Our Advanced Industry
Who is San Diego's biotech community?
By Virginia Martinez
By Virginia Martinez
I lift my foot up as the sole of my shoe sticks slightly to the industrial concrete. Of course it would be expected that the shoes of employees would track in the filth from the goods they transport. It probably should’ve crossed my mind to wear more durable shoes when visiting this location, the only one as a matter of fact in San Diego. Interestingly enough, this unique business is hidden in Barrio Logan’s industrial neighborhood, where independent artists and cafes begin to thrive.
In lovely San Diego, California, somewhat overlooked, and to some hidden, is the influential biotechnology community, which is dispersed all over, ranging from La Jolla to Logan Heights. Made up of both large and small independent companies, biotechnology has settled itself into San Diego, and has impacted our city. Although there are other well known biotech cities, as Elizabeth Wilson, who works for the American Chemical Society Publications, points out, San Diego stands out. In fact, in 2000 New England and San Francisco had more biotech companies compared to San Diego. Yet San Diego has clusters of world leading research facilities, such as the Salk Institute or Scripps Research Institute, which adds its own unique advantage. To clarify, the term “biotech” refers to a company or industry that works to solve a problem through research and the practices of science. But who are the people doing this? Initially, we imagine scientists in a white lab coat working for a grand corporation to solve problems that are untangled through science. And when we think of a scientist or a researcher, we imagine sophisticated, educated, and talented people working to make discoveries that we couldn’t even begin to understand. But truly, who are these people? Is it limited to scientists who spend their days in a lab working towards industry changing discoveries? It seems there’s a culture almost to biotech, particularly in San Diego. John M. Newsmans, chief executive at Tioga, has an interest in life science which has taken him all over the world, from Scotland to England, from Japan to the East and West coast of the United States. He’s worked in research, a physics department, and a well known large company. When I conducted an over the phone interview, I was initially surprised when a slightly varied English accent answered the phone. His work for Tioga is done at a desk where he remains the duration of the day sending emails, researching, or conducting business with clients. He feels there is a certain energy in working at a small company, which is why he prefers to work at Tioga. Interestingly, Johns favorite part of his job is, simply put, “the paycheck,” but he refers to the fact, that, no matter what job you do, you want to use the skills you have worked so hard to achieve to make a difference, you want to know that the work you put out will make some impact and meaning. This is the highlight of his job, knowing that the industry he supports is paying him to do honest work he has spent time and resources to prepare himself for. Similarly, John Mountzouris is a lead manager at Abgent, located in Clairemont, which manufactures antibodies. Although they don’t do lab work in San Diego, the industry has another side to it, where Johns talents as a humanities geek and his science knowledge factor in. He admitted that “his hands were never good in a lab” and “there were always fires or explosions around me.” Eventually, he found his calling in the office side of the industry. Office work may not reach to some, yet he enjoys his work thoroughly since he can apply his interest in science along with his other skills. Biotech industries are very different and unique from one another, their special field shaping the culture of each organization. Yet what they all agree on is that their work must have some meaning, in an enjoyable innovative environment. New Leaf Biofuel is the only company in San Diego that actually converts used cooking oil, from local restaurants, into biodiesel. As students and I toured the facility, I found it incredible that such a complex industry ran here, in a relatively small compound, down the street from homes and business’s in a rather quiet and idle neighborhood. Who knew? |