Josh Lesio

At VaxSyna, I manage preclinical R&D for plant-based HSV and influenza vaccine candidates. I direct protein production and validation workflows, oversee project timelines using a Notion-based Gantt system, and coordinate cross-functional teams to align scope, cost, and schedule goals. Beyond the bench, I perform competitive analyses to guide product strategy and develop standardized SOPs that improve reproducibility, streamline operations, and reduce assay error rates.

As a Research Intern at Vaxsyna, I worked on construct development, molecular cloning, and protein production to support preclinical vaccine studies. Collaborating with the Mason Lab, I contributed to in vivo trials and helped optimize expression systems for vaccine candidates.

As Co-MD of Nucleate Arizona I lead operations and strategy for a 10+ member team delivering biotech entrepreneurship programs across Arizona. This includes executing flagship initiatives like the Ideathon, managing logistics, speaker coordination, and stakeholder engagement. I redefined team roles and workflows to improve accountability and efficiency, implemented project tracking systems and helped build partnerships with biotech firms, investors, and universities to expand sponsorship and outreach.

As Director of Strategy for Nucleate Arizona, I lead event programming and coordination efforts aimed at educating students and equipping graduate students with the skills necessary to translate their research into real-world solutions. I spearhead initiatives like our Ideathon, providing a platform for students to practice and refine these skills in a hands-on environment.

As an Academic Associate, I teach the lab component of a molecular genetics course, focusing on gene cloning, protein production in plants, and biochemical analysis. I guide students through hands-on techniques, experimental design, and data interpretation, preparing them for research and biotech careers.

I served as a Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University across laboratory and lecture courses, including Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Genetic Engineering and Society Laboratory, and General Genetics. I taught core molecular genetics concepts through hands-on protein expression labs using active learning approaches. I adapted a semester-long laboratory course into a one-week immersion experience for online students to expand access to in-person training. I also supported lecture instruction, held weekly office hours, assisted with assessment and grading, and contributed to course development. I taught both in-person and online courses ranging from small laboratory sections to lectures with up to 400 students. My teaching was recognized with the 2023 Graduate Teaching Excellence Award and a nomination for the 2024 SOLS Innovative Teaching Assistant Award.

My Thesis project for my M.S. degree investigates how different adjuvants enhance the vaccine-induced immunity of a Zika recombinant immune complex (RIC) vaccine. Specifically, I am exploring the use of the TLR5-binding segment of bacterial flagellin as an adjuvant candidate to enhance RIC performance through dual stimulation of the PAMP and complement pathways. This approach aims to improve the immunogenicity of the ZE3 antigen, driving a stronger Th1 immune response and enhancing CD8 T cell activation to create a more effective Zika vaccine candidate. I have been awarded the 2023 GPSA Graduate Student Research Support Grant, the GPSA 2024 Jumpstart grant, and the 2023 3rd Place SOLS 2023 Poster Competition award to support this research.

Served as an undergraduate laboratory preparation and teaching assistant for Microbiology Lab, Molecular Genetics Lab, and Genetic Engineering and Society Lab. Prepared media and reagents to support laboratory instruction and assisted students during class with learning and performing core microbiology and molecular biology techniques.

Conducted undergraduate research in plant-based biologics and vaccines across two laboratories, most recently in Dr. Hugh Mason’s lab and previously in Dr. Qiang Chen’s lab. In Dr. Mason’s lab, completed an undergraduate thesis focused on developing an influenza recombinant immune complex (RIC) vaccine produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Cloned a multivalent M2e antigen incorporating human, swine, and avian variants to improve strain coverage, and validated expression and immunogenic potential using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and complement activation assays. Previously, in Dr. Chen’s lab, studied plant-produced monoclonal antibody therapeutics, cloning and expressing Fc-mutant variants of anti-PD-L1 and EGFR antibodies. Co-authored a review on plant-based antibody therapeutics for West Nile virus. Research was supported by competitive SOLUR Fellow and SOLUR Scholar stipends. As a SOLUR Fellow, I was awarded a stipend to enable my continued research.

I was elected as the Undergraduate Programs Committee Representative on the School of Life Science Executive Board. Here, I advocated for greater protection for undergraduate students in research to prevent undergraduate abuse in research settings through implementing mentor compacts and routine check-ins with the SOLS research coordinator. I also helped advocate for graduate student TA assignments and reviewed scholarship packets for SOLS undergraduate students.

My Thesis project for my M.S. degree investigates how different adjuvants enhance the vaccine-induced immunity of a Zika recombinant immune complex (RIC) vaccine. Specifically, I am exploring the use of the TLR5-binding segment of bacterial flagellin as an adjuvant candidate to enhance RIC performance through dual stimulation of the PAMP and complement pathways. This approach aims to improve the immunogenicity of the ZE3 antigen, driving a stronger Th1 immune response and enhancing CD8 T cell activation to create a more effective Zika vaccine candidate. To accomplish this research, I raised my own funding through three student grants being the Graduate Student Support Program, Graduate Student Jumpstart Program, and the SOLS Poster Competition. As well as establishing multiple collaborations with other labs throughout the university to complete the animal work, and virus work beyond the scope of our lab to fully test this hypothesis.

I earned a B.S. in Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology at Arizona State University, where I developed a strong foundation in molecular biology, genetics, and biotechnology. My coursework and research focused on the application of molecular techniques in areas such as vaccine development and antibody engineering, culminating in a thesis project that involved creating a universal influenza vaccine candidate using plant-based expression systems.

I earned a B.S. in Sustainability from Arizona State University, with a focus on systems thinking and system dynamics. My studies emphasized understanding and modeling complex environmental systems, exploring how interconnected factors influence sustainability outcomes. Through this lens, I developed strategies to address environmental challenges, integrating scientific knowledge with systemic approaches to create sustainable solutions across various sectors.