David W Roberts, CPAg

Experience

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  Dow AgroSciences

  May 1990 - May 2007

  Research Biologist - Study Director

  Managed studies or projects through collaboration with product development, regulatory affairs mangers, analytical chemists and contract field scientists in the planning, conduct and reporting of environmental fate, dietary exposure and ecotoxicological field and greenhouse studies in compliance with appropriate regulations.Studies completed: aquatic, terrestrial and turf dissipation (28); prospective groundwater (1); field lysimeter (1); non-target plant toxicity (3); magnitude of residue (5); transferable turf grass residue (1); dislodgeable residues (1); compost degradation (2).- Utilized exposure assessment computer applications (e.g., FOCUS, Patriot-PRIZM, Leach-P) to assist in characterizing the environmental fate of clopyralid for technical bulletins, environmental impact assessments and white papers resulting in successful label expansion.- Designed, implemented and managed a field lysimeter study, replacing a more costly and time-consuming ground water study. Interaction with key stake-holders and NY state regulators resulted in state regulatory approval.- Collaborated with external consultants in the design, implementation and management of compost studies, summarizing results in white papers and peer-reviewed journal articles. Successfully defended turf grass use patterns through interactions with WA state regulators and stake-holders.Characterized the environmental fate and kinetics of the active ingredient(s) and their metabolites with the use of computer applications such as ModelMaker.Provided project management and technical support to fellow study directors conducting field run-off, 14C small-plot field dissipation, and laboratory studies.As a Six-Sigma Greenbelt, led a project to reduce study director inefficiencies by 50%, cutting in half the time needed for a study director to manage a field study.Presented or published study results in over 50 internal reports, 9 international meeting presentations, and 4 journal articles. Show less

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  DuPont-Pioneer

  May 2007 - Oct 2009

  Research Scientist - Study Director

  • As a study director, developed and implemented GLP study protocols for protein expression, nutrient composition and agronomic/phenotypic equivalence (maize, soybean, canola). Interpreted and reported results.• Improved the efficiency of field studies by developing an electronic field data notebook.• Led a process improvement project to consolidate grain production, processing (soybean processed fractions) and characterization studies into a single protocol.

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  Syngenta

  Oct 2009 - Apr 2015

  Technical Expert II - Study Director

  As a study director, managed ag-biotech field and greenhouse studies through collaboration with registration managers, contract scientists and chemists in study design, implementation, data interpretation and reporting of results in accordance with OECD, US EPA, USDA, EFSA, and GLPS regulations.• Developed and implemented GLP protocols for agronomic/phenotypic equivalence and protein expression field studies, and pollen viability environmental safety greenhouse studies (maize and soybean).• Applied agronomic knowledge to field-phase protocol development and implementation for nutrient composition field studies (maize and soybean).• Supervised contract field scientists in the conduct and data acquisition for six agronomic equivalence studies, including 18 test sites throughout North America. • Collaborated with statisticians on data analysis/assessments to produce 12 high-quality agronomic/ phenotypic equivalence technical reports for timely support of aggressive registration timelines.• Conducted assessments, and produced high-quality reports for pollen viability greenhouse studies.• Collaborated with contract scientists in utilizing novel soil moisture field instrumentation critical for the success of a drought tolerant maize agronomic equivalence study.• Led a process improvement project for efficient capture, management and reporting of field data using i-Advantage, e-Study electronic notebook. Show less

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  Eurofins Agroscience

  Jul 2015 - Sept 2016

  Research Scientist

  As a contract study director or principal investigator, managed field studies through collaboration with sponsors, analytical chemists and sub-contracted scientists in the planning, conduct and reporting of ecotoxicological field studies in compliance with OECD, US EPA and FIFRA-GLPS regulations.• Supervised, provided technical support and coordinated with contract scientists in all phases of four multi-site pollinator (honey bee) residue field studies in 2016.• Conducted all field activities as a principal investigator in a team environment, managing the documentation for 14 field trials in 2015-16.• Improved the efficiency of pollinator (honey bee) residue field studies by developing and maintaining improved templates for field data notebooks. Show less

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  BASF Plant Science

  Dec 2016 - now

  Sr. Scientist

  Regulatory Field Scientist specializing in compositional characterization of agricultural commodities. Leads agronomic and environmental safety assessments of ag-biotech crop plants; working within a highly interactive global network of people and work environments, both laboratory and field.