Yahs

My name is Yousuf Aqeel and I am Scientist in a biotech company. I am actively looking for new opportunities. I have good experience in method development, method validation and transfer, and managing CRO and CDMO. I am actively looking for full time or part time positions in analytical chemistry and advanced characterization group.

PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST at ABBVIE (LEGACY CAPSTAN THERAPEUTICS) (2024-01 – 2025-01)

Appointed to serve as the analytical lead for high-stakes monoclonal antibody conjugated LNP programs at a cutting-edge biotech newly integrated into AbbVie, where the mandate was to elevate analytical rigor and deliver data-driven quality decisions. Charged with building and executing comprehensive characterization strategies for complex drug products while steering OOS/OOT investigations.

• Elevated QA decision-making by compiling and statistically trending stability datasets for monoclonal antibody programs in JMP, coordinating OOS/OOT/CAPA investigations under both accelerated and long-term conditions.
• Pioneered LNP particle characterization by deploying fluorescent labeling, LC-MS, super-resolution microscopy, and nanoflow technologies to quantify antibody-conjugated lipid nanoparticles in formulations.
• Defined the full CQA profile of intact LNP drug products, characterizing particle size, morphology, aggregation, surface conjugation, and cargo distribution, while leading root cause investigations to resolve potency and stability issues.

SENIOR ANALYTICAL SCIENTIST at CARBON BIOSCIENCES (2022-01 – 2024-01)

Tapped to build and lead the analytical development function for a next-generation gene therapy platform focused on HBoV vectors, operating as both hands-on scientist and strategic partner to internal and external collaborators. Engaged to establish phase-appropriate methods, identify critical quality drivers, and mentor a team supporting process development and in vivo programs.

• Unlocked a key potency lever by identifying HBoV capsid protein profile as a critical quality attribute, demonstrating through activity assays and AUC that capsid composition directly correlates with full capsid yield and vector potency.
• Developed and optimized sedimentation velocity AUC methods that quantified viral capsid distribution profiles, provided insight into aggregation and impurities, and directly supported full capsid enrichment strategies.
• Built a capillary electrophoresis LabChip GXII Touch assay to quantitatively assess viral capsid protein composition, establishing a critical analytical tool for enriching capsids with optimal potency.
• Implemented an in-house quantitative ELISA-based CFTR protein expression assay as a validated potency readout, expanding the analytical toolkit supporting therapeutic candidate selection.
• Grew analytical team capabilities by mentoring two research associates to independently run ELISA-based capsid titer, ADA-bridging, and impurity assays supporting both process development and in vivo studies.

ANALYTICAL SCIENTIST at EVELO BIOSCIENCES (2019-01 – 2022-01)

Recruited to establish and own the analytical characterization framework for a pioneering microbiome-based API platform, supporting development from early discovery through Phase 2 clinical trials. Engaged to serve as SME for quantitation methods, oversee CRO/CDMO partnerships, and shape the analytical strategy that bridged lab-scale development to GMP manufacturing.

• Built a analytical characterization panel for the API encompassing morphological (phase contrast, fluorescent, cryo EM), physico-chemical (NTA, DLS), ELISA-based, and SEC HPLC/UPLC procedures that defined CQAs and supported DS/DP release.
• Managed outsourced analytical testing at CRO/CDMO partners — including method transfer, qualification, release testing, and COA review — while actively shaping phase-appropriate analytical strategy to drive Phase 2 clinical readiness.
• Influenced company direction by presenting analytical findings and strategic recommendations to leadership, translating complex data into actionable insights.
• Resolved stability failures by leading root cause investigations into DS quality attribute deviations, directly informing formulation improvements and long-term stability strategy.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW at TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Designed and optimized in vitro infection bioassays using VHH antibodies and recombinant strains; applied confocal microscopy to investigate bacterial adhesion and host cell invasion mechanisms.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW at BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Led mass spectrometry-based discovery of three proteins and a sugar polymer as Acanthamoeba cyst wall components; expressed recombinant proteins and developed 10+ fluorescence-based assays to map intracellular trafficking.

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW / DOCTORAL RESEARCHER at THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY

Mentored 15+ graduate and undergraduate students while conducting doctoral research using 12 cell-based amoeba assays, 2 zymography assays, and 3 peer-reviewed publications on Acanthamoeba encystation.

Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology – THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY

M.Sc. in Molecular Genetics – KARACHI UNIVERSITY