Brett Sundlof
Huntsville,AL
Summary
To build on past supervising roles and grow management experience in a challenging environment in the health sector. Utilize experience and personal skills to manage skilled teams and help to ensure the most efficient and high-quality workflow in the laboratory environment, while providing the highest patient care.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director, Laboratory Operations, Genomics
Discovery Life Sciences
Huntsville, AL
06.2023 - 04.2024
- Mentor, train and supervise laboratory personnel in equipment, existing and new protocols, software upgrades & process flows; planning, assigning and directing work
- Use laboratory knowledge to identify and resolve laboratory operational issues
- Manage preclinical and development projects throughout project and work closely with the Project Manager to ensure timelines are being met
- Interact with all levels of internal/external sources to resolve problems
- Work with the Director of Laboratory Operations to develop, coordinate and enforce policies, procedures and productivity standards
- Ensure lab compliance with accrediting agency regulations, e.g CLIA and CAP
- Ensure laboratory meets quality standards/create SOPs, handle non-conformances & develop corrective/preventative actions
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory documents and LIMS systems; track work and progress using data management tools
- Provide technical guidance, resources and support to employees/management
- Provide coaching, mentoring and leadership to the team/laboratory staff; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems of employees.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
Supervisor
HudsonAlpha Clinical Services Lab
Huntsville, AL
04.2017 - 06.2023
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the Clinical Services Lab and testing personnel, including coordination of operations between laboratory sections to ensure quality testing
- Engage with senior lab staff in implementing the quality management program, pre-validation studies, new assay validation, and business processes including maintenance of accreditation and licensing
- Develop and execute robotics scripts for workflow efficiency
- Monitor overall lab quality metrics including test volume, turnaround time, and proficiency testing
- Work with the Lab Director to ensure that lab processes are aligned with best practices and comply with regulations
- Participate in inspections of CAP accredited laboratories
- Train and participate in daily wet bench workflow in order to maintain turn around time
- Yearly reviews of direct reports on performance
- Plan and participate with organization and implementation of brand new laboratory, including design, layout, purchasing of new equipment, validations and verifications.
Supervisor
Almac Diagnostics
Durham, NC
09.2015 - 09.2016
- Responsible for the delivery of commercial and clinical trial projects to our customers, as well as Almac RUO projects
- Oversee execution of complex molecular based assays using a combination of traditional bench work and state-of-the-art instrumentation such as the Affymetrix gene expression platform, the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer, Life Technologies QuantStudio, and Qiagen Qiagility liquid handling system
- Assist in the setup of all new laboratory activities including commissioning and validation of new equipment, ordering of reagents and consumables, monitoring system for all refrigerators and freezers
- Develop written SOP's, as well as laboratory forms for more efficient workflow
- Conduct validation studies including precision and interfering substances for ADx MEK inhibitors
- Supervise laboratory activities and manage workflow of team including: daily scheduling, planning training, conducting competency tests for seven technologists, and provide support to high level QC maintenance; monitoring of workflow, prioritizing commercial production needs, following high priority cases and leading QC/QA efforts
- Work directly with PM's in order to meet strict timelines for project completion
- Collaborate with QA manager/Lab Director to prepare laboratory for CLIA/CAP accreditation.
Supervisor
Sequenom
Morrisville, NC
07.2013 - 09.2015
- Responsible for overseeing the day to day functions of Sequencing modules supporting the MaterniT2 I diagnostic test utilizing Illumina based NGS of cell-free fetal nucleic acid; and analysis of the relative amount of trisomy 21, 18, 13, as well as X and Y chromosomal material
- Evaluate laboratory needs and managed daily laboratory operations including the oversight of eight Laboratory Technologists
- Making decisions at a high complexity level for Sequence analysis
- Implement team building exercises to ensure optimal communication, workflow and efficiency with team members
- Optimize laboratory schedules for best workflow and production
- Responsible for laboratory team recruiting, interviewing and selection of new hires, and performance reviews of laboratory staff
- Resolve conflicts/counsel individuals on corrective actions/performance improvement goals
- Conduct daily huddles and monthly meetings to communicate updates or troubleshooting within the lab team
- Write and update SOP's relevant to Sequencing modules; requires collaboration with counterparts in San Diego for standardization of testing at both locations
- Participate in Lean Six-Sigma, Green Belt Certification, Supervisory Leadership and Genealogics (Clarity LIMS) training
- Participate in LIMS software updates/upgrades, performed verification and validation testing, identify/document bugs that were found in the process, and assisted during launch and release of new software updates
- Project lead on Reagent Management and Idea Board, for cost savings initiatives and process improvement for patient care; considering relative costs/benefits of department decisions to choose most appropriate way to implement change; create Kanban system for optimizing reagents/consumables.
Molecular Technologist, Anatomic Pathology
Rex Healthcare
Raleigh, NC
11.2008 - 03.2013
- Perform infectious disease testing using various methodologies
- Responsible for specimen accessioning, processing, testing, reporting and archiving
- Perform quality control procedures and monitor quality assurance programs to ensure the accuracy of patient results
- Supervise and train new employees
- Participate in evaluating, developing, standardizing new technologies
- Review and modify procedures as needed
- Use relevant knowledge to keep up to date with new technologies and maintain compliance with CLIA/CAP regulations
- Operate and maintain all equipment in the molecular lab for proper performance
- Certified CAP inspector
- Inventory and ordering of reagents and supplies.
Senior Technologist, Molecular Oncology
Labcorp
RTP, NC
05.2006 - 11.2008
- Analyze patient samples for gene mutations in colon cancer and leukemia, interpret and report quantitative and qualitative test results
- Conduct extraction and purification of RNA from blood and /paraffin-embedded tissue, subsequent cDNA production
- Target amplification using multiplex PCR and Real-Time PCR
- DNA sequencing using ABI 3750 Automated Capillary DNA Sequencer
- Work with pathologists to isolate tumor and non-tumor tissue for microsatellite instability and 18q deletion testing in colorectal cancer.
Senior Technologist, Molecular Genetics
Labcorp
RTP, NC
10.1999 - 07.2005
- Test patient samples for inherited genetic diseases, ensuring efficient turn-around times for patient result reporting
- Conduct extraction and purification of genomic DNA from blood and amniocentesis samples
- Experience with DNA mutation detection using Southern Blots with radioactive probes, agarose and polyacrylamide gels
- DNA quantification for PCR using DNA spectrophotometry
- Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures, validation of laboratory tests, training of laboratory personnel, maintaining monthly statistics and quality control data
- Support trouble-shooting with Qiagen and Tecan instrumentation.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Health Science -
State University of New York
05.1998
Skills
- Operations Management
- Strategic Planning
- Schedule development
- Inventory Control
- Process Monitoring and Improvement
- Training and mentoring
- Employee Motivation
- Goal-Oriented
- Next generation sequencing
- Clinical trials
- CAP/CLIA
- MS Office
- Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
- HIPAA Compliance
- Equipment Troubleshooting
- Liquid handling instrumentation
- Multitasking Abilities
- Team Collaboration
- Attention to Detail
- Procedure Proficiency Tests
- Laboratory Information Systems
- Assay development
Publications
Reducing Sanger confirmation testing through false positive prediction algorithms, Holt JM, Kelly M, Sundlof B, Nakouzi G, Bick D, Lyon E, Genet Med, 07/01/21, 23, 7, 1255-1262, 10.1038/s41436-021-01148-3, 33767343
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Associate Director, Laboratory Operations, Genomics
Discovery Life Sciences
06.2023 - 04.2024
Supervisor
HudsonAlpha Clinical Services Lab
04.2017 - 06.2023
Supervisor
Almac Diagnostics
09.2015 - 09.2016
Supervisor
Sequenom
07.2013 - 09.2015
Molecular Technologist, Anatomic Pathology
Rex Healthcare
11.2008 - 03.2013
Senior Technologist, Molecular Oncology
Labcorp
05.2006 - 11.2008
Senior Technologist, Molecular Genetics
Labcorp
10.1999 - 07.2005
Bachelor of Science in Health Science -
State University of New York
Similar Profiles
Nichols TeichmillerNichols Teichmiller
Account Executive at Discovery Life Sciences LLCAccount Executive at Discovery Life Sciences LLC
Meggie Thacker,PMPMeggie Thacker,PMP
Sr. Director Project Management Office at Discovery Life SciencesSr. Director Project Management Office at Discovery Life Sciences
Jasmine HendrixJasmine Hendrix
Laboratory Associate at Discovery Life SciencesLaboratory Associate at Discovery Life Sciences