Behind the Scene: Meet Brent, The Chicken-Raising, Mouse-Managing Expert at Biocytogen
Meet Brent, a breeding project lead at Biocytogen whose day-to-day work involves much more than managing mouse colonies—he also brings a little “farm fresh” touch to the lab. At home, Brent is the proud owner of four pet chickens with fruit-inspired names: Apple, Banana, Dragon Fruit, and Fig. Originally, he named his chickens alphabetically, A through F (Apple, Banana, Clementine, Dragon Fruit, Eggplant, and Fig), but sadly, C and E have passed on, leaving him with A, B, D, and F. He occasionally brings in extra eggs from his hens, sharing a bit of his homestead with his coworkers. These hens are a small but cheerful connection to home, even if his wife isn’t quite as enthusiastic about them!
Each morning, with Brent’s hens making gentle sounds as the sun rises, he starts his day with calm and focus, ready to dive into the precise work of Biocytogen’s breeding department. He manages mouse lineages, birth dates, and genotyping with a meticulous eye, ensuring the highest standards for each colony. Drawing from his background as a former physician assistant in orthopedic surgery, Brent brings a sharp attention to detail to his first preclinical research role. Every day, he’s learning, adapting, and taking pride in his impact on Biocytogen’s specialized mouse models.
One of Brent’s proudest achievements at Biocytogen has been his involvement in developing the B-hTFR1 mouse line, a model in high demand among researchers. Building this program from the ground up with the team, he’s helped establish breeding as a promising revenue stream for Biocytogen’s U.S. facilities in Boston. Though their capacity is still growing compared to larger operations overseas, he’s optimistic about the potential. With each new mouse line project, he’s eager to refine the processes and see how their work contributes to larger research initiatives. His enthusiasm for the future is clear, as he dreams of expanding the breeding capabilities stateside and helping the company grow.
Outside of work, Brent channels his passion for cooking, perfecting grilling techniques and recipes over the summer—a flavorful balance to his precise lab work. Whether it’s learning to grill a new dish or fine-tuning procedures at the breeding lab, Brent is always eager to pick up new skills. This drive to learn and share knowledge extends to his work with his colleagues as well. He finds joy in assisting teammates and actively participating in collaborative projects across departments. His attention to detail and strong communication skills have made him a go-to person in the lab, whether helping with flow cytometry, in vivo pharmacology, or other tasks beyond his core breeding role.
For Brent, Biocytogen’s culture of growth and learning is a perfect fit. Reflecting on his journey from clinical practice to preclinical research, he appreciates the open environment and the encouragement to continually develop new skills. His advice to those joining the biotech field is simple: always keep learning. For him, every day is an opportunity to expand his understanding, and he values the hands-on experience he’s gained at Biocytogen. Whether he’s collaborating with the team or perfecting a new grilling recipe, Brent’s commitment to learning knows no bounds!
