Scott Thurston Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for developing innovative automation approaches in response to changing requirements, with a focus on efficiency and continuous process improvement.Research Institute Technician Award (RITA) nominee in the ‘Technical Skills Specialist’ category for implementing automated cherry-picking and supporting the COVID-19 sequencing pipeline.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Co–designed, tested and implemented two separate high-throughput cherry-picking systems for the COVID-19 sequencing pipeline, enabling routine processing of over 64,000 SARS-CoV-2 samples per week. Core part of the team that designed and implemented the end-to-end COVID-19 sequencing pipeline used for the UK's Genomic Surveillance service. Helped design a series of work cells for another COVID-19 sequencing pipeline in an advisory role to external collaborators (19 work cells deployed in US). Automated multiple new processes and transition them into Operations teams including: RNA-seq pipeline (optional poly-A enrichment, globin depletion and ribosomal depletion modules). Chipmentation on Agilent BravoG&T-seq optimisation on Hamilton STAR. Designed and implemented multiple process-specific Tableau dashboards to monitor product line output and drive process improvements. Biomek Power User - Part of the inaugural EMEA cohort of 6 (and first 18 worldwide).

Implemented a series of new automation processes to develop and fully automate the new HiSeqX pipeline including ExAmp setup. A summary of these improvements was presented at AGBT 2015.Created a series of programs for indexed PCR primer QA.Completed Agilent Bravo programming training and developed a bespoke Covaris plate transfer solution with the Process Improvement team.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Set up and refined the automated Illumina library construction pipeline, creating new programs for novel processes and training staff in new methods.Created bespoke programs for the R&D Biomek FXp, adapting programs and training R&D staff.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Manual Illumina library construction: Genomic DNA, Mate-Pair, mRNA, small RNA.Capillary sequencing library construction: novel fosmid libraries, BAC sub-cloning, cosmid libraries and restriction digests.Completed Biomek programming course and trained staff to use Biomek FXp, Multichannel NXp and Span-8 NXp liquid handlers

Hertfordshire

Developed an SDS-PAGE based test for Hemaseel (a fibrinogen/thrombin tissue sealant).Performed a wide range of assays to confirm the efficacy of FDA accredited plasma products.