Work experience

• R&D Manager, Technical Business Development

  Sirio Pharma

  2023.09-Current

  (2 years)

  职位:R&D Manager, Technical Business Development • Lead technical business development in gummy forms • Pinpoint customers’ needs, translate to commercially feasible product ideas, and navigate development projects to complete in efficient timeline • Provide fast new product price quote with high efficiency and commercial feasibility • Support pivotal brand development and marketing strategies with new concepts and regulatory compliance • (Technical) account management and project management • Key Achievements in the first year o Completeddevelopmentfor7newcustomerproductstocommercialize,whichbroughtinacombined value of over $1 million POs o Commerciallylaunched3newproducts o Builtupanoff-the-shelf/ stockgummyofferinglist,periodicallyoptimizedforbettercostefficiency o Plannedtradeshowsamples(fromconceptcreation)for5differentshowsinnorthandsouthAmerica browning: mechanism and effect on antioxidant reducing capacity MeriCal® December 2021 - September 2023 (1 year 10 months) • Led customer-driven gummy type dietary supplement development, translated to pilot and commercial lines and worked with cross-functional teams for successful launches in a timely manner • Supported in introductory customer meetings to present gummy capabilities and tour pilot and production lines • Participated in regularly customer meetings to translate insights into concrete ideas fit customer needs, communicated assessed technical risk on ideas with solutions meet customer demands and maintain relationships • Led technical support to provide high accuracy preliminary costing with cross- functional efforts • Led the technical team and work with cross-functional teams to resolve process and product issues as arise in new product launch or existing product improvement • Optimized formula and process for improved product performance, run yield, efficiency and thus margin • Managed laboratory and pilot plant activities and schedule • Mentored and managed a junior gummy formulation scientist and two lab technicians • Provided remote technical guidance to the team in Utah facility on gummy formulation and process optimization • Key Achievements (1) Completed 35+ innovative product developments with successful pilot batches, commercialized 20+ projects and optimized 10+ formula and manufacturing process for no less than 10% yield improvement (2) Built up gummy R&D lab and established a standardized development process from benchtop to pilot (3) Streamlined a pre-commercialization process between cross-functional teams on the technical side to deliver success first commercial run (4) Optimized two off-the-shelf gummy SKUs on formula and process to deliver a 35% and 28% yield increase along with a 18% decrease of defect rate (5) Fine-tuned a high-volume customer SKU from ave. 89% yield to ave. 91% yield
• Research Scientist

  Better Nutritionals

  2021.03-2021.11

  (9 months)

  Developed novel gummy type dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals from conception to commercialization; co-developed one patent as the primary creator (Liang et al. 2021. Gummy Composition and Methods of Use Thereof. U.S. Patent 17/977, 302. Originally filed on Sep 14, 2021. Issued on Oct 19, 2023. • Researched and assessed vegan hydrocolloids and manufacturing processes for existing SKU improvements and mid- to longer-term novel product initiatives (>1.5 yr) • Prepared patent works, scientific publications, and presentations for national and international conferences • Led technical teams commercializing new products from pilot stage through full manufacturing scale • Led commercial line installation and production qualifications, and collaborated with Engineering department on facility upgrade projects • Developed analysis method for novel ingredients in novel matrices, collaborating third party analytical lab • Led technical communications with external partners, vendors, and customers • Managed product stability and shelf-life programs and supported audits (FDA, NSF and BRC) • Mentored and manage junior team members • Coordinated cross functional efforts, turning laboratory development success into successful commercial runs via knowledge transfer and troubleshooting on the floor • Worked with across functions (R&D, Quality, Manufacturing Operations andSupply Chains) to deliver on project goals in a timely manner • Assessed product testing needs and develop appropriate testing methodologies 职位:Senior Research And Development Technician March 2020 - February 2021 (1 year) Gardena, CA, United States Role: • Formulate novel food and dietary supplements in hydrocolloids systems • Create stability (shelf-life) protocols • Develop sample preparation and analysis methods for dietary components in hydrocolloids matrices • Reformulate existing products for flavor, texture and/or color-match, and for cost-saving • Optimize manufacturing process on SKU basis and support commercial manufacturing • Instruct quality and production teams with reduced jargons to ensure good adherence to scientific principals • Develop and deliver science-operation integrated trainings for quality and production teams • Compose materials for publications and conferences submissions • Lead multi-departmental projects such as new facility launch-up pilot trials • Continue to develop leadership and technical functional skills Key Accomplishments: • Reformulated an existing product with innovated manufacturing process to deliver >$30K savings per month • Established standard pectin-based formulations for food and supplements • Optimized manufacturing process for pectin-based gummies to implement quality standards, lower scrap rate, and increase 35% throughput
• Research Associcate

  Chapman University

  2019.07-2020.04

  (10 months)

  11 months Orange County, California Area • Collaborated research projects with principle investigator and other researchers • Collated and analyzed complex HPLC-MS-MS data • Optimized and developed experimental protocols for concurrent projects • Completed manuscripts and presentations for publications and conferences • Trained new students to conduct HPLC, LC-MS, UV-Vis spectrometry and antioxidant capacity assays • Operated lab equipment and maintenance: HPLC, GC, spectrophotometer, texture analyzer and colorimeter Accomplished research projects: • Experimented different food grade thiols in regard to oxidative discoloration inhibition • Determined the potential synergistic effects of 3 different thiols and pH on antioxidant capacity • Tested 3 different thiol-containing compounds in real-life food products Presentations: • Liang, Y. Were, L. M. (November, 2019). Green no more! Prevention of oxidation-induced greening in sunflower butter cookies. Oral presented at Southern California Food Science and Technology Faculty Consortium: 3M Research Pitch Contest, in Orange, CA • Liang, Y. Were, L. M. (November, 2019). Thiol prevention of chlorogenic acid oxidation induced greening and effects on antioxidant capacity. Poster presented at Southern California Food Science and Technology Faculty Consortium, in Orange, CA • Bahena, K. Liang, Y. Were, L.M. (October, 2019). Decolorization effects of glutathione in chlorogenic acid- lysine solutions. Poster presented at NSF- Council on Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2019 Annual Meeting, in Alexandria, VA 职位:Mentor for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Ecological 职位:and Environmental Sciences June 2019 - August 2019 (3 months) Orange County, California Area SURFEES program (Summer Undergraudate Research Fellowship in Ecological andEnvironmental Sciences) • Trained undergraduates in using the HPLC and two antioxidant capacity assays • Developed experimental plans and protocols • Lectured about chemistry principles and mechanisms of research projects • Served as a resource for academic support, student engagement and general research mentorship
• International Liaison

  University

  2018.06-2019.05

  (a year)

  Orange County, California Area • Organized and prepared cultural events for student organization, such as cultural potluck • Coordinated orientation activities and ride services for new students from airport • Contributed to all club activities and events, such as hooding ceremony and networking night
• Graduate Thesis Student

  Chapman University

  2018.01-2018.07

  (7 months)

  Conducted chemical and physical laboratory tests per appropriate methodology, including antioxidant capacity assays, proximate composition analyses and chemical structural analyses • Developed complete factorial experimental plans with proper statistical analysis • Elucidated the mechanism of cysteine inhibiting CGA induced greening under alkaline conditions by LC-MS • Demonstrated the synergistic effects of cysteine concentration and pH on antioxidant capacity
• Laboratory Technician

  Pony Testing International Group

  2017.05-2017.10

  (6 months)

  Maintained detailed and thorough documentation on all testing and results • Conducted HPLC and proximate analysis on confectionery products • Verbal and written translated for business partners using bi-lingual skills in Mandarin and English
• Undergraduate Researcher

  Penn State University

  2015.05-2016.05

  (a year)

  University Park, PA, USA Food for Gut Health Laboratory, Dr. Vanamala, Principle Investigator • Performed polyphenol extractions and analysis using LC-MS • Conducted metabolites extraction on blood serum samples of Type II diabetes patients • Developed a method for tryptophan metabolite analysis using GC-MS-MS • Executed tryptophan metabolites extraction experiments on pig fecal samples • Managed laboratory chemical usage & waste safety and academic environmental safety 职位:Department Coordinator August 2015 - April 2016 (9 months) University Park, PA Recreation and Culture Events Department, CICCA • Planned and coordinated events including new student orientations in China, a Chinese culture trivia competition, and a scavenger hunt • Organized multiple departments of volunteers for events • Communicated with potential organizations for event sponsorships • Booked venues and calculated event budgets 职位:Lab Assistant August 2014 - April 2015 (9 months) University Park, Penn State Food Engineering Laboratory, Dr. Anantheswaran, Principle Investigator • Performed frying tests by commercial microwave oven to retain higher polyphenol contents in potato chips • Collected and analyzed physical attributes data on microwaved potato chips • Assessed polyphenol quantifications on potato chips prepared by different thermal treatments • Scheduled lab meetings, managed lab supplies and organized disposal of hazardous chemicals 职位:Vice department coordinator August 2014 - April 2015 (9 months) University Park, PA Recreation and Culture Events Department, CICCA • Scheduled and planned department meetings • Prepared written meeting minutes • Organized multiple departments of volunteers for events • Conducted event budget planning 职位:Orientation Leader June 2014 - August 2014 (3 months) University Park • Prepared, organized and presented orientation activities in a team format • Explained academic opportunities and procedures, visa policies, and campus services • Served as a resource for American college life support and student engagement
• General Manager Assistant Intern

  Shandong Highway Group

  2013.07-2013.08

  (2 months)

  Organized meetings and managed various office events • Translated for business partners using skills in Mandarin and English
• Food Service Worker

  Penn State University

  2013.01-2013.04

  (4 months)

  Meal preparations
• Food Science and Nutrition Student Association, Chapman

Educational experience

• Chapman University

  Food Science

  2018.01-2019.01

  (a year)
• Penn State University

  Food Science

  2012.01-2016.01

  (4 years)

Certificates