Melissa A. Fatale

Experienced Research Scientist and Project Manager with expertise in laboratory informatics, laboratory management, and customer service support. Demonstrated leadership skills and the capability to inspire teams to streamline operations and solve problems efficiently using root cause analysis. Skilled in implementing effective processes, managing change control, and fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams to consistently achieve project goals and meet deadlines.

• Guest Services Manager, Redstone American Grill, Marlton, NJ, 06/01/13, 08/01/19, Responsible for fostering positive guest experience and collaborating effectively with service colleagues and kitchen staff to provide exemplary service in a fast-paced high-end business environment., Lead face-to-face interactions with clients anticipating and exceeding their needs and expectations.
• Customer Service Manager, Paradise Mediterranean Bistro, Wailea, HI, 08/01/09, 01/01/13, Collaborated with colleagues in the hospitality business to build, design, and create a new restaurant., Fostered and maintained positive relationships with clients ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.
• Summer Research Fellow, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 05/01/05, 01/01/06, Investigated geochemical and geophysical sedimentation parameters to determine the past climate of South America and climatic patterns of the Southern Hemisphere., Identified the relationship of variation among parameters to established global climate change., Presented at the 2005 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.

• QB LIMS Silos to Networking Solution for Passing Data & Information to a Team of People, Instruments, and Systems, Melissa Fatale, Eric Williams, et. al., Merck Technology Symposium, Merck and Co., Inc., 10/02/23
• QB LIMS: Intelligent Software for Passing Data & Information to a Team of People, Instruments, and Systems, Melissa Fatale, Eric Williams, et. al., PA Science and Recognition, Merck & Co., Inc., 12/08/22
• Functional Cell-Based Assay for MK-2662: Transition to Cryopreserved Cells, Melissa Fatale, Pamela Mathis, Todd Ranheim, Bioprocess & Bioanalytical Research Annual Meeting, Merck & Co., Inc., 06/12/08
• Development of Functional Cell-Based Assay for MK-2662, Melissa Fatale, Pamela Mathis, Todd Ranheim, Bioprocess & Bioanalytical Research Annual Meeting, Merck and Co., 05/24/07
• Depositional Trends of a Glacial/Interglacial Transition from the Chilean Margin, ODP Site 1233, Melissa Fatale, Leah Joseph, Ursinus College Research Fellowship, Ursinus College, 07/01/05

• Sr. Scientist / Project Manager, Merck and Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 10/01/20, Present, Identify business process inefficiencies, gather user requirements, and communicate subject matter expertise with engineers, software developers, and IT Solution Architects to improve processes and operational efficiency., Responsible for implementing successful system integration across multi-site organizations by leveraging project management software and tools to manage change control, effectively organize meetings, presentations, and trainings providing seamless customer service support to drive continuous process improvement., Present system solutions and process improvements to department meetings and scientific conferences., Provide critical testing of new development in DEV, TST, and UAT environments as new system solutions are built, confirming functionality is behaving as expected prior to moving the components to production., Training Lead - responsible for authoring all training documents (videos and detailed SOPs), organizing department training, creating and maintaining MS Teams site, and providing troubleshooting help for users., Provide technical training, help, best practices, and continued guidance to the department and individual users of LIMS as new components are added and new functionality is developed and introduced., Lean Lab Representative - Piloted and implemented freezer Inventory Initiative for the department using Six Sigma methodologies to improve sustainability, Regulatory compliance, lab safety, and efficiency., Benchling Functional Area Representative responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing biological inventory tracking system across sites and departments to achieve CDC compliance for the company., Lab Manager for Radioactive Materials Laboratory - Responsible for Internal and External Audits, inspections, maintenance, and ensuring compliance with all EHS & Health Physics Guidance and Regulations.
• Sr. Scientist, contracted through Freyr Solutions, Merck and Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 01/01/20, 10/01/20, Developed, automated, and executed biochemical and cell-based assays using automation platforms., Presented data to external project teams and internal department meetings to assist in early drug discovery., Program and troubleshoot laboratory automation robotics as well as identify new instruments and technologies to meet current laboratory needs further streamlining operations and increasing efficiency., Laboratory and Project Manager fostering collaboration with colleagues within the department and on multidisciplinary discovery project teams to meet program objectives.
• CAR-T Scientist, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, PSS contractor at Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Raritan, NJ, 08/01/19, 01/01/20, Characterization of Human T Cells by 10 color Flow Cytometry FACS analysis in a GMP environment., Set up, maintained, troubleshoot, and qualified new FACS Lyric Flow Cytometry Instrument in GMP lab., Facilitated the start-up, organization, and operation of a newly constructed GMP laboratory.
• Research Staff Biologist, Merck and Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 10/01/06, 07/01/09, Developed, tested, and automated functional cell-based assays to support Validation, Preclinical, Safety Assessment, Phase I and Phase II Clinical Testing in GMP laboratory., Implemented and headed the Laboratory Automation group for Bioprocess Bioanalytical R&D Department., Pioneered cell cryopreservation techniques for cell-based functional assays increasing operational efficiency and decreasing experimental variability, laboratory time, and associated costs., Elected Chair of the Environmental & Safety Committees ensuring all health & safety guidelines were followed, chemical inventories were completed and accurate, workspaces were safe and ergonomic.
• Associate Scientist, contracted through Yoh Scientific, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, 05/01/06, 10/01/06, Developed and tested biochemical and cell-based assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS)., Optimized, miniaturized, and automated assays for 4 specific 'target to lead' programs on HTS-compatible automation platforms in 96, 384, and 1536 well assay plate formats., Collaborated with and presented results to local & international team leaders weekly and monthly to update research progress.