Experience

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Associate

  • Apr 2023 - Present

  A Research Associate at the N.C Plant Sciences Initiative on the Centennial Campus of NC State University. A Research Associate at the N.C Plant Sciences Initiative on the Centennial Campus of NC State University.



Medicago

• Canada
• Biotechnology Research
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Manufacturing Senior Specialist

  • Nov 2022 - Apr 2023

  Managed cGMP process requiring crossed functional collaboration to ensure compliance and the delivery of high quality biomass to customers.o Project Management of seeding platform for production of Nicotiana benthamiana in a high throughput environment in both controlled chambers and greenhouse areas.o Technical writing of novel SOPs and memos as well as document coordination that required periodic review approvals and editing of existing protocols.o Authored quality event documents such as change controls and deviations.o Facilitated the on boarding of new equipment and created process flows for efficiency Conviron MTPS864, Conviron GEN1000. o Initiated a back up seeding platform for production operations. o Adapted to production demands and increased throughput 200% from 24k to 48k plants per week with the potential for a 400% ramp up. o Piloted a corporate Value Stream Mapping assessment overseeing my areas of production.o Updated seeding process which saved 50 man-hours per production batch implementing a single seeding option. o Recorded all cGMP data following ALCOA+ standards.o Interviewing and on boarding of new employees and held training sessions to improve quality standards for plant handling.o Troubleshooting and maintenance of equipment in BRAM inventory systems. Show less

• Biotech Greenhouse Specialist III

  • Jun 2018 - Nov 2022

  Led seeding operations as the Subject Matter Expert for a high throughput cGMP process.o Oversaw change control process that increased efficiency by switching to a coated seed versus a natural seed.  Seed volume requirements reduced by ~75%. Thinning operation man-hours reduced by 50%.o Coordinated area inventory management: ordering, external and internal.o Maintained all cGMP standards required for production in ALCOA+ environment. Documentation of logbooks, ensured annual calibrations performed on equipment, required cleaning and validation sampling.o Responsible for monitoring of growth chambers as well as programming to meet requirements for Temperature, Relative Humidity and CO2 injection setpoints.o Trained to take validation sampling: Bioburden, Endotoxin, Total Organic Carbon(TOC), and Conductivity.o Maintained large walk-in Conviron MTPS864 chamber and four Conviron G1000 germination cabinets. Performed routine maintenance and troubleshooting in collaboration with facilities management. Show less

• Biotech Greenhouse Specialist II

  • Aug 2017 - Jun 2018

  Contributes to the production of VLPs utilizing a plant based platform for manufacturing.o Overseeing the seeding production platform ensuring that all processes are followed precisely to maintain compliance within a cGMP facility. Coordinating inventory, obtaining and maintaining batch records, data entry. Proactively prepare all tasks in advance for propagating Nicotiana benthamiana, which includes Agar production via autoclave, soil plug tray setup at necessary quantities, growth chamber monitoring and repair to maintain set points for successfully propagation of viable healthy seedlings for production use. Labeling, cleaning glassware and equipment using various potentially hazardous cleaning agents while strictly adhering to safety regulations and environmental containment guidelines.o Coordinated three research experiments that included the authoring of the technical documents and SOPs, watering and fertilizing to specific levels, soil pH and EC monitoring, data entry, assessing plant health and phenotype observations, training of employees.o Assist in multiple phases to support greenhouse production operations. Possess ability to stand for long hours while maintaining quality during phases of production such as transplanting, density change, vacuum infiltration, and harvesting of infected plant materials. Perform fertilization and irrigation of plants as needed in both greenhouse and environmental chamber areas. Mixing of fertilizer solutions and growth substrates, cleaning greenhouse tables and work areas, observing plant growth, characterization of plant batches that include phenotypes such as plant height and leaf area, soil pH, and soil EC. Utilize greenhouse experience to support IPM and identifying greenhouse pests, recognizing nutrient deficiencies and suggesting solutions as needed. Adhere to procedures for controlled documentation practices within a GMP facility. Show less



BASF

• Germany
• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Scientist

  • Sep 2009 - Sep 2016

  Associate Scientist: High throughput phenotypic screening of soybean, corn, and model systems for yield discovery • Selected technical lead of fungal based screen for phenotyping soybean roots, ensuring proper completion of high quality data to the project on an expedited timeline. • Facilitated scheduling, planning, training and coordinating of team members and temporary workers duties, including plant maintenance, data collection and consolidation, LIMS, and following stewardship best practices. • Exceeded expectations in training and implementation of in-vitro Maize transformation via tissue culture process by achieving an efficiency rating greater than peers for same process.• Designed and conducted technical experiments utilizing maize and soybean. • Delivered on novel assay investigating a biomass-to-yield link using seed weight and vegetative growth via imaging analysis on Arabidopsis. • Developed assay from concept to attain data for GMO approach for insecticidal controls via screening of Hemipteran species. • Improved the efficiency of significant experiment that maximized greenhouse space and increased throughput by 50%. • Experimented with Fusarium species including sterile techniques, culturing, plant inoculations, and data collection. • Successfully crossed Arabidopsis plants and transformed via agrobacterium. • Prepared and processed various types of tissues types including ultra-low temperature handling with LN. • Operated in field settings in Iowa obtaining destructive and non-destructive phenotype collection in Maize.• Developed SOP and Work Instructions for projects. • Authored and presented experimental results to large groups of peers and supervisors. Show less

• Assistant Scientist II

  • Aug 2006 - Sep 2009

  Assistant Scientist II: Primary resource of plant propagations for all insecticide research laboratories and the insect production facility • Administered all operations of plant propagations in chemical free greenhouse that supplied over 1 million plants for research and insect colony maintenance. • Optimized the processes for propagating wheat, lima beans, cotton, eggplant, pepper, and sorghum• Added Dosatrons to plant growth areas to deliver precise fertilizer concentrations. • Demonstrated extensive horticultural practices including propagating seed, watering, fertilizer analysis, pest monitoring, and IPM. • Maintained and ordered all supplies necessary for plant productions. • Operated in field setting to assist in field trials and planted several varieties of crops via mechanical planter. • Fostered insect colonies of Hemipteran and Lepidopteran adhering to strict protocols and record keeping. • Successfully propagated Salunum spp. for nematode colony maintenance Show less

• Assistant Scientist (Contractor)

  • Apr 2006 - Aug 2006

  Assistant Scientist (Contractor): Assistance with ongoing and upcoming projects, including: setup, maintenance, and completion of assays in both greenhouse and laboratory settings. • Handled greenhouse duties that included sowing seed, transplanting, and harvesting. • Observed plants to maintain stress levels via controlling soil moisture to specific volumetric holding capacities. • Prepared various tissue samples of high throughput assays based on desired phenotype. • Supplied data to supervisor via multiple sources such as HHP scanners, Lemnatec, and PC. Show less



Monsanto Company

• United States
• Farming
• 700 & Above Employee

• Laboratory Technician I

  • Oct 2005 - Apr 2006

  Laboratory Technician l: Phenotypic screening and analysis of genetically modified plants in various stressed environments. • Met assay commitments and deadlines. • Identified and reported unique phenotypes of Arabidopsis. • Assisted in development of hydroponics platform. • Learned and illustrated sterile techniques, autoclave operation, and plant dissection. Laboratory Technician l: Phenotypic screening and analysis of genetically modified plants in various stressed environments. • Met assay commitments and deadlines. • Identified and reported unique phenotypes of Arabidopsis. • Assisted in development of hydroponics platform. • Learned and illustrated sterile techniques, autoclave operation, and plant dissection.



Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

• United States
• Farming
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Mar 2003 - Oct 2003

  o Responsible for the handling of incoming specialty plants o Plant propagation trials o Maintaining research trail beds, inventory tracking, plant pressing o General upkeep of botanical gardens o Responsible for the handling of incoming specialty plants o Plant propagation trials o Maintaining research trail beds, inventory tracking, plant pressing o General upkeep of botanical gardens