Ennio Villa

I run the lab at cogu., where we make mushroom-based products — currently hydroalcoholic extracts with botanicals, with other applications in the pipeline. Mushrooms have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and across Asia, and a lot of what we do is about bringing that to a Western market that's still catching up. I built the lab from scratch on the back of my own technical background, and I still handle every part of it: R&D and product development, quality control, and inventory — pu

At JPT, I helped keep the lab running while supporting the research going on around me. A lot of my work centered on peptide quality — I ran HPLC and MALDI analysis to check that each one was up to standard. I also did plenty of hands-on prep, from single aliquoting in solid and liquid forms to making PepMixes and doing conjugations, so I got comfortable with a good mix of techniques. I kept track of both crude peptides and purified fractions and made sure everything stayed organized enough that we could al

As Lead R&D Technician, I managed a wide scope of work across our operations. I ran the laboratory and directed its daily activities, making sure things stayed on track while shaping a team that valued precision and strong output. Much of my focus went toward research and product development, where I helped bring fresh products to market and strengthen our position in the field. On top of that, I put together Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) so our products stayed safe and aligned with regulations, and I

In this role, I was involved in a range of activities related to lab operations. I prepared all kinds of pharmaceutical forms — solids, semi-solids, and liquids — always with a careful hand, whether I was diluting medications and compounds to just the right concentration or weighing out ingredients to hit exact formulation specs. I also kept the lab equipment properly calibrated and looked after our inventory, from ordering and receiving supplies to keeping track of stock levels and expiration dates. And th

In my pharmacy technician course, I’ve gained essential skills and knowledge for this role. I’ve learned about the human body, how medications work, and the basics of microbiology and pharmacology. I also studied alternative therapies like homeopathy and phytotherapy. Understanding medication types