The Biotech Mashup is a source for news and commentary on biotechnology. The founders of Biotech Mashup, Jarrod (Wendell) Provins and Jeff Mandell, are both bioengineers as well as biochemists, and have a broad perspective on biotechnology and the industry as a whole.

Jeff Mandell, Ph.D., received his B.S. in bioengineering from U.C. Berkeley. His studies emphasized molecular biology and electrical engineering, thus giving him a broad base in the life and engineering sciences. A self-taught computer programmer, programming was always a hobby and a source of summer employment throughout college. After graduating, Jeff worked in Holland writing laboratory software while also conducting biochemical experiments. Missing the sun, he moved to San Diego where he obtained a job as a computer programmer at the federally-funded San Diego Supercomputer Center, where he developed software on supercomputers to predict how proteins interact. Jeff went on to pursue a Ph.D. in protein chemistry at U.C. San Diego where he had advisors in both theoretical and experimental protein biology. He developed methods to analyze protein-protein interactions using mass spectrometry, and also developed and published a program to dock proteins that provided an increase in speed over existing methods by several orders of magnitude. Eager to hone his experimental skills further, Jeff was fortunate to obtain a position as a Damon-Runyon fellow in the lab of Nobel Laureate Tom Cech, where Jeff studied the cancer-related enzyme telomerase while using DNA microarrays and molecular/cell biology. Jeff then went to the Scripps Research Institute, where he studied the emerging field of synthetic biology and built protein circuits in cells using designer transcription factors. He also designed and wrote the widely-used Zinc Finger Tools website to aid transcription factor engineering. Jeff loves to combine work with travel, and has worked in labs in Japan, Holland, Israel and the U.K. Jeff now works as a Senior Scientist in the diagnostics industry in sunny San Diego, Ca.

 Jarrod “Wendell” Provins, received his B.S. in bioengineering from U.C. San Diego. His studies emphasized molecular biology, biochemistry, and mechanical engineering. A self-taught information technology professional, he began working for Earthlink Networks, an Internet service provider, at the age of 16. He continued his job at Earthlink while attending his first two years at U.C. San Diego. During his third year he joined Dr. Edward A. Dennis’ Laboratory, initially learning basic laboratory techniques and proper lab management. During his senior year he began working on a research project to purify and isolate primary eicosanoids from murine macrophages. His initial work focused on solid phase extraction of radio-labeled primary eicosanoids. He continued his research in Dr. Dennis’ laboratory while attending graduate school for his Master of Science degree in biochemistry. During his graduate work he continued his work on primary eicosanoid analysis, moving to begin development of a HPLC MS/MS method. His work during his research at Dr. Dennis’ laboratory was included in the lab’s NIH Glue Grant, the LIPID MAPS Project. LIPID MAPS is focused on characterizing the global changes in lipid metabolites. Using his experience from college, Jarrod received a job at Neurocrine Biosciences to do research and development to improve drug production. While at Neurocrine Jarrod received an offer to work at CeMines Therapeutics to run the MALDI TOF Mass Spectrometer and help develop peptide microarrays for early lung and breast cancer detection. Excited at the prospect of working on cancer and learning a new technology Jarrod took the job at CeMines. While at CeMines Jarrod ran the MALDI TOF Mass Spectrometer, was in charge of production for the company’s peptide microarrays, and ran the IT department. The company was in the beginning process of FDA clinical trials when due to financial necessity it moved all research and development operations to Estonia. Jarrod now works as a Scientist and IT Manger in the diagnostics industry in San Diego, CA.