and purification processes for AAV platforms. He has a background in chemical engineering and has held various roles in product support, operations, and research across multiple organizations.
Work at ElevateBio
Xiao (Jay) Cai serves as an Associate Scientist II in Vector Process Development at ElevateBio, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he authors and maintains technical documents and lab experiments to enhance process and vector understanding. He has developed the purification process for BaseCamp’s AAV platform and designs optimization studies on downstream unit operations to improve product yield and quality. Additionally, he builds and maintains datasets of in-process and analytical data for scale-down LVV processes. Cai also manages laboratory activities, including equipment setup, maintenance, and consumable procurement.
Previous Experience
Prior to his current role, Cai held several positions that contributed to his expertise. He worked at OSIsoft as a Product Support Engineer Intern for three months in 2019. He also served as Chief Operating Officer at Jubian for nine months in 2019 and briefly as Marketing Director in 2018. Additionally, he gained experience as a Flow Technology Intern at the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway. His research experience includes a four-year tenure at Berkeley Lab, where he worked from 2017 to 2021.
Education and Expertise
Cai earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration and Management from the University of California, Berkeley, completing his studies in 2020. He continued his education at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2021. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his work in vector process development and optimization studies in the biotechnology field.
Technical Skills and Responsibilities
In his role at ElevateBio, Cai is responsible for cross-training associates in other departments on chromatography separation and vector characterization tools. He actively designs and executes optimization studies to enhance product yield and quality. His responsibilities also include managing laboratory activities, ensuring proper equipment setup, maintenance, and the procurement of necessary consumables. His expertise in maintaining technical documents and datasets supports the overall efficiency of laboratory operations.
High School Achievements
Cai completed his high school education at Seven Lakes High School, where he achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0. His academic performance during this period laid the groundwork for his future studies in engineering and management at the University of California, Berkeley.