Biologist

• Jun 2023 - Present

Senior Biologist - LTS Cell Biology

• Jul 2021 - Dec 2022

Administration: Main laboratory inventory, responsible for making CAPEX orders. Requesting cells from repository to allow for quality control testing. Liaising with Molecular, Microbiology, Production, and Manufacturing Science and Technology (MSAT) laboratories to obtain materials, perform molecular testing, and sterility testing results. Authoring certificates of analysis prior to customer lot release. Cell Culture: Preparation of various cell culture media and coating solutions. Performing cell recovery testing, clarification of cells for use in flow cytometry and molecular assays. Utilize immunocytochemistry assays and flow cytometry to detect cell markers of interest. Microbiology: Performance of both indirect and direct assays to detect mycoplasma present in viral and mammalian cell samples that are submitted by various laboratories at ATCC. DNA staining and microscopic analysis of mycoplasma infected cells. Inoculation of sterility media bottles for use in BACT/ALERT 3D system. Show less

Associate Scientist III

• Jan 2014 - Jul 2021

Administration: Maintaining laboratory inventory, responsible for ordering laboratory media. Performing virucidal safety testing of cleaning processes used in various GLP/GMP facilities. Authoring worksheets and other documents as necessary. Coordinating and scheduling cleaning validation testing. Using LIMS to move and track chain of custody of test samples. Cell Culture: Prepare and dispense cell culture medium. Maintained several immortal cell lines while using excellent aseptic technique for use in various virucidal safety testing. Virology: Quantification of virus particles using 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50). Show less

Associate Scientist II

• Feb 2010 - Jan 2014

- Performing disinfectant virucidal efficacy tests according to ASTM, FDA, and EPA guidelines. - Assuring all experimental data, including observations of unanticipated responses of the test system are accurately recorded and verified. - Check final reports for accordance with protocol and SOP before submission to the study director prior to QA review, assuring that the final data is complete. - Maintaining laboratory inventory, maintaining animals for use in laboratory studies. - Maintaining the facilities in a clean and orderly condition and perform laboratory maintenance tasks. - Demonstrating knowledge and practice of good aseptic technique. - Preparing and dispensing mammalian cell culture media. - Cryopreservation of various mammalian cell lines. - Experience in mammalian virus propagation. - Utilizing cell-based assays to determine the antiviral efficacy of various cleaning products. - Determination of viral log reduction, using statistical analysis - Utilizing protein chemistry techniques such as Western Blotting for prion clearance studies. - Peforming viral DNA/RNA extraction. - Performing polymerase chain reaction on purified viral DNA/RNA samples. - Experience with direct and indirect immunofluoresence cell plate assays. Show less

Customer Service Associate

• Feb 2008 - Jan 2010

- Delivering mail and small packages to customers. - Delivering mail and small packages to customers.

Undergraduate Researcher

• May 2006 - Aug 2006

- Served an integral role as part of a four-person research group responsible for investigating the anti-microbial peptide β-defensin and its functions. - Utilized FMOC (9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate, an amino protecting group) chemistry in order to perform solid-phase peptide synthesis. - Solely responsible for preparing all types of growth media and buffers. - Gained expertise in utilizing aseptic techniques to determine antimicrobial activity in order to develop assays using synthesized peptide. - Delivered research presentations to senior level chemistry and biochemistry faculty members and co-workers. Show less