Microbiologist

A talented and accomplished Professional, experienced in research and development, production, product development, quality assurance, customer service and sales seeks growth opportunity

Summary of Qualifications

Experienced in Fermentation Microbiology

Highly knowledgeable in fermentation, R&D, quality assurance, production, and data analysis

Skilled in the design and execution of fermentation experiments

Proven record of success developing fermentation protocols utilizing bacterial and fungal organisms

Proficient in identifying and solving technical challenges in fermentation processes

Highly experienced installing, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting bioreactors and ancillary equipment

Experienced in the transfer of fermentation technology domestically and internationally

Ability to interact successfully with operators, biochemical engineers, scientists, and senior management

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Experienced in Telephone sales and customer service

Professional Experience

Premium Waters, Inc., Quincy, IL 2014- July 2016

QA Laboratory Technician

Performed routine microbiological analysis on incoming water and finished products

Quantified chlorine and ozone concentrations utilizing titrations and colorimetric methods

Checked pH and conductivity of in process water and finished product

Adhered to cGMP/GLP guidelines in the laboratory and production floor

Reviewed operators manufacturing paperwork for cGMP adherence and accuracy

Enforced CGMP policies on the production floor

Reviewed and verified laboratory records for cGMP adherence and accuracy

Maintained GLP practices in the QA laboratory

2014-2014

Adecco, Quincy, IL,

QA Technician assigned to Premium Waters, Inc.

Performed microbiological and chemical analysis on incoming water and bottled water

Completed training period enabling me to execute the specific functions of a QA Technician at Premium waters

Hired as a permanent employee in the capacity of QA Lab Technician

SEM Minerals, Quincy IL 2012-2013

Chemist

Standardized ICP’s each morning to ensure accuracy and precision

Performed ICP analysis on raw materials and finished products

Coordinated and shipped samples to customer laboratories and third party laboratories

Prepared ICP standards from stock solutions

Verified element concentrations for raw materials, in process materials and finished products

Created and distributed Certificates of Analysis to internal and external customers

Adecco, Quincy IL 2011-2012

Chemical Laboratory Technician assigned to SEM Minerals

Weighed samples for analysis

Responsible for Laboratory housekeeping and chemical hygiene duties

Composited raw materials and finished product samples

Digested and diluted raw material samples and finished product samples in preparation for ICP analysis

Trained in the use of Perkin Elmer ICP’s and software

Recorded data

Hired as a permanent employee in the capacity of Chemist

Influent, Inc., Quincy, IL 2009-2011

Telephone Sales Representative, Trainer, Supervisor

Sold a variety of services and insurance related products to customers of large financial institutions

Consistently met or exceeded sales targets.

Provided excellent customer service

Supervised a team of sales representatives ensuring sales targets were met or exceeded within client established and internal guidelines

Motivated and developed individual sales representatives increasing total sales and lowering turnover

Consistently met or exceeded sales targets

Ensured all representatives complied with federal law as it applies to telephone solicitations

Provided training to newly hired telephone sales representatives

Ensured that all trainees had sufficient product knowledge to be effective sales representatives

Ensured all trainees were familiar with and complied with laws regarding telephone solicitations

Tracked performance of new hires ensuring that sales targets were met

Provided support and additional training of sales representatives as necessary

Biotechnical Resources, Manitowoc, WI 2007-2008

Fermentation Scientist

Performed fermentation development experiments utilizing a wide variety of industrial microbes

Improved fermentation processes by manipulating control parameters

Performed cellulose and beta-glucosidase assays

Performed microbiological and chemical analysis quantifying fermentation yields

Collected and entered experimental data into electronic laboratory notebooks

Guy and O’Neil, Fredonia, WI 2007

Laboratory Manager

Managed the work flow of the quality laboratory

Hosted Laboratory tours and presented the companies analytical and manufacturing capabilities to potential clients

Directed the duties of laboratory technicians

Ensured all laboratory analyses and related quality documents were performed in a timely and accurate manner

Prepared technical reports for Senior Management

Assisted with customer and FDA audits

Milk Specialties Company, Adell, WI

Research and Process Technician 2006

Researched, designed, and implemented fermentation process changes that increased organic acid yields by 10% while significantly reducing total fermentation time and batch-to-batch variability

Played a leadership role in the R&D laboratory's capital expenditure process, successfully obtaining funding for the department's expansion

Developed SDS PAGE and thin layer chromatography methods, greatly enhancing the laboratories capacity to gather relevant data for process improvements, product development and new product development

Provided expertise in Microbiology, Good Manufacturing Practices cGMP and GLP to the Quality Assurance Laboratory decreasing variability and increasing the accuracy of product testing

Kerry Bio-Science, Rochester, MN

Senior Research Associate, Process and Product Development 2005

Performed pilot scale fermentations that focused on increasing biomass production and pediocin titers/activity in the fermentation broth while minimizing medium costs.

Led development, optimization, and scale-up of novel fed batch Butyric acid fermentation utilizing Clostridium tyrobutyricum cultured in a basal medium of orange juice processing waste products.

Developed a fed batch process increasing Butyric acid production by 10% simultaneously reducing acetic acid production by 30%.

Designed and executed experiments showing a significant increase in Butyric acid production by sparging and maintaining fermenter head space composed of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen

Valley Research, South Bend, IN

Senior Research Associate, Process Development 2004

Maintained fungal culture collection for the research and development group and rennet production facilities

Ensured spore stocks met viability and rennet yield requirements through routine culturing and activity testing in shake flasks and bench top fermenters

Installed and configured two 10-liter New Brunswick BioFlo-3 fermenters, controllers, and data acquisition tools designed specifically for fungal fermentations

Designed and executed experiments showing a direct correlation between the quantity of Mucor meihei spores used as inoculum and pellet diameter - a key factor in the performance of this fermentation

Increased Rennet titers by 20% through physical and nutritional optimization of fermentation parameters

Assisted in developing a yoghurt culturing method that minimized lactose in the final product without significantly altering the products fermentation dynamics or sacrificing the palatability of the final product

Puresyn, Inc., Malvern, PA 2002-2003

Fermentation Scientist

Performed E. coli fermentations and downstream processing

Designed and executed experiments increasing biomass and product Yields-Plasmid DNA

Wrote technical reports informing management of experimental results, suggested process changes, and outlined potential benefits associated with recommended process changes

Implemented process changes in the fermentation department resulting in increased product yields and increased operational efficiency

Authored standard operating procedures as needed

Reviewed existing standard operating procedures for accuracy and scientific soundness making corrections as necessary

Provided technical leadership in microbial physiology and fermentation development

Played a key role in the fermentation department’s expansion including procurement of necessary fermenters and controllers

Installed four fermentation systems increasing fermentation capacity by twenty-five percent

NovoZymes Biotech Inc., Davis, CA 1998 – 2002

Senior Research Associate

Worked closely with the Fungal Molecular Biology Group, evaluating Fusarium sp. in shake flasks and bench scale bioreactors (2-10 liter)

Worked closely with the Bacillus Molecular Biology Group, developing novel Bacillus sp. fermentation protocols

Utilized computer controlled feeding strategies optimizing heterologous protein expression, biomass production, promoter function and induction

Evaluated the effect of various physical and nutritional parameters on product formation, specific growth rate, morphology, oxygen transfer rate, and repression of undesirable metabolites

Utilized ammonia analysis, residual carbohydrate analysis, and other analytical techniques as optimization tools.

Instrumental in developing successful fermentation protocols for two potential production strains

Directly involved in technology transfer from early research to pilot and production facilities in the US and Europe

Employed statistical and graphical analysis software packages (SAS JMP and SIGMA Plot 2000) to identify trends and report results

Authored progress reports, maintained and operated fermentation equipment and instrumentation.

Maintained good laboratory practices at all times

Christian Hansen BioSystems, Milwaukee, WI 1995 – 1998

Lead Research Microbiologist

Conducted biochemical studies on various bacterial isolates, including obligate anaerobes

Characterized a wide variety of microorganisms through substrate utilization, volatile fatty acid analysis, and specific growth rates

Played a key role in all process development activities, from shake flask to 350-liter pilot fermentations

Instrumental in developing a viable production processes for anaerobic cultures, under cGMP guidelines

Played a key role in the development of a microbial product, designed to preclude pathogenic colonization of poultry digestive tracts

Assisted in the resolution of key production issues such as identification of limiting nutrients in fermentation media, resolution of contamination issues, yield improvement, and overall product quality

Developed and conducted experiments utilizing Lactobacillus sp., screening for high volatile fatty acid producing strains

Contributed significantly to the characterization, fermentation development, technology transfer, and scale up of several Lactobacillus sp., leading to the introduction of the division’s first branded product line

Catalogued and maintained the Biosystem’s product development culture collections

Interfaced closely with the QC Department and pilot plant, providing assistance in investigating and resolving contamination and production issues

Traveled to Denmark to facilitate technology transfer

Worked closely with the engineering group to design, validate, and test an FDA-compliant anaerobic harvesting vessel

Acted as a reference regarding cGMP and FDA regulatory issues

Prepared and analyzed data, authored research reports, wrote SOP’s

Conducted customer laboratory tours and technical presentations

Rhone Poulenc Rohrer Bradley, IL 1994 – 1995

Quality Assurance Specialist

Monitored and inspected Class 100 clean rooms in a parental drug-manufacturing environment

Identified contaminating microorganisms to the subspecies level using the VITEK automated microbial ID system

Identified sources of contamination and issued corrective action reports

Ensured that corrective action reports were acted upon as directed

Ensured production personnel’s adherence to cGMP guidelines

Conducted clean room gowning certification examinations

Led sterile technique training seminars

Additional Experience

Resource Agricultural Management, Macomb, IL 1992 – 1994

Research Assistant

Assisted in research to determine the feasibility of producing commercial fertilizer from coal combustion

Performed atomic absorption, Ion Chromatography, wet chemistry, and filtration analysis

Collected, analyzed, and reported data

Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 1992 – 1994

Research Assistant, Fermentation Laboratory

Optimized small-scale fermentations of Bacillus sp. for the biocontrol of soybean cyst nematodes

Designed hydroponics bioassay system and analyzed nematicidal activity of Bacillus sp. on soybean cyst nematodes

Performed in Vitro bioassays utilizing Bacillus Sp. Targeting Soybean Cyst Nematodes

Education

BS in Microbiology, 1992, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Completed course work for Graduate program for Masters in Microbiology

Continuing Education

cGMP documentation practices, Premium Waters, Inc., (2014)

ICP Introductory Training, Perkin Elmer (2012)

Hazardous Materials Handling Certification Puresyn, Incorporated (2003)

Good Documentation Practices Puresyn, Incorporated (2003)

Advanced Fermentation Workshop, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2000)

Advanced Bioprocessing, Society for Industrial Microbiology (1998)

ATCC Fermentation Workshop (1997)

Professional Organizations

American Society of Microbiologists

Society for Industrial Microbiology

Skills

Computers and Fermentation Systems: PCs, Windows 95/98/2000/NT, SAS-JMP, Sigma Plot 2000, MS Office, BioXpert NT, MFCS, proportional integral derivative control systems, Applikon fermentors, controllers, and instrument consoles, New Brunswick Scientific Fermenters, controllers, and instrument consoles, RS-232, RS-422, an RS-485 and Ethernet communication protocols.

Technical: fermenters, gas chromatography, atomic absorption analysis, ICP, HPLC, oxidation reduction monitors, SDS PAGE, agarose gel electrophoresis, E. coli fermentations, Hungate anaerobic technique, anaerobic fermentations, anaerobic glove box maintenance and operation, SOP editing and writing, control documents, GLP, cGMP.

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