Angela Priest

I'm a data geek and process nerd who loves to build people up and help them grow. For 20 years, I've been turning chaos into order at companies across all stages of growth to ensure that their teams flourish. I'm now throwing my passion for helping people into helping PhDs, PostDocs, and Mid-Career Researchers get jobs in industry. My goal is simple: to help brilliant minds thrive outside the academic world and make real impact in their new careers.

Check out my website to learn more: www.alma.me

Co-Founder and COO

At Alma.Me, we help PhDs kick start their careers in industry through on-demand courses, online communities, networking, and resources to help them make the transition from academia to industry with confidence.

As a Research Scientist at a multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation, I focused on enzyme discovery and design, engineering bacterial strains for fiber processing from corn and wheat. I designed assays, analyzed data to optimize reaction conditions, and implemented a pH stat for real-time reaction monitoring. I collaborated with assay and fermentation teams to scale up processes and managed bacterial cultures from shake flasks to 1 L fermenters. I led the onboarding of new enzyme activity assessment protocols.

Senior Scientist, Protein Engineering

Peak B Inc

I co-founded Peak B Inc. as a spinout from my anthocyanin research at UC Davis, helping to raise $1.3M in seed funding and building a cross-functional team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals. As CSO, I led our fermentation program, engineering microbial strains for enzyme production and developing innovative natural food coloring ingredients. I created and scaled manufacturing protocols from bench to pilot scale (milligrams to kilograms), ensuring shelf stability and functionality across diverse food applications including doughs, beverages, and fat-based systems. I also established SOPs for production and quality analysis, aligning with market trends and supporting commercialization efforts.

Co-Founder, Chief Science Officer

University of California, Davis

Graduate Student Researcher

Instructing students on how to use computer programs including PyMol, JalView, Gaussview, to observe how proteins catalyze chemistry, and to design small molecules to interact with proteins in specific ways as drug targets.

Graduate Teaching Assistant for Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Wake Forest University

Gave pre-lab lectures and supervised students completing labs. Graded students' lab reports.

Teaching Assistant for Introductory Physics

Project: Observing the effects of ocean acidification on the larval growth of the Pacific Rock Oyster c. gigas

-Conducted research on literature relevant to my topic, and compiled a review prior to conducting my experiment
-Designed an experiment aimed at identifying a genetic basis for higher growth under acidic conditions by recognizing parents with significantly larger offspring
-Presented findings at an undergraduate research conference at Wake Forest University in October 2014

Project: Identification of an unknown parasite found on the skin of rockfish in British Columbia

-Isolated DNA samples from parasites collected from the skin of rockfish
-Identified the parasite observing morphology as a copepod
-Selected primers that targeted genes conserved across most copepods
-Ran PCR to amplify our target gene for sequencing
-Modified PCR protocol to enhance results

Undergraduate Researcher

Student

Innovative Protein Engineer and Food Scientist with 8+ years of experience spanning enzyme engineering, bioprocess development, and food technology. Currently leading enzyme development initiatives at ADM's cutting-edge facility, where I specialize in designing novel enzymatic solutions for animal nutrition and food applications.

As the former Co-founder and CSO of Peak B Inc., I successfully led the development of breakthrough natural food colorants from lab concept to commercial scale, securing $1.3M in seed funding and establishing robust manufacturing protocols. My doctoral research at UC Davis resulted in patented technologies for enzymatic modification of anthocyanins and novel approaches to sustainable food ingredients.

Core expertise includes:
• Protein engineering and enzyme development
• Bioprocess scale-up (bench to pilot)
• Fermentation optimization
• Food formulation and stability
• Cross-functional team leadership
• Process development and optimization
• Regulatory compliance in food ingredients

Passionate about leveraging biotechnology to create sustainable food solutions that address global challenges. Proven track record in translating scientific innovations into commercial products, with experience in:
- Enzyme activity optimization
- Strain engineering
- Natural food ingredient development
- Quality control implementation
- Technical project management

Looking to connect with fellow professionals in AgTech, Food Science, and Biotechnology to explore collaborative opportunities in sustainable food solutions and enzyme engineering.

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The Battle

Angela Priest

Pamela (Pam) Denish, PhD

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