Clinical Research Technician

Lauren McKenna Huse

*******.****@*****.*** // 314-***-**** // www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-mckenna-huse SUMMARY:

I am passionate about leveraging data for the benefit of others, whether that’s collecting data for risk assessment or determining protocols for data entry into databases. My goal is to connect people with data because it is in this bridge that the magic happens. In these connections, multidisciplinary approaches can leverage even greater benefits, discoveries, and impacts on the environment and public health. With bachelor's degrees in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and a minor in Data Science, I have a solid background in chemistry and computing. In addition to my academic history, the variety of my work experiences allows me to bring several perspectives to a task at hand. These two strengths contribute to my ability to eagerly learn, as well as deploy old and new skills and knowledge to improve outcomes, whether that is in the form of improving the quality of our endpoints, the efficiency of our workflow, or the better management of our team’s resources. I am a team player: considerate, open-minded, and dedicated to the team’s goals. This combined with my intrinsic drive towards improvement of both outcomes and process is what makes me a great scientist to have on your team.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry & Chemistry Completed May 2022

+ Data Science Minor GPA: 3.8

Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

Data Science CoderGirl Program Completed May 2019

LaunchCode, St. Louis, Missouri

RELEVANT COURSEWORK:

Completed towards my Bachelor of Arts at Coe College:

-Computer Science I/II - Data Centric Computing

-Statistical Methods and Data Analysis

-Organic Chemistry I/II + Lab - Analytical Chemistry + Lab

-Techniques of Molecular Biology + Lab

-Biochemistry + Lab - Protein Biochemistry + Lab

-Topics in Molecular Biology

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

Research Technician II - Molecular Biology Discovery Lab Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine • Winston Salem, NC Jan 2025 – Present

-Perform RNA Extraction from blood samples for RNA sequencing

-Operate Qiacube, Nanostring PRO/Max, CosMx, Nanodrop instruments

-Prepare RNA extractions to send out for sequencing. This includes compiling sample submission forms, transferring samples to 96-well plates, packaging plates appropriately for shipping, and arranging for sample pick up.

-Troubleshoot technical errors while taking care to meticulously preserve specimens

-Ensure samples, RNA extractions, and reagents are properly stored (RT, 4 degrees, -20 degrees, or -80 degrees Celsius)

-Organized and normalized sample data collected over twenty years for over two thousand subjects. This included cleaning up the database so it could practically be used for identifying samples to further investigate or run additional tests on. Toxicology Data Scientist, CCTE-SCDCD-DEQEB

EPA National Services Student Contractor

Environmental Protection Agency • Research Triangle Park, NC Aug 2022 – Jan 2025

-Curates data for a spatial-temporal database in development, collecting PFAS water/soil monitoring data from documents distributed after DOJ action.

-Curates and reviews data submissions for EPA’s CvTdb Database. Extracts data to Excel template spreadsheets for automated upload into the database.

-Performs quality checks on previously uploaded data and ensures compliance with SOP. Advises updates or re-extractions of data as needed.

-SQL, R, and Python are utilized to perform QC tasks, generate templates, and run queries on CvTdb.

-Develops and maintains SOP library for CvTdb-related processes, including data curation, creating Jira tickets, submitting library requests for documents, and more.

-Led a subproject to determine the best method to incorporate study data from inhalation exposure studies, allowing for the expansion of the database to include these datasets. This initiative involved meeting with leading computational toxicologists and other researchers within EPA to gather expert opinions on relevant details for inhalation exposure studies worth capturing.

-Creates and manages tasks using the Jira project management system for organizing and documenting progress on project-related tasks.

-Bulk changes and ticket generation are done using Excel, SQL, and Python.

-Presents updates from tasks and projects in weekly internal meetings

-Prepares slide decks and posters for presenting projects to both internal and external audiences including presentations with the goal of “skill sharing” with colleagues

-Collaborates with team members and mentors in a hybrid work setting, documenting progress in my digital OneNote notebook and utilizing Microsoft Teams’ features to facilitate collaboration.

Presentations and Papers

-Padilla Mercado, G., Cook, C., Adkins, N. et al. Informatics for toxicokinetics. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 52, 30 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10928-025-09977-4

-Tague, Mitchell; Correa, Veronica; Horton, Beth; Huse, McKenna; Rowan, Evelyn; Wolf, Kaitlyn; et al. (2023). Improving Computational Derivation of PFAS Toxicokinetic Half-Lives. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure. Poster.

https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.22554895.v1

-Rowan, E., M. Huse, J. Aboabdo, R. Casey, V. Correa, B. Kesic, C. Ring, P. Schlosser, J. Wall, J. Wambaugh, AND R. Sayre. Methods to Expand and Improve CvTdb: A Publicly Available Resource of Toxicokinetic Data. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure. Poster. Presented at NCSOT 2024, Durham, NC, October 9 2024.

https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?dirEntryId=361658&Lab=CCTE Innovation Lab/Clinical Analytics Intern

UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Hospital • Cedar Rapids, IA Jan 2022 – May 2022

-Conducted research by querying hospital EMR data to assess the performance of AI tools with the intent to better predict patient outcomes

-Ran routine reports for the Clinical Analytics department for regulatory or developmental purposes.

-Manually extracted or reformatted data to deliver reports in the requested format, or to incorporate desired information that may not have been automatically included in template reports.

-Generated queries to extract data from hospital records for use in research. Summer Research Assistant - Computer Science Dept. University of Iowa • Iowa City, IA May 2021 – July 2021

-Performed research in the Computational Epidemiology division of the University of Iowa’s Computer Science Department as a part of their REU Computing for Health and Well-being Program

-Used Python, SQL to query and analyze real collected data from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

-Attended CDC’s MInD-Healthcare Research meetings

-Presented research to MInD members and in an online student symposium. This included creating PowerPoint presentations and posters to communicate my research and findings. Barista/Barista Trainer

Starbucks Coffee • Valley Park, MO Cedar Rapids, IA Nov 2017 – Jan 2022

-Worked the opening shift often, which required preparing for the busy morning rush. Required being able to juggle prep and fulfilling customer orders, and collaborating with our team to ensure necessary tasks were completed to ensure operations ran smoothly.

-Earned the title Certified Barista Trainer and trained new employees on making drinks and performing other essential duties.

-Adhered to strict quality and food safety control rules

-Became a certified “Green Partner,” which meant I had done special training for practicing sustainability while at work, and allowed me to share my passion for sustainability to my coworkers and customers.

Pharmacy Technician

CVS Pharmacy • Cedar Rapids, IA Jan 2021 – March 2021

-Assisted in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities and in-store clinics.

-Used software to process billing information to insurance.

-Ensured and documented that vaccines were properly stored and transported for distribution at clinic sites.

-Operated with a mindset of adaptivity and flexibility due to the variable clinic environments.

Pharmacy Technician II Feb 2020 - July 2020

Mercy Hospital of St. Louis • St. Louis, MO

-Worked in an in-house pharmacy, distributing medications to patients in a 859-bed hospital.

-Loaded MedSafes with medications on units to ensure supplies were adequate, which included verifying the counts in the drawers and ensuring the proper entry of data to track usage and discrepancies.

-Trained to work in the compounding room to create sterile formulations of infusions for in-house patients, which included learning proper sterile technique, garbing up, and anteroom protocols.

-Loaded med trays for patients with the assistance of large automated machinery, which required a great level of organization and speed to package the meds in time for the patients' due time for medications.

Lab Technician II

Barnes Jewish Hospital, Blood Bank • St. Louis, MO March 2019 – March 2020

-Worked mostly independently on the weekends as the third shift Blood Bank Lab Technician.

-Retrieved blood specimens from drop-off or pneumatic tube system, using necessary PPE to protect me and the samples from contamination.

-Verified the accuracy of patient information on blood samples and logged the specimens into the online database before centrifuging them for preparation to be analyzed.

-Followed SOPs to ensure patient records and orders were processed correctly, especially during downtime.

-Paid great attention to detail to verify correct manual data entry of names, DOB, and other PPI to ensure the information is correctly entered in order to expedite the patients’ specimen tests.

-Fielded calls from the front desk to other areas of the lab/blood bank as needed. Academic Tutor, Office Assistant

Missouri Baptist University, Academic Success Center • St. Louis, MO Nov 2017 – Dec 2018

-Tutored college students in math, science, and statistics

-Helped improve studying skills for long-term success

-Launched the tutor mentorship program to support tutors

-Followed FERPA guidelines to ensure students’ privacy

-Transferred physical files and established an online system to hold digital records of student accommodations and other documents in compliance with ADA/FERPA regulations

SKILLS AND STRENGTHS:

-Python, R, Excel, SQL

-Data entry, QC, and curation

-Database structure organization and management

-Cell culture, Immunocytochemistry, ELISA, qPCR

-Utilization of automated machinery in clinical settings

-Analytical, objective, attentive to details

-Values long-term solutions over band-aid fixes

-Adaptive: can work in many kinds of environments of different paces and schedules

-Collaborative and capable of working with people of various skills, communication styles, and backgrounds

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