Technician High School

Jermaine M. Stephens

***** *. ******** ***. ***. 1E-Posen, IL 60469

Email: *********@*****.*** cell: 773-***-****

Summary

Accomplished researcher and consummate professional with a very strong work ethic. Advanced

analytical & computational skills and capable of working in group or individualized settings with minimal

supervision. Adept at murine research, having designed and cultured various phenotypes to use for both

biopharmacological and immunological studies. As a result of a sincere affinity for spectrophotometry

and biochemical analysis, amassed over four years of experience working in industrial research as an

inorganic chemical analyst. To further my understanding of the types of chemical testing necessary for

mass production of consumer goods, later accrued over 3 years of experience also working in quality

control.

Qualifications overview

• Expertise in molecular biology with an emphasis on immunology, physiology-specific cognitive

function and subsequent impairment from pharmacologic agents (toxicokinetics).

• Environmental, biological, and chemical research experience.

Biostatistics, data analysis, and dose toxicity curves.

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General and advanced wet chemistry techniques (cGMP/cGLP).

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Proficiency in chemical digestive preparation of and testing by way of spectrophotometry.

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(ICP-, ICAP-, & GC-MS) and atomic absorption.

Murine & animal handling & breeding.

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Plasmid/vector construction (Linux Ensemble & VMD) and genotyping for

susceptible and resistant murine models.

Stem cell (lymph node, splenic, & bone marrow) isolation, culture, cytokine-specific cell

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selection (MACs).

Serial titration, ELISA, FACs (Fluorescence-activated cell sorting), parasite culture, asceptic

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technique, and Fluorescence Microscopy.

Northern & Southern blotting, PCR, SDS-PAGE.

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• Advanced computational skills (2 yrs as a CPU Admin. Assist. during my undergraduate studies).

Education

M.S. Molecular Biology (Immunology), Chicago State University-Chgo., IL

B.S. Biopsychology and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI

Brother Rice High School-Oak Lawn, IL

Professional Experience

Chemist 11/2014-1/15/2015 (seasonal contract completed)

WR Grace-Chicago, IL

• Acquired a seasonal position performing quality assurance testing on Fluid Cracking Catalysts

(FCC). During my tenure, gained viable skills learning how to properly characterize both the

chemical and physical properties of catalyst pills to ensure each type met the specifications

necessary for use in refinement. Verified that all manufactured reagents, filters, and soak solutions

used for production had the proper mineral concentrations. Worked on both in-process and

composite samples performing a wide variety of testing including the following:

ICP-MS (Varian 725-ES ICP Optical Emission Spectrophotometer) analysis to primarily

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determine chemical composition of digested (HF/HCl) pills and soak solutions.

Total suspended solids (TSS), sodium (Perkin Elmer AA200) & sulfate (Spectronic 20

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Genesys) analysis on digested filter solutions, moisture & ash content (Arizona

Instruments Computrac Max 5000), size characterization on pills (Retsch Tech.

Camsizer) and aluminum powders (Horiba Partica Laser Scattering Particle Size

Distribution Analyzer LA-950).

Micromeritics instrument-based testing.

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Surface area & porosity (Gemini VII), particle density & pour volume

determination (Autopore Hg Analyzer), and particle size analysis (Sedigraph III).

Chemist 07/2014-10/2014 (completed contract)

Safety Kleen-East Chicago,IN

• After logging in new samples into computer database using both LIMs and WinWeb upon receipt,

conducted testing on newly-received oil samples to determine their viability for potential re-

refinement.

• Wet chemistry testing on both newly blended base and engine oils to ensure proper refinement

specifications met.

Ignitability (Flashpoint), sulfur content (CSD), caloritmetric reactivity (BTU), Viscometry

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(Brookfield), Caustic coagulation, Phenols, Sim. Dist., Emulsion, Particle Count, Pourpoint,

and NOACK volatility, KF, Spec. gravity, pH, ED-XRF for Cl, S, and Si analysis

• Prepared and ran samples for PCB and general chemical composition analysis via GC- & ICAP-

MS.

Quality Control Technician 02/2012-07/2014

Multi-Pack Chicago-Mt. Prospect, IL

• Ensured customer product specifications are met by conducting routine production room safety

inspections during manufacturing to measure the weight, count, integrity, and overall appearance of

all packaged products while monitoring checkweigher parameter and equipment setup. Performed

qualitative chemical analysis on all newly received or blended manufacturing reagents before usage.

Water composition analysis of all liquid detergents using a karl fischer titrator.

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Moisture determination and bulk density (both aerated & tapped) for free flow raw material

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powder, agglomerates, base granules, and intermediate powders.

Determination of available oxygen content, quaternary ammonia, and pH respectively.

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American Red Cross-certified in Adult CPR/AED/First Aid & Blood-borne Pathogens (Date

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completed: 09/18/2013-valid for 2yrs).

Inorganic Chemical Analyst 6/07-08/11

STAT Analysis Corporation-Chicago, IL

• Determined the biochemical composition and toxicity characteristics of soil and water

samples to assess best method of disposal.

• Performed a series of testing to determine the level of contamination that could result

from ‘leaching’ of VOCs from soil samples.

• After being promoted to Inorganic Chemical Analyst in 2009, digested and analyzed soil,

air, & water samples for the presence of potentially hazardous analytes by way of FLAA (Flame

ionization detection), ICP- & GC-MS.

• Experience in Agilent ICPMS, Flame automated atomic absorption spectrophotometer

(Perkin Elmer) for ion detection, CETAC automated Cold Vapor Mercury Analyzer, MOD

Block Digestion, MACS microwave (for plastics and vinyl that don’t readily digest in Nitric

Acid), and LIMS computer system.

• Performed analytical testing of both inorganic and organic matter ranging from clothing,

dietary supplements, toys, jewelry, fabrics, textiles, plastics, makeup, spices & herbs on

behalf of the Illinois and New York Departments of Health respectively.

• Analyzed petroleum byproducts, leachates, and catalysts for Citgo.

• Accreditations:

Waste Characterization, treatability, & remediation (TACO) studies.

Wet Chemistry techniques: Percent moisture, reactivity, total dissolved & suspended

solids, and petroleum hydrocarbon fingerprint analysis, pH

SPLP/TCLP (SW 846) preparation, filtration, digestion, & analysis in accordance with

the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

NELAP: Hazardous & solid wastes.

ISO/FDA (9001:2000) protocol.

Teacher Aide/Lab Technician 2006-2007

Chicago State University/East-West University -Chicago, IL

• Tutored students in organic chemistry and assisted with grading and lab preparation at the request of

one of my committee members.

• To supplement the cost of my graduate school education, prepared materials needed for advanced

biology labs such as agar plates for bacterial/viral cultures and autoclaved sterile utensils using

asceptic techniques on behalf of EWU faculty.

Animal Health Care/Research Technician 2005- 2006 (2 yrs)

The University of Chicago (Charles River Laboratories)-Chicago, IL

• Ensured that all mice & animals housed within pathogen-free barrier facilities were properly tended

to by performing routine health checks.

• Recorded population statistics (number of births & deaths, potentially sick, and mating) in

addition to maintaining upkeep.

• Gained extensive experience in macromodel mice handling and mating techniques such

as: Intraorbital & SC Blood collection techniques (ASCT), euthanization, infectious disease

experience (Hazmat), clinical diagnosis, and therapy administration.

Accomplishments

• During undergrad I served as Vice President and President of Minority Marrow Donor Coalition, a

non-profit student organization associated with the National Marrow Donor registry and the Red

Cross. By coordinating our efforts with other organizations that catered to the multicultural student

population (i.e. MSA,SOPH, ASA), we conducted over thirteen drives to assist increase awareness

against many life-threatening blood diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and a variety of

lymphomas. To assist with the cost, I also drafted a grant for funding from the J.P. McCarthy

Foundation and as a result, MMDC was one of the few college-based, non-profit organizations to

receive funding.

• In addition to all classes assigned for pre-med majors, I also participated in pharmacological studies

conducted by the medical school’s Biopsychology department. Under the direct supervision of Dr. Jim

Woods and PhD candidate William Fantegrossi, I assisted in murine-based clinical trials designed to

analyze variations in aggregate toxicity during exposure to methamphetamines. In addition to vital

exposure working with murine subjects, my undergraduate research experience also provided

invaluable insight as to how to construct toxicity curves and biostatistical analysis intended for

publication.

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