Nikki Ward Email and Phone Number

• Initiates audits to develop and ensure administrative and engineering controls are appropriate for the level of risk and design of the facility.• Monitors effectiveness of multidisciplinary problem resolution activities.• Initiates benchmarking activities.• Coordinates agency audits.• Recognizes politics associated with various aspects of the multidisciplinary projects.• Anticipates, develops and implements methods needed to remain state of the art in the field.• Develops others through assignments, formal training or other experiences - Assists staff with how answers are derived.• Keeps current in field and immediately utilizes and applies new information fully.• Identifies problems or non-compliance issues. Knows, understands and identifies all areas of expertise needed to resolve problems and then coordinates a team of those with needed expertise.• Monitors and takes actions on projects to ensure completion.• Provides expert knowledge of diverse chemical, physical and biological hazards.• Recommends and/or develops action plans for problem resolution.• Constantly seeks opportunities for process improvement.• Reviews proposed state and federal regulations and develops comments appropriate to UTMB to be conveyed to UTMB, UT Systems and regulatory agencies.• Fosters a learning environment.• Chairs subcommittees and lead task forces.• Acts as a Health and Safety advisor to non-safety related committees.• Provides specific positive feedback to aid in development of others. Expresses positive expectations for future performance.• Interprets rules, regulations, and guidelines with scientific knowledge and analytical methods to conclude appropriate decisions that may be considered innovative or leading edge.

Environmental Health and Safety: Institutional Biosafety Committee Minutes Secretary and coordinator (review BSL 2/3/4 Notifications of Use, maintain NOU in EHS Assistant program), lab inspector (BSL 1&2), conduct Select Agent inventories (BSL 2&3), process baseline serum and maintain inventory, process bioindicators for lab decons, maintain, Hazard Communication Act trainer for EHS labs, maintain DoJ clearance.Specialized training: DOT/IATA shipping certified, Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

Microbiology and Immunology Dept: Cell culture, RNA isolation (manual and with QiaCube), BSL-3E mentorship (Rift Valley Fever virus), ABSL2 trained and experienced, HCA trainer, worked with Rift Valley Fever virus vaccine MP-12 (BSL2) performing plaque assays, plaque reduction neutralization assays and virus isolation, general lab maintenance.

Pathology Dept: Data entry, assisted lab personnel by preparing figures for papers, reports and posters.

Neurology Dept: Cared for Drosophila melanogaster stocks, lined up embryos for DNA injection, prepared crosses, phenotype screening, Drosophila larvae dissection, prepared fruit fly food, paraffin-fly head embedding, general lab maintenance.