Neal J. Oliver

About Neal J. Oliver

As a results-driven Scientist with over eight years of experience, I am dedicated to driving innovation within microbial manufacturing and advancing the global bio-economy. My career journey has taken me through the interdependent fields of Strain Engineering, High-throughput Screening, and Fermentation, where I have honed my skills in process engineering and the development of research platforms resulting in core IP. My passion lies in the application of synthetic biology to realize environmentally sustainable solutions to the production of consumer goods and commodities that constitute modern lifestyles. I thrive in interdisciplinary environments, leveraging systems thinking and critical listening to lead teams toward achieving unprecedented efficiency and quality. As a natural motivator and thought leader, I excel in initiating and executing projects that enhance productivity and lab safety. Throughout my career, I have consistently exceeded expectations, earning praise and trust from peers and leaders alike. My ability to manage concurrent initiatives, both as an individual contributor and team leader, has been pivotal in delivering complex projects on time and with precision. Whether I\'m collaborating with bioinformaticians and automation engineers, or guiding a team through daily lab operations, my focus is always on achieving exceptional results. I am eager to connect with fellow professionals who share a commitment to innovation and excellence. If you\'re interested in collaborating or discussing industry trends, feel free to reach out. Together, we can explore new frontiers in science and technology. Let\'s connect!

Experience

1. Associate Scientist

   Pivot Bio

   Dec 2024 — Present · Berkeley, CA, US

   Optimized bacterial early-ferm process dev pipeline, supporting strain evaluation, biomass analytics, and DSP performance. Collaborated across R&D to deliver reliable methodology and data used in process decisions and advancement of engineered strains to field trials. Presented to cross-functional project ops and strategy team meetings.Assumed leadership of lab operations for annual biomass production campaign, overseeing assay execution, data integrity, and coordination among 2–6 RAs. Delivered all production KPIs and milestones with time to spare to fulfill additional material requests. Following, took on planning and coordination of regular pipeline lab ops comparable to role during biomass production.Mentored junior RAs on Fermentation and DSP teams, hosting a weekly “office hours” to discuss data analysis and teach technical and professional skills.

Education

• University of California, Davis

  Master's degree, Chemical Biology (Metabolic engineering)

  2014 — 2017

• Western Michigan University

  BA, Spanish

  2004 — 2010

• Universitat de Lleida

  Philology

  2008 — 2009

• Western Michigan University

  BS, Chemistry, ACS

  2004 — 2010

Skills

• Scientific Writing
• Data Analysis
• Chemistry
• Presentation Skills
• Experimental Design
• Technical Writing
• Organic Chemistry
• Protein Engineering
• Metabolic Engineering
• Gas Chromatography
• Public Speaking
• Chromatography
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Research
• Microsoft Office
• Hplc
• Laboratory Safety
• Procedure Development
• Gel Electrophoresis
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Uv/Vis
• Gene Expression
• Molecular Biology
• Bacterial Cell Culture
• Cell Culture
• Nmr
• Molecular Cloning
• Validation
• Formulation
• Standard Operating Procedure (Sop)
• Statistics
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Work Instructions
• Cgmp Practices
• Scifinder
• Empower
• Leadership
• Spanish