Kizzy Brooks Email & Phone Number

Morrisville, Nc, Us

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Supervises a team of 12, providing ongoing coaching and implementing regular one-on-one meetings to facilitate open communication and employee development.-Conducts routine employee evaluations to assess performance and provide constructive feedback.-Monitors team performance metrics and implements Post-Study Debriefs, boosting overall team performanceManages study confirmations and departmental scheduling, coordinating study scheduling for 12 team members.Leads cross-functional teams to enhance communication and collaboration, successfully managing multiple projects simultaneously to meet deliverable timelines by utilizing project management methodologies.-Project management updates tracked using internal documentation systems and TaskRay, ensuring timely reporting.Collaborates with upper management to set departmental goals and implements strategies that improve workflow efficiency for multidisciplinary assays to meet departmental goals and align team efforts with broader organizational strategies.Developed and implemented training programs for new hires and ongoing staff development, enhancing team effectiveness and ensuring compliance with company policies and industry standards.

SME for Molecular and Infectious Disease studies, providing regular client communication on data interpretation, assay method development/validation, and assay troubleshootingAssists in preparing study proposals, defining project scope, and providing cost estimates, timelines for assay development/sample analysis, and experimental design recommendationsIndependently develops experimental designs for extensive multidisciplinary assay method development, including de novo assay creation and customization, for: qPCR/RT-qPCR, ddPCR, nucleic acid extraction, MSD-ECL, ELISA, ELISpot, HA & HAI, IC50Offers in-depth scientific guidance, including experimental design modifications, GxP regulatory compliance, extensive troubleshooting, and leading training sessions-Conducts training for up to 11 trainees on multidisciplinary assay procedures and equipment use. -Authors Work Instructions, SOPs, and analytical methods, independently developing 30 methods annuallyLeads ABSL-3 projects, overseeing select agent inventory, training on agent-specific procedures, and verifying PPE compliance-Select agents: B. anthracis, Y. pestis, F. tularensis, C. botulinum neurotoxins A and B, RicinIndependently performs extensive data analysis/interpretation and authors CSRs for multidisciplinary studies-Authored 35 CSRs annually for GLP/non-GLP studiesPerforms internal study scheduling and plans daily/weekly workflows for 7 researchers, assigning tasks and internal deliverable deadlines to meet overall study timelinesImplements process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and data quality while reducing project deliverable timelines-IC50 assay: Increased efficiency by 24%, saving $1,638 in supply costs-HAI assay: Developed a customized assay that generated $249,000 in estimated revenue within 6 monthsCreates and maintains departmental metrics tracking, implementing Post-Study Debriefs to identify improvement areas and assay acceptance rates

Authors final CSRs for Molecular and Immunology bioanalytical sample analysisAnalyzed and interpreted study sample results, conducting statistical analysis as necessary, for the following: -Gene therapy biodistribution, mRNA/transgene expression, viral shedding, viral burden (qPCR, RT-qPCR) -Pharmacokinetics (PK) and anti-drug antibody (ADA) immunogenicity (ELISA, MSD-ECL, complement assays) Developed, evaluated, and optimized assay methodologies, protocols, and procedures to enhance accuracy and efficiency -ELISpot assay development/qualification for quantifying cytokines and antibodies related to antigen-specific T cell and B cell immune responsesPerformed complex assay and equipment troubleshooting Accumulated 190+ active hours in high-containment (ABSL-3) laboratory environmentInstitute certified trainer. Provided guidance and support to team members in laboratory techniques

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Maintain high-throughput requirements by completing an average of 5 studies a month, analyzing 593 Molecular samples (qPCR, RT-qPCR) and 201 Immunology samples (MSD-ECL, ELISA)Served as study lead for qPCR/RT-qPCR programs (Viral burden; Gene therapy (biodistribution, mRNA/transgene expression, viral shedding), ELISA, ELISpot, and MSD-ECL assaysAccumulated 80+ active hours in high-containment (ABSL-3) laboratory environmentDeveloped assays, established new methods and protocols, and generated detailed reports for supervisors and study directorsConducted research and documented laboratory work according to GLP, SOPs, and all relevant regulatory standards

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Conducted employee interviews and training on policies/established operating procedures, ensuring a thorough understanding of compliance standardsAssigned duties and monitored performance to ensure adherence to operational guidelines and quality standards. Conducted evaluations to provide constructive feedback semiannually and implement Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) as needed-Facilitated the promotion of two employees to managerial positions by evaluating their performance and leadership potentialCreated and managed weekly shift schedules, ensuring optimal coverage and accuracy in payroll processing for 8 direct reportsCollaborated with management to identify training needs and implement process improvements to enhance team performance

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Worked under Dr. Marc Orbach on developing a vaccine for Coccidioidomycosis for canines and humans. Specifically researched how the downregulation of a gene adjacent to the knockout mutation in the vaccine candidate strain contributed to the strain's avirulence by construction a deletion mutant of the downregulated gene and analyzing its phenotype. Investigated global gene expression in Coccidioides posadasii strain Silveira and Coccidioides immitis to advance vaccine development for canines and humans. Employed comparative genomics to create gene deletion constructs and design primers for isolating auxotrophic mutations. Utilized transformation-associated recombination to insert gene deletion construct in C. posadasii strain Silveira. Cultivated and harvested fungal spores, microscopically identifying morphological changes and calculating spore titer, while assessing the viability of fresh and preserved spores to optimize storage methods.

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Worked under Dr. Magdalene So (primary supervisor) and Dr. Maria Rendon (secondary supervisor). The project focused on creating a preventative gonorrhea treatment using commensal Neisseria species. Investigated Type IV pilus as virulence factor in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis infections and its role in commensal-host interactions.Established and maintained cell cultures for MIC and bacterial killing assays. Microscopically assessed bacterial growth and activity.Determined DNA-mediated killing parameters of N. gonorrhoeae, focusing on multiplicity of infection (MOI), DNA quantity, and time post-infection. Cloned pathogenic locus and utilized it to transform bacterial cells. Verified successful transformation via Sanger sequencing.

Tucson, Arizona, United States

The Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) is a research apprenticeship dedicated to teach students science by involving them in biologically related research. Students are able to enhance their research skills and participate in mentored, self-directed work.Collaborated with tenured faculty mentor to enhance laboratory techniques and research skills. Participated in weekly with research cohort and graduate mentors to critically analyze research papers and advance professional development skills. Presented objectives, experimental design, and experimental data findings of research project.

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Provided information regarding activities conducted at establishment and campus-wide, along with locations of activities.Performed variety of duties pertinent to establishment: greeting guests and directing to appropriate location professionally answering phones and responding to emails managing keys and building access appropriately accepting and distributing mail according to federal laws.

Master Of Science - Ms, Microbiology And Cell Science, 4.0

Concentration: Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Microbiology, Gpa 4.0

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Molecular And Cellular Biology, Gpa 3.88