Nathan Plocharczyk
Burlington
Summary
Enthusiastic and passionate analytical and organic chemist with hands-on experience coordinating laboratory operations in a regulated state environment. Subject matter expert in novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and designer drugs, with deep knowledge of toxicology, pharmacology, and method development using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Experienced in the analysis of drinking water contaminants and human biological matrices for forensic and drug chemistry applications. Skilled in interpreting complex data and structure–activity relationships, with a strong drive to advance forensic toxicology and contribute meaningfully to drug development.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Unit Coordinator of Organic Chemistry & Toxicology
Vermont Department of Health Laboratory
01.2024 - Current
- Lead and supervise a team of public health chemists in high-complexity analytical testing, specializing in toxicology and organic chemistry methods.
- Oversee operational and technical functions of the organic chemistry section, ensuring compliance with regulatory bodies including CLIA, ISO, CDC, EPA, TNI and FDA.
- Coordinate onboarding and validation of new analytical methods, including method development, performance verification, safety assessments, and integration into LIMS.
- Manage daily laboratory operations including scheduling, testing, data review, and proficiency testing coordination.
- Design and implement quality assurance protocols and corrective action processes, including root cause analysis and effectiveness checks.
- Contribute technical expertise to grant applications and reporting; assist with drafting budgets, milestones, and data-driven workplans.
- Guide professional development of laboratory staff through structured training plans, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
- Analyze complex toxicological data and interpret results in the context of public health surveillance and emergency response.
- Collaborate with federal and state partners on drug surveillance initiatives, particularly emerging drug threats (e.g., synthetic opioids, xylazine).
- Support public health preparedness by maintaining scalable testing capacity and contributing to laboratory readiness for chemical emergencies.
- Independently perform laboratory analysis on complex instrumentation types and methodologies using GC-MS, GC-ECD and LC-MS/MS from both drinking water and human biological sample matrices.
Medical Laboratory Scientist
University of Vermont Medical Center
08.2021 - 11.2023
- Perform a full range of testing in a contemporary clinical health laboratory encompassing pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services.
- Proficiency in interpreting results, using critical thinking skills to solve problems, and applying statistical approaches when evaluating data.
- Identify and trouble-shoot technical problems in laboratory procedures and instrumentation.
- Critically evaluate laboratory results and correlate them with human disease and calculate/review relevant data for diagnostic interpretations.
- Determine the appropriate utilization of laboratory tests for screening, monitoring, therapy, and prognosis of human diseases.
- Reports to the Lab Supervisor. Duties coordinated with other staff members from MLT level to Technical Specialist.
- Responsible for teaching, training, correction of procedural/instrument issues.
- Adherence to standard operating procedures regarding safe work practices related to clinical specimens and infectious agents.
Laboratory Technician/Microbiologist
Fiddlehead Brewing Company
11.2019 - 07.2021
- Perform extraction and analysis using taq-PCR amplification and all techniques associated with the procedure.
- Gather samples for quality assessment.
- Regular data entry of product specifications and process details.
- Write and review new and current SOP’s and procedures.
- Record results and findings into databases and spreadsheets.
- Analyze and assess samples throughout the entire fermentation process to ensure the product is devoid of abnormalities or potential contamination.
- Identify problems, locate the source and implement creative solutions.
- Coordinate with brewers and brewery assistants to ensure all products are within quality specifications.
- Regularly perform calibrations on instruments including but not limited to; Pall turbidity meter, Hach spectrophotometer, Hach PCR unit, pH meters, TPO analyzer.
- Troubleshoot defective laboratory instruments as needed.
- Maintain a clean, orderly and sanitized workspace always.
Brewery Technician
Mean Max Brewing Co.
06.2019 - 10.2019
- Performed data entry for quality control and consistency records.
- Analyzed the quality of the product by constantly monitoring pH, hardness, etc.
- Effectively sanitize and clean all volumetric vessels (kettles, fermentors, kegs, brite-tanks).
- Transfer finished product into kegs or cans depending on what is needed at the time.
- Carbonate the vessels to appropriate levels of carbon dioxide and monitor carbon dioxide concentration in the finished product.
- Ensure that the finished product conformed to expected quality specifications.
- Keep brewing workspace clean and organized, free from any potential contamination and clutter.
Laboratory Technician
Northern Vermont University
09.2014 - 05.2019
- Prepare various chemical solutions, stocks and biological media.
- Assist in experimental research with undergraduates.
- Cultivate bacterial cell cultures for undergraduate use.
- Categorize and inventory new and existing equipment, chemicals and supplies.
- Safely dispose of chemicals and biological organisms adhering to OSHA protocol and laboratory SOPs.
- Troubleshoot laboratory instruments.
- Oversaw and instructed undergraduate laboratory sections in general, organic and biochemistry, ensuring proper technique, safety compliance, and conceptual understanding.
Education
Master of Science - Pharmacology
Graduate School of University of Vermont
Burlington, VT01.2024
Bachelor’s degree - Biology, chemistry concentration
Northern Vermont University
Johnson, VT01.2019
Regents Diploma - undefined
Glens Falls High School
Glens Falls, NY01.2014
Skills
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Method Development
- Public Health
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Disease
- Forensic Toxicology
- NPS Surveillance
- Regulatory Compliance
- Quality Assurance
- Emergency Response
- Data Interpretation
- LIMS Systems
- Instrumentation
- Scientific Writing
- Scientific Communication
- Mentorship
- Collaboration
- Team Leadership
Areas Of Specialization
- Pharmacology & Toxicology: Extensive knowledge of drug pharmacology, toxicodynamics, and toxicokinetics; strong focus on emerging drugs of abuse, including designer opioids, benzodiazepines, and synthetic cannabinoids, psychedelic tryptamines and phenethylamines, etc.
- Analytical Toxicology: Experienced in forensic and clinical toxicology testing, method development, and interpretation of toxicological results from complex matrices.
- Structure–Activity Relationship (SAR): Deep understanding of SAR principles and their application in drug behavior, receptor affinity, and metabolic profiling especially as it pertain to newly emerging drugs.
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: Adept in toxicological data processing, statistical review, and generating actionable public health insights.
- Analytical Chemistry: Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis of complex biological and environmental matrices.
- Instrumental Analysis: Proficient in LC-MS/MS and GC-MS method development, validation, troubleshooting, and routine operation.
- Forensic Toxicology: Skilled in detection and interpretation of drugs of abuse, including opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, hallucinogens, dissociatives, and synthetic analogues.
- Designer Drug Surveillance: Experience monitoring novel psychoactive substances (NPS), toxicological trends, and clandestine chemistry patterns.
- Regulatory Compliance: Familiar with EPA, FDA, CLIA, ISO 17025, and state/federal quality assurance standards and laboratory accreditation requirements.
- Laboratory Leadership: Coordinates daily operations, supervises staff, develops SOPs, and ensures data integrity and quality across test areas.
- Public Health Communication: Experienced in translating complex chemical/toxicological concepts for non-technical audiences and public health use.
- LIMS & Software Tools: Experienced with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and analytical software (e.g., MassHunter, ChemStation).
- Emergency Response Testing: Participated in high-priority public health responses, including rapid test deployment and emergency analytical workflows.
Timeline
Unit Coordinator of Organic Chemistry & Toxicology
Vermont Department of Health Laboratory
01.2024 - Current
Medical Laboratory Scientist
University of Vermont Medical Center
08.2021 - 11.2023
Laboratory Technician/Microbiologist
Fiddlehead Brewing Company
11.2019 - 07.2021
Brewery Technician
Mean Max Brewing Co.
06.2019 - 10.2019
Laboratory Technician
Northern Vermont University
09.2014 - 05.2019
Regents Diploma - undefined
Glens Falls High School
Master of Science - Pharmacology
Graduate School of University of Vermont
Bachelor’s degree - Biology, chemistry concentration
Northern Vermont University
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