Experience

Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences

• Law Enforcement
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Section Head - DNA Database

  • Mar 2014 - Present

  Birmingham, Alabama Area Responsible for ensuring that the section receives and processes over 25,000 DNA samples collected statewide from all felony arrestees and convicted felons, and ensure that these DNA profiles are searched at the state and national levels. Worked on the NDIS submission for both Identifiler Direct amplification kit and the GlobalFiler Express amplification kit. Worked on the development and testing of the EasiCollect+ DNA collector.

• Assistant Section Chief - DNA Database

  • Jan 2003 - Mar 2014

  Punch blood and buccal samples from FTA cards utilizing a BSD 600 Duet puncher in a 96-well format and extracting the samples using the FTA method. Amplify samples using Identifier or Identifiler Direct on 9700 thermal cyclers and developing the DNA profiles on the ABI 3100 capillary electrophoresis or 3130xl capillary electrophoresis utilizing GeneMapper software. Extract DNA from biological specimens using Phenol/Chloroform organic extraction techniques that correctly identify and… Show more Punch blood and buccal samples from FTA cards utilizing a BSD 600 Duet puncher in a 96-well format and extracting the samples using the FTA method. Amplify samples using Identifier or Identifiler Direct on 9700 thermal cyclers and developing the DNA profiles on the ABI 3100 capillary electrophoresis or 3130xl capillary electrophoresis utilizing GeneMapper software. Extract DNA from biological specimens using Phenol/Chloroform organic extraction techniques that correctly identify and preserve the integrity of samples that cannot be extracted with FTA technology. Utilize ABI Prism 7000 Real Time-PCR for the quantitation of organically extracted samples. Technically review other scientists' and technicians' work to ensure compliance with laboratory protocols. Supervise one Forensic Technician and perform yearly appraisals. Write the procedure manuals for newly validated instruments and techniques. Presented "Eliminating the Backlog" at the 2008 Southern Association of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting at the Forensic Biology Breakout session. Awarded the "Director's Award of Excellence" in 2007 for maintaining a zero sample backlog and improving sample processing efficiency. Assisted in sending, analyzing and reconciling 60,000 DNA samples that were out-sourced. Assisted in training new student interns and forensic scientists. Performed quality control checks on all critical reagents. Assisted in creating new protocols and validating new instrumentation.

• Drug Chemist

  • Jul 1998 - Dec 2002

  Analyzed various substances brought to the laboratory by various police agencies for the presence of any controlled substance. Testified at the state and federal level as an expert witness in the field of Drug Chemistry. Utilized gas chromatography/mass spectrometer, infrared spectrophotometer, ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer and microcrystal techniques as well as basic wet chemistry techniques to obtain which controlled substance was present, if any. Performed necessary quality… Show more Analyzed various substances brought to the laboratory by various police agencies for the presence of any controlled substance. Testified at the state and federal level as an expert witness in the field of Drug Chemistry. Utilized gas chromatography/mass spectrometer, infrared spectrophotometer, ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer and microcrystal techniques as well as basic wet chemistry techniques to obtain which controlled substance was present, if any. Performed necessary quality control checks on gas chromatography/mass spectrometer, infrared spectrophotometer and ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer. Awarded the "C.J. Rehling Meritorious Certificate" in 2000 and 2001 for helping eliminate the case backlog. Purchased necessary reagents, supplies, and other goods for the drug chemistry section. Audited other Alabama Department of Forensic Science laboratories for pre-ASCLD/LAB preparation. Assisted local police agencies with processing crime scenes.



Louisiana State University Health Science Center

• Graduate Student

  • Jan 1996 - Jan 1998

  Performed experiments utilizing PCR techniques to study the insertion frequency of novel Alu and LINE elements in various worldwide populations. Data from these experiments was defended for my thesis "Contribution of Interspersed Repeats to Human Genomic Diversity." This data has been used in six publications. Awarded second place for the oral presentation of my data at the Graduate School Research Day. Supervised one laboratory technician and one student worker.



Gap, Inc

• Sales Associate

  • Oct 1995 - Jun 1996

  Sold men's and women's apparel, footwear and accessories achieving the Bronze and Silver Sales Associate status. Responsible for opening and closing of the store's cash registers. One of four sales associates that was retained after the holiday season.



SGS Control Services, Inc.

• Laboratory Chemist

  • Jan 1995 - Jan 1996

  Performed all of the environmental wet chemistry testing on various substances from local chemical refineries. Purchased necessary reagents, supplies and other goods for the environmental laboratory section. Assisted in laboratory becoming ISO 9001 certified.