Technician Manager
Resume:
Mark Dunlin Speck
Home: **** ***** *** ***. ****
Honolulu, HI 96815
****.*****.***@*****.***
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology, University of Hawaii; Honolulu, Hawaii, 2010
Masters of Science in Microbiology, University of Hawaii; Honolulu, Hawaii, 2005
Bachelors of Science in Biology, Rutgers University, Cook College; New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1995
Professional Accomplishments
Staff Scientist 10/2008-8/2011
Kuehnle Agrosystems Inc. (KAS), Honolulu, HI
• Identifying new species that meet the company’s objectives and sourcing species from external collections and environmental sampling.
• Evaluating and identifying species in the collection that satisfy the criteria for customer demands, and supplying selected cultures as requested by Management.
• Preparing large batch cultures for direct and proximate analysis and managing the analytical profiles of the microalgae strains.
• Performing molecular identification of all strains in the company’s collection and developing a robust genetic phylogeny for key species.
• Developing, designing, and executing strategies for strain improvements via non-GMO methods.
• Developing and optimizing growth media for optimum performance within desired parameters.
• Preserving and maintaining KAS’ inventory of photosynthetic and heterotrophic microorganisms.
• Maintaining a current database for all in-house microorganisms.
• Scaling-up small milliliter microalgae culture volumes to kiloliter volumes for company deliverables.
• Managing scale production for company deliverables.
• Maintaining 100L scale continuous cultures for multiple purposes.
• Developing and implementing a cryopreservation program with the Staff Chemist for long-term storage of microalgae strains.
• Ensuring proper import and collection protocols are followed and agricultural import and collection permits are current and relevant to the company’s objectives.
• Developing and implementing new analytical capabilities to meet KAS’ objectives and author Standard Operating Procedures for the same.
• Managing project timelines to ensure timely completion of deliverables to Management and customers while adapting to changes in customer/business needs.
• Providing technical and operational support to all Management.
• Providing guidance and supervision of Research Associates.
• Active in new product development.
• Remaining current on scientific literature and advising Management of relevant publications to guide the company scientific and business development.
• Scientific writing for grants, patent applications and internal reports as requested.
• Meet with and consult for current and potential customers.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellow 2007-2009
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
• Described the complex microbial communities within different species of Porites corals colonizing an experimental transect by using molecular methodology.
• Employed fluorescent in situ hybridization of rRNA in microorganisms in order to quantify complex communities and constructing 16S rRNA gene clonal libraries using a 96-well microplate format in order to identify microbial community members residing in mucus of coral.
• Underwent trans-disciplinary training for the purpose of integrating different natural and social science perspectives
• Interdisciplinary collaborations for addressing crises in conservation biology, human ecology and health.
• Participated in service activities that target education and other needs of communities by training and advising K-12 science teachers on how to conduct simple and informative experiments.
• Participated in and helped organize two annual international interdisciplinary meetings sponsored by the National Science Foundation which addresses human health and the environment.
• Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations for addressing crises in conservation biology, human ecology and health.
• Utilized open-source software such as: BioEdit, ARB, Phylip, Treeview, and R in order to study bacterial community distribution on marine invertebrates and bioinformatics.
Graduate Assistant
Department of Microbiology 8/2002-8/2007
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
• Developed techniques for fluorescent in situ hybridization of rRNA in microorganisms and construction of clonal libraries using a 96-well microplate format.
• Trained students in 400 level course work on environmental microbiology and molecular biology as a teaching assistant.
• Analyzed genetic data from 18s and 16s rDNA clone libraries.
• Obtained and learned free software for analyzing genetic information.
• Conducted research on microbial communities associated marine invertebrates resulting in a comparative paper.
• Supported a new Principal Investigator (PI) in setting up a microbiological laboratory and training current students on laboratory techniques.
• Organizing laboratory equipment, reagents, and protocols.
• Monitored and supported on-going experiments that are being conducted by other students in the laboratory outside of my personal research.
Research Associate
Natural Product Laboratory, Dept. of Natural Sciences 10/2005-4/2006
Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI
• Developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for microbiological culture isolation and identification.
• Trained students and staff in basic microbiological techniques and genetic analysis.
• Analyzed 16s rDNA data generated from culture collections.
• Conducted fieldwork in order to collect microbial samples for analysis.
• Supported PI in generating an rDNA database for the laboratory culture collection.
• Organized culture collection into an rDNA sequence alignment.
• Monitored existing culture collection for redundant isolates.
Laboratory Tech/Manager
Center for Deep Sea Ecology & Biotechnology 6/1999-1/2002
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
• Isolated and maintained microbial samples for natural product discovery.
• Characterized genetically unique microbes for studies in molecular diversity.
• Responsible for graduate and undergraduate training in laboratory techniques.
• Maintained laboratory supplies and stock solutions.
• Responsible for maintaining material safety data information.
Laboratory Technician
Center for Marine and Coastal Sciences 1998-1999
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Laboratory Technician
Center for Marine and Coastal Sciences 1996-1998
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Laboratory Technician
Center for Marine and Coastal Sciences 1994-1996
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Awards
ARCS Scholar for Microbiology 2007
Publications
Speck, M. and Donachie, S. (accepted). A widespread Oceanospirillum-like bacterium in Porites spp.. Journal of Marine Biology
Vetriani, C., M. Speck, S.V. Ellor, R.A. Lutz, V. Starovoytov. (2004). Thermovibrio ammonificans sp. nov., a thermophilic, chemolithotrophic, nitrate-ammonifying bacterium from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54:175-181
L’Haridon, S., M. Speck, C. Vetriani, A.-L. Reysenbach, D. Prieur, C. Jeanthon. (1998). The Desulfobacteriaceae, a new family of thermophilic bacteria from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Thermophiles, Brest, France.
Kerkhof, L., M. Speck. (1997). Ribosomal RNA gene dosage in marine bacteria. Molecular and Marine Biology and Biotechnology 6:260-267.
Posters
Speck, M., S. Donachie. (2007) A polyphasic approach to describing the microbial diversity of Pocillopora meandrina coral mucus from Palmyra Atoll. American Society for Microbiology, General Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
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