Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
Lavenia Thursch, PhD

Lavenia Thursch, PhD

Scientist
Edison,NJ
In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
Charles Darwin

Summary

  • Analytical scientist with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and 9 years experience in characterization, and method development in the chemical industry who authored 17 peer-reviewed publications.
  • Highly skilled in analytical techniques such as spectroscopy (CD, FT-IR), particle sizing (DLS) and separation (HPLC, GC).
  • Won the GSK Global Recognition award for successfully mentoring a team to establish their physico-chemical testing platform (CD, DSC, FTIR) for a combined drug portfolio of $3.5 billion.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Scientist

GSK
09.2021 - Current
  • Developed and carried out GMP analytical testing methods, such as spectroscopy, particle sizing and chromatography within the Analytical R&D department
  • Characterized drug product for 4 vaccine portfolios; screening about 200 batches and formulations for quality and stability.
  • Built physico-chemical testing platform including 4 techniques (CD, IR, DSC, Karl-Fischer) for drug product formulations which reduced testing time by 80%
  • Presented complex data to cross-functional teams and enhanced knowledge of formulations for 300% faster decision making
  • Performed complex troubleshooting and assisted in leading initiatives to solve challenging scientific problems with assays or instrumentation.
  • Trained new employees on areas of technical expertise and compliance issues relevant to lab setting.

Graduate Research Assistant

Drexel University
09.2016 - 06.2021
  • Collaborated on various research projects, such as biomedical hydrogels and foams, polymer coatings, and 3D-printing within the Nicolas J. Alvarez lab in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department
  • Developed and characterized coatings on short carbon fibers which led to 150% increase in tensile strength (fluorescent microscopy, SEM/EDS)
  • Evaluated the impact of chemistry on crystalline structure and visco-elastic properties of peptide hydrogels (X-ray diffraction, SEM, rheology), resulting in 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Redesigned foams formulations which doubled the efficacy of talc pleurodesis for about 200,000 patients in US each year
  • Managed laboratory safety for a 27-person facility

Chemical Engineering Intern

Arkema Inc
09.2015 - 09.2016
  • Formulated a novel organic peroxide emulsion, reducing product flammability by 100%
  • Characterized rheology, particle-size, and stability of emulsions
  • Developed a bioreactor pilot unit for wastewater treatment

Process Engineering Intern

Baxter International Inc
04.2014 - 09.2014
  • Generated a mathematical model for a parenteral emulsion process scale-up for 100M+ doses administered to patients globally.
  • Collected, analyzed and interpreted detailed operations data to troubleshoot and optimize operating issues
  • Analyzed emulsions: particle-size analysis, viscosity, and turbidity
  • Developed an analytical method to assess emulsion stability

Education

Ph.D. - Chemical And Biological Engineering

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
06.2021
  • Ph.D. Dissertation: The Glycine-X-Glycine peptide gels: self-assembly mechanism and rheological properties.

Master of Science - Chemistry

Ensiacet, Toulouse, France
09.2014
  • Relevant Coursework: Analytical Chemistry & Chemical Engineering (process units and scale-up, thermodynamics)
  • Study Abroad: BOKU, Vienna, Austria

Program: Safety in the food chain (food technology)

Skills

  • Protein and mRNA characterization
  • Formulation: emulsions, foams, coatings
  • Thermal Analysis: DSC, DSF
  • Particle sizing: DLS
  • Microscopy: Bright-field, SEM
  • Separation Sciences: HPLC, SEC, GC
  • Spectroscopy: FT-IR, UV-VIS, CD, XRD
  • Design of experiments, data processing and analysis
  • Process safety and scale-up
  • 3D-printing
  • Rheology

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual
French
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Professional Working
German
Limited Working

Timeline

Scientist - GSK
09.2021 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant - Drexel University
09.2016 - 06.2021
Chemical Engineering Intern - Arkema Inc
09.2015 - 09.2016
Process Engineering Intern - Baxter International Inc
04.2014 - 09.2014
Drexel University - Ph.D., Chemical And Biological Engineering
Ensiacet - Master of Science, Chemistry

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