Diane Bienek Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Director of Research Operations (2020 to 2022) • Governed full-scope operations within department of Innovation & Technology Research, prior to hiring of Sr. Director. Directed, coached, and supervised team of 22 individuals, identified research policies and institutional training needed to attain Federal compliance, facilitated strategic plans, and steer budget-compliance procurement processes.• Expanded research capabilities of department by establishing BSL-2 laboratories at 3… Show more Director of Research Operations (2020 to 2022) • Governed full-scope operations within department of Innovation & Technology Research, prior to hiring of Sr. Director. Directed, coached, and supervised team of 22 individuals, identified research policies and institutional training needed to attain Federal compliance, facilitated strategic plans, and steer budget-compliance procurement processes.• Expanded research capabilities of department by establishing BSL-2 laboratories at 3 geographic locations.Project Leader (2013 to 2021) • Innovated composites that physicochemically, mechanically and biologically outperform commercial restoratives. Served as key investigator of an interdisciplinary team that secured over $1.4M in NIH funding to develop novel bioactive polymeric materials (Provisional patent serial no. 62/757,781).• Conceptualized and fabricated novel antimicrobial tissue engineering biomimetic scaffolds to produce a more affable interface for cell adhesion and migration, optimized degradation rates, and mechanical strength needed for engineering epithelial tissue.• Orchestrated a meta-analysis of dry socket occurrence to rank risk factors, which augments clinicians’ efforts to mitigate the higher risk of post-operative complications occurring in females after exodontia. This study was selected as cover story for Journal of the American Dental Association and cited on online resources including Mayo Clinic and ADA News. Show less

San Antonio, Texas

Principal Investigator / Assistant Professor of Research• Directed research and established partnerships within the scientific community to facilitate the Biomedical Engineering Department’s mission of providing high caliber biomedical engineering education to students. Concurrently co-taught human physiology and cell biology courses. • Secured $625K+ in funding for two projects involving (1) treatment of corneal and dermal surface injuries and (2) portable monitor to determine whole… Show more Principal Investigator / Assistant Professor of Research• Directed research and established partnerships within the scientific community to facilitate the Biomedical Engineering Department’s mission of providing high caliber biomedical engineering education to students. Concurrently co-taught human physiology and cell biology courses. • Secured $625K+ in funding for two projects involving (1) treatment of corneal and dermal surface injuries and (2) portable monitor to determine whole blood coagulation.• Led evaluation of commercially available diagnostic kits for rapid typing, cross matching, and pathogen identification in whole blood that could support point-of-care rapid testing by ancillary medical personnel in the field. Broad Agency Announcement (#N0001408WR20029) funding attained for 4 yr. General Dynamics Information Technology, US Department of Navy, San Antonio, TX, 2006 to 2012Principal Scientist• Helmed cutting-edge research studies and comprehensive data analysis focused on advancing medical technology and supporting medical readiness for military client. • Advanced lab and clinical facilities at the Mezam Polyclinic of West Africa to improve diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients. Amassed 500+ specimens needed to advance diagnostic technologies needed to simplify tuberculosis testing in remote environments.• Researched and identified solutions, as a key collaborator with CDC (Atlanta, GA) and CDC NIOSH (Cincinnati, Ohio), that reduced the anthrax vaccine series from six shots to five, and advanced rapid point-of-care tests that monitored immunization status.• Procured specificity data for use in Phase II clinical trial application, which subsequently achieved FDA regulatory clearance of an IFN-γ release assay (useful to diagnosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that is unaffected by BCG vaccination. Show less

San Antonio, Texas

Principal Scientist• Helmed cutting-edge research studies and comprehensive data analysis focused on advancing medical technology and supporting medical readiness for military client. • Advanced lab and clinical facilities at the Mezam Polyclinic of West Africa to improve diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients. Amassed 500+ specimens needed to advance diagnostic technologies needed to simplify tuberculosis testing in remote environments.• Researched and identified… Show more Principal Scientist• Helmed cutting-edge research studies and comprehensive data analysis focused on advancing medical technology and supporting medical readiness for military client. • Advanced lab and clinical facilities at the Mezam Polyclinic of West Africa to improve diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients. Amassed 500+ specimens needed to advance diagnostic technologies needed to simplify tuberculosis testing in remote environments.• Researched and identified solutions, as a key collaborator with CDC (Atlanta, GA) and CDC NIOSH (Cincinnati, Ohio), that reduced the anthrax vaccine series from six shots to five, and advanced rapid point-of-care tests that monitored immunization status.• Procured specificity data for use in Phase II clinical trial application, which subsequently achieved FDA regulatory clearance of an IFN-γ release assay (useful to diagnosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that is unaffected by BCG vaccination. Show less

Great Lakes, Il

Senior Scientist• Championed complex scientific studies and infectious-disease research for global organization focused on advancing military-relevant medicine. • Authored 8 persuasive proposals to secure $2M+ in funding from the Office of Naval Research and Center for the Commercialization of Advanced Technology. Established IRB protocols and various collections sites to amass 1,500+ human specimens required to advance prototype of rapid point-of-care tests.• Methodically… Show more Senior Scientist• Championed complex scientific studies and infectious-disease research for global organization focused on advancing military-relevant medicine. • Authored 8 persuasive proposals to secure $2M+ in funding from the Office of Naval Research and Center for the Commercialization of Advanced Technology. Established IRB protocols and various collections sites to amass 1,500+ human specimens required to advance prototype of rapid point-of-care tests.• Methodically investigated saliva as a suitable matrix to detect antibodies against infectious diseases including tuberculosis and anthrax; invited to present findings at a prestigious conference in Vietnam. Show less

Ogden, Utah

Taught a variety of science classes to undergraduate students at a large liberal arts university serving more than 25,000 students. Delivered informative lectures on topics including zoology, human biology, and ichthyology to classes of more than 100 students, oversaw hands-on laboratory practicums, and created in-depth course curriculum and lecture materials for all classes.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Cell Biology And Physiology

Master'S Degree (Ms), Biology: Infectious Disease

Phenotypic Profiles of Lymphocytes in Adult C57BL/6N Mice Infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Major-Zoology, Minor-Chemistry

Activities and Societies: Alpha Epsilon Delta