MAHIMA HARIHARAN
Stony Brook,NY
Summary
Results-driven Analytical and Research Specialist with over 6 years of experience in method development, validation, and advanced instrumentation within environmental, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology laboratories. Expertise in managing high-throughput laboratory operations while mentoring research staff to foster professional growth and enhance team performance. Proven track record of achieving significant improvements in testing accuracy, operational efficiency, and compliance with industry standards. Committed to leveraging analytical skills and innovative approaches to drive research excellence and contribute to organizational success.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Research Support Specialist
Stony Brook University
10.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded operations of a high-throughput analytical laboratory, processing 50+ wastewater and drinking-water samples weekly focused on wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs and PFAS monitoring.
- Developed and validated large-volume Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) and LC-MS/MS workflows for opioid and stimulant metabolites, and PFAS, achieving ≥80% recoveries and Limit of Quantitation (LOQs) compliant with EPA Methods.
- Designed and implemented population-normalized models for WBE, enabling precise per-capita drug-use trend reporting for county health departments.
- Accelerated development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method quantifying 40 cannabinoids and synthetic metabolites in wastewater within two weeks for county-level environmental surveillance.
- Coordinated multi-agency projects with EPA, NYS DEC, NYS DOH, National Labs, and standardized analytical workflows & QA/QC.
- Supervised and trained 6+ graduate researchers annually, standardized SPE protocols and reduced inter-analyst variability by 30%.
- Authored technical reports and presented findings to municipal and state stakeholders, contributing to 3 peer-reviewed publications in environmental and public health.
Quality Control Analyst
Black Labs, Tucson
08.2021 - 10.2023
- Designed and implemented state-approved testing protocols for 75 pesticides and 35 residual solvents in cannabis, boosting throughput by 40% and securing Arizona state licensure.
- Managed LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and HPLC calibration and preventive maintenance, reducing downtime by 15% and saving ~$50K annually.
- Strengthened ISO-compliant QMS by drafting 6 SOPs and leading 10 staff training sessions.
- Oversaw LIMS integration for 5,000+ Certificates of Analysis with zero reporting errors.
Research & Development Chemist
Bio-Botanica
07.2019 - 07.2021
- Led 60 product development projects from formulation through scale-up, including nutraceuticals and cosmetics.
- Optimized botanical extraction processes for 20+ plant species, improving active compound yield by 80%.
- Developed stability testing protocols, manufacturing and reducing product release times by 20%.
- Coordinated with regulatory and supply chain teams to ensure 100% on-time delivery of project.
- Repaired, calibrated and safely operated laboratory equipment to reduce costly instrument downtime.
Quality Control Chemist Intern
ABH Pharma
03.2019 - 06.2019
- Performed HPLC calibration and assisted in troubleshooting during analysis of materials and products.
- Assisted in bringing ideas for new technologies for implementation in the QC laboratories along with the lab maintenance and utilized all equipment for testing and maintenance when required.
Education
EMBA - Operational Effectiveness
Ottawa University
Phoenix, AZ01.2024
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ12.2018
Bachelor of Technology - Chemical Engineering
Anna University
India, Chennai05.2017
Skills
- TECHNICAL SKILLS: Skilled in Polarimeter, Viscometer, Refractometer, Karl Fischer Titrator, IR, NIR, TLC, HPTLC, UV-Visible Spectrometer, Disintegration Apparatus, Dissolution Apparatus, Ultrasonicate, HPLC, Gas Chromatography, GCMS, LCMS, ICP-MS, Mass Spectroscopy, Atomic Spectroscopy, FTIR, Hardness Tester, Electron Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Six-Sigma (Green Belt), Management economics, Organizational behavior and Quality systems, Information management systems-LIMS, TQM, Cross-agency research, Graduate mentoring, process optimization
- TOOLS: MATLAB, SIMULINK, COMSOL, Polymath, AutoCAD, Originpro
LANGUAGES
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Elementary
Tamil
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Research Support Specialist
Stony Brook University
10.2023 - Current
Quality Control Analyst
Black Labs, Tucson
08.2021 - 10.2023
Research & Development Chemist
Bio-Botanica
07.2019 - 07.2021
Quality Control Chemist Intern
ABH Pharma
03.2019 - 06.2019
EMBA - Operational Effectiveness
Ottawa University
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Technology - Chemical Engineering
Anna University
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