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What you’ll hear in this episode:

• What it’s like to work in upstream processing in antibody therapy treatment manufacturing
• The role that internships at ABI have in professional development
• How, despite the inherent rigor, the trial and error of working as a lab scientist makes the job fun 
• A detailed discussion of antibodies, proteins, and how XBiotech is using high-level science to help create life-changing therapeutics

If you’re anything like us, the word “antibody” conjures up images of white blood cells fighting off infection. And while it’s true that antibodies are part of our immune system, there’s a lot more to them than that. In fact, antibodies play a vital role in many different areas of science and medicine.

XBiotech is based in Austin, Texas, and their work with antibodies is at the cutting edge of science and medicine. Their medications are helping to change the lives of people all over the world, and their work is making a difference in the fight against disease on many fronts. 

XBiotech also happens to be where one of this episode’s guests, Marcia McCallum, landed after her time as an intern at the ACC Bioscience Incubator. You might recognize Marcia from season 1 of Science in the Mall, Yall! – and she’s back to talk with Mauricio Tellez, a fellow former ABI intern, about her work as a Senior Lead in Upstream Processing at XBiotech. 

Trial and error is a vital part of the scientific process, and it’s something that every laboratory scientist knows well. It’s also one of the things that makes the job so interesting and enjoyable. After all, what could be more fun than experimenting with different chemicals and compounds in an attempt to create new and better products?

Marcia and Mauricio discuss how the surprises, and even the mistakes, make the job of a lab scientist both challenging and enjoyable. Through her internship work at ABI, and in her subsequent career at XBiotech, Marcia describes how following her passions and interests in the biosciences has led to a work that not only interests her on a daily basis, but also satisfies her scientific curiosity. 

If you’re interested in the biosciences or are curious about what the day-to-day work of a lab scientist looks like, tune into the full episode of Science in the Mall, Y’all! to hear more from Marcia and Mauricio. 

In the meantime, check out ABI’s website to learn more about how they’re preparing the lab scientists of tomorrow and XBiotech’s website to learn more about their groundbreaking work in medicine manufacture.

This is part one of a two-part conversation – check back for part two, where Mauricio and Marcia discuss Mauricio’s work as a clinical laboratory scientist!

 

Learn more about XBiotech’s work in antibody therapy treatments 

Learn more about ACC Bioscience Incubator

If you liked the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with a friend!

Science In the Mall, Y’all is a founding_media podcast created in partnership with the ACC Bioscience Incubator.

 

Host: Dan Dillard, founding_media

Guests: Nancy Lyon, ACC Bioscience Incubator Director

Marcia McCallum, XBiotech, Senior Lead in Upstream Processing

Mauricio Tellez, CLS Program Graduate