Vanessa Velez
San Francisco,CA
Summary
Passionate and motivated Research Histotech committed to efficiently processing and preparing patient tissue specimens and managing daily activities in the Histology Core Lab. Over 17 years of experience working alongside Scientists, Pathologists and various lab professionals in analyzing & examining body tissues.
Hardworking and dependable with the desire to make a difference in cancer research.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Histotech - Translational Pathology
Verily Life Sciences (Google Life Sciences)
South San Francisco , CA
03.2017 - Current
- Design approaches for all aspects of operating a research histology laboratory, including background research, histotechnology execution, problem-solving, and preparing slides for use in publications and other scientific venues.
- Performs routine histologic procedures such as processing tissues, embedding, sectioning, H&E staining, special staining, immunohistochemical staining, on both fixed and frozen animal and/or human tissues in support of research requests.
- Independently stain H&E's, Immunohistochemistry, ISH, IF and multiplex using a variety of commercially, and newly developed assays.
- Section large, non-standard sized paraffin blocks and frozen tissue embedded in OCT on cryostat
- Interpret results often where few guidelines exist. Based on prior results, contribute to development of new research protocols and procedures or adaptation of existing protocols. Make recommendations on plan design and/or research direction to principal investigator
- Maintain an awareness of emerging new instrumentation and techniques in histotechnology through literature review and professional meetings
- Gathered, arranged and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations.
- Streamlined research processes to meet tight deadlines for multiple projects.
- Helped team meet regulatory requirements by coordinating documentation and filings.
- Set up equipment, organized inventory and maintained facilities.
- Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant questions and determine best methods of collection.
- Requested or acquired equipment or supplies necessary for projects.
- Procurement of tissue samples & maintenance of tissue block database.
- Performed research into study topics to increase knowledge and to provide valuable contributions.
Digital Pathology Technician
Genentech
South San Francisco, CA
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Operated and maintained 4 slide scanners for daily use.
- Scanned and QCed up to 4000 slides a week.
- Reviewed schedule of priorities and adjusted workflow accordingly.
- Coordinated receipt of scanning for glass microscope slides from different sources and assessed quality of slide for scanning.
- Identified and documented QA deficiencies.
- Troubleshoot scanners and software with IT and/or scanner vendor.
- Maintained CAP, CLIA and OSHA in compliance.
- Placed slides in specified holding areas for loading onto a brightfield scanner and/or pick up/delivery.
- Assisted with sample organization and tracking.
- Filed slides and paperwork.
- Manages scanning projects to meet internal and external deadlines w the GRed team & Pathologists.
- Logged incoming glass slides arriving to the Digital Scanning Area.
- Assisted with the maintenance of quality control for glass slides submitted to ensure good image quality.
- Cleaned slides and loads into whole slide scanners.
- Ensured appropriate submit ID is on the slide labels.
- Relabeled slides as needed.
- Performed a QC check of scanned slides to ensure image is in focus.
- Uploaded scans to database.
Research Associate - R&D, Histology Lab
Biocare Medical
Concord, CA
09.2007 - 01.2015
- Gathered, arranged and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations.
- Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant questions and determine best methods of collection.
- Streamlined research processes to meet tight deadlines for multiple projects.
- Helped team meet regulatory requirements by coordinating documentation and filings.
Education
Associate of Science - Business Administration
California State University, Hayward
Hayward, CASkills
- Knows, understands, and puts into practice general lab policies/procedures as well as department/section specific policies/procedures Reviews all posted policy changes as required Adheres to all regulatory guidelines
- Demonstrates advanced problem solving/troubleshooting skills
- Strong analytical, computer, and communication skills
- Microscopic evaluation of tissue under microscope, brightfield scanned images & immunofluorescence scanned images
- Manual & automated staining H&E, IHC;multiplex, ISH, RISH, FISH
- Accessioning, fixing, embedding, processing and embedding of human and animal tissue
- Digital Pathology knowledge; Hamamatsu, Philips & Leica slide scanners
Published Papers
Comparative analysis of machine learning approaches to classify tumor mutation burden in lung adenocarcinoma using histopathology images https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95747-4
https://verily.com/blog/a-new-way-to-see-disease/
https://verily.com/solutions/virtual-stainer/
Equipment Knowledge
Whole slide image scanners;Philips|Nanozoomer|Operetta
Image viewers; Philips|Visiopharm|Verily's internal viewer|QuPath|Objective viewer.
Automated platforms; Biocare's IntelliPath|Ventana's Benchmark|Leica's BOND RX|Sakura Prisma|TissueTek VIP|Embedding centers.
Microscopes and cassette & slide printers.
Operetta Microscope, Confocal Microscopy
Microtomes & Cryostats
Timeline
Research Histotech - Translational Pathology
Verily Life Sciences (Google Life Sciences)
03.2017 - Current
Digital Pathology Technician
Genentech
01.2015 - 01.2017
Research Associate - R&D, Histology Lab
Biocare Medical
09.2007 - 01.2015
Associate of Science - Business Administration
California State University, Hayward