Robert Kirsten

Managed the daily operations of the HPLC and LCMS departments to ensure high quality results within established timeframes

• Managed the preparation, operation, analysis and reporting of LCMS and HPLC samples to produce high quality analytical results while adhering to ISO 17025 and NJ regulations.
• Managed and motivated employees across multiple departments to be collaborative, productive and efficient.
• Maximized performance and efficiency by monitoring daily sample analyses and mentoring analysts.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Mentored junior team members for career advancement, fostering a pipeline of future leaders within the organization.
• Attempted to develop a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.

Developed and oversaw daily operations of the HPLC department

• Prepared, sampled, extracted, analyzed and reported cannabis potency for cannabis and cannabis products, including same-day turn around times.
• Enhanced laboratory efficiency by streamlining sample preparation processes and optimizing instrument usage.
• Established performance metrics for the team, consistently tracking progress towards goals and making adjustments as needed.
• Conducted routine maintenance on analytical instruments, preventing costly repairs or unexpected downtime due to malfunctions or wear-and-tear issues.
• Championed continuous improvement efforts within Trichome by promoting best practices for process improvement, method development and instrumentation usage.
• Participated in external proficiency testing programs to benchmark performance against industry standards and identify areas for improvement.
• Identified operational inefficiencies and implemented corrective measures, leading to overall increases in effectiveness.
• Contributed to cost-saving initiatives by identifying opportunities for reducing waste and increasing resource efficiency in the lab.

Prepared and performed HPLC quality control analyses and instrument maintenance on cannabis and cannabis products

• Enhanced laboratory efficiency by streamlining sample preparation processes and optimizing instrument usage.
• Increased quality control compliance by conducting thorough data reviews and addressing discrepancies promptly.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to support product development, ensuring timely completion of projects.
• Conducted routine maintenance on analytical instruments, preventing costly repairs or unexpected downtime due to malfunctions or wear-and-tear issues.

Conducted NVLAP-certified (ISO-17025) calibrations, troubleshooting, and repairs on sensitive pressure instruments

• Delivered consistent results under tight deadlines while adhering to strict quality standards in the calibration of highly sensitive manual and automated-based pressure instruments.
• Utilized dead-weight tests and Compass software with known Troemner standards on a calibrated piston gauge (1PSI-1500PSI) based on local SOPs.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development through ongoing training in emerging practices related to instrumentation engineering, such as 5S training.
• Communicated and tracked logistical and technical data with vendors and customers to ensure high quality repairs, calibrations and deliveries

Quality control analyses and offered analytical support for production on pharmaceutical-grade protein-based samples as well as environmental monitoring of manufacturing waters according to all local SOPs and worldwide GMP regulations

QC Tests Performeded (GMP compliant)

• Size-Exclusion HPLC on in-process and final product samples using software Waters: Empower version 3
• UV-Vis spectrophotometry on final product samples via OD280
• Nephelometry (backup) on in-process and final samples via Nephelometer
  

Aqueous Environmental Wet Chemistry Tests Performed (GMP compliant)

• pH - analytical production support, raw material and validation samples
• Nitrates - environmental monitoring samples
• Osmolality - analytical production support and validation samples
• Conductivity - analytical production support, raw material and validation samples
• Color and Appearance - environmental monitoring samples

Prepared and conducted routine and non-routine analyses on environmental monitoring samples according to all SOPs, safety and QC regulations

Environmental Wet Chemistry Tests Performed

• Methylene Blue Anion Surfactants (MBAS) - Chloroform Extracted Materials
• pH - Probe & Paper | Specific Conductance | Flashpoint
• Total Percent Solids | Total Suspended Solids | Total Dissolved Solids
• Oil and Grease Hexane Extracted Materials (HEM) | Oil and Grease Silica Gel Treated (SGT)
• Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) | Carbonaceous & Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD & BOD)
• Hexavalent Chromium (aqueous/wastewaters) | Hexavalent Chromium via Ion Chromatography (air filters)