Chief Scientific Officer

• Apr 2021 - Present

Environmental Specialist

• Feb 2017 - Mar 2021

• Conducts field evaluations and compliance monitoring of Public Health Permitted facilities for the enforcement of Federal, State, and Local regulations. • Provides education to public regarding COVID-19 Risk/Safety and current Health Officer Order. • Nuisance Abatement Team Investigator for comprehensive code enforcement to assess environmental health risks (multi-agency task force). • Active in community outreach activities and education. Public health issues include COVID-19, mosquito borne illness, Exide lead contamination, Murine Typhus and Hepatitis A outbreak awareness. • Inspector for the Enhanced Lead Inspection Pilot Program to survey homes built pre-1978 in economically impacted communities to mitigate potential lead exposure and assess risk for remediation. Show less

Senior Environmental Scientist

• Mar 2015 - Mar 2021

• Environmental consultant for regulated hazardous waste treatment, management, transport, and disposal. Experience with hazardous waste classification (RCRA). • Authored technical reports and developed marketing materials for the implementation of Medical Waste-to-Energy applications, to potential stakeholders and partners. • Authored and awarded StopWaste.org sustainable practices grant for materials to reduce waste and landfilling. • Drafts bi-monthly newsletters for Biologic Inc., to market environmental services, discuss current environmental activities, and promote sustainable practices. • Data scientist analyzing business metrics using statical platforms for financial engineering and data visualization. • Principle scientist for the environmental remediation of plastic polymers. • Lead author for grants leveraging additional funding sources, specifically for emerging technologies which promote environmental sustainability. • Chief consultant for regulated hazardous waste treatment, management, transport, and disposal (CDPH, DTSC & RCRA). • Performs on-site field biology/ecology studies, including data collection, analysis and interpretation, for authoring/evaluating environmental impact assessment reports. Show less

Postdoctoral Scientist

• Aug 2011 - Jun 2015

• Developed and implemented laboratory protocols to examine and discover new life from beneath the Earth’s crust, using Next-Generation DNA Sequencing technologies. • Constructed metagenomic libraries for Illumina, Ion PGM and Sanger sequencing applications. • Sampled and mapped deep-sea environments for the International Ocean Discovery Program. • Analyzed major ion concentrations, inorganic and organic chemical compositions to examine the biogeochemical potential of deep ocean environments. • Collected, analyzed and interpreted large amounts of data for technical reports and scientific publications. Show less

Graduate Student Researcher

• Sep 2004 - Dec 2010

• Investigated the environmental remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and BTEX compounds. • Constructed Illumina sequencing libraries and metagenomic shotgun sequencing libraries using high-molecular weight DNA from the La Brea Tar Pits.• Used GC and HPLC techniques to quantify degradation rates of PAHs and BTEX compounds.• Developed and designed oligo hybridization DNA probes for microarray analysis • Optimized PCR and microarray based assays to detect and quantify target microbes and enzymes.• Awarded grant funding of over $30,000 for research. Data was reported in scientific publications and is currently being displayed at the Page Museum, in Los Angeles. • Maintained a GPA of over 3.9 while completing Ph.D. dissertation and teaching appointments. Published: Baquiran, J.P., B. Thater, K. Songco & D.E. Crowley (2012) Characterization of Culturable PAH and BTEX Degrading Bacteria from Heavy Oil of the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds 32(5): 600-614 Show less

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Jan 2005 - Jan 2010

Courses taught:• Human Reproduction and Sexual Behavior• Organisms in their Environment• Environmental Quality• Fundamentals of Toxicology

Research Assistant

• Sep 2009 - Sep 2010

• Research focused on the evolution of infectious diseases and developing improved antibiotics by examining the microbiome of A. maximus. • Performed DNA cloning, gene expression assays and DNA sequencing to examine the microbiome. • Ran PCR and qPCR based assays to identify and quantify specific 16S rRNA genes. • Applied fluorescent DNA hybridization labeling of target biomarker genes for microscopy. • Led and managed research team to produce currently funded research projects and publications. Published: Baquiran, J.P., B. Thater, S. Sedky, De Ley, P., Crowley, D.E. & P. Orwin (2013) Culture-Independent Investigation of the Microbiome Associated with the Nematode Acrobeloides maximus. PLoS ONE 8(7): e67425. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067425 Show less

Staff Scientist

• Jun 2006 - Aug 2006

Specialized in environmental cleanup projects involving the biological remediation of petroleum contaminated sites and consulted management on the development of renewable energy facilities. • Detected and quantified toxic compounds from contaminated sites. • Tested hazardous waste for toxicity, flammability, reactivity, and corrosivity. • Maintained and developed cell cultures of microorganisms used for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Specialized in environmental cleanup projects involving the biological remediation of petroleum contaminated sites and consulted management on the development of renewable energy facilities. • Detected and quantified toxic compounds from contaminated sites. • Tested hazardous waste for toxicity, flammability, reactivity, and corrosivity. • Maintained and developed cell cultures of microorganisms used for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Laboratory Assistant

• Apr 2001 - Feb 2004

Assisted research in Aquatic Toxicology and Plant Pathology departments. • Performed fish tissue and sediment extractions for GC-MS analysis to detect and quantify PCBs, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides. • Collected and analyzed analytical data, using statistical platforms. • Data was published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. • Ran PCR reactions for RAPD analysis to curate Phytophthora sp. database. • Handled and maintained cryogenic storage of the World Phytophthora Collection. • Cultured various Phytophthora sp. for DNA extractions. • Isolated Stachybotrys sp. from environmental samples in pure culture for phylogenetic analysis. Show less