Experience

VitaKey Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Scientist-Microbiology

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  Durham, North Carolina, United States Leading efforts to evaluate novel microbial products. • Led efforts to purchase equipment and materials to establish microbiology laboratory. • Developing methods to assess viability of formulated probiotics in food products. • Overseeing shelf-life studies to evaluate formulated probiotic products in a variety of dairy matrices. • Serving as team lead with two direct reports.



Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio)

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Scientist II

  • Jul 2019 - Nov 2021

  Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area Manufacturing DNA for use in gene therapy applications. Developing a scalable process and methods for production of DNA.



BioResource International, Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Research Scientist

  • Mar 2017 - Jul 2019

  Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area Developing and characterizing enzyme and microbial products for use in poultry and swine. Optimizing fermentation media and conditions to produce enzymes using bench scale bioreactors and shake flasks. Writing and validating SAPs/SOPs. Determining shelf life of microbial and enzyme products. Designing experiments to determine mode of action for probiotic products.



Novozymes

• Denmark
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Associate II BioAG Microbial Discovery

  • Aug 2014 - Jan 2017

  RTP, NC Isolated and characterized beneficial microbes from environmental samples in support of BioAg pipeline. Extracted high-quality DNA from fungal and bacterial cultures. Utilized automated equipment for high throughput assays (liquid handlers and plate readers). Served as super user for MALDI-TOF Mass Spectroscopy System. • Decreased laboratory costs by integrating 2D Barcode tube sample tracking system into workflows. • Developed methods for isolating novel microbes from environmental… Show more Isolated and characterized beneficial microbes from environmental samples in support of BioAg pipeline. Extracted high-quality DNA from fungal and bacterial cultures. Utilized automated equipment for high throughput assays (liquid handlers and plate readers). Served as super user for MALDI-TOF Mass Spectroscopy System. • Decreased laboratory costs by integrating 2D Barcode tube sample tracking system into workflows. • Developed methods for isolating novel microbes from environmental samples. • Optimized workflow for bacterial and fungal isolations and assays. Show less



North Carolina State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Technician/Lab Manager

  • Nov 2008 - Aug 2014

  Raleigh, NC Engaged in molecular toxicology research on DNA polymerases. Managed lab operations and safety. Performed mammalian and insect cell culture. Expressed proteins in yeast, bacteria, and cell lines. Developed novel qPCR assays. • Contributed to publication of 5 journal articles. • Arranged for repair and maintenance of laboratory equipment. • Created polymerase Eta mutants using site direction mutagenesis and cloning techniques. • Ensured safe lab operations by training new personnel… Show more Engaged in molecular toxicology research on DNA polymerases. Managed lab operations and safety. Performed mammalian and insect cell culture. Expressed proteins in yeast, bacteria, and cell lines. Developed novel qPCR assays. • Contributed to publication of 5 journal articles. • Arranged for repair and maintenance of laboratory equipment. • Created polymerase Eta mutants using site direction mutagenesis and cloning techniques. • Ensured safe lab operations by training new personnel on laboratory and safety protocols. Show less



University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Technician

  • Jul 2006 - Oct 2008

  Chapel Hill, NC Managed animal and laboratory resources. Purified and analyzed proteins from animal tissues. Ordered lab supplies and equipment. • Ensured laboratory compliance with animal rules and regulations. • Integrated new LIMS system to track availability of animals and progress of breeding programs. • Optimized PCR protocols for genotyping mice.



US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Student Contractor

  • May 2005 - Jul 2006

  Durham, NC Assisted and engaged in developmental immunology and toxicology research. Conducted research involving rodent models. Prepared solutions and samples for experiments. Processed blood samples for ELISAs. • Assisted senior research personnel with complex animal assays.