Career Corner Interview

ABE-LA Career Corner Interview

By: Giovanna Tomat-Kelly

The first time I crossed paths with Jeremy was at a bar called Alchemy. Jeremy was tending the bar. It was a busy night, yet he managed to happily socialize with patrons while simultaneously serving drinks and manning the register. We did not exchange words, a different bartender served my party, but imagine my surprise when I crossed paths with him again a few weeks later…in the lab.

Jeremy Acosta is the Laboratory and Administrative Assistant for CellVi Bioscience, a company that specializes in producing condition media that is used for cosmetic purposes, such as the production of lotions and other skin care products. The CellVi Bioscience lab is one of nearly 30 companies that rents laboratory space at the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator, or PBC. ABE-LA also rents lab space from PBC, meaning I now see Jeremy on a near-daily basis.

“My main responsibilities include maintaining and mass producing our skin and stem cells.” Jeremy is also in charge of meeting production orders and delivering those orders to client companies. “Other than lab work, I also maintain our [lab] bench by keeping it clean, organized, and stocked.”

But what exactly is the “condition media” Jeremy prepares and why is it so important?

The easiest way to think of condition media is as a mixture of chemicals that are secreted by cells and then bottled up to be used in different applications. Cells produce chemicals like proteins, vitamins, and fats. Some of those chemicals stay inside of the cell, but sometimes cells secrete the chemicals they produce. These chemicals can have regenerative and therapeutic applications. For example, some vitamins produced by cells might function as antioxidants that help prevent damage to skin cells, while cytokines, proteins that signal for the growth of blood cells and other cells in the body, can help restore damaged tissues.

In the fields of cosmetology and stem cell research “we are trying to find exactly what different cell lines produce in their condition media that helps skin regrow and repair.” Jeremy notes that to find therapeutic chemicals, a better understanding of what causes aging and skin damage is also needed.

Before working for Cellvi Biosciences, Jeremy had worked extensively in the service industry. His daily interaction with customers is likely part of the reason that he has such an approachable and extroverted personality. Jeremy is always easy to speak with, and always makes me laugh. “I enjoy the interactions I had with others [in the service industry] and it definitely gave me the hard-working attitude I have now in the lab.”

Jeremy has been working for CellVi for over a year now, and he absolutely loves it. However, he still has his eyes set on doing more. “I currently have an Associates in Science in Biotechnology from Pasadena City College and plan on transferring to Cal State LA for my bachelors. After that I plan on going to a UC for a PhD program.” Jeremy would eventually like to be the chief lab technician for a research company, “but I would never want to be a PI [principal investigator]. I prefer the lab and don’t want to be stuck behind a desk.”

Jeremy’s advice to current students or recent graduates looking to start their first job is to seek connections. “I was able to get this job from a recommendation from a person who has seen me grow in the field and knew what I was capable of. Just reaching out and being a part of internships helps so much. Even if you do not get paid, the connections you make will definitely help in the long run.”

Jeremy also advises students to work hard and think positive. “You need to be hardworking, motivated, and be able to keep a positive outlook even when you get one failure after another. […] roll with the punches, keep your eyes on the prize and do whatever you need to do to get back up again.” To succeed in the sciences Jeremy also thinks that “It always helps to be on top of what needs to get done and to always have the perspective of seeing what you can do next and what you can do to help those around you.”

You might also have a chance encounter with Jeremy. He volunteers at Saturday Workdays at PBC, an internship opportunity for the students of teachers participating in the ABE-LA program. He also stars as the lead “Rocky” for the shadow cast production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Sins o' the Flesh at the Nuart Theater.