MC Foundation Job Ready - Alumni Forum - BIOTECH 12/17/20

 Dr. Subhash Karkare is Professor and Lead Faculty in the Biotechnology Program at Moorpark College. Prior to joining Moorpark College in 2007, Dr. Karkare spent 4 years consulting for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies in the areas of Process Development, Manufacturing and Quality Systems. From 1987 to 2003, Dr. Karkare was employed at Amgen in various capacities of increasing responsibility starting as a Research Scientist in Cell Culture Process Development and ending as Associate Director in Manufacturing. Dr. Karkare started his career in Biotechnology at a start-up company in New Hampshire called Verax Corporation where he co-invented and developed their patented fluidized-bed cell cultivation process. He has a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University and has published more than 20 papers in the area of Biochemical Engineering.

Beatris Cruz, AGILE Champion, Takeda Pharmaceutical - Cruz began her career as an upstream Manufacturing Associate (MA) I in 2008 and after a year was promoted to a MA II in Advate Bulk Manufacturing and is trained and qualified in both the upstream and downstream processes. Since that time, she has served as an Operations Analyst in the Formulation/Filling Support Department as a Non-conformance Investigator, Senior Operations Analyst, and Supervisor responsible for training and mentoring a team of nine investigators for the Deviation/CAPA Management department. In June of 2020, she took on a new role as AGILE Champion, performing Continuous Improvement projects, and supporting Change Management initiatives sitewide. Cruz has a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology and a minor in Chicana/o Studies from San Diego State University, California, and holds an Associate of Science degree in Biotechnology from Moorpark College.

Uriel Gamboa Operator, Molecular Pre Production Team, Thermo Fisher Scientific – Gamboa originally started at Moorpark College as a Nursing major until he took a Microbiology course. At that point, he decided he wanted to work in a lab setting. In January 2020, Uriel began an internship at Thermo Fisher and was hired after the internship was completed. Gamboa is currently working on his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Northridge.

Ryan Zastrow, Associate Scientist, Amgen - Following the completion of the Biotech program at Moorpark College, Zastrow transferred to California State University, Northridge, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. Shortly after graduation, he began his career in Biotechnology. Zastrow has held positions in clinical manufacturing, research, and process development and is currently an Associate Scientist for Cell Line Development at Amgen. The skills that Zastrow developed through his education, specifically the Biotech Program at Moorpark College, along with his time in the biotech industry, has allowed him to implement new technology and methods to optimize cell growth and protein expression. Zastrow is passionate about his role in the field of biotech, which allows him to explore new and exciting discoveries in the field of oncology research while working to improve the lives of the patients he serves.

Daniel Armstrong, Site Quality, Takeda - Armstrong began his career as a swing-shift assistant supervisor at Allergan in 1997. After a year in that role, he transitioned toAllergan’s Supervisor of the product claims and product complaint department, where he worked for the next five years. Armstrong left Allergan and worked 11 years at Amgen, where he held various roles within the Quality Department from product complaint investigator, quality on the floor, quality disposition, and in the operations strategic planning department responsible for representing operations on various in/out license business deals. Armstrong currently works for Takeda, where he has served in various roles within the Contract Manufacturing organization. For the last 14 months, Armstrong has been the Site Quality head of the Thousand Oaks manufacturing site. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.