Cynthia Benitez
Long Beach
Summary
Junior QC professional with hands-on experience in a GMP facility, supporting environmental monitoring, aseptic cell culture, QC equipment checks, and qualification of microbial and cell-based assays. Brings a strong research foundation, clear communication skills, effective cross-functional teamwork, and a reliable, detail-driven approach to GMP and GLP-aligned workflows.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Junior QC Specialist
UC Irvine
Irvine
01.2025 - Current
- Perform environmental monitoring (surface, air, non-viable particulate) in a GMP facility to support cleanroom control
- Conduct weekly QC equipment control checks to ensure readiness and reliability for routine QC workflows
- Support development and qualification of microbial and cell-based assays, including Gram stain, mycoplasma detection, and cell-counting workflows
- Perform aseptic cell culture, manual cell counts, and viability assessments for QC activities
- Maintain GMP- and GLP-aligned documentation, including EM records, equipment logs, and controlled forms
- Assist FOTP students with QC activities in a GMP lab, contributing to their hands-on training
- Collaborate with QC, QA, and Manufacturing teams to support facility control and timely operations
- Follow SOPs, data integrity expectations, and safety requirements when working with chemicals and biological materials
- GMP Facility
CIRM FOTP Research Intern
UC Irvine
Irvine
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Cultured neural stem cells
- Collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from animal models for neuroinflammation studies
- Performed perfusions on rat cohorts as part of a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) model
- Assisted in immunohistochemistry of brain tissue, contributing to analysis of sex-dependent neuroinflammatory responses
- Documented experimental procedures and results to support ongoing research
- Collaborated with research staff and trainees, contributing to a supportive and well-organized lab environment
- Stem Cell Research Center
Undergraduate Researcher
CSU Long Beach
Long Beach
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Cultured Candida albicans to its germ tube state
- Developed germ tube inhibition assays for Candida albicans
- Maintained accurate lab notebooks and experimental records to support reproducibility and data tracking
Education
CIRM GMP FOTP Certificate -
University of California, Irvine
08-2024
Postbac Certificate - Biotechnology
California State University, Long Beach
06-2024
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
California State University, Long Beach
05-2023
Skills
- Environmental monitoring
- Microbial assays development
- Microbiology inoculation
- Aseptic cell culture
- GMP cleanroom practices
- Immunohistochemistry
- QC equipment control checks
- GMP compliance documentation
- Histology
Timeline
Junior QC Specialist
UC Irvine
01.2025 - Current
CIRM FOTP Research Intern
UC Irvine
09.2023 - 06.2024
Undergraduate Researcher
CSU Long Beach
01.2023 - 08.2023
CIRM GMP FOTP Certificate -
University of California, Irvine
Postbac Certificate - Biotechnology
California State University, Long Beach
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
California State University, Long Beach