Lab Compliance Svcs C.V.

5/05 - 3/07   Spectro Analytical Instruments, Fitchburg, MA
   Title: Customer Support/ICP Specialist
Provide phone support for users of Spectro Modula, Ciros and Vision ICP spectrometers. Use web-camera and desktop hosting as well as telephone for support. Log all calls into database, following up and closing in a timely manner. Assist field service engineers in diagnosis, selection of parts, applications & software issues. Maintain knowledge of regulatory environment for customers in the environmental-EPA, pharmaceutical-FDA and industrial-ISO markets. Coordinate support issues with management for cohesive response.

10/02 - 4/05   ProScience Analytical Services, Woburn, MA
   Title: Laboratory Manager-Chemistry
Oversaw 4 analysts and 1 clerk performing analysis of wipes, paints, soils, and air for lead by AA following accepted methods. Analyzed TCLP and miscellaneous projects for other metals by ICP and CVAA following EPA SW-846 methodology, including 1311, 1312, 6010 and 7470/7471. Performed gravimetric analysis of PM10 and TSP filters following NIOSH and EPA methods. Prepared field spikes for a client following HUD guidelines for lead abatement.

Reviewed performance of analysts. Trained all analysts in proper safety procedures. Gave in-house seminar on Statistics in the Laboratory, with special emphasis on concepts of IDL, MDL, and QL. Improved Excel spreadsheets used for data reduction, invoicing and client reporting. Improved rapport with clients by listening, answering technical questions and undertaking special projects in keeping with the lab's capabilities. Prepared summary reports for management, monitored QC data, and worked with the QA Officer in establishing and documenting a Quality Assurance Plan. During my tenure, the total number of samples received by the laboratory rose by 25%.

Maintained national accreditations issued by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) as an Environmental Lead Laboratory, and the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) as an NVLAP Environmental Laboratory. Ensured compliance via thorough documentation of personnel training, standard operating procedures, quality assurance, and successful analysis of performance evaluation samples from AIHA and ELAP. Sought and obtained accreditation from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA-DEP) for the category of Nonpotable water. Also maintained accreditation with other states, eg, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME. Advised owners on issues of environmental health and safety, including personal protective equipment, safety training for all personnel, and proper storage and disposal of hazardous waste following EPA, MA-DEP, OSHA, and USDOT guidelines.

10/97 - 10/02   Spectro Analytical Instruments, Fitchburg, MA
1/00   Title: Customer Service Engineer/ICP Support Specialist
Provided phone support (~2/3 time) from main facility for North America; traveled to customer sites in the U.S. to install new ICPs, provide training, maintenance and repair (~1/3 time). Taught the onsite ICP training classes. Supported customers with regulatory issues, including EPA and FDA. Documented quality issues for correction at the factory in Kleve, Germany; coordinated customer issues with management; followed TQM procedures in preparation for ISO certification.

10/97     Title: ICP/ICP-MS Applications Chemist
Thoroughly trained in emission and mass spectroscopy, initially on Modula (PMT-model), then on Ciros (CCD-model), introduced in March 1999. Analyzed a variety of solid and liquid samples for existing and prospective customers under a variety of analytical protocols including EPA-OSWER, EPA-OGW, EPA-CLP, FDA, USGS, ISO, AOAC, ASTM, NIOSH; prepared reports in Excel and Word; demonstrated use of ICP and ICP-MS at the main facility in Fitchburg and on-site. Traveled throughout the U.S. to train customers and provide on-site applications help.

10/88 - 9/97   New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY
   Civil Service Title: Sanitary Chemist
4/96   ICP Supervisor: Responsible for trace metal analysis of samples by ICP-AES; oversaw 1 to 2 technicians and preparation of aqueous and solid samples for GFAA, ICP-MS, and ICP-AES following various EPA and client-specific protocols. Bulk of the work was from municipal water supplies throughout New York State. Increased throughput of this instrument dramatically, cutting turnarounds from four to two weeks.

6/94   ICP-MS analyst: Set up new instrumentation for research and routine analysis at ultra-trace levels according to EPA 200.8 and 6020 using a Fisons PlasmaQuad II+; continued to operate the ICP-AES.

1/94   ICP-AES analyst: Analyzed air, water and soil samples for trace metals with a Leeman Labs PS950 ICP (sim/seq); prepared solutions; troubleshot; wrote macros for efficient operation; electronically reported results to department's mainframe database for client use. Ran custom plotting routine for charting of statistical QC data.

4/93   Mercury analyst: Took over analysis of Hg by cold-vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) from retiring chemist; set up autosampler for more efficient operation; instituted electronic reporting of results; analyzed research samples for As, Se and Sb by hydride generation atomic absorption (HGAA); assisted with GFAA analysis as needed.

9/92   GFAA analyst: Analyzed air, water, and soil samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption according to in-house, potable (EPA 200 series), and Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) protocols. Trained other analysts in use of Method of Standard Additions. Assisted data specialist with preparation of CLP data package using a combination of custom software and spreadsheet templates developed in-house. Ensured all annual, semi-annual and quarterly instrument validations were performed and documented.

In 1992, requested transfer to the Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry's Metals Laboratory.

10/88   Lead Poisoning Laboratory Supervisor: Responsible for the timely analysis of blood samples for lead (BPb) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP); analysis initially performed by three to five technicians using Delves-cup AA. Over next three years, the lab purchased 3 new Perkin-Elmer GFAA's. Troubleshot; consulted with clients about sampling; prepared monthly summaries and billing reports using programs I wrote in dBase.

Followed new, stricter methodology for clinical analysis mandated by federal CLIA '88 act. Updated all technicians in safety, analysis, and confidentiality issues. Trained new hires from scratch. Documented everything. Did method development work on GFAA with the lab director, Dr. Patrick Parsons. Adapted CDC-Atlanta methodology for analysis. Published comparison of matrix modifiers for the analysis of BPb by GFAA. Also ran anodic stripping voltammeter (ASV) as part of study of technique bias for BPb.

Prepared NYS proficiency test samples from goats for the BPb and EP categories. Maintained lead acetate dosage records, ordered blood collection, aliquotted into Wheaton bottles, ran lyophilizer. Prepared letters and data reporting forms. Modified FORTRAN programs to summarize and grade participant laboratories' performance.

8/87 - 10/88   Environment One, Schenectady, NY
   Title: Chemical Analyst
Used flame (FLAA) and furnace (GFAA) atomic absorption methods conforming to Standard Methods, NIOSH, EPA-potable water, EPA-nonpotable water and EPA-SW-846 protocols to quantitatively analyze metals in water, soil and air samples; used accepted wet chemistry methods to quantify inorganic nonmetals in water, soil and air samples.

8/84 - 8/87   Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Albany
   Title: Research Assistant
Purified and characterized mitochondrial membrane proteins involved in electron transport using ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography, salting out, centrifugation, dialysis, SDS-PAGE and immunoassay. Took two semesters of a related graduate course: Seminars in Bioenergetics. Audited first semester, passed second semester.

1/84 - 6/84   local middle and high schools in and around Albany, NY
   Title: Substitute teacher
Filled in for math and science teachers 4 - 5 days per week, on average. Good life experience. Continued to tutor in high school and college math and science, as I had throughout college.

8/83 - 1/84   American Red Cross Blood Bank, Albany, NY
   Title: Components Technician
Centrifuged whole blood donations to prepare platelet, plasma, cryoprecipitate and red blood cell products, continuing a volunteer internship begun as a senior in college.

Inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) with atomic emission spectrometry (AES) and mass spectrometry (MS):
Spectro Ciros and Modula ICP-AES (radial and axial) SpectroMass 2000 ICP-MS
Leeman Labs PlasmaSpec 5 ICP-AES Fisons PlasmaQuad II+ ICP-MS
Perkin-Elmer P400 ICP-AES

Atomic absorption (AA):
Perkin-Elmer GFAA models 4100ZL, 5100PC, and Zeeman3030 & 5000
Perkin-Elmer AA model 3110 (FL only), 3030B using flame (C2H2/air and C2H2/N2O), electrothermal (GF), and cold vapor atomization
Hitachi Z9000 (multi-element) GFAA
Instrumentation Laboratories 951 GFAA with furnace and aerosol sampler
Varian SpectrAA-10 with VGA for As, Se, Sb by hydride generation AA and Hg by semi-automated cold-vapor AA
Varian SpectrAA-5 modified to perform Delves cup microsampling AA

Electrochemistry:
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) for Pb
Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) for F and Cl
Combination pH Electrode

Wet chemical analysis:
Variety of metals and nonmetals by colorimetric, titration, distillation, extraction, and gravimetric techniques; petroleum analysis for BTU, sulfur, ash, flashpoint; oil & grease in water, MBAS (detergents) in water.
Special sample preparation techniques include persulfate fusion, wet and dry ashing with a variety of ashing aids and modifiers, bomb calorimetry, and microwave-assisted decomposition, both closed and open-vessel.

Protein techniques:
Salting out; Ultracentrifugation; Dialysis
Ultrafiltration; Lyophilization
Chromatography - Ion exchange and Size exclusion gel filtration LC with microprocessor-controlled collection and uv detection for protein purification (batch scale).
Electrophoresis - SDS-PAGE for characterization of purified proteins.
Immunoassay - Western blot

Mainframe and microcomputers:
Mac, PC and mainframes - variety of statistical, spreadsheet, database and word processing applications.
Programming languages - BASIC, FORTRAN, dBase III+, Excel macros.