Simon Waihenya

I am a highly motivated, skilled research scientist and experienced leader with solid experience in drug discovery and development. Over the years, I have worked well both independently as well us within multidisciplinary teams and built a reputation for strategy execution, target delivery, timely results generation, studious, reliable, quick learner and ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. My goal is to utilize my background in biochemistry and drug discovery and ultimately develop my leadership, managerial and people management skills. Knowledgeable about research areas and study procedures.

• Head Graduate Teaching Assistant, SUNY at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, Supervised 6 teaching assistants involved in teaching introductory chemistry by providing them with resources and helping them achieve their objectives. Prepared a weekly report to the director of teaching and outreach on the laboratory performance of over 500 undergraduate students. Organized, facilitated and supervised undergraduate laboratory experiments ensuring that safety and good laboratory practice was adhered to. Chaired weekly meetings involving 6 teaching assistants and the course instructor. Participated in community outreach by holding science fairs in various schools and encouraging young children to embrace chemistry.
• EHS Liaison and Laboratory safety Lead, Center for Research in Advanced Sensing and Environmental Sustainability (CREATEs- Prof. Omowunmi Sadik), Reduced the accumulation of organic and biological waste in our research lab through prompt communication with the EHS on laboratory waste disposal and proper maintenance of the lab environment as the student head of safety for 2 years, the lab had 7 graduate students and 10 undergraduate students. Orientation of undergraduate and graduate students on safety protocols in the research laboratory.
• Antibiotics and Allergy Lead, GlaxoSmithKline Ltd, Planned and organized various meetings for product launches involving healthcare providers in the assigned territory. Pioneered a CSR activity to distribute reading books to marginalized communities to encourage a reading culture in school going children.
• Biochemistry Class Representative, Moi University, Acted as the liaison person between the students in my class and the professors on class lecture cancellation, scheduling, exams, experimental work among other issues. Took part in the ‘Stand Up and Take Action” campaign towards the attainment of millennium development goals to create awareness among the youth on the importance of attaining the MDGs.

• Sr. Associate-FTE, Amgen Discovery Protein Science, 03/2021, 12/2022, South San Francisco, CA, Expressing proteins in insect cells hosts. Independently working on purifying different proteins to provide reagents on the assigned projects. Purifying E. coli, insect cell and mammalian cell-expressed proteins using AKTA chromatography systems. Protein Analytics by running SDS-PAGE gels, western blotting, immuno-assay development, HPLC, and Mass Spectrometry.
• Sr Research Associate-CW, Amgen- (Protein Technologies), 01/2021, 03/2021, South San Francisco, CA, HPLC-SEC analytics of purified proteins and data interpretation. Mass spectrometry analytics of purified proteins and data interpretation. Expressing proteins in insect cells hosts. Purifying E. coli, insect cell and mammalian cell-expressed proteins using AKTA chromatography systems. Running SDS-PAGE gels, western blotting, immuno-assay development, nanodrop experiments and using various qualitative and quantitative techniques. Scientifically analyzing data and presenting in group and departmental meetings.
• Research Associate-CW, Amgen- (Protein Technologies), 01/2020, 12/2020, South San Francisco, CA, Provides recombinant protein expression in bacterial expression systems and support for structural biology and HTS projects. Purification and standard chromatography techniques utilizing FPLC-AKTA pure purification systems. Capturing data in electronic lab notebook and high throughput database. Running SDS-PAGE gels, western blotting, immuno-assay development, nanodrop experiments and using various qualitative and quantitative techniques. Scientifically analyzing data and presenting in group and departmental meetings.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Binghamton University, 06/2016, 05/2019, Binghamton, NY, Design, synthesis and characterization of sulfonated Apigenin and Quercetin derivatives. Purification and separation of Sulfonated Flavonoid derivatives using Flash-Chromatography, Thin-layer Chromatography and High-performance liquid chromatography. Competent in ELISA technique which was performed in comparison to Ultra-Sensitive Capillary Sensor (UPAC) in investigating the presence of Cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 in blood samples of patients as an objective measure of pain. Collaborated with colleagues in studying DNA-protein interaction of Flavonoids using Florescence, Voltammetric and UV-Vis techniques. Maintain the Cell-Culture laboratory and performing cytotoxicity studies.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, 08/2015, 05/2019, Binghamton, NY, Teaching and demonstration of analytical laboratory courses with emphasis on techniques such as potentiometric titration, colorimetric titration, cyclic voltammetry, Mohr titration, AAS, GC-MS, FT-IR. Teaching and demonstration of organic laboratory courses with emphasis on Liquid-Liquid extraction, Acid-Base extraction, Distillation Spectroscopy IR and NMR. Teaching and demonstration of Instrumental analysis courses with emphasis of UV-Vis, HPLC, GC-MS, Electrophoresis and Fluorescence spectroscopy. Teaching and demonstrating general chemistry laboratory courses.
• Pharmaceutical sales representative, GlaxoSmithKline, 04/2011, 07/2015, Nairobi, Kenya, Consistently achieved and/or exceeded individual sales goals assigned by management. Attained 25% and 35% sales growth of Avamys (Flonase) and Seretide (Advair) at Kenya Ports Authority through targeted marketing and distribution incentives. Achieved 30% distributor growth in 2014 of brands by developing and implementing a territory business plan with the objective of meeting the brand plan in brand growth and profitability. Expected to accurately report/submit sales call activities, territory expenses and written reports and within deadline as defined by GSK or the Regional Sales Manager. Executed company-approved Product Marketing plans and territory/regional business plan activities. Accountable for maintaining and growing existing account base as well as converting competitive accounts which generate new business growth. Develop and maintain key physician, clinician and hospital contacts as well as industry influencers to achieve corporate objectives while servicing the customer to meet their needs.
• Pharmaceutical sales representative, Universal Corporation Ltd, 01/2011, 03/2011, Nairobi, Kenya, Effectively manage assigned territory through field sales activities to include territory analysis total geographic coverage, account management, prospecting and new product evaluations. Increased the monthly sales of Branded Generics from Shillings 0.5 to 0.8 million. Develop and maintain specific account knowledge within assigned territory such as: key decision makers in each department, department hierarchy, products used and how they are used, company products and competitor’s products, new product process and hospital programs.
• Pharmaceutical sales representative, Pan Pharmaceuticals, 02/2010, 12/2010, Nairobi, Kenya, Generated sales of painkiller and anti-inflammatory suppositories through targeted marketing to pediatricians, surgeons and anesthesiologist. Support targeted customers using company-approved resources, sales materials, and promotional activities/programs/initiatives as identified by Sales Management. Achieved territory product sales goals while adhering to all defined ethical sales practices, compliance guidelines, and required promotional regulations. Ensured optimum territory sales strategy execution using annual territory business plan, regional business plan, and call activity reports.

• Summer Graduate Fellowship 2017- Department of Chemistry SUNY at Binghamton
• Summer Graduate Fellowship 2018- Department of Chemistry SUNY at Binghamton
• Best performing team 2012-GlaxoSmithKline

• ACS Omega, Feb 2021 “Mechanisms of interactions of dsDNA binding with apigenin and its sulfamate derivatives using multi-spectroscopic, voltammetric and molecular docking studies”
• Thesis-Proquest May 2019- “Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated-flavonoid Derivatives; A Step Towards Improved Solubility, Lipophilicity and Stability Against Oxidative Degradation”