Melissa Pilling
About Melissa Pilling
Melissa Pilling is a Research Associate III at Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., specializing in the production of AAV vectors. She holds a Master's degree in Molecular and Microbiology from San Jose State University and has extensive experience in research and development within the biotechnology field.
Work at Sangamo Therapeutics
Melissa Pilling has been employed at Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. as a Research Associate III since 2021. In this role, she is responsible for designing and executing development studies aimed at optimizing and characterizing upstream processes for the production of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Her work involves culturing insect and mammalian cells using various bioreactor systems, including shake flasks, wave bioreactors, stir tank bioreactors, and Ambr15. She performs essential analytical assays to support process development, ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.
Education and Expertise
Melissa Pilling holds a Master's degree in Molecular and Microbiology from San Jose State University, where she studied from 2016 to 2019. Prior to her master's, she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Sonoma State University, completing her studies from 2011 to 2016. Her educational background provides her with a strong foundation in molecular biology and cellular processes, which she applies in her current research role.
Background
Before joining Sangamo Therapeutics, Melissa Pilling worked in various research roles. She was a Research Associate at PACT Pharma from 2019 to 2021, where she executed upstream AAV production runs. Earlier, she worked as a Research Associate at Refuge Biotechnologies for one month in 2019. Additionally, she served as a Lab Instructor at San Jose State University from 2017 to 2019 and as a Content Representative at CK-12 Foundation from 2016 to 2017.
Achievements
At Sangamo Therapeutics, Melissa Pilling has contributed to the design and execution of process development studies that establish scalable and high-yield cell culture processes for AAV therapeutic candidates. She maintains lab notebooks, analyzes data, and presents findings at project meetings. Her role also includes authoring standard operating procedures (SOPs) and development reports, as well as supporting upstream lab inventory management and tech transfer.