Stephen Bruinsma

Associate Principal Scientist at Illumina

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

About

An innovative, team-oriented scientist who is recognized for driving technical advances, leading cross-functional teams, and solving problems. A collaborative leader with a history of developing products, publishing research, securing intellectual property, and fostering team development. Core Skills Technical: next-generation sequencing, genetics, epigenetics, data analysis, proteomics, assay development, imaging, biochemistry, cell biology Leadership & Communication: project leadership, product development, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, scientific writing, intellectual property generation, presentations tailored to different audiences, helping team members thrive

Experience

  • Illumina (14 yrs)
    • Associate Principal Scientist
      Sep 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Current role reflects a transformation from direct team management to strategic thought leader and subject matter expert supporting numerous projects and strategy teams as a contributor and technical reviewer. Key accomplishments at Illumina: -Contributed strong technical and cultural leadership in multiple roles, functioning as technical lead or core team lead for multiple launched products. -Built and mentored a team of outstanding scientists; defined, implemented, and supported strong team culture, skill growth, and innovation. -Partnered with customers for continuous product improvement, also contributing to publications in peer-reviewed journals. -Authored and contributed to patents, publications, and trade secrets. -Played a leadership role in strategic planning and future product brainstorming.

    • Senior Manager
      Jul 2021 - Sep 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      Career path evolved from technical lead focused on a smaller number of projects to more broad technical oversight of multiple projects. Built out a team of twelve outstanding scientists and helped key team members grow into assay leadership positions.

    • Staff Scientist
      Oct 2019 - Jul 2021 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Served as technical lead for multiple successfully launched products in library preparation for NGS.

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, Wisconsin Area)
    • Assistant Scientist
      Aug 2010 - Jul 2012 · 2 yrs

      -Discovered the first known small molecule inhibitors of the protein machinery for regulated secretion -Biochemically characterized unique drugs that target so-called 'undruggable' protein-membrane interfaces -Identified Munc13-4 as the protein target for a new class of drugs -Analyzed structure-activity relationships for novel chemical inhibitors -Directly supervised multiple independent student projects -Contributed to writing successfully funded research grants -Organized and led the Postdoctoral Association for the Life Sciences (PALS)

    • Postdoctoral Fellow
      Aug 2006 - Jul 2010 · 4 yrs

      -Trained under a leader in the field of secretion -Used RNA interference to identify proteins essential for neuronal and mast cell secretion -Developed novel high throughput and high content assays in different cell types -Completed small molecule screens using robotic liquid handling -Obtained funding from the American Heart Association (postdoctoral fellowship) and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Lead Discovery Initiative)

  • Graduate Research Assistant at Washington University School of Medicine
    Aug 1998 - Jun 2006 · 7 yrs 11 mos

    -Developed and implemented an expression cloning screen in yeast for novel activators of ERK MAP kinase -Discovered and characterized the role of the Rac GAP beta2-chimaerin as a modulator of MAP kinase and cell-cell adhesion in the fruit fly -Demonstrated a genetic interaction between Frizzled and heterotrimeric G proteins in the fly eye -Characterized the activity of human G protein-coupled receptors heterologously expressed in yeast -Obtained funding from the PhRMA Foundation (predoctoral fellowship)

  • 2nd Research Internship at Eli Lilly
    Jul 1998 - Aug 1998 · 2 mos

    Analyzed small molecules of interest by HPLC

  • 1st Research Internship at Eli Lilly
    Jun 1997 - Aug 1997 · 3 mos

    Developed a live cell assay for measuring cAMP