Alejandro Garcia Villa

In my role as an Associate Investigator within the DNA Extraction Laboratory Team, my primary focus is ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of DNA extraction processes to meet production goals. I provide guidance to team members on optimizing the operation of automated equipment and actively engage in designing and conducting experiments to enhance extraction methodologies and data quality.
Additionally, I serve as the primary point of contact and lead troubleshooter for critical automated instruments vital to laboratory operations. Additionally, during a busy season in the laboratory in Brazil, I provided technical support on the production process. Working closely with the team, we achieved production goals while maintaining excellent data quality standards. In addition to my ongoing responsibilities, I have also led a project focused on enhancing parts of grinding equipment to streamline operations for staff members and mitigate the risk of injuries. Furthermore, I am serving as a subject matter expert and primary contact for the relocation of the Brazil laboratory. Additionally, I am actively participating in a project where I conduct tests to wash Hamilton tips for reuse, aiming to achieve cost savings without compromising data quality.

As a Research Associate within the DNA Extraction Laboratory Team, my primary responsibility is to ensure production goals are accomplished through efficient DNA extraction processes. I have guided team members to ensure the optimal operation of automated equipment in extraction and dilution areas. Additionally, I actively design and conduct experiments to refine extraction methodologies and enhance the quality of resultant data.
A pivotal aspect of my role involves serving as the primary point of contact and lead troubleshooter for several critical automated instruments essential to laboratory operations. Through collaborative efforts, I lead the design and implementation of new instrumentation as part of the "Value Accelerator Project." This initiative focused on optimizing laboratory efficiency by introducing innovative equipment and processes to reuse lab consumables, ultimately resulting in significant cost savings for the company.
Furthermore, I played a crucial role in training personnel on the utilization, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance of HighRes equipment, ensuring proficient operation and minimizing downtime. These combined efforts contribute to meeting production targets and underscore my commitment to driving efficiency, innovation, and cost-effectiveness within our laboratory operations.

Engaged in genetic transformation of cassava and conducted molecular diagnosis of transgenic plants. I coordinated the planting and cultivation of specimens across laboratory and field environments. Also, I executed data collection and processing activities for laboratory and field cassava plants. Provided mentorship and training to research students, facilitated the preparation and presentation of findings, and fulfilled essential administrative responsibilities for the laboratory.

Contributed to research and development efforts within the Protein Production Group, focusing on the purification of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Utilized a range of techniques including Western Blot, ELISAs, SDS-PAGE, IEF Gels, and Size Exclusion Chromatography to achieve purification objectives.

Contributed to research initiatives focused on "Profiling Mercury Response Genes in Laughing Gull Embryos as Indicators of Species Sensitivity." Played an integral role in executing various molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, mitochondrial DNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, and quantitation of DNA molecules using Quant-iT Pico Green, titration, and spectrophotometry.