James Keats
About James Keats
James Keats is a Senior Process Development Associate Engineer at Evelo Biosciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2021. He has a background in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and has held various roles in process development and optimization in the biotechnology sector.
Current Role at Evelo Biosciences
James Keats currently serves as a Senior Process Development Associate Engineer at Evelo Biosciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has held this position since 2021, contributing to the development and optimization of processes within the company. His work focuses on enhancing the efficiency of production methods and ensuring high-quality outcomes in biopharmaceutical processes.
Previous Experience at Evelo Biosciences
Prior to his current role, James worked as a Process Development Associate at Evelo Biosciences from 2019 to 2021. During this time, he was involved in optimizing downstream unit operations for the recovery and purification of extracellular vesicles, particularly for oncology and inflammation programs. His contributions played a significant role in advancing the company's research and development efforts.
Educational Background in Chemical Engineering
James Keats earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, completing his studies from 2015 to 2019. This educational foundation provided him with essential knowledge and skills applicable to his roles in process development and engineering within the biopharmaceutical industry.
Experience in Process Optimization and Scale-Up
Throughout his career, James has executed approximately 75 anaerobic fermentations, ranging from 200ml to 100L scale, to support development and optimization efforts. He has focused on optimizing tangential flow filtration for product concentration and diafiltration. Additionally, he coordinated scale-up activities for a 4x8000L production campaign at an international Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO), demonstrating his capability in managing large-scale production processes.
Prior Roles and Contributions
Before joining Evelo Biosciences, James gained experience as an Automation Engineering Co-op at Pfizer in 2017, where he worked for five months. He also served as a Lab Assistant at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute from 2015 to 2019. In these roles, he developed analytical methods that increased process throughput by four times, showcasing his ability to enhance operational efficiency.