Megan Blanchard Email & Phone Number

San Diego, Ca, Us

San Diego, Ca, Us

Serving on core leadership teams for R&D projects in all phases of development including early concept, feasibility and planning, development, and launch. Specializing in end-to-end process (biological sample through library prep, sequencing, data analysis and report generation) and improving the customer workflow.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Led a team of multidisciplinary scientists in the integration of NGS chemistry with automation, lllumina sequencing instruments, analysis software and cloud data management for high throughput COVID-19 sequencing and variant detection.

San Diego, Ca, Us

* Contribute to a multidisciplinary team that pulls together new subsystems during product development and tests/validates them together as a single unit. * Troubleshoot and streamline the final product, work collaboratively with contributing teams to drive the product development process from concept through to post launch support.* Focused on the end-to-end user experience, integration points with other systems (LIMS, instruments, analysis pipelines), automation and clinical utility.* Development of the NextSeq 2000, Illumina’s EUA COVID-Seq Test (and high throughput automation), NovaSeq updates and more.

San Diego, Ca, Us

*Deep technical knowledge of Illumina systems (MiSeq, NextSeq, HiSeq, NovaSeq, iSeq etc)*Provided technical support and extensive real-time remote troubleshooting*Experienced across all of SBS instrumentation, library prep, bioinformatics and array*End to end workflow support for NIPT applications, including automated Hamilton workflow*Creative problem solving, focusing on customer outcome and speed of resolution*Extensive NGS run analysis across all instrument platforms and library types*Strong understanding of customer experience with Illumina products*Initiated and drove cross-team projects using soft influence*Performed webinars and trainings for other scientists, customers, and internal teamsIllumina is becoming a leader in supporting clinical customers. Since I have a background in the clinical and forensic space, I also participated in many cross-functional groups helping develop knowledge and training programs for our clinical specialists as well as onboarding materials for new clinical customers.

*Initiated, directed and executed research and development activities for new and upcoming technologies related to genetic health care*Was responsible for whole process engineering, scale up, protocol improvements, documentation and SOP drafting*Worked closely with software dev, engineering, bioinformatics and end-user teams to provide best viable product at launch under strict timelines*Technology transfer to clinical teams included extensive training and ongoing support*Frequently performed liquid biopsy ctDNA variant detection, NGS library prep, multiplex sequencing, Sanger sequencing, MLPA, and Fluidigm genotyping*Kept busy with CLS training, project management, assay development and validation, and analysis of large data sets

*Performed genomics research and development in a highly regulated forensic environment for the US Department of Homeland Security*All work performed within an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory with strict safety protocols*NextGen library prep and sequencing on MiSeq, HiSeq, PacBioRS II and Nanopore instruments. *First Strand Synthesis from RNA, Whole Genome Multiple Displacement Amplification, and Whole Genome Amplification*Bacterial allelic exchange, transformation and conjugation*CRISPR experimental design*Human forensics (beta testing site for Illumina's ForenSeq system)

Stamford, Ct, Us

*Successful management of high throughput clinical NextGen Sequencing panels. Responsible for process oversight of 10 lab technicians performing lab work upon hundreds of samples at a time*Performed high volume of accurate NextGen sequence analysis for disease-causing mutations with fast turn around time*Variant interpretation for clinical reporting*Both lab work and analysis completed under strict timelines while adhering to CLIA and CAP regulations*Performed as the lab-side lead for design and implementation of a custom LIMS. This included software design, integration testing, validation, implementation, and troubleshooting*Interfaced with engineering and bioinformatics teams during design and testing phases*Initiated, designed and implemented electronic inventory and paperless tracking systems for the lab*Proficient in DNA library prep methods of tube based multiplex PCR, and droplet based multiplex PCR using Raindance Technologies' Thunderstorm instrument and sequencing on Illumina HiSeq 2500

Sacramento, Ca, Us

*Designed and conducted research study on frequency of mutant phenotypes in Gammarus spp. population in the Sacramento San-Joaquin River Delta.*Gathered aquatic invertebrate population data by examining preserved oblique net tow samples from the Sacramento San-Joaqin River Delta, identifying all invertebrates to phylum or genus.*Assisted in analysis of population data on a variety of invertebrate phyla.*Created an EndNote based peer-reviewed literature library of fresh tidal habitat restoration topics.

Davis, California, Us

*Conducted molecular lab work and literature review *Designed studies, collected, organized and interpreted data*Techniques employed include but are not limited to: literature review, DNA and RNA extraction, primer design, PCR, restriction digest, gel electrophoresis, DNA library prep, DNA sequencing, sequence analysis, haplotype analysis, whole genome SNP array data analysis, qPCR, knockout mouse design, transgenic mouse colony genotyping, lipofectamine transfection, CHO cell culture, plasmid cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, basic bioinformatic and statistical analysis using PLINK, UNIX, Perl, R

*Coordination of embryonic stem cell growth, testing and distribution projects. (Successfully increased service production by 300% within 4 months, reducing processing time from 16wks to 1wk.) *Provided worldwide technical support on the science/process of transgenic mouse creation. *Maintained cryogenically preserved knockout mouse embryonic stem cell inventory (20,000+ of samples). *Trained, supervised and coordinated undergraduate technicians.

Sacramento, California, Us

*Frequent arial flights for radiotelemetry tracking of radio-collared Tule Elk and Proghorn Antelope. *Active management of these species including preparing migration pattern and hunt statistics and recommendations for containment issues.

Master Of Science (Ms), Genetics

B.S., Wildlife Biology And Conservation