EDUCATION

Lehigh University, Masters of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology

The University of Virginia, Six graduate credits in Forensic Science while attending the FBI Academy

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA B.Sc., Biochemistry, December 1990

EXPERIENCE

Merck & Co., West Point, PA

Scientific Programmer, Medicinal Chemistry-Molecular Systems, MRL, July 2000 to Present

Responsible for developing and maintaining scientific programs which assist the Molecular Modeling Computational Chemistry group as well as Basic and Medicinal Chemistry at all Merck sites. New skills acquired have been UNIX, C, PERL and shell scripts. C Programming projects include different Neural Networks. In addition, multiple VBA applications using ISIS for Excel have been developed. These include: a program which visualizes and sorts High Throughput Screening clustering results; a chemical reagent selector and virtual library report generator.
Project work includes generating QSARQSPR prediction models using Neural Networks, K-nearest neighbors with GA and Trend Vector Analysis (PLS). Powerfully predictive P450 IC50 interaction models, as well as several other ADME models have been successfully generated using a novel approach. Another project example is a GPCR prediction model; which has been built using sequence homology as the weights.
Other skills include Daylight, Cerius2.
Operating systems include SGI and NT. I am currently an integral member of the Database and Virtual Library Teams.

Senior Scientific Programmer Analyst, Bio-Data Group, MRL/RIS, Oct. 1996 to July 2000

Responsible for the Biological and Chemical program automation, customization and support of thirteen plus Drug Discovery projects at Merck Research Laboratories. Skills include Oracle, VB, VBA, HTML, SQL and MS Access. Proficient in both NT and Macintosh operating systems, along with numerous commercial software packages. Other system usage includes VMS and an understanding of UNIX. Proficient in MDL’S ISIS software and programming environment. Front line support, automation and custom programming describe the two major portions of this position. Assisted in the development of a Visual Basic Data Analysis and Management System. The implementation of this new system will offer a state of the art program and is viewed as a highly functional system for a multi-user research lab. The architecture of the system is offered as a 2-tier system and based upon the latest client/server technology.

Research/Validation Scientist, Bioprocess, Vaccine Analytical Research Group, December 1995 to October 1996.
Developed and validated methods that characterized bacterial and viral vaccine components. This work entailed using CZE, HPLC, GCMS, GCFID and EIA methodologies for polysaccharide, small molecules, residuals and stability testing. Developed a new extraction method for residuals and completed a month long validation project. Automated many data analysis tasks using excel and data collection software. One junior scientist reported directly to me.

Avecon Diagnostics Inc.,
Founder and President, 1995
Cofounder of a Diagnostic company that develops diagnostic tests for the agricultural, veterinary and environmental markets. Performed market research and provided seed products. Developed name, business plans and applied for grants.

STC Diagnostics, Bethlehem, PA
Research Scientist, Field Service Representative, September 1993 to 1995
Developed and implemented GCMS, FID, HPLC and CZE methods for both Research and Quality Control. Dually responsible for Research and Development of homogeneous and Micro-Plate EIA assays for drugs of abuse and therapeutic drugs. Other accomplishments include, PMA-510k submissions, writing VBA programs for STC Micro-Plate applications and development of lyophilization procedures. Specialized training includes Hitachi and Olympus Automated Analyzers, as well as Bio-Tek and Dynatech readers and washers. GMPGLP certified. Proficient in Biochemical, Organic and Molecular and Cellular Biology techniques. Literate in many commercial software programs as well as Visual Basic, Unix, and Pascal.
Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory, Bethlehem, PA
Forensic Scientist II, July 1991 to September 1993
Responsible for laboratory work in the chemical, physical and biological analysis and comparison of criminal evidence. Duties included analytical and comparative tests to identify unknown substances, report generating and testifying in court as an expert witness. Proficient in GCMS, GCIRD, GCFID, FTIR Spectroscopy, Microscopy, DNA Profiling-PCR and RFLP. Another responsibility included Laboratory Safety Trainer, including blood born pathogens and OSHA requirements. Increased overall efficiency of the lab and eliminated case backlog.

FBI Academy- One month intensive training in DNA Profiling; received six graduate credits in MCB from UVA.

Tektagen, Malvern, PA
Analytical Biochemist, March 1991 to July 1991
Responsible for analytical testing and trouble shooting of biotech and pharmaceutical client products and research methods. Disciplines included ELISA, RIA, GCMS, HPLC, Amino Acid Analysis, Protein Sequencing and SDS- PAGE. Other responsibility included Radiation Safety Officer.

Lehigh Coroner’s Office, Allentown, PA 1988-1991
Deputy Coroner
Primarily responsible for death investigations. Specialties included crime scene analysis and database management. Built custom Q&A database for office that generated monthly and yearly reports and statistics.

Ecogen Inc., Langhorne, PA
Intern, 1989
Responsible for setting up HPLC and analyzing bacterial metabolites from hundreds of fermentation runs. Other responsibilities included cultures, quality control and data management.

Dr. Richard Frisque, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Undergraduate Researcher, 1988-1990
Project entailed engineering four regulatory region variants of the JC virus and testing for viability in human fetal glial cells. DNA isolation, purification, engineering and tissue culture were performed.

ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Scuba Diving, Metal Detecting, Radio Controlled Airplanes, Historical Preservation, Skiing, Hiking, Organic Farming