Laura LaPlante
Collinsville,CT
Summary
Experienced professional with expertise in product development, technical service, quality control, and analytical software/instrumentation. Seeking a position to utilize and expand my skills.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Laboratory Technician, R&D
Suominen Corporation
East Windsor, CT
03.2017 - Current
- Contributes to R&D projects to improve or generate new products, know-how, components, equipment, systems, and processes
- Conducts routine research analysis, experimental, and investigatory work according to an established research plan
- Records research results and/or prepares technical/test reports, including conclusions & observations
- Maintains inventory of all laboratory chemicals & equipment to ensure that optimal safety and testing standards are met
- Responsible for the fulfillment & tracking of most R&D-related procurement needs
- Responsible for the creation of new grade codes, as well as the maintenance of existing material BOM’s, to ensure that recipes are up-to-date in the system and/or aligned with customer needs
- Co-inventor of US patent #11598033 and pending EU patent #3715514A1.
Professional Tutoring and Musical Instruction
Self-Employed
Hartford County
06.2005 - Current
- Provide private tutoring services in a variety of subjects and levels—including, but not limited to—mathematics, science & reading/writing
- Emphasis on college level mathematics, chemistry & biology
- Provide private piano instruction to students ages 4-adult, beginner-intermediate level.
Product Development Chemist- Contract
Henkel Corporation-Loctite Division
Rocky Hill, CT
12.2016 - 03.2017
- Conferred with senior scientists and engineers regarding research on polymer structure and property relationships of known manufactured technologies for the development of new products
- Developed formulas, processes, and methods for the solution of technical problems and/or the innovation of existing products
- Performed technical evaluation of new and innovated raw materials and testing methods
- Analyzed organic and inorganic materials to determine chemical and physical properties
- Participated in the transfer of technology from laboratory to production
- Utilized statistical experimental design and data analysis to prepare standards and specifications for the evaluation of new products.
Chemical Analyst- Contract
MicroCare Corporation
New Britain, CT
07.2015 - 05.2016
- Set up and conducted various chemical & physical laboratory tests for the purpose of quality control, technical service, and product development
- Applied skills in analytical instrumentation and techniques for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials
- Maintained strict compliance to all quality standards under ISO 9001:2008 certification
- Prepared technical reports for the documentation of experimental results
- Delivered presentations on various technical & research projects for management, customers, and technical audiences
- Co-author of a technical white paper submitted to GlobalSMT for publication.
Field Scientist- Contract
de maximis, Inc.
Windsor, CT
06.2013 - 10.2013
- Monitored remediation systems operations at a Superfund site—including on-site groundwater, air, and soil sampling—as well as data collection, organization, and interpretation
- Maintained QA/QC of system logs
- Oversight & documentation of day-to-day drilling activities
- Instrument maintenance and calibration.
Environmental Chemist
VeruTEK Technologies, Inc.
Bloomfield, CT
05.2009 - 06.2013
- Analyzed samples from various environmental sources to detect & quantify organic contamination
- Conducted experiments on the optimal destruction of organic contamination
- Contributed to the development of testing & surveillance protocols alongside a multi-disciplinary team
- Actively participated in remediation systems operations
- Prepared technical reports for the documentation of experimental results
- Assisted with the processing & maintenance of laboratory waste
- Provided training for multiple subordinate chemists and field technicians.
Education
Bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, chemistry -
University of Connecticut
Skills
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Strong analytical, problem solving & critical thinking skills
- Detail-oriented
- Strong organizational skillsability to manage multiple tasks and determine priorities
- Strong communication skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Maestro & SAP softwares
- Inventory Oversight
- Safety Compliance
- Supply Maintenance
- Research & documentation
- Lab equipment processes
- Materials Testing
- Experimental design
Accomplishments
- Catherine DeStefano Rossi Scholarship, Department of Chemistry, 2008, University of Connecticut, awarded to top junior chemistry undergraduate student in class of 2009
- Golden Key International Honor Society, 2008
- Patience B. Klopp Award, Department of Mathematics, 2006, University of Connecticut, awarded to top student with outstanding mathematical academic performance
- Hartford Branch Scholarship, 2006, University of Connecticut
- Alumni Scholarship, 2006, University of Connecticut
Research
- Student Research Assistant, Peter Burkhard, Ph.D, Burkhard Protein Design Group, Storrs, CT, 01/01/09, 05/01/09, Investigated the biophysical properties and medical applications of small proteins that self-assemble into nanoparticles with icosahedral symmetry.
- Research Preparation Assistant, Dr. Elisa Barbarese, Ph.D, University of Connecticut Department of Neuroscience, Farmington, CT, 09/01/02, 06/01/03, Quantitative analysis of molecular interactions in RNA trafficking in vivo and in silico.
Timeline
Laboratory Technician, R&D
Suominen Corporation
03.2017 - Current
Product Development Chemist- Contract
Henkel Corporation-Loctite Division
12.2016 - 03.2017
Chemical Analyst- Contract
MicroCare Corporation
07.2015 - 05.2016
Field Scientist- Contract
de maximis, Inc.
06.2013 - 10.2013
Environmental Chemist
VeruTEK Technologies, Inc.
05.2009 - 06.2013
Professional Tutoring and Musical Instruction
Self-Employed
06.2005 - Current
Bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, chemistry -
University of Connecticut
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