Experience

Roche Sequencing USA

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Scientist

  • Oct 2019 - Present



TOMA Biosciences

• United States
• Biotechnology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Clinical Implementation Scientist

  • Jun 2018 - Aug 2019

  Working at TOMA Biosciences not only has allowed me to contribute by leveraging the knowledge and expertise that I’ve developed as a research scientist, it has also allowed me to expand into other roles. While I act primarily as a field application scientist, in which I train customers on how to use our SIGNOME Tumor Profiling System, I also provide technical support once they’ve adopted our system. Because of my bioinformatics experience, I work closely with our bioinformaticians to help… Show more Working at TOMA Biosciences not only has allowed me to contribute by leveraging the knowledge and expertise that I’ve developed as a research scientist, it has also allowed me to expand into other roles. While I act primarily as a field application scientist, in which I train customers on how to use our SIGNOME Tumor Profiling System, I also provide technical support once they’ve adopted our system. Because of my bioinformatics experience, I work closely with our bioinformaticians to help troubleshoot customer issues. I also wrote a Linux-based script to perform a meta-analysis of historical data in order to understand the performance of our system. I leveraged this analysis in order to recommend updated quality control thresholds for reagent manufacturing. In addition, I designed and executed experiments that demonstrated that an alternative input normalization strategy would improve read balance ensuring that no one sample was over- or under-sequenced, which reduced cost-of-goods. I also proactively evaluated digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assays, which were being used to measure sample yield, to also be used as a quality control method for measuring enrichment efficiency prior to sequencing. Show less Working at TOMA Biosciences not only has allowed me to contribute by leveraging the knowledge and expertise that I’ve developed as a research scientist, it has also allowed me to expand into other roles. While I act primarily as a field application scientist, in which I train customers on how to use our SIGNOME Tumor Profiling System, I also provide technical support once they’ve adopted our system. Because of my bioinformatics experience, I work closely with our bioinformaticians to help… Show more Working at TOMA Biosciences not only has allowed me to contribute by leveraging the knowledge and expertise that I’ve developed as a research scientist, it has also allowed me to expand into other roles. While I act primarily as a field application scientist, in which I train customers on how to use our SIGNOME Tumor Profiling System, I also provide technical support once they’ve adopted our system. Because of my bioinformatics experience, I work closely with our bioinformaticians to help troubleshoot customer issues. I also wrote a Linux-based script to perform a meta-analysis of historical data in order to understand the performance of our system. I leveraged this analysis in order to recommend updated quality control thresholds for reagent manufacturing. In addition, I designed and executed experiments that demonstrated that an alternative input normalization strategy would improve read balance ensuring that no one sample was over- or under-sequenced, which reduced cost-of-goods. I also proactively evaluated digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assays, which were being used to measure sample yield, to also be used as a quality control method for measuring enrichment efficiency prior to sequencing. Show less



Genomic Health

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Scientist I

  • Feb 2017 - Mar 2018

  The project team and I executed assay finalization and analytical validation studies in preparation for the launch of Oncotype SEQ Liquid Select, a liquid biopsy mutation panel. To prepare for the possibility of panel redesigns, I analyzed over 1,000 hybrid-capture sequencing libraries in my spare time to determine which probe design factors affect unique coverage. In addition, I cost-effectively investigated the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in reducing near-target coverage in hybrid-capture… Show more The project team and I executed assay finalization and analytical validation studies in preparation for the launch of Oncotype SEQ Liquid Select, a liquid biopsy mutation panel. To prepare for the possibility of panel redesigns, I analyzed over 1,000 hybrid-capture sequencing libraries in my spare time to determine which probe design factors affect unique coverage. In addition, I cost-effectively investigated the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in reducing near-target coverage in hybrid-capture sequencing libraries by performing in silico digestions recursively.

• Associate Scientist

  • Aug 2013 - Feb 2017

  The project team and I reduced the cost-of-goods of Oncotype SEQ Liquid Select, a liquid biopsy mutation panel, by increasing library complexity and reducing off-target coverage, thereby enabling higher library multiplexing when sequencing. In addition, I designed and tested multiple hybrid-capture probe sub-panels that could be mixed-and-matched to empirically determine which parameters provided optimal mutational coverage. I also optimized a whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS)… Show more The project team and I reduced the cost-of-goods of Oncotype SEQ Liquid Select, a liquid biopsy mutation panel, by increasing library complexity and reducing off-target coverage, thereby enabling higher library multiplexing when sequencing. In addition, I designed and tested multiple hybrid-capture probe sub-panels that could be mixed-and-matched to empirically determine which parameters provided optimal mutational coverage. I also optimized a whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) library preparation method, which was used in the detection of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in both urine tumor DNA (utDNA) and in plasma. Although I technically was not on the quantitative PCR (qPCR) arm of the methylation project, I created a time-saving, Linux-based script to automate the design of methylation-specific primers and probes because I saw an unmet need that I believed I could fill.

• Senior Research Associate

  • Feb 2010 - Aug 2013

  While evaluating an early-access version of hybrid-capture probes from an oligomer synthesis company, I created a Linux-based script to design custom DNA probes because one didn’t exist at the time. I later used this script to design the hybrid-capture probe panel that was used in the study intended to identify biomarkers that could be used in the clinical development of OncoMed’s antibody cancer therapeutics. In addition, I evaluated Applied Biosystems’ TaqMan microRNA assays, which… Show more While evaluating an early-access version of hybrid-capture probes from an oligomer synthesis company, I created a Linux-based script to design custom DNA probes because one didn’t exist at the time. I later used this script to design the hybrid-capture probe panel that was used in the study intended to identify biomarkers that could be used in the clinical development of OncoMed’s antibody cancer therapeutics. In addition, I evaluated Applied Biosystems’ TaqMan microRNA assays, which were then used to identify ones that are prognostic for clinical recurrence in prostate cancer.

• Research Associate

  • Mar 2007 - Feb 2010

  I executed a number of quantitative PCR-based studies. With the help of a colleague, I also learned Linux-based languages such as BASH, AWK and SED, as well as the statistical program, R.



Battelle

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Aerosol Science & Technology Assessment Senior Technician

  • Jun 2000 - Aug 2003

  I tested samples using quantitative PCR (qPCR), enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISAs), and culture-based microbial identification techniques. I tested samples using quantitative PCR (qPCR), enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISAs), and culture-based microbial identification techniques.



Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories

• Columbus, Ohio Area

• Intern

  • Jun 1999 - Sep 1999

  I helped identify & clone cDNA, then express it in yeast. I helped identify & clone cDNA, then express it in yeast.