Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
Oversee daily operations of the Virology & STD testing unit, encompassing over 20 high complexity CLIA regulated tests, including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, HIV, and Hepatitis C. Routinely perform PCR and serology testing, interpret data and report results. Manage complex instrumentation, including a Biofire Torch, Liaison XL and PantherFusion. Routinely research new instrumentation and available updates to current equipment to optimize performance and efficiency. Maintain inventory of reagents and consumables for over 20 unique tests over 6 testing platforms. Manage proficiency testing and competency for up to 10 staff members in compliance with CLIA regulations and NH PHL quality standards. Verify new assays to keep the unit up-to-date with industry standards and adapt to changing testing demands. Routinely troubleshoot equipment failures, unusual results and testing errors. Collaborate with other unit supervisors to optimize testing workflow and staffing. Communicate with providers and laboratory partners about changes to Virology/STD testing, and answer provider questions on testing methods and patient results.
Supervise the COVID-19 testing laboratory and manage a team of six dedicated COVID-19 testing staff members. Routinely perform testing, interpret data and report results for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. Maintain inventory of reagents and consumables needed for high volume testing. Perform training and maintain competency for up to 20 bench scientists performing SARS-CoV-2 PCR in compliance with CLIA regulations and NH PHL quality standards. Oversee operation and maintenance of testing equipment. Routinely troubleshoot equipment failures, unusual results and testing errors. Collaborate with other unit supervisors to optimize testing workflow and staffing. Adapt and optimize testing procedures to meet the changing needs of the state’s COVID-19 response. Promote continuing education for staff, and develop opportunities for professional growth and development within the laboratory.
Developed course material for online learning platforms in grades 4-12 science. Specialized in developing lessons and assessments in various topics in biology, including genetics, ecology and plant biology. Additionally developed and reviewed course material for topics in physics and earth science.
Established Lamplighter’s yeast laboratory and QC program. Initiated the staff training program in sensory analysis and organize weekly Sensory Panel meetings to assess product quality and reproducibility. Established Lamplighter’s wild yeast harvest program for the isolation of novel brewing yeast from nature. Designed Lamplighter’s Employee Education program in brewing methods, history, ingredients and beer styles. Cicerone® Certified Beer Server.
Established the Drosophila follicle cell amplicons as a new model system for re-replication. Discovered DNA double-strand breaks are generated at elongating re-replication forks. Identified the pathways responsible for DNA double-strand break repair during re-replication. (Alexander et al. (2015). Curr. Biol. 25(12) 1654-1660; Alexander et al. (2016) PNAS 113(48) 13809-13814; reviewed in Alexander, Orr-Weaver (2016). Genes Dev. 30, 2241-2252). Measured DNA replication fork progression at various genomic positions using microarray analysis to determine the impact of chromatin environment on fork elongation. Graduate student mentor for Amgen Scholars Program during the summer of 2014. Responsibilities were one-on-one mentoring of an undergraduate student in the lab in order to teach experimental design and data analysis for an original research project
Performed fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize non-covalent interactions between single-walled carbon nanotubes and organic small molecules.