CHRISTOPHER SMITH
Gainesville,GA
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Special Projects Manager
Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network
08.2024 - 01.2025
- Assisted departments with special projects such as validation studies or other projects to help streamline laboratory processes
Laboratory Resources Manager
Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network
01.2020 - 08.2024
- Oversaw Receiving operations including, but not limited to, ensuring information in LIMs was correct, writing, updating, and making changes to SOPs, and ensuring adequate coverage in the department to ensure samples get sent to their testing locations in a timely manner to meet turnaround times
- Oversaw Histology department by ordering supplies, maintaining equipment/service contracts, keeping track of preventative maintenance, and writing, updating, or making changes to the SOPs
- Also assisted the Histotechnologist by handling any questions regarding cases and helped file sample slides
- Cross-trained select technicians to assist in all departments in the Lab including, but not limited to, Serology, Bacteriology, Virology, Necropsy, and other areas
- Oversaw safety program at company and was OSHA outreach trainer
- Also, conducted quarterly safety audits and conducted annual safety training
- Member of the Quality Committee and participated in organizations internal audits
- Traveled to branch Labs to ensure needs are being met
- Cross-trained in most areas of the Lab to be a resource when departments were short-staffed or had a larger than routine sample load
- Oversaw calibrations for pipettes, balances, and microscopes throughout the Lab
Senior Microbiologist
Food Safety Net Services
09.2013 - 01.2020
- Perform and read test results accurately and notify Lab Management of deviations
- Prepare and analyze samples for indicator organisms and pathogens
- Apply aseptic/microbiological techniques in daily workload
- Apply judgement in the interpretation of qualitative test results
- Conduct additional testing as needed based upon review of test results
- Communicate results including pathogenic confirmations and maintain a positive relationship with clients
- Report inventory and expendable supplies/materials needed for testing requirements
- Provide routine preventive maintenance by daily cleaning, sanitizing, trash disposal, and equipment quality control
- Assist in quality control duties by taking incubator temperatures, inoculating control organisms, running media controls
- Assist with training and research assignments including troubleshooting
- Assist in developing and revising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Provide guidance and serve as a resource for Micro Technicians
- Independently pursue an assigned series of processes, procedures, or techniques in accordance with FSNS policies/procedures and customer requirements
- Participate in root cause investigations and Corrective and Preventative Actions
- Perform internal audits and checklists
- Maintain stock cultures
- Accurately perform internal and external proficiency training testing
- Maintain a high degree of technical competence by reading scientific journals, attending professional workshops, and being aware of food industry issues and trends
- Perform all activities in a neat, safe, hygienic, and efficient manner
- Participate in the FSNS Leadership Development Program and attend Fred Pryor Leadership Seminars
Research Technician III
University of Georgia Center for Food Safety
05.2006 - 09.2013
- Skilled in the routine culture and enumeration of pathogenic foodborne bacteria (E
- Coli 0157:H7, L
- Monocytogenes and Salmonella) and viruses (noroviruses and Hepatitis A virus)
- Plans and executes experiments measuring the detection, survival and disinfection of foodborne pathogens on foods, soils, and on environmental surfaces
- Working knowledge of microbiological equipment and techniques including spiral plating for bacterial enumeration, pH and moisture analysis, viral plaque assay, fecal coliform testing, and other techniques
- Familiarity with chemical and molecular procedures including, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, IMS, volatile acid analysis and RT-PCR
- Possesses ability to adapt to a wide array of laboratory research projects
- Literate in Microsoft Office software for data collection, analysis and reporting
- Routine participation in laboratory meetings and Journal clubs discussing scientific literature and principals in Parasitology, Virology, and Biochemistry
- Project specific duties include the following: Disinfecting Treatments for Norovirus and Salmonella on Contaminated Produce, Food Contact Surfaces, and Gloves
- Designed experimental conditions for disinfection of norovirus and Salmonella by common and novel disinfecting solutions
- Prepared disinfectants, buffers and reagents
- Analyzed chlorine, pH, and Oxidation-Reduction potential
- Enumerated and recorded plaque assay and Salmonella culture results into MS Excel database
- Carried out all experimental protocols including appropriate controls for disinfectant, neutralization, cytotoxicity and virus culture
- Survival of Salmonella sp
- And Human Norovirus Surrogates in Organic and Conventional Soils of Differing Carbon Amendments
- Prepared soil amendments, pathogen inoculums and soil moisture levels
- Oversaw all daily tasks and analyses necessary for the duration of the 6-month project including maintaining moisture levels at 40% water holding capacity and sampling at an environmental chamber
- Enumerated the inoculated bacterial pathogen and murine norovirus surviving in soil and maintained database of experimental results
- Survival of E
- Coli O157:H7 and Salmonella sp
- In Broiler Litter-Based Compost Piles Amended with Peanut Hulls
- Oversaw daily tasks throughout study including media preparation, and necessary analyses including pH, moisture, serial dilution plating, and culture enrichment
- Collected all components necessary for composting including broiler litter and peanut hulls and analyzed moisture content and percent carbon in order to calculate appropriate carbon to nitrogen ratios
- Compiled records of all analyses for data entry in MS Excel
Skills
- Project scheduling
- Quality control
- Data collection
- Interpersonal communications
- Administrative leadership
- Project management
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Resource allocation
- Processes and procedures
- Multitasking Abilities
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Critical thinking
- Team leadership
- Decision-making
- Team building
- Task prioritization
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Career advancementWork-life balancePersonal development programsHealthcare benefitsPaid time offPaid sick leaveTimeline
Senior Special Projects Manager
Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network
08.2024 - 01.2025
Laboratory Resources Manager
Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network
01.2020 - 08.2024
Senior Microbiologist
Food Safety Net Services
09.2013 - 01.2020
Research Technician III
University of Georgia Center for Food Safety
05.2006 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Science - Biology
North Georgia College & State University
08.1999 - 08.2001
Associate of Science - Biology
Gordon College
09.1996 - 06.1998
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
North Georgia College & State University
Dahlonega, GA 08.1999 - 08.2001
Associate of Science - Biology
Gordon College
Barnesville, GA 09.1996 - 06.1998
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