Quality Assurance Control
Resume:
Kaneatra Simmons
Email: *********@********.***
Address: ***** ***** **** *****, ********* 251
City: Cincinnati
State: OH
Zip: 45241
Country: USA
Phone: 516-***-****
Skill Level: Experienced
Salary Range: $80,000
Willing to Relocate
Primary Skills/Experience:
Scientific Research and Data Analysis Assay Development Quality Control Laboratory Operatons Oral and Written Communiation
Educational Background:
Doctorate, Microbiology / Molecular Biology
Meharry Medical College, 08/1999 - 05/2006
Nashville, Tennessee
Not Selected,, Not Selected
Job History / Details:
KANEATRA J. SIMMONS, Ph.D.
12129 South Pine Drive, Apartment 251 * Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
MICROBIOLOGIST / RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Accomplished and dedicated Research Scientist with more than 10 years of experience conducting ground-breaking and award-winning research into biomarker/ immunoassay development, vaccine creation, and gene regulation using microbiological, molecular biological, and systems biological techniques. Proven ability to design and implement effective research studies, prepare Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance Plans, and analyze experimental results. Excellent presentation skills, with demonstrated success writing and presenting formal and informal reports, supervising technical teams, and optimizing experiment processes.
Core Competencies
Scientific Research * Molecular Biology * Scientific Laboratory Methodology * Data Peer Review
Instrumentation Troubleshooting * Process Improvements * Team Leadership * Testing & Analysis
Laboratory Operations * Quality Control * Documentation & Compliance * Translation Medicine
Immunology * Epidemiologic Studies * Biomarker Discovery * Vaccine Development * Presentations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Cincinnati, Ohio * 2009 - Present
Microbiologist (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Direct the development and implementation of experiments, testing techniques, and methodology designed to investigate a non-invasive salivary biomarker assay to human exposure to waterborne pathogens. Prepare Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance Plans in order to optimize experiment processes, maintain detailed project documentation, and analyze experimental results. Write and present formal and informal reports, supervise technical staff, and create technical summaries of experiment results to inform future agency funding decisions.
Highlights & Achievements:
* Developed a multiplexed Luminex-based immunoassay proven to simultaneously measure human exposure to 15 different microbial waterborne pathogens of viral, bacterial, and protozoan origin.
* Utilized a Design of Experimentation approach to optimize the experimentation process, resulting in a 30% decrease in the salivary biomarker assay budget.
* Presented research findings in symposiums of national scientific conferences and published a book chapter entitled -Saliva-based immunoassay of waterborne pathogen exposure- in McGraw-Hill`s Yearbook of Science and Technology 2013.
* Named a Microbial Exposure Research Branch Quality Assurance Representative and honored with the Network for Cincinnati EPA Trainees Award for Outstanding Research.
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES /
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION, Atlanta, Georgia * 2007 - 2009
Emerging Infectious Diseases Post-Doctoral Fellow
Utilized proteomic, molecular biological, and microbiological techniques to investigate new vaccine candidates capable of working against Bordetella pertussis infections. Maintained tissue culture of human cell lines, propagated outbreak strains in-vitro, and measured the ability of Streptococcus pneumoniae to infect human cell lines. Investigated the ability of vaccine components to affect laboratory mice, analyzed experiment results, and provided technical support on related agency projects, including Quality Assurance and Biomarker Identification.
KANEATRA J. SIMMONS, Ph.D. * Page 2
Emerging Infectious Diseases Post-Doctoral Fellow, continued:
Highlights & Achievements:
* Produced positive results on project data by identifying new immunogenic markers to include in new vaccines and through the introduction of appropriate laboratory techniques and technologies to the project.
* Participated in epidemiological outbreak studies and presented experimental results in both formal and informal written and oral presentations to senior managers.
* Established a bi-weekly meeting schedule between laboratory groups working on related projects to discuss findings, steer the direction and scope of the projects, and facilitate effective communication between the groups, resulting in better correlation of laboratory and epidemiology-based research data.
* Awarded several citations for invaluable service including the H1N1 Influenza Outbreak CDC IMS Laboratory Desk Volunteer Award and the Salmonella typhimurium Outbreak Call Center Volunteer Award from the CDC and published a well-received peer-reviewed journal article.
MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE, Nashville, Tennessee * 1999 - 2006
Associate Professor (2006 - 2007)
Taught -Principals of Immunology and Microbiology- to medical and dental students, developing informational course materials, conducting lectures, preparing quizzes and examinations, and managing Patient Oriented Problem Solving laboratories. Coordinated student group projects and prepared and submitted written analyses of student performance to senior administration officials.
Highlights & Achievements:
* Initiated small group tutorial sessions for the Principals of Immunology and Microbiology course credited with decreasing the student recidivism rate by 10%.
* Implemented computer-based teaching and presentation courses using Interwrite PRS, BlackBoard, Medscape, and PowerPoint, for the entire department, providing in-depth training to faculty and staff members on best practices for the effective use of the technology in their classes.
* Served on multiple internal administrative boards and committees, including the Student Admissions Board and the Student Disciplinary Board, working with faculty members and university officials to resolve questions of student readiness and aptitude prior to and following the program acceptance process.
Doctoral Graduate Student (1999 - 2006)
Conducted ground-breaking research in the biomedical sciences subject area, working to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of the human parasite. Worked with high tech equipment in the laboratory, designed an effective research project, and attended didactic training sessions. Supervised undergraduate and graduate students, demonstrated laboratory equipment, and served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow in the Scientist-In-The-Classroom outreach program and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Medical Microbiology course. Published several peer-reviewed papers and presented research findings at research conference symposiums.
Highlights & Achievements:
* Honored with numerous awards for scientific excellence including the Ruth Kirschstein National Research Award for Individual Pre-Doctoral Fellows, the American Association of Immunology Minority Scientist Travel Award, and the Meharry Medical College Student Day Charles W. Johnson M.D. Grand Prize Award.
KANEATRA J. SIMMONS, Ph.D. * Page 3
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biomedical Sciences
Meharry Medical College * Nashville, Tennessee
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Paine College * Augusta, Georgia
Project Management Professional Training
Basics of Incident Command
Auditing Fundamentals
Research Methods in Epidemiology
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Access, Publisher, One Note, InfoPath, LotusNotes, Microsoft Office 365)
Statistical Analysis Software (SAS, StatEase, SigmaPlot, Luminex)
Bioinformatics Software (BLAST, EMBOSS, GeneSpring)
Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
International Society of Exposure Science
American Society for Microbiology
American Association of Immunologists
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Toastmasters International
KEY PUBLICATIONS
Simmons KJ, Curioso C, Griffin SM, Fout S, Augustine SJA. A Rapid and Sensitive Saliva-based, Multiplex Immunoassay to Measure Human Exposure to Waterborne Pathogens. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Manuscript in Review.
Augustine S.A.J. and Simmons K. Saliva-based immunoassay of waterborne pathogen exposure. McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2013. Chapter in press.
Williamson YM, Moura H, Simmons K, Whitmon J, Melnick N, Rees J, Woolfit A, Schieltz DM, Tondella ML, Ades E, Sampson J, Carlone G, Barr JR. A gel-free proteomic-based method for the characterization of Bordetella pertussis clinical isolates. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 2012. 90(2) 119-33.
Nde PN, Johnson CA, Pratap S, Cardenas TC, Kleshchenko YY, Furtak VA, Simmons KJ, Lima MF, Villalta F. Gene Network Analysis during early infection of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells by Trypanosoma cruzi and its gp83 ligand. Chemistry and Biodiversity. 2010. 7(5): 1051-64.
Madison MN, Kleshchenko YY, Nde PN, Simmons KJ, Lima MF, Villalta F. Human defensin alpha-1 causes Trypanosoma cruzi membrane pore formation and induces DNA fragmentation, which leads to trypanosome destruction. Infection and Immunity. 2007. Oct; 75(10): 4780-91.
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