William Polk, PhD

Experience

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  Sears, Roebuck and Co.

  Jan 1994 - Sept 2001

  Sales Associate

  During my 7 years with Sears, my primary role was always in delivering exemplary customer service. Multiple times over the years I was commended and awarded for providing the best service, for having the top sales metrics and for my ability to elevate the company's reputation.

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  University of Washington

  Aug 2001 - Dec 2006

  Graduate Student

  Utilizing a wide spectrum of technologies, my graduate work focused on interpreting the toxic effects of metals on immune signaling with a specific focus on renal failure during sepsis. My greatest success during this time was in transforming the project from a mechanism focused outcome to one that bridged together the molecular initiating event with a plausible health impact through assessment and correlation of the endpoints in multiple large data sets. This imbibed me with a expertise in limitations in extrapolation for alternative test models especially as in relation to receptor activation, signal transduction, inter-species extrapolation, in vitro-in vivo extrapolations and in assay fit for purpose. Show less

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  Albemarle

  Apr 2007 - Aug 2007

  Toxicology Intern

  As programmatic support to the toxicologists, it was my duty to review, analyze and critique legacy studies of polymers, catalysts and flame retardants to identify relevant work for REACh dossier submission with specific focus on identifying how legacy studies met GLP criteria.

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  Louisiana State University

  Sept 2007 - Sept 2008

  Post Doctoral Researcher

  Having built an access database to handle metadata, my efforts focused on determining the mechanism by which air toxics caused heritable changes in asthma sensitivity. Using ELISAs to determine cytokine profiles in lavage fluid, my work aided in building a profile of exposure following combustion derived products. Using an in vitro model, translational science approaches were used to determine how mechanism could be determined via epigenetic and transcriptomic analyses. My efforts at upgrading the inhalation facility to meet GLP standards were instrumental for vetting data to a high QA standard. Show less

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  Lorillard Tobacco Company

  Sept 2009 - Dec 2011

  Life Scientist / Toxicologist

  My time at Lorillard was split as a project manager and as programmatic support for the business. As a project manager, my efforts resulted in the development of novel alternative high-throughput test methods for bronchial tumor metastasis and cardiovascular deficits caused by cigarette smoke. Using a weight of evidence approach, multiple outstanding scientific issues of critical business importance were successfully resolved. Projects I managed and coordinated for the toxicology group were internal and external (vendor-executed) and performed in compliance with FDA’s Family Tobacco Control Act.My efforts in programmatic support to regulatory sciences, legal, product stewardship and EH&S were highly commended for their impact and integration into the larger team efforts. The strategy document and decision trees I created during in an uncertain regulatory environment are still active R&D documents. The work for product stewardship was predominantly focused on analyzing how new components within tobacco products altered the risk of the products to consumers. Delivery to these tasks led to my appointment as a resident expert of epidemiology and literature analysis. Show less

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  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Jan 2012 - May 2012

  Post Doctoral Researcher

  My work focused on identifying the molecular identity of calcium flux following cigarette smoke-induced lung injury. Coupling calcium imaging, confocal cell analyses and lentiviral knockdown methods, my efforts delivered a novel interpretation of observations which hold the promise to clarify long standing issues of chemical deposition in the lung, mixed pollutant interactions in the lung and to improve upon genetic models of pulmonary disease. From these findings a novel hypothesis of how aerosol mixtures impact deposition and clearance through changes in fluid dynamics within the lung has been proposed as a research project. Show less

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  US EPA

  Jul 2012 - Aug 2014

  Researcher
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  Integrated Laboratory Systems

  Sept 2014 - Feb 2015

  Staff Toxicologist

  Within NICEATM, my role was to promote the use of alternative test models in toxicology. I analyzed data from high throughput screening programs; designed experiments to provide weight of evidence; and provided logistical support to meetings and communicated findings through oral and written presentations. My scope of efforts covered a broad chemical space (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials and industrial chemical)s in several hazard categories of regulatory concern (endocrine disruptors, acute toxicity, and chronic pulmonary/inhalation outcomes). Show less

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  Hunt Optics Imaging

  Mar 2015 - Dec 2016

  Microscopy and Imaging Specialist

  As the lead microscopy and imaging specialist in my territory, I was the primary contact between Olympus Life Sciences and their clinical and research clients within Louisiana and Mississippi.

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  Quest Diagnostics

  Jun 2018 - Jun 2020

  Medical Laboratory Scientist

  Core lab tech covering hematology, chemistry and urinalysis up until COVID. Added Cephied testing at that point.

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  Fusion Medical Staffing

  Jun 2020 - Jan 2022

  Medical Laboratory Scientist

  (1) From June to July 2020, I performed COVID screening on the Cepheid for the national guard under a short term contract. (2) Beginning October 2020, my contract was with Ochsner Medical Center, working in the microbiology laboratory. I performed analyses, QC and maintenance on gram stains (manual and Previstainer), BD's Bactec blood culture monitoring, BD Max, Abbott ID now and Cepheid GeneXpert Infinity. Additionally, I assisted in setups, working within Epic and Soft to ensure timely delivery of results.(3) My contract shifted to core lab where I would on Sysmex platforms for hematology and coagulation.(4) After Ochsner, I joined Children's Hospital of New Orleans and helped them launch their free standing ED. Show less

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  University of Washington

  Jul 2020 - Oct 2020

  Medical Laboratory Scientist

  Covid-19 testing via multiple platforms, including Hologic Panther, Abbott Architect and the first in class Lab Developed Assay.

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  PCR-Dx Diagnostic

  Feb 2022 - Jun 2022

  Laboratory Manager

  As the inaugral laboratory manager of PCR-Dx of Louisiana, my role is to facilitate growth in the lab to better meet our patients needs while maintaining a high quality standard.

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  Touro Infirmary

  Jul 2022 - Feb 2024

  Supervisor
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  Aya Healthcare

  Mar 2024 - now

  Travel Medical Technologist