Steven Abbott Email & Phone Number

Broomfield, Colorado, Us

Durham, North Carolina, Us

Durham, North Carolina, Us

Durham, North Carolina, Us

•Oversight of global NGS operations spanning the US, China, and European markets•Manage expansion of NGS capabilities into China and UK •Management of personnel, budgets, and workflow implementation•Develop global relationships with key vendors to support operations•Technical and Scientific support for Business Development organization

Durham, North Carolina, Us

• Managing the day to day operations of a high-throughput Next Generation Sequencing lab, with 11 direct reports• Delivery of Sequencing Laboratory services according to agreed-upon timelines and quality standards• Continuing development of sequencing assays and newly acquired instrumentation• Spearheading troubleshooting efforts in the Sequencing lab• Working with Business Development to be a scientific interface with the client• Creation and oversight of group budgets, including capital expense, consumables, and personnel• Capacity forecasting for sales projections and capital equipment needs

Development of new next-gen sequencing methods and technical transfer to production associates • Close interaction with Illumina service reps and engineers regarding troubleshooting and new product releases • Training of production and R&D personnel on Sequencing methods and troubleshooting of issues that may arise • Development of automation procedures for Next Gen Sequencing library preparation using Biomek FXp • Became sequencing technical lead, responsible for helping to transition technology from development to production, verifying new methods, and troubleshooting equipment and assay difficulties • Member of a group of Scientists available for technical support to sales and marketing teams • Evaluation of new technologies for both production possibilities and market potential

Tailored protocols and SOPs to improve efficiency and ease of use • Trained new and transferring personnel on sequencing theory and procedures • Worked on early-access protocols for new techniques from Illumina and Agilent to provide constructive feedback and evaluate its value and adaptability to a high-throughput production lab • Implemented the move towards automation of library preparation for the Sequencing group on the Beckman Coulter Biomek FxP, including assisting in design of protocols and coding. • Preparation of DNA libraries used for next generation sequencing using Illumina HiSeq2000 and Genome Analyzers from small RNA, mRNA, and DNA client specimens • Responsible for analysis and testing of client specimens while adhering to regulatory guidelines and client specifications • Development and troubleshooting of SOP’s for use in high-throughput production labs

Durham, North Carolina, Us

Development of an early HIV vaccine candidate using Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). Specific HIV antigens were cloned into MVA virus as surface proteins. Involved in entire process from initial cloning to transfection into virus through the selection of purified viral candidates • Differentiation of the immune responses to MVA vaccines that express A-type inclusions (ATI) and those that do not. Expression of ATI’s in an MVA vaccine may help with the overall immunogenicity of the vaccine by allowing prolonged survival in the host • Creation of gene knockouts from Cowpox virus (Brighton Red) to facilitate testing to better understand host immune responses. A more in-depth knowledge of the immune responses from Cowpox and other Orthopoxviruses will lead to more specific and effective vaccines and therapies • Acting lab safety coordinator and radiation safety officer. Also, in charge of ordering and inventory management

Roanoke, Virginia, Us

Dr. Jeff Smith Provided lead technical and lab managerial support in a Molecular and Drug Discovery laboratory working on three Phase II government contract research grants.Creation of numerous expression vectors coding for proteins required in various platforms including a frontline assay that identifies if the Avian flu virus has obtained the capacity to cross the species barrier and a highly sensitive pathogen detection platform utilizing an enzymatic signal amplification cascade. Employed protein expression techniques including bacterial expression using E. coli BL21 cells and viral transfection into SF9 and SF9 mimic insect cells using the Baculovirus.Developed a novel stable mammalian cell transfection system in BHK cells that dramatically reduced time from DNA introduction to final screening and greatly improved transfection efficiency. Performed various protein purification techniques including using FLAG, HIS, and GST-tagged proteins, and step-gradients using Q-Sepharose, followed by characterization of each purified product. Maintained detailed lab and protocol notebooks, bacterial and mammalian cell stocks, and enzyme and oligonucleotide inventories.Participated with Principal Investigator in brainstorming sessions to find new grant opportunities and attempt to advance existing technologies and protocols.Acquired and interpreted raw data and summarized results in periodic reports using Microsoft Office suite.Took part in program kick-offs and reviews, presenting progress and future tasks to program managers and private clients.Carried out routine laboratory duties such as autoclaving, media and reagent preparation, dishwashing and maintaining and repairing lab equipment.Met with sales representatives to discuss product lines and ordered supplies cost effectively.

Roanoke, Virginia, Us

Roger Van Tassell Developed a hazardous vapor detection system using polymer coated cantilevers for the NASA eNOSE program. Developed a system for the detection of TNP molecules in aquatic samples using specific antibodies bound to cantilevers. Created a detection system for pathogenic vegetative bacteria and spores using target antibodies bound to cantilevers and Surface Acoustic Wave devices.Created coating protocols for antibody binding to gold-coated cantilevers or silanized glass. Assisted in the design of a microfluidic sample delivery system. Primarily responsible for extensive experimental design involving vapor, small molecule, or bacterial sample preparation and delivery.Designed a capture-and-burn soot removal system for turbine engine exhaust.Repaired engine problems after troubleshooting. Assisted in the design of and built the testing apparatus used. Worked directly with an aeronautical engineer to do all experimental procedures in a test hangar.Developed self-cleaning, biocidal additives to be integrated directly into Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) applied to military vehicles. Biocidal additives were also incorporated into cotton and polyester fabrics to be used for military personnel uniforms. Designed and built self-contained aerosol chamber for the circulation of mono-dispersed spores and vegetative cells. Planned and carried-out test matrices from modified AATCC methods using a battery of pathogenic bacteria and spores. Attempted to germinate spores on the slide under various temperatures and humidities based on military locations around the world. Biocidal efficacies and necessary concentrations were determined using minimum inhibitory concentration broth methods.

Blacksburg, Va, Us

Civil and Environmental Engineering•Maintained water rigs for an interdepartmental research project focusing on corrosion, bacterial growth rates, disinfectant efficacy, and taste analysis.•Worked directly with a Post-doctoral researcher to determine biofilm potential in various plumbing pipe materials using automated ATP testing and direct culturing from samples.•Participated in an experiment testing disinfectant efficacy and long-term heat resistance in Legionella and Mycobacteria species.