Alan D. Roberts
EXPERIENCED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE / IMMUNOLOGY
CAREER PROFILE
Senior Biomedical Research Assistant with the ability to work independently and manage all aspects of research laboratory operations. Extensive experience in the field of immunology to infectious disease focused on respiratory infections utilizing animal model systems with pathogens such as Mycobacteria (M. tuberculosis), Influenza virus, and Sendai virus.
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
- Many years of outstanding senior-level experience in management and administration within the challenging field of biomedical research with an emphasis in immunology to infectious disease. Organized, proactive, take-charge professional with exceptional follow-through abilities and excellent management skills, with capabilities to plan, implement and oversee complex programs / projects from concept to successful conclusion.
- A hands-on management style with critical thinking abilities and can learn quickly, develop expertise, and make positive contributions to business operations, systems, analysis, and team efficiency. Ability to blend analytical, creative, and leadership qualities to successfully achieve innovative results. A tried and true “team-player” who enjoys working with fellow employees and outside collaborators or contractors.
- Up for New Possibilities & Challenges!
CORE STRENGTHS & CAPABILITIES
- Research Program, Project, & Operations Management
- Staff / Team Training, Development, & Supervision
- Project Goal Setting & Strategic Planning
- Regulatory Compliance Protocols and Standard Operating Protocol Development
- Research Material Procurement, Inventory, and Accounting
- General, Chemical, Radiation, Biological Safety Knowledge & Oversight
- Scientific Data Acquisition, Recording, Analysis, Presentation, and Publication
- Database Tracking for Reagents, Cell-Lines, Bacteria, and Viruses
- Abilities with Advanced Scientific Instrumentation and Associated Software
- Effective Communication Abilities – Written and Verbal
- Teaching Abilities at the University Level
- Shared Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Attention To Detail
- Tech Savvy Expert in Computer Literacy and Talents with Graphics for Scientific Journal Publication
- Congenial Interactions with Supervisors, Collaborators, Peers, Subordinates
- Strong Code of Ethics and Dedication to Corporate Mission
- Motivated to Expand Career Repertoire into Other Fields of Endeavor!
RELEVANT CAREER ATTRIBUTES
PROGRAM, PROJECT, & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
- Initiated the start-up of a new research laboratory and Colorado State University with Dr. Ian M. Orme after a transition from the Trudeau Institute. Independently ordered all necessary laboratory equipment, instrumentation, reagents and supplies for outfitting the laboratory. Served as a liaison between various university departments to arrange for proper approvals and facilities to conduct research studies with pathogenic strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Authored biosafety and biocontainment protocols for the bulk cultivation and animal infection studies. Managed to fast-track Dr. Orme’s research program as a result of my competency, dedication, and focus on the mission of our research.
- Managed all aspects of biomedical research programs and operations throughout my career at CSU and the Trudeau Institute. Consistently implemented all assigned projects in a timely fashion and made sure all associated resources were in place and available to carry the projects through to a satisfactory conclusion. Practiced due diligence in insuring the quality of the work undertaken and the accuracy of the data generated. Proactive when technical problems occurred in experimental systems, and worked with all staff involved to diagnose and make corrective changes to rescue the study or prevent a recurrence of the problem or error in future studies. Carefully recorded all observations, data, and results of investigational research programs. Data was analyzed, interpreted, and presented to group in a professional manner. Reviewed data and contributed to the discussion and production of manuscripts for publication. Authorship on numerous peer reviewed scientific journal articles, book chapters, and reviews – See Professional Web Site, Google Scholar, and Research Gate for complete listing.
- Implemented numerous NIH funded research program and contract studies. Independently managed two NIH contract programs dealing chemotherapeutic materials and potential vaccine candidates to M. tuberculosis. Kept accurate records of materials received, material cost expenditures, experimental work completed, and data generated. Communicated all results to immediate supervisor and clarified any questions posed by the NIH contract Program Administrator.
COMMUNICATIONS & RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
- Excelled at establishing and nurturing collaborative relationships with administrators, supervisors, peers, collaborators, students, sales reps, and contractors. Consistently the lead person in charge of the proper training, mentoring, and supervision of new members for the research groups I was associated. Responsibly maintained oversight to ensure that all work was done in a consistent, reliable, and safe manner. Took corrective actions when individuals were deviating from established protocols and policies. Brought major un-reconciled problem situations to the attention of superiors for resolution or action. Mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in various laboratory methods and techniques. Assisted graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and visiting scientists in furthering their investigational projects and studies. Maintained a collegiate rapport with everyone I had the pleasure of associating with in the work environment.
- Actively nurtured my communication skills, both written and verbal. All aspects of conducting biomedical research inherently require the honing of one’s interpersonal communication skills. The planning, implementation, and conclusion of research studies require constant communication between members of the research team. Effective communication is a key component in the success of any endeavor in the workplace and I am fully cognizant of this.
- Served as a contributing member on various institutional safety and planning committees. Served on the CSU Institutional Biosafety Committee and also of the Bioenvironmental Hazards Research Building planning and commissioning committee. Member of the Chemical and Radiation Safety Committee at Trudeau Institute. Always added insightful comments to the discussion and contributed to the scope and mission of these important regulatory mandated groups.
- Taught at the university level while at CSU and assisted Dr. Orme in the instruction of undergraduate students in Immunology Lab class as well as veterinary medicine students in the Veterinary Medicine Immunology Lab sections. Had the opportunity to travel to the University of Porto, Portugal, in 1990 and 1994 to assist in a summer seminar series in biotechnology where I also assisted in presenting immunology laboratory techniques to graduate level students. It was always a rewarding experience to pass on knowledge to these students for their future career development.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE WEB SITES
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
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EDUCATION
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Senior Research Technician - January 2017 - Present
TICRO Bioservices at Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, New York 12983 Senior Research Assistant - October 2011 - November 2014 Dr. Marcia A. Blackman’s Laboratory Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, New York 12983 Senior Research Assistant - September 1999 - October 2011 Dr David L. Woodland’s Laboratory Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, New York 12983 Senior Research Associate - September 1986 - August 1999 Dr. Ian M. Orme’s Laboratory Mycobacteria Research Laboratories Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 Research Assistant - July 1982 - August 1986 Dr. Frank M. Collin’s Laboratory Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, New York 12983 Laboratory Assistant - Fall 1981 - Spring 1982 Chemistry Department State University of New York College of Arts and Sciences at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York 12901 Medical Laboratory Technologist - Fall 1980 Hematology / Urinalysis Department Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center, Plattsburgh, New York 12901 |
State University of New York College of Arts and Sciences at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, New York 12901 B.S. 1982 Biochemistry / Biophysics North Country Community College Saranac Lake, New York 12983 A.S. 1980 Math / Science A.A.S. 1979 Biomedical Laboratory Technology |
LABORATORY QUALIFICATIONS
- Responsible for many laboratory management and administrative duties such as scheduling and implementing experiments, ordering laboratory supplies and animals, restocking, lab account management (back-up), updating laboratory freezer lists, laboratory maintenance and cleaning, preparing and filing of applications or amendments to Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) or Institutional Biosafety (IBC) Committees.
- Extensive background in working in biosafety level 3 laboratories (BL3) while conducting both in-vivo as well as in vitro studies with M. tuberculosis and Sendai virus. Implemented standard operating procedures as well as biosafety Protocols for laboratory work with M. tuberculosis (Colorado State University) and Sendai virus (Trudeau). Responsible for training of new laboratory personnel as to the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for working in BL-3 areas. Supervised new employees in the implementation of protocols during their introduction to our biosafety facilities.
- Proficient in bacteriological techniques, particularly those involving the growth and cultivation of mycobacteria (M. tuberculosis, M. avium, M. bovis BCG) for use in animal models of infection (CSU).
- Proficient in techniques involving the growth, cultivation and assay of strains of Influenza virus and Sendai virus (Enders). Responsible for the maintenance of laboratory virus stocks of these viruses for use in studies by the Woodland and Blackman laboratories. Skilled in the cultivation of virus in embryonated hens eggs.
- Skilled in various animal modeling techniques to assess immunologic, immunotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic responses of animals experimentally infected with M. tuberculosis (CSU), Influenza virus, and Sendai virus (Trudeau). Responsible for the operation and maintenance of Gene Gun apparatus used in DNA vaccination of laboratory animals.
- Adept in flow cytometric analysis of murine lymphoid cells and their phenotypic sub-populations. Well acquainted with the Becton Dickenson FACScan, FACSCalibur, Canto II, and LSR II flow cytometry instruments and associated software packages such as FlowJo. Familiar with FACS sorting technology and have conducted numerous experiments involving the sorting of distinct phenotypic cell populations followed by subsequent transfer into recipient animals and tracking these cells during re-challenge via flow cytometry. Completed Becton Dickenson Biosciences FACSCalibur (3/1999) and BD LSR II (9/2008) Operator Training Courses.
- Skilled at standard surface phenotype FACS staining as well as intracellular and BrdU staining techniques on lymphocytes isolated from various organs.
- Accomplished in in-vitro cell culture techniques and ELISA /ELISPOT assays for the determination of cytokine/chemokine responses.
- Developed and improved laboratory protocols for various assays in the laboratory. Modified a viral foci assay utilizing the MDCK cell line to more efficiently titer Influenza virus as a replacement to the time consuming and sample limiting standard egg assay.
- Responsible for Trudeau Institute’s scientific freezer facilities during a freezer failure. Coordinated the efficient and orderly transfer of scientific materials from a failing freezer into back-up freezer locations for safe storage. Worked with the facilities personnel and instrumentation technician in making assessments and decisions on the status of an alarming freezer. Proactively made decisions on the best course of action to protect the resources contained in the problem freezer. Immediately informed the scientific staff via e-mail of all alarm situations in the freezer facility and actions taken. Consulted with the instrumentation tech and the maintenance department in getting needed repairs or modifications to the facility implemented.
- Talented in the use of computer graphics software for the editing and final presentation of figures to be used in scientific publications. Extensive background in utilizing graphic applications such as Adobe Photoshop, ACD Systems Canvas, Corel Graphics Suite, Prism, etc… for the editing and formatting of scientific data for use by the publishers of scientific journals. Familiar with the requirements needed for aesthetics and high quality presentation required by the editorial staff of the various scientific journals.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARD
UNIVERSITY OF PORTO, PORTUGAL - INSTITUTE FOR MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
~ INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR E CELULAR
Summer Biotechnology Seminar Series - Instructed Graduate Immunology Techniques Lab Classes 1990 and 1994
BECTON DICKENSON IMMUNOCYTOMETRY SYSTEMS – FACSCalibur Operator Course – March 26th 1999
BECTON DICKENSON IMMUNOCYTOMETRY SYSTEMS – BD LSR II Operator Course – September 12th 2008
SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY – Immunotoxicology Specialty Section – Best Paper of the Year 2008 (Ref. #16)
~ INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR E CELULAR
Summer Biotechnology Seminar Series - Instructed Graduate Immunology Techniques Lab Classes 1990 and 1994
BECTON DICKENSON IMMUNOCYTOMETRY SYSTEMS – FACSCalibur Operator Course – March 26th 1999
BECTON DICKENSON IMMUNOCYTOMETRY SYSTEMS – BD LSR II Operator Course – September 12th 2008
SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY – Immunotoxicology Specialty Section – Best Paper of the Year 2008 (Ref. #16)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMITTEES
Member of the American Society for Microbiology 1988 - 1999.
Attended many National ASM Meetings
Member of the Mycobacteria Research Group at Colorado State University
Attended many US-Japan Tuberculosis / Leprosy Meetings as well as National Jewish Center Tuberculosis Meetings
Member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Colorado State University 1994 - 1999.
Member of the Bioenvironmental Hazards Building Planning, Construction, & Commissioning Committee, Colorado State University 1997 - 1999
Member of the Chemical and Radiation Safety Committee, Trudeau Institute, 2003 - 2014.
Institutional Freezer Facility Emergency Response Coordinator “Freezer Caesar”, Trudeau Institute, 1999 - 2014.
Attended many National ASM Meetings
Member of the Mycobacteria Research Group at Colorado State University
Attended many US-Japan Tuberculosis / Leprosy Meetings as well as National Jewish Center Tuberculosis Meetings
Member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Colorado State University 1994 - 1999.
Member of the Bioenvironmental Hazards Building Planning, Construction, & Commissioning Committee, Colorado State University 1997 - 1999
Member of the Chemical and Radiation Safety Committee, Trudeau Institute, 2003 - 2014.
Institutional Freezer Facility Emergency Response Coordinator “Freezer Caesar”, Trudeau Institute, 1999 - 2014.