Jessica Lao, PhD
About Jessica Lao, PhD
Jessica Lao, PhD, is a scientist specializing in Discovery Biology, currently working at Octant. She has extensive experience in molecular therapeutics and biochemistry, with previous roles at notable institutions such as UCSF and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Current Role at Octant
Jessica Lao, PhD, serves as a Scientist in Discovery Biology at Octant since 2022. In this role, she focuses on the discovery and development of innovative biological solutions. Her work involves utilizing her extensive background in molecular biology and genetics to contribute to the advancement of therapeutic strategies.
Previous Experience in Pharmaceutical Research
Prior to her current position, Jessica worked at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. as a Scientist in Molecular Therapeutics from 2021 to 2022. During her tenure, she developed nucleic acid therapeutics aimed at addressing rare diseases. She also held a position at Codexis, Inc. as a Scientist in Biochemistry from 2019 to 2021, where she focused on protein engineering for enzyme replacement therapies.
Academic Background and Research
Jessica earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Genetics from the University of California, Davis. Her doctoral research concentrated on the molecular mechanisms of DNA double-strand break repair. Additionally, she conducted postdoctoral research at UCSF in David Toczyski’s lab, studying DNA Damage Response surveillance machinery and cellular metabolism.
Teaching and Instructional Roles
Jessica has held various instructional roles throughout her career. She worked as an Instructor in Biochemistry at San Francisco State University for four months in 2016. Additionally, she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UC Davis in 2007 and again in 2011, contributing to the education of undergraduate students in the field of biochemistry.
Early Research Experience
Jessica's early research experience includes her role as a Graduate Student Researcher at UC Davis from 2005 to 2012, where she engaged in significant research projects. She also worked as a Postgraduate Researcher at UC Davis from 2004 to 2005, gaining foundational experience in the field before pursuing her Ph.D.