Quality Assurance Development

Amy L. Polaczyk Research Associate

Warren Pinnacle Consulting, Inc. *********@**************.***

P.O. Box 253 http://www.warrenpinnacle.com/

Warren VT 05674 802-***-****; fax 802-***-****

Key Qualifications

Ms. Polaczyk has been a research associate with Warren Pinnacle Consulting Inc. since 2010 with a focus on

refining and applying the SLAMM computer model as well as supporting bioaccumulation modeling projects.

She brings a diverse background in environmental science and several years of experience in model

development to the Warren Pinnacle team.

Education

Morehead State University B.S. 1999 Morehead, KY

University of Cincinnati M.S. 2002 Cincinnati, OH

University of North Carolina - Charlotte PhD 2010 Charlotte, NC

Relevant Professional Experience

2010-Present Research Associate, Warren Pinnacle Consulting, Inc.

2006-2010 Teaching and Research Assistant, University of North Carolina Charlotte, James E.

Amburgey, Advisor, Charlotte, NC. Created a logical-control driven model of a real-world

drinking water distribution system using EPANET and used this model to determine alternative

operational control scenarios that had the highest potential to reduce the retention time of water

in the system. Developed novel applications in EPANET MSX to simulate water age and

quantify the effects of physical network features on water age. Completed a statistical

comparison of theories to calculate zeta potential from electrophoretic mobility measurements.

Conducted a Meta-Analysis of Cryptosporidium removal data by conventional drinking water

treatment processes

2003-2005 Environmental Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for

Infectious Disease, Atlanta, GA. Part of a research team developing concentration methods

for isolating multiple organisms from large volumes of drinking water. Independently

studied to efficiency of charged membrane filters to recover microorganisms from tap water.

2001-2003 Teaching and Research Assistant, University of Cincinnati, Daniel B. Oerther, Advisor,

Cincinnati, OH. Performed initial studies on a miniaturized culture system for rapid detection

of bacteria. Assisted the development of precursor-RNA targeted Fluorescence in situ

Hybridization probes for drinking water analysis.

2000-2001 Research Grantee, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research

and Development, Cincinnati, OH. Collected and analyzed air and sediment samples at a US

EPA Superfund site. Responsible for laboratory inventory, development of standard operating

procedures, writing and reviewing quality assurance project plans.

Computer Experience

Proficiency with EPANET, MATLAB, SAS, Microsoft Excel, and C programming.

Relevant Coursework

Advanced Hydraulics, Water Quality Modeling, Groundwater Resources Engineering, Ecological

Engineering, Aquatic Entomology, and Limnology.

Language Skills

Fluent in French and Italian, basic proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese.

Publications

Hill, V.R; A.L. Polaczyk, A.M. Kahler, T.L. Cromeans, D. Hahn, and J.E. Amburgey (2009) Comparison

of Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration to the USEPA VIRADEL Technique and USEPA Method 1623

Journal of Environmental Quality 38 822 825

Polaczyk, A.L.; J. Narayanan, T.L. Cromeans, D. Hahn, J.M. Roberts, J.E. Amburgey, and V.R. Hill.

(2008) Ultrafiltration-based techniques for rapid and simultaneous concentration of multiple

microbe classes from 100-L tap water samples Journal of Microbiological Methods 73 92 99

Polaczyk, A.L.; V.R. Hill, and J.M. Roberts. (2007) Evaluation of 1MDS Electropositive Microfilters for

Simultaneous Recovery of Multiple Microbe Classes from Tap Water. Journal of

Microbiological Methods 68 260-266

Jing, G.; A. Polaczyk, D.B. Oerther, I. Papautsky.(2007) Development of a Microfluidic Biosensor for

Detection of Environmental Mycobacteria Sensors and Actuators B Chemical 123 (1) 614-

621

Polaczyk, A.; V. Hill, J. Amburgey. (2007) Simultaneous Recovery of Diverse Microbes from Tap Water

Using Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration. Proceedings of the 2007 AWWA Water Quality Technology

Conference November 2007, Charlotte, NC

Amburgey, J.E.; V.R. Hill, A.L. Polaczyk, M.J. Arrowood. (2007) Removal of Multiple Microorganisms

under Varying Coagulation Conditions in a Pilot-Plant. Proceedings of the 2007 AWWA Water

Quality Technology Conference November 2007, Charlotte, NC

Hill, V.; B. Newton, T. Cromeans, A. Polaczyk, D. Hahn, A. Kahler, and R. Meyer. (2006) A New

Filtration Technique For Recovering Biothreat Agents From Drinking Water. Proceedings of

the American Society for Microbiology Biodefense Research Meeting. February 2006,

Washington, D.C.

Hill V.R.; B.R. Newton, A.L. Polaczyk, T.L. Cromeans, J. Narayanan, D. Hahn, J.E. Amburgey, and R.F.

Meyer (2006) Hollow Fiber Ultrafiltration for Rapid and Simultaneous Concentration of

Biothreat Agents in Drinking Water. Proceedings of the American Water Works Association's

International Symposium on Waterborne Pathogens March 2006, Atlanta, GA

Amburgey, J.E.; V.R. Hill, A.L. Polaczyk, N.C. Spivey, M.J. Arrowood (2006) Multiple Microorganism

Removals Under Varying Coagulation Conditions in a Pilot-Scale Drinking Water Treatment

Plant. Proceedings of the American Water Works Association's International Symposium on

Waterborne Pathogens March 2006, Atlanta, GA

Polaczyk, A.; B. Kinkle, I. Papautsky, D.B. Oerther. (2006) Culture-Based BioMEMS Device to Track

Gordonia in Activated Sludge Environmental Science and Technology 40 (7) 2269-2274

A. Polaczyk and V. Hill. (2005) Simultaneous Recovery of Bacteria, Viruses, and Parasites from

Drinking Water Using Electropositive Microfilters. Proceedings of the 105th American Society

for Microbiology General Meeting June 2005, Atlanta, GA

Hill V.R., A.L. Polaczyk, T.L. Cromeans, J. Narayanan, D. Hahn, J.M. Roberts, and J.E. Amburgey.

(2005) Rapid Procedures for Concentrating and Detecting Bio-Threat Agents in Drinking

Water. American Society for Microbiology Biodefense Conference March 2005, Baltimore, MD

Hill, V.R; A.L. Polaczyk, D. Hahn, J. Narayanan, T.L. Cromeans, J.M. Roberts, and J.E. Amburgey.

(2005) Development of a Rapid Method for Simultaneously Recovering Microbes in Drinking

Water Using Ultrafiltration with Sodium Polyphosphate and Surfactants Applied and

Environmental Microbiology 71-11-687*-****

This publication was awarded the James H. Nakano Citation for outstanding paper published in 2005 by the

National Centers for Infectious Disease of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Jing, G.; H.B. Eluru, A. Polaczyk, B. Kinkle, D. Mast, D.B. Oerther, I. Papautsky.(2005) Paraffin

Surfaces for Culture-Based Detection of Mycobacteria in Environmental Samples Journal of

Micromechanics and Microengineering 15(2) 270-276

Hill, V.R.; A. Polaczyk, D. Hahn, J. Naryanan, J. Amburgey. (2004) Toward a Rapid and Efficient

Method for Simultaneous Microbe Recovery in Drinking Water Using Ultrafiltration with

Chemical Dispersants and Surfactants. Proceedings of the 104th American Society for

Microbiology General Meeting May 2004, New Orleans, LA

Jing, G.; G. Hollis, A. Polaczyk, H.B. Eluru, B. Kinkle, D. Mast, D.B. Oerther. (2004) Developing Rapid

Detection of Mycobacteria Using Microwaves The Analyst 129 (10) 963-9

Oerther, D.B.; P.G Stroot, A. Polaczyk, Y. Chen. (2003) Using Ribosome Genesis as a Sensitive

Indicator of Microbial Viability to Test Disinfection Efficacy. Proceedings of the 2003 AWWA

Water Quality Technology Conference November 2003, Philadelphia, PA

Polaczyk, A.L.; H. Bindu, I. Papautsky, B. Kinkle, D.B. Oerther. (2003) Miniaturized Culturing Devices

to Screen for Mycolata in Environmental Samples. Proceedings of the 225th American

Chemical Society National Meeting March 2003, New Orleans, LA

Polaczyk, A.L.; H. Bindu, I. Papautsky, B. Kinkle, D.B. Oerther. (2003) Culture-Based BioMEMS for

the Rapid Detection of Mycolata. Proceedings of the American Society for Microbiology

Biodefense Research Meeting March 2003, Baltimore, MD

Polaczyk, A.L.; R.K. Chhabra, H. Bindu, I. Papautsky, B. Kinkle, D.B. Oerther. (2002) Development of

Culture-Based Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (BioMEMS) for Measuring

Nocardioforms in Wastewater Treatment. Proceedings WEFTEC October 2002, Chicago, IL

Polaczyk, A.L.; D.B. Oerther. (2002) Using Molecular Methods to Overcome the Pitfalls of Culture-

Based Pathogen Detection. Proceedings Ohio Water Environment Association June 2002,

Columbus, OH

Polaczyk, A.L.; R.K. Chhabra, H. Bindu, I. Papautsky, B. Kinkle, D.B. Oerther. (2002) Culturing via

BioMEMS Strikes Back in the Epic Saga between Cultivation and Molecular Methods.

Proceedings of the 102nd American Society for Microbiology General Meeting May 2002, Salt

Lake City, UT

Barth, E.; B. Sass, A. Polaczyk, R. Landy. (2001) Evaluation of Risk from Using Poultry Litter to

Remediate and Reuse Contaminated Estuarine Sediments Remediation Journal 11 (4) 35-45

Pass T.; R. Wright, L. Hawkins, A. Polaczyk, B. Reeder. (2000) Assessment of Fecal Coliform

Contamination and Physical Parameters within the Licking River Watershed. Kentucky

Nonpoint Source Conference, May 2000 Bowling Green, KY

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