Karen Gesy
Saskatoon,SK
Summary
Parasitology/Bacteriology/Endocrinology, Database creation/maintenance, OHS compliance. Published researcher. Knowledge translation. Project budget forecasting. Industry collaboration. BSL-2 laboratory management. Seasoned researcher with a track record spanning 14 years in protocol development and validation, molecular and general biology, and technical research document drafting. My expertise extends to field collection, laboratory establishment, function, and maintenance. I am adept at implementing detailed organizational systems and firmly believe that a strong foundation begins with its people. Detail-oriented Laboratory Manager highly effective at keeping laboratories running smoothly and efficiently. Knowledgeable about managing supplies, equipment and facilities. Pursuing new professional challenges with the opportunity to make a positive impact on laboratory operations and research success.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Research Laboratory Manager
University of Saskatchewan: Western College of Veterinary Medicine: Large Animal Clinical Sciences
01.2014 - Current
- Currently managing 8 laboratories for 2 departments
- General: laboratory design and development, employee and student education and supervision, long-term goal management, daily operation coordination, supply requisition, reagent creation, data input/organization, sample repository, inventory database creation and maintenance, protocol and SOP development, equipment maintenance and repair, national sample biobank, TDG, biohazard management, biosafety, equipment booking calendar creation and maintenance, access management, metadata
- Streamlining: created multiple multi-year, multi-type databases (Microsoft Access and Excel), created order system (order form, tracking database, cost-splitting database, inventory system and removal form), multi-lab restructuring for increased workflow, created departmental policy handbook for new users, protocol/SOP streamlining, budgetary projections
- Training: introductory lab basics, assay techniques, protocol writing, revision, and translation, succinct language skills, database creation/maintenance, lab notebook keeping, physical tracking systems
- Bacteria: protocol research, development and validation for reproduction study involving infection/vaccine trials, culturing, isolation and proliferation, inoculum creation, DNA extraction, qPCR, PCR, sequence analysis, whole genome, sensititre, pulse-field gel electrophoresis, anti-microbial resistance determination, imaging
- Parasitology: protocol research and development, L3 larval extraction, detection modifications, DNA extraction, PCR, floatation
- Endocrinology: protocol development and validation, extraction (hair, blood, serum, plasma, stool), ELISA, cortisol, serotonin, cortisone, DHEA, prostaglandin.
Field Crew Leader
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian Wildlife Service: Science and Technology Division
01.2012 - Current
- Team leader for field season (yearly in August), coordinating field assistants for wildlife sampling for Avian Influenza, cortisol, and metabolite studies
- Involves supply allocation, training, supervision, coordination with American Fish and Wildlife Service, landowner outreach, site selection, trapping, banding, permit acquisition, sampling (jugular blood, smears, feather, weight, nail clippings, swabs (oral and cloacal), data management, truck and housing rentals, introduced simulated training tools for blood draws.
Research Technician
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian Wildlife Service: Science and Technology Division
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: protocol development for metabolite extraction from avian sera and analysis of metabolic structure
- Avian cholera: culturing/cloning, environmental sample analysis, DNA extraction (chelex/desalting/kit/published), PCR (rep/rt/traditional), pathogen detection, protocol validation, necropsy
- Duck species: hormone detection, Elisa, metabolomics, nuclear magnetic resonance, jugular blood collection, serum extraction and analysis, feather/cloacal sampling, collected and processed specimens for clinical protocols
- Data analysis and interpretation, radioimmunoassay, workflow development, time-management, knowledge translation, supply management, trained technical students, supplied technical reports.
Research Technician/Graduate Student
University of Saskatchewan: Veterinary Microbiology: Zoonotic Parasite Research Unit
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Zoonotic parasites: detection and analysis, specimen collection (field and laboratory), DNA extraction/amplification/purification, PCR (rep/rt/traditional), DNA sequence alignment and analysis (Staden, EbioX, GenBank), haplotype/phylogenetic analysis, pathogen baseline detection, primer development, cloning of amplified gene loci; single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, protocol development/optimization/validation, identification of infection predilection
- General Laboratory: communicated research results to individuals in the industry, government and general public, diagnosed infectious diseases in wildlife and domestic animals, ordered laboratory equipment and supplies, managed overall laboratory functions, trained student researchers, collection and storage database creation.
Research Technician
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Food Borne and Animal Parasites
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Detection of Toxoplasma gondii from wild game/birds and raptor/aquatic mammal species Experiment development, pepsin tissue digests, DNA extraction/amplification (PCR and qPCR)/analysis, melt curve analysis for genotype identification, sequence analysis, UV imaging, spectrometer and hemocytometer quantification
- General lab organization, quarantine work environment, multitasking projects.
Research Assistant
CABI Bioscience
05.2007 - 08.2007
- Protocol design and application, sample collection (insect and plant species), snap and pitfall trapping, biocontrol of invasive weed species by insects in quarantine laboratory, quality control, propagation of plant species, generational propagation of biological vectors, equipment and consumable ordering and maintenance, data entry and analysis.
Education
Master of Science - Veterinary Microbiology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK01.2012
Bachelor of Science - Land Use And Environmental Studies
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SKSkills
- Equipment management
- Hazardous waste management
- Data Management
- Employee Supervision
- Laboratory Management
- MS Office Suite (Excel, Access DB creation)
- Onboarding and Orientation
- Strategic Planning
- Protocol Development and Validation
- Troubleshooting, Crisis Aversion
- Policy design and implementation
Certification
- Radiation safety
- Biosafety
- Laboratory safety
- Animal research ethics
- Firearm possession and acquisition license (PAL)
- Boat safety and operator license
- Wilderness First aid
- AED
- CPR
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (shipper/receiver)
- WHMIS
- Teaching in University Science Laboratories (Developing Best Practice)
- Access level III
Publications
See LinkedIn profile for full list of publications
References
- Catherine Soos, Environment and Climate Change Canada, catherine.soos@ec.gc.ca
- Stacey Lacoste, University of Saskatchewan, Stacey.lacoste@usask.ca, 306-262-6780
- Cheryl Waldner, University of Saskatchewan, Cheryl.waldner@usask.ca, 306-966-7168
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
German
Elementary
Timeline
Research Laboratory Manager
University of Saskatchewan: Western College of Veterinary Medicine: Large Animal Clinical Sciences
01.2014 - Current
Field Crew Leader
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian Wildlife Service: Science and Technology Division
01.2012 - Current
Research Technician
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Canadian Wildlife Service: Science and Technology Division
01.2012 - 01.2014
Research Technician/Graduate Student
University of Saskatchewan: Veterinary Microbiology: Zoonotic Parasite Research Unit
01.2009 - 01.2012
Research Technician
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Food Borne and Animal Parasites
01.2008 - 01.2009
Research Assistant
CABI Bioscience
05.2007 - 08.2007
Master of Science - Veterinary Microbiology
University of Saskatchewan
Bachelor of Science - Land Use And Environmental Studies
University of Saskatchewan
- Radiation safety
- Biosafety
- Laboratory safety
- Animal research ethics
- Firearm possession and acquisition license (PAL)
- Boat safety and operator license
- Wilderness First aid
- AED
- CPR
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (shipper/receiver)
- WHMIS
- Teaching in University Science Laboratories (Developing Best Practice)
- Access level III
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