Peak Proteins’ Welcomes Toby Allen
Peak Proteins welcomes Toby Allen as a Protein Scientist.
Starting Academic Life as a Chemist
Toby graduated from the University of Sheffield with a MSC in Chemistry. The first three years were mainly theoretical organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
Toby commented, “I found the biological chemistry, particularly the protein chemistry of the organic chemistry units particularly interesting. I decided to do a protein chemistry project in my fourth and final year”.
The project involved the expression and purification of a fluorescently labelled self-assembling fibre ‘coiled-coil’ protein, to investigate the mechanical disassembly of the protein by the AAA+ ATPase enzyme Vps4. The plan was to introduce fluorescent labelling and monitor the disassembly of the protein by the enzyme. Sadly, although the protein and enzyme were expressed the COVID pandemic prevented Toby from finishing the project as the laboratories were closed for the final six months of his degree.
The Move into Industry
Toby joined Lonza Pharma and Biotech working in protein purification R&D on laboratory scale changes to the manufacturing platforms and processes to improve yields and efficiency. From laboratory scale, work would move to pilot scale and eventually manufacturing.
Joining Peak Proteins
“I enjoyed working at Lonza and I learned a great deal. There wasn’t much opportunity to move outside the constrains of a project though unfortunately as there were whole departments that carried out other up and down stream processes”, commented Toby.
He added, “I was at University with Scott Allen who has just recently left Peak Proteins to carry out research for a Ph.D. Scott had a lot of good things to say about the company so when the job vacancies were advertised, I jumped at the chance of applying.”
“Even after only a few weeks I’m working on a client project. Being able to see and understand the whole process from expression to purification, analysis and quality control and the bespoke services the company offers their clients is great”.
Dr Tomas Adomavicius, Toby’s supervisor said, “Finding your way around the new lab can be challenging, especially with the variety of techniques employed here in Peak Proteins. But with the curiosity, enthusiasm, and a prior experience in the industry, Toby is picking things up really fast and I am sure he will be a fully independent protein scientist in no time”.
Mark Abbott, CEO, commented “We’re delighted that Toby has joined the team. It’s great to welcome young graduates who have some experience and are keen, eager, and quick to learn. In Toby’s role this is all about the myriad ways of purifying and characterising the many different protein we are asked to make. We hope they can then become part of the next generation of scientists we need.”.
Life Outside Work.
Toby added, “I enjoy music and have played the guitar for over 12 years solo and in a band with friends. I keep fit playing 5 and 11-a-side football and climbing. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I also found an interest in cooking (and eating!)”.
