Technical Support Training, CBRNE SME, Forensic Science

Regina D. Knight

******@*****.*** ~ 301-***-****

WORK EXPERIENCE

Bioengineer IV, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD), Medical Countermeasures Systems via The Tauri Group, Ft. Detrick, MD; 01/2018 – 06/2018

• Providing technical oversight and project management support for the Chemical Defense Pharmaceuticals portfolio.

• Conducting research projects to produce effective solutions for maintaining cost, schedule, and performance parameters.

• Maintaining current knowledge on new technologies and methodologies that benefit the program; assessing technical proposals critically and effectively; providing written technical opinion on the feasibility of new technologies; and organizing brown bag seminars to allow the Joint Product Offices to review the technologies.

• Serving as a subject matter expert on all program quality initiatives (e.g., internal and external ISO accreditations, quality assurance, quality control, etc.).

• Providing technical input to acquisition documents and presentations in support of major milestones, program reviews, or other program presentations.

• Providing periodic update reports to program managers as required.

• Assisting the project team in coordinating (e.g., timeliness), developing, and overseeing the quality of protocols and technical reports.

• Reviewing and searching scientific literature and databases in order to identify technical information and to provide references to support product development efforts.

• Certifications/Training: MS Project, TS Clearance, DAU ACQ 101 (Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management).

Forensic Scientist, Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection, Laboratories and Scientific Services; 01/2012 - 09/2016

• Senior-level subject matter expert (SME): Provided scientific and technical support to field operations via analysis, numerical simulation/modeling, technological interpretation of environmental data, and threat assessment of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) samples. A trainer for the CBP Advanced Weapons of Mass Effect (WME) class.

• Field Support: Operated and maintained several detection devices to scan conveyances and cargo for the presence of radioactive/nuclear materials, chemical/biological agents, and explosives. Assisted ports with segregation and evaluation of shipments contaminated with nuisance material. Analyzed samples and evidence at various CBP field locations such as cargo, mail, and passenger environments. Performed quantitative and qualitative analysis of suspected narcotics samples.

• Collateral Duties: Participated in the Food and Agriculture Government Coordinating Council, Biodefense working groups, composed articles for the National Targeting Center newsletter and departmental website, and served as a peer reviewer and member of the LSSD-TC report committee, SME in the LSSD Teleforensic and Radiation Scientific Knowledge Center and a member of the Biological Integrated Product Team (IPT).

• Project Management: Responsible for departmental CONOPS in the adjudication of explosives and biothreat cases, and T&E of portable detection equipment. Independently designed and orchestrated research for testing and evaluation of trace detection equipment. Independently developed an Introductory Explosives Training course for the department. DHS STEM mentor and principal investigator.

• Certifications/Training: 40-hr Radiation Safety Officer Course, DOT HAZMAT Transportation Certification, Basic Radiation Safety and Gamma Spectroscopy Training Course, Introduction to CBP for Scientists (ICS) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Advanced Homemade Explosives Interdiction Workshop: Organic Peroxides and Liquid Explosives, Controlled Substances Training - ASCLD, TS/Q Clearance.

Sr. Forensic Scientist, National Institute of Justice via Employment Enterprises Inc., Washington DC; 11/2010 - 12/2011

• Senior-level SETA: Maintained various portfolios in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences and provided support within the Office of Justice Programs as a SME in the areas of DNA analysis, CBRNE, and forensic science.

• Identified needs and encouraged best practices in the forensic community by project evaluation and participation in various working groups (i.e. TSWG, NFSTC).

• Provided technical support at program reviews, coordinated and moderated meetings and conferences; evaluated training modules; authored reports, database maintenance, etc. Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.

• Program Management: Communicated with grantees; conducted budget review; monitored progress reports; reviewed grant proposals, abstracts, white papers, and quads; tracked and documented milestones; wrote justifications for research funding; and created program evaluation forms.

Research Chemist, Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division via Engility Corporation, Indian Head, MD; 01/2010 - 11/2010

• Performed chemical analysis (Raman, FTIR, HPLC, and GC/Headspace) on various energetic materials.

• Orchestrated comparative studies for the characterization of explosives detection systems which included: Authoring SOPs, method development and test design, instrument troubleshooting and creating spreadsheets.

• Procurement duties: Completed justifications and sole source documents for the purchase of explosives detection equipment. Arranged meetings and demos of instrumentation from various vendors. Published solicitations on FedBizOpps.com.

• Project Management/Test Director Activities: Formulated conclusions and recommendations based on data analysis and interpretation of results, used technical approaches to determine system performance effectiveness, and presented R&D results at Program Review sessions.

Chemist II, ITT-Advanced Engineering and Sciences, Alexandria, VA; 09/2008 - 01/2010

• Significantly reduced sample backlog for a laboratory under the Office of Chief Scientist (intelligence community) via chemical analysis (GC Headspace, IR, Raman, XRD, and wet chemistry experiments) of field samples, method development, validation.

• Project Management: Analysis of chemical signatures of explosives via GC headspace.

• Senior-level SETA operations included formulation of conclusions and recommendations based on research and data analysis, report generation, and presentations of technical information to upper level management.

• Improved laboratory operations by aiding in the formulation of QA/QC protocols, keeping accurate laboratory notebooks, troubleshooting instrumentation, overseeing procurement, and updating databases.

Research Biologist, NIH/NIA via MedStar Research Institute, Baltimore, MD; 08/2007 - 09/2008

• Performed research focused on DNA repair systems associated with Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, Cockayne Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Technical Support: Bacterial transformation (cloning), DNA isolation (mitochondrial and nuclear), siRNA transfection, homogenization of samples (e.g. mouse livers, mouse brains, etc.), buffer formulation, Bradford Protein Assays, cytotoxicity assays, Western blots, SDS-PAGE, ELISA, non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) assays, tissue culture, and cell counting.

• Project Management: Optimizing NHEJ assays to assess DNA repair in mice fed a fruit diet, presented progress reports at weekly meetings for peer review.

• Improved laboratory operations and helped maintain GLP by keeping accurate notebooks, minimizing hazardous conditions (i.e. radiation monitoring, removal of hazardous wastes and infectious materials), and procurement of lab materials.

Physical Scientist, FBI Laboratory, Quantico, VA; 12/2005 - 08/2007

• Assisted in federal casework via processing evidence, physical and chemical analysis of various IEDs and incendiary devices (i.e. solvent extraction, GC/MS, LC/MS, GC/ECD, FTIR, GC-FID, Anion and Cation detection etc.), evidence inventory, forensic photography, and creation of detailed laboratory reports.

• Explosives Training/Experience: Completion of EOD Basic Demolition Training (Eglin AFB, Walton Beach, FL), field demos and IED re-construction, completed Explosives Firing and Safety Course (EMRTC, Socorro, NM) and Fire Debris Analysis Training (FBI Academy, Quantico, VA).

• Certifications/Clearances: Explosives Handler certification, Post Blast Instructor certification, HAZMAT/OSHA certification, and TS/SCI clearance.

• Responsible for evidence transport to archive locations and transport of explosives to post blast schools nationally.

• Helped enforce ASCLD/LAB and ISO 17025 accreditation compliance via mock audits, ensuring proper chain custody documentation and revision of several lab SOPs.

QC Microbiologist Technician III, Cambrex Bioscience Walkersville, Inc., Walkersville, MD; (now Lonza), 11/2004 - 11/2005

• Enforced QC practices in a GMP biotech facility via sample collection and analysis of WFI and DI water, product testing, environmental monitoring (surface and air) and functioning as the unit HazMat Coordinator.

• Lab responsibilities included microbial identification (Vitek, BBL, Gram Stains, Sherlock MIDI, etc.), writing SOPs for new equipment (GC-FAME), screening validation samples for microbial growth and ordering supplies.

• QA obligations involved training new associates; writing Out of Specification (OOS) notifications, deviation reports, and protocols; database maintenance; developing performance qualification protocols, equipment validation and active participation in the Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) committee to include follow-up on deficiencies (483s).

Assistant Scientist (Microbiology), aaiPharma, Inc., North Charleston, SC; 06/2003 - 11/2004

• Recognized for outstanding teamwork in the Quality Department (aaiPharma newsletter – March 2004).

• QC Duties: Sample collection, environmental monitoring (air and surface EM), reports, and inspection of final product (i.e. media, Class A controlled substances and animal therapeutics), proper hazardous waste removal, and troubleshooting instrumentation.

• Performed Various Laboratory Assays: Bioburden, LAL, TOC, pH, Conductivity, coliform detection, product testing, sterility testing, media and culture qualification (growth promotion), and particulate testing.

• QA Support: Trained new employees, trended environmental data (Microsoft Excel), aided in FDA audits, and revised SOPs.

EDUCATION:

California University of PA, California, PA - 05/1990

Bachelor's Degree; Major: Biology / Pre-medicine

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD - 05/2007

Master's Degree; Major: Biotechnology

Walden University Minneapolis, MN - Intermittently since 2008

Some College Coursework Completed; Major: PhD in Public Health

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH:

Knight, R. (2010). Salmonellosis: More than Just Food Poisoning (PowerPoint), Environmental Public Health Today, http://environmentalhealthtoday.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/salmonellosis-more-than-just-food-poisoning/

Provided Technical Support (see Acknowledgements):

Croteau, D. L., de Souza-Pinto, N. C., Harboe, C., Keijzers, G., Zhang, Y., Becker, K. et al. (2010). DNA repair and the accumulation of oxidatively damaged DNA are affected by fruit intake in mice. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 65A (12), 1300–1311.

de Souza-Pinto, N. C., Maynard, S., Hashiguchi, K., Muftuoglu, M. and Bohr, V. A. (2009). The recombination protein RAD52 cooperates with the excision repair protein OGG1 for the repair of oxidative lesions in mammalian cells. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 29(16), 4441-4454.

Muftuoglu, M., de Souza-Pinto, N. C., Dogan, A., Aaman, M., Stevnsner, T., Rybanska, I. et al. (2009). Cockayne syndrome group B protein stimulates repair of formamidopyrimidines by NEIL 1 DNA glycosylase. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284(14), 9270-9279.

Schurman, S. H., Hedayati, M., Wang, Z., Singh, D. K., Speina, E., Zhang, Y., et al. (2009). Direct and indirect roles of RECQL4 in modulating base excision repair capacity. Human Molecular Genetics, 18(18), 3470-3483.

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