Jackie Benko Email & Phone Number

Frederick, Maryland, United States

Associate director responsible for managing a flow cytometry group, internal and external client relationships, managing projects and resources to meet deliverable deadlines, budgeting and billing, adherence to regulatory guidelines, and forecasting revenue.

Frederick, Maryland

Senior Scientist in Research Group performing flow cytometric assays and FACS sorting- responsible for operation and maintenance of flow cytometers and FACS machines (BD Fortessas, BD Fusion, BD Canto IVD, and BD Symphony). Developed and validated a wide variety of assays for use in clinical trials: phosphoflow, intracellular cytokine and intranuclear staining assays for batched PBMC flow and whole blood real time assays, surface staining assays for real-time FACS sorting assays, non-human primate intracellular cytokine staining assay, receptor occupancy assay on stabilized blood, intranuclear staining assay on fixed blood, and tetramer staining assays. Worked with multiple departments to meet client deadlines and deliver quality data. Experienced in writing various protocols, SOPs, reports, client data delivery, training/ mentoring team members and direct reports, coordination of project workloads to maximize efficiency, cytometer validation/ optimization, panel development/ optimization, instrument troubleshooting (laser alignment, routine maintenance, tracking of cytometer performance, etc).

Flow Cytometry Scientist- operation and maintenance of BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 flow cytometers (BD FACS AriaII, BD FACS CantoII, BD LSRII, BD FACS Verse, Partec CyFlow Space with sorter, BD FACS Verse, and Beckman Coulter Gallios instruments), development and execution of various flow-based assays to evaluate the immunogenicity and immune related pathogenesis of various infectious diseases, processing of animal samples, handling of human and animal blood samples, data management and analysis, FACS sorting for downstream experiments, and writing reports based on flow analysis for collaborators. Trained in BSL-3 and -4 laboratory practices, SSBI security clearance obtained, CDC certified for select agent (BSAT) use, enrolled in USAMRIID biosurety reliability program, and BSL-4 mentor.

Research Specialist in Immunology and assay development group- duties including: Department Study Director, running and coordinating the testing of all phase I and II clinical trial specimens according to GLP regulations, assisting in budgets and timeline planning, running and managing the quantification of BCG with a novel flow-based assay, developing/ running polychromatic ICS panels for further assessment of clinical trial specimens, analyzing donors with MHC class I antigen specific tetramers, developing a flow-based Oregon Green proliferation assay for PBMCs, developed a whole blood stimulation assay, and assisted with a murine model of persistency studies for vaccine assessment, running IFN-y ELISA and multiplex on clinical trial samples. Also responsible for the validation and qualification of various immune assays as well as the coordination of all human blood processing for retention in an on-site cell bank. Responsible for the direct supervision for a team of 4, calibration and maintenance of all laboratory equipment, optimization and maintenance for BD LSRII and Partec CyFlowML/SL flow cytometers. Trained in shipment of dangerous goods and advanced flow cytometry (VALID course by the NIH VRC).

Research Associate in Immunology and Assay development group, duties including: developing and performing intracellular staining assays for both animal (non-human primate, pig, and mouse) and human assays, optimizing and performing custom MHC class 1 tetramer assay for antigen specific cells, ELISA assays, PBMC isolation from whole blood (non-human primate, mini-pig, and human), acquiring and analyzing flow cytometry data (FlowJo, FlowMax, and FACS DIVA) and developed a rapid method for viability and quantification of M. bovis BCG using flow cytometry. Trained in dangerous goods shipping and certified BD LSRII operator.

Research Assistant in tuberculosis drug development research planning and executing various experiments including: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs), assisting in mircoarrays, determining synergistic interactions between compounds, spectrum of activity, Mycobacterial RNA isolation, time-to-kill, minimal bactericidal concentration, cell toxicity, radiometric techniques, intracellular inhibition, optimal pH, mutant characterization, and mutagenesis. Duties include: formulating protocols, performing various experiments, working with single drug resistant M. tuberculosis and clinical isolates, analyzing data (using various programs), general laboratory maintenance, library searches, library research at NIH, assisting with small animals, cell culture, cell counting, ordering and receiving supplies, electrophoresis gels, disposal of infectious materials, equipment maintenance, formulating stock solutions and media, writing SOPs and IND reports, keeping a laboratory notebook, and working in a biosafety level 3 laboratory.

Research Assistant in the department of Psychiatry assisting with NIH, NIMH funded grants– provided research support for the following National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health awards:“Physicians’ Decisions for the Depressed Medically Ill” - Steven A. Epstein, M.D., Principal Investigator.“Interpersonal Group Therapy for PTSD in Low-Income Women” – Janice Krupnick, Ph.D., Principal Investigator.“Mental Health Services for Women in Public Medical Care” – Bonnie L. Green, Ph.D., Principal Investigator.“Memory and Learning in Children with IDDM” – Clarissa Holmes, Ph.D., Principal Investigator. Duties include: Library searches, library research at NIH, transcribing psychotherapy sessions, assist with pilot study interviews, assist with subject interviews, attend team meetings, perform simple statistical analysis (SPSS), enter data.Research Assistant for National Institute of Justice award entitled, “Ecological Model of Battered Women’s Experience over Time.” Mary Ann Dutton, Ph.D., Principal Investigator. Duties include: phone tracking of domestic violence subjects, data entry, simple statistical analysisAssisting with National Institute of Justice award entitled, “Ecological Model of Battered Women’s Experience over Time.” Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary Ann Dutton.

M.S. Immunology

M.S., Biotechnology

B.S., Biology/ Psychology