Behind the Science: Advancing Brain Health and Transforming Lives at Lundbeck
Amanda Smith has always had an interest in the power of cells to solve complex challenges. As a Senior Process Development Scientist at Lundbeck, her work directly supports the company’s focus to develop new and improved treatments that make a difference for people living with brain disorders.
“Working in brain sciences comes with the responsibility and privilege of being able to impact someone’s life immediately and directly,” said Smith. “To be able to give someone back their life is incredibly powerful, and it extends beyond the patient to their whole family.”
With more than 70 years of experience in neuroscience, Lundbeck is committed to improving the lives of people with neurological and psychiatric diseases. The company develops transformative medicines targeting people for whom there are few or no treatments available, expanding into neuro-specialty and neuro-rare from its strong legacy within psychiatry and neurology.
Smith’s work in biologics process development focuses on the upstream cell growth stage of production. “We start with a vial of mammalian cells, thaw them, and grow them up over time until we have enough for a production run,” she explained. “From there, protein generated is then purified and formulated to become our product.”
Her mornings often begin early, coordinating across time zones with Lundbeck colleagues in Denmark for project updates and cross-site collaborations. Once in the office, her day consists of lab work, internal project meetings, and applying new technologies, all tied to her broader work in upstream process development.
Innovation plays a key role in de-risking complex biomanufacturing processes. Smith and her team are applying AI tools to improve how they analyze data and predict outcomes. These advancements not only strengthen process robustness but also accelerate the development of therapies that can reach patients faster.
“Scaling up is always a big challenge. You go from small bioreactors to very large manufacturing reactors, and there are so many variables that it’s hard to predict exactly how it will go,” she explained. “Anything we can do to reduce that uncertainty is a huge advantage.”
At Lundbeck, Smith values the hybrid nature of her role, splitting time between the lab and guiding external work, including tech transfer, process characterization and manufacturing support.
“If you’re not in the lab, you lose touch with the instruments and their limitations,” she said. “It’s rewarding to stay close to the science while also contributing to the bigger manufacturing picture.”
Beyond the technical work, Smith values opportunities for team learning. She helps lead a journal club at Lundbeck where colleagues present recent research or share new skills, noting that it’s a great way to keep up with science and build community at the same time.
For Smith, the interconnectedness of the region’s biotech community is a defining strength. Like many in the industry, she arrived for graduate school at the University of Washington and chose to establish her career here, creating a network where former classmates and colleagues often cross paths.
“Reconnecting with colleagues and getting the chance to work with them again at different companies is one of my favorite aspects of this community,” she noted.
Beyond her career, Smith has been active in professional and mentoring networks including the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), University of Washington Society of Women Engineers, and Women in Bio.
“It’s so easy to find a group, attend a meeting, and meet others who share your interests,” she said. “Mentoring and networking opportunities have been especially valuable, both for building community and for giving back.”
Smith’s schedule reflects the complexity and global collaboration that define modern biopharmaceutical development. But at the center of it all is a simple motivation: helping patients.
“At the end of the day, what drives me is knowing that our science can give someone back their life,” Smith said. “That’s what makes all of it worth it.”
Ready to advance your biotech career in Washington state? Explore job openings at Lundbeck here.
Sponsored by Life Science Washington and Lundbeck