Technical Support Manager

Vikarna A.T. Rampersad

***** ********** *, ******, ******* L0E 1T0

905-***-**** (Home)

905-***-**** (Cell)

*********@*****.***

https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/vik-rampersad/9/411/154

Character Highlights

An industrious and creative research scientist with close to 20 years of experience in the

biotechnology industry covering a range of roles from basic research to product release.

Major strengths in all aspects of molecular biology such as PCR, nucleic acid isolation, gene cloning and modification, DNA sequencing and assay design and development. Experience in performing QC testing of commercial assays and conducting clinical trials. Strong data mining, data analysis and communication skills. Experienced in lab design and layout, process optimisation and workflow design as well as conducting safety audits and providing cost effective solutions to any issues

A reputation for sharing knowledge and producing results under tight deadlines as well as mentoring and training new and current researchers.

A flexible, reliable team player with good problem solving skills who is also capable of independent action and who interacts well with others. Strong multitasker who can prioritize different projects to obtain successful outcomes for all stakeholders

A willingness to enhance current skills as well as learn new ones in other fields.

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.Major Achievements

Co-inventor on a United States patent for the construction of a stable Dopamine D4 receptor cell line.

Co-inventor on a United States patent for the Selective Template Depletion Method for the cloning of novel genes

Redesigned the Luminex P450 2D6 assay to make it more robust and improve the workflow. Incorporated changes into the new Product Insert for this product.

Resolved a major issue in the Luminex RVP Fast Assay and incorporated the change into the Product Insert prior to market release

Headed group that successfully helped Genzyme Genetics company reduce its re-run rate of the CF-97 assay from almost 7% to less than 2%

Initiated contacts and cultivated relationships with international researchers (including Russia, Czech Republic and France) to obtain human samples and data for use in the expanded Cystic Fibrosis assay FDA submission. These contacts led to an increased company presence in the European market for Cystic Fibrosis testing

Key Skills

Major strengths in all aspects of molecular biology such as PCR, nucleic acid isolation, gene cloning and modification, gene expression in mammalian and bacterial cells, DNA sequencing, assay design and development, mammalian tissue culture.

Lab design and layout, workflow optimisation, process optimisation, safety auditing

Experience in performing QC testing of commercial assays prior to market release.

Troubleshooting of product or technical issues and providing novel, cost-effective

solutions to challenges.

Safe handling and storage of biohazardous and radioactive samples and reagents.

Data mining, report and SOP writing. Conducting internal audits of training records, storage and usage records, ensuring all lab protocols are up to date.

Training of new hires and customers on lab techniques, assay protocols and lab safety.

Interacting with customers and fellow employees in different departments to resolve

customer issues with products, and providing on-going product support.

Running Clinical trial assays and assessing results.

Interacting with stakeholders at all levels to ensure products are released on time and on budget.

Employment History

Microarray Centre, University Health Network, MaRS Centre

Research technician 2016- present

Responsibilities include:

Running Illumina Microarrays, cloning of sgRNA into vectors for CRISPR, Performing BioAnalyser runs on DNA and RNA samples, DNA maxipreps

Dr Kathy Siminovitch, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute

Research Associate/Lab Manager 2011 - 2016

Research Associate/Lab Manager 2000 – 2006

Responsibilities included:

Performing all molecular biology procedures in the lab including cloning, expressing and modifying genes of interest, transfection of cultured cells and Western blotting to identify expressed proteins.

Compiling and maintaining a database of all DNA constructs in the lab.

Screening foetal patient samples for mutations in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein gene

and reporting results.

Supervising and training co-op students and special project students.

Revising and maintaining radiation safety standards in the lab and training new lab members

on radiation handling and other lab techniques.

Managing the day to day running of the lab including all lab purchases, maintaining equipment, and negotiating pricing for the purchasing of capital equipment.

Ensuring all safety standards are met and liaising with Institute Safety officer

Achievements:

* Devised and validated a more cost effective and robust assay for screening Mouse transgenic ES cell lines

* Devised and validated a new, faster, and more accurate method of genotyping mice

carrying the Wiskott-Aldrich gene.

* Modified procedure for the genetic screening of Wiskott-Aldrich patient samples to make

the process more accurate and efficient.

Luminex Molecular Diagnostics (Formerly Tm Biosciences)

Senior Product Development Associate 2008 - 2010

Technical Applications Specialist 2007 - 2008

Technical Support Specialist 2006 - 2007

Responsibilities included:

Resolving issues with assay methodologies and validating the modifications.

Running QC tests on assays.

Conducting clinical trial assays and analyzing results

Data mining and setting of acceptance parameters for new products.

Generating synthetic patient samples for testing of assays.

Handling and storing biohazardous samples and extracting DNA/RNA from these samples.

Developing and writing SOP’s, sections of Product inserts and protocols for company use. Conducting CAPA’s.

Designing and conducting experiments to validate the design parameters of the testing kits produced by Luminex.

Performing clinical trials of new assays at external sites.

Analysing data and troubleshooting anomalous results.

Training customers and providing on-going technical support to customers.

Setting up and maintaining databases.

Achievements:

* Resolved a major issue in the RVP Fast product by modifying the detection step of the assay. Validated change and incorporated it into the updated product insert.

* Upgraded the P450 2D6 assay to a newer version by changing and rebalancing the components to make assay more robust and streamlining the work flow to make the assay easier to run. Validated changes and incorporated them into the new product insert.

* Headed group that successfully helped Genzyme Genetics company reduce its re-run rate of the CF-97 assay from 7% to <2% thus saving time and reducing costs.

* Initiated contacts and cultivated relationships with international researchers (Russia, Czech Republic, France) to obtain human samples and data for use in the expanded Cystic Fibrosis assay FDA submission. These contacts led to an increased company presence in the European market for Cystic Fibrosis testing.

* An original member of the Biosafety committee responsible for developing and implementing safe handling/storage and inventory control of potentially hazardous biological reagents brought into the company.

* Designed and performed an internal study to test the functionality of two United States Biochemical (USB) enzymes for use in LMD assay kits. The information generated was critical for implementing an updated business agreement between LMD and USB regarding the supply of enzymes for the assay kits.

* Validated and verified viral control samples for efficacy and stability.

Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. Mississauga, Canada

Principal research Associate 1996-2000

Senior Research Associate 1993-1996

Research Associate 1990-1993

Achievements

* Co-inventor on a United States patent for the construction of a stable Dopamine D4 receptor cell line.

* Co-inventor on a United States patent for the Selective Template Depletion Method for the cloning of novel genes.

* Named as a contributor to five United States patents involving the cloning and characterisation of members of the Human Glutamate Receptor family.

* Renegotiated the enzyme purchasing contracts for the entire company resulting in a 27% overall cost reduction.

* Introduced new method of DNA isolation to company resulting in significant cost and manpower savings.

* Assisted in identifying three novel chemical compounds for the treatment of stroke.

* Pivotal in cloning members of the Human Glutamate Receptor gene family and their stable expression in human cell lines.

* Modified protocols for ligand binding experiments to achieve more accurate and reproducible results.

* Chaired Radiation Safety Council and helped to rewrite the radiation safety manual for the company.

* Assisted in the design and relocation of the new radiation laboratory for the company.

Education

1984 M.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Toronto

1980 B.Sc. Biochemistry, Upper Second Class Honours

University of Sussex, Sussex, U.K.

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