Denise Stern

Experience

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  Betz PaperChem [Betz Dearborne, Hercules, Ashland]

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1994

  Senior Scientist

  *Initiated research to investigate the chemical interferences of biocides.*Worked as part of a team to develop high thru-put bacteriological assays to screen potential efficacious actives.*Completed project to control anaerobic odor-causing bacteria in paper mills; planned and directed the construction of an oxygen-scrubbing column and gassing manifold.*Completed independent project to develop a colorimetric assay to evaluate the efficacy of actives and biocides over time using a tetrazolium compound and a scanning spectrophotometer.*Completed project to screen the efficacy of biocides with several bacterial species using an isotope uptake assay. Show less

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  Duval County School Board

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1996

  Substitute Teacher

  *Temporarily substituted for teachers in the public school system.

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  Maxwell House- via AccuTech

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1997

  Quality Control Technician

  Evaluated quality of industrial food product (coffee): weight checks, incidental substances, foreign particles, moisture, density, color, caffeine, and flavor; containers checked for code dates, lithography, and appearance; data entry; measured caffeine levels with HPLC and aroma oils with GC.

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  Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson)- via King Company/King Temporary Staffing

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2000

  Microbiologist

  Worked as part of a team to develop innovative sterilization method and assisted with cell adhesion experiments. Identified bacteria using VITEK and API; enumerated bacteria with serial dilutions and plate counts; initiated, directed, and authored research which led to a procedural change in a primary assay.

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  Florida Department of Health- Environmental Laboratory Certification Program

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2011

  *Audited ~300 environmental laboratories for compliance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Standards [now TNI] [ISO 17025]. *Responsible for auditing, writing reports, and reviewing/approving corrective actions for cited deficiencies. *Updated AAMS database.*Presented at Florida Society of Environmental Analysts (FSEA), "2003 NELAC Standards Microbiology Checklist, How to Pass Your Assessment"​http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/environmental-laboratories/environmental-laboratory-certification/index.html Show less

  • Environmental Laboratory Assessor (Biologist III/Chemist III)

    Jan 2004 - Jan 2011

  • Biologist II

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2004
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  Florida State College at Jacksonville

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2004

  Adjunct Professor

  *Taught Undergraduate Biology and Laboratory classes BSC 2010C: Principles of Biology BSC 1005: Life in Its Biological Environment BSC 1005L: Biology Laboratory

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  Environmental Conservation Laboratories, Inc.

  Jan 2011 - Feb 2015

  Quality Assurance Manager

  *Managed quality assurance program at an environmental laboratory (chemistry and microbiology); responsibilities included data review/audits, proficiency testing, reviewing/updating standard operating procedures [ETQ], root cause/ corrective action, compliance with regulatory requirements [FL DOH-NELAP/TNI; NC DHEC, DoD], hosting external regulatory audits and associated responses, writing monthly QA reports, updating LIMS [Element] database, performing thermometer calibrations.http://www.encolabs.com/ Show less

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  City of Jacksonville

  Oct 2015 - now

  Perform microbiological and chemical analyses for a NELAP/TNI accredited environmental laboratory relevant to river and ocean water quality. Proficient in SM 9222D Fecal coliform membrane filtration method; Quanti-Tray analyses for Total Coliform/E. coli and Enterococci.Quality Assurance Officer. NELAP/TNI Technical Director- MicrobiologyRevised Quality Assurance Manual, Wrote SOP for Quanti-Tray methods. Independently performed crucial work toward Quanti-Tray application to the Florida Department of Health/TNI/NELAP for certification.Performed air sampling relevant for EPA TO-15 analyses. Show less

  • Laboratory Manager

    Aug 2019 - now

  • Chemist

    Oct 2015 - now