Sandra Karcher Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

Grove City, Pennsylvania, United States

- CEO of a limited-liability company offering a wide variety of data engineering and software engineering services.- Developed a Tableau Dashboard for reviewing time series data of samples collected from public water systems in Mercer County, PA (https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/sandra.karcher/viz/MercerCountyDrinkingWater/Dashboard1).

United States

- Designed and developed a tool that enables uploading and downloading of data and metadata into and out of EveAnalytics (formerly known as the Microphysiology Systems Database (MPS-Db) and the BioSystics-AP) in one unified format.- Led the development team through the process of transitioning biosystics-ap.com (an open data repository) to eveanalytics.com (a subscription-based data management and analytics platform).-Acted as Scrum Master throughout the process of transitioning biosystics-ap.com to eveanalytics.com.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Worked to enhance and populate the Drug Discovery Institute’s MPS Database. Primary responsibilities include:- Developing new features for the MPS Database (https://mps.csb.pitt.edu/) using a Django/Python framework, including: o designing and programming a transcript/gene nomenclature mapping tool, o incorporating the ability to upload and store transcriptomic/genomic expression data, and o designing and implementing a flexible plate reader file import, data calibration, and data processing tool.- Designing new database schema to handle new types of data.- Developing algorithms for and generating ad hoc queries and scripts to extract, transform, cleanse, slice, and aggregate data to support downstream analysis and visualization (primarily using Python, VBA, and/or SQL).- Engaging with data providers to identify sources of available data and data formats.- Establishing an effective data governance framework (defining the parameters for data acquisition, import, and usage; selecting appropriate controlled vocabulary to enable data from disparate sources to be aggregated together; and creating processes for identifying and resolving data quality issues).- Preparing training materials and providing training to internal team members and external collaborators.- Maintaining the platform's help page (https://mps.csb.pitt.edu/help/).Publication resulting from this position:Schurdak M, Vernetti L, Bergenthal L, Wolter QK, Shun TY, Karcher S, Taylor DL, Gough A. Applications of the microphysiology systems database for experimental ADME-Tox and disease models. Lab Chip. 2020 Apr 14; 20(8):1472-1492. doi: 10.1039/c9lc01047e. PMID: 32211684; PMCID: PMC7497411.

Worked in collaboration with the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology, nanoHUB, and the Nanomaterial-Biological Interactions Knowledgebase to develop analytical and visualization tools (using Django, Python, JavaScript, and MySQL) to explore the fate, and associated risk of introducing nanomaterials into the environment.Publications resulting from this position:Karcher, S.C.; Willighagen, E.L.; Rumble, J.; Ehrhart, F.; Evelo, C.T.; Fritts, M.; Gaheen, S.; Harper, S.L.; Hoover, M.D.; Jeliazkova, N.; Lewinski, N.; Robinson, R.L.M.; Mills, K.C.; Mustad, A.P.; Thomas, D.G.; Tsiliki, G.; Hendren, C.O.; (2018) "Integration among Databases and Data Sets to Support Productive Nanotechnology: Challenges and Recommendations" NanoImpact 9: 85-101.Karcher, S.C.; Harper, B.J.; Harper, S.L.; Hendren, C.O.; Wiesner, M.R.; Lowry, G.V. (2016) "Visualization Tool for Correlating Nanomaterial Properties and Biological Responses in Zebrafish" Environmental Science: Nano 3: 1280-1292 (associated website https://nanohub.org/resources/23991).Robinson, R.L.M.; Lynch, I.; Peijnenburg, W.; Rumble, J.; Klaessig, F.; Marquardt, C.; Rauscher, H.; Puzyn, T.; Purian, R.; Åberg, C.; Karcher, S.; Vriens, H.; Hoet, P.; Hoover, M.D.; Hendren, C.O.; Harper, S.L. (2016) "How Should the Completeness and Quality of Curated Nanomaterial Data Be Evaluated?" Nanoscale 8: 9919-9943.

Taught Databases & Data Systems for Environmental ModelingThis class focuses on finding, formatting and visualizing data frequently used in environmental modeling (including land use, land cover, climate, crop, and hydrography data).

Publications resulting from this position:Karcher, S.C., VanBriesen, J.M., Nietch, C.T. “Assessing the Challenges Associated with Developing an Integrated Modeling Approach for Predicting and Managing Water Quality and Quantity from the Watershed through the Drinking Water Treatment System,” EPA/600/R-12/030, March 2012 (nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P100EB1V.txt; accessed June 30, 2013).Contributor to “Sustainable Water Innovation Initiative for Southwestern Pennsylvania,” a report of the Water Innovation Consortia Planning Committee September 2012 (http://www.pittsburghwed.com/resources/index.html; accessed June 30, 2013).Contributor to “Living in the Water Environment: the WATERS Network Science Plan,” Prepared for review by the National Science Foundation and the National Research Council in May 2009. Karcher, S., VanBriesen, J., and Nietch, C. (2013). ”Alternative Land-Use Method for Spatially Informed Watershed Management Decision Making Using SWAT.” J. Environ. Eng., 139(12), 1413–1423 (http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29EE.1943-7870.0000770; accessed January 24, 2014).

Taught classes in Solid & Hazardous Waste Management and Water & Wastewater Treatment.The solid waste class focuses on the collection, transformation, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The water class includes a weekly lab and focuses on technologies used in testing and treating water. Both classes introduce students to some of the fundamental concepts of environmental engineering, such as partitioning coefficients and risk assessment.

Graduate research described in:Karcher, S.C., Small, M.J., and VanBriesen, J.M., (2004) “Statistical method to evaluate the occurrence of PCB transformations in river sediments with application to Hudson River Data,” Environmental Science and Technology 38:6760-6766.Karcher, S.C., VanBriesen, J.M., and Small, M.J (2007) "Numerical method to elucidate likely target positions of chlorine removal in anaerobic sediments undergoing polychlorinated biphenyl dechlorination," ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 133(3): 278-286.

Designed databases, constructed database systems, and managed large volumes of environmental data.

University Of Maryland

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Civil Engineering

Biomedical Informatics Certificate, Biomedical Informatics

Master'S Degree, Civil Engineering

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Civil Engineering