Assistant Director of Laboratory Operations
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
Total years of experience :30 years, 11 Months
As Assistant Director of Laboratory Operations I led a team to deliver all aspects of operational support (administrative, technical and facilities management) to the Research Division. Other responsibilities included financial oversight and budgeting for 10 Research Cores and capital equipment funds. As my role developed I was responsible for carrying out facilities management related duties that were directly related to research.
•Provided high level advice and guidance to the Director of Research Admin. and Associate Dean of Research
•Management and planning of research related projects with Facilities Department and Qatar Foundation
•Coordination of team processes
•Development of Core Rates for Research Cores
•Developed a spreadsheet process for Core Annual Reports
•Interacted with the EHS and Facilities Management departments on behalf of Research
•Provided project management and oversight of research related FM projects
•Management and oversight of Research Assets
•Met with Qatar Foundation representatives and contractors as required
•Helped establish the first AAALAC certified animal facility in Qatar
•Lab Performance Evaluation Process (In development)
•Specialty program knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Easyeval, Box and SAP.
As Supervisor I oversaw the daily operations of the Neurology Res. Division (19 principal investigators) where my main responsibilities included pre- and post- award support and financial management of over 100 Federal, State and privately funded projects (~$7 million in research funding) and departmental budgets to ensure stewardship of resources.
•Provided Division Chairman with financial updates regarding investigator funding and grant awards/submissions
•Financial planning and development of Divisional annual operating budget
Developed grant management tracking spreadsheets for Research Administration to manage and track all funded projects
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•Reviewed expenditures and initiated journals to ensure projects were expensed as per budget
•Interfaced with departments of human resources, accounting, finance, payroll and procurement
•Main point of contact between Research Admin. and the principal investigators/program directors
•Ensured reporting documentation was completed by the PI for submission to granting agency
•Specialty program knowledge of Kronos, CAS, Lawson, SAP, Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint
•Post grant award management
•Management of division personnel (~100 employees, volunteers and students)
•Development of Standard Operation Procedures (SOP’s) for Research Operations
•Processed immigration forms for J-1/H1B visas
•Coordination of team process management for new Research facility (St. Joe’s Downtown Campus)
•Monitored core equipment and resource utilization
•Initiation and follow-up of equipment service contract approval process
•Demonstrated behavior consistent with the organizations core mission, goals, values and beliefs
•Specialty program knowledge on Lawson, SAP, Kronos, CAS, Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint.
Manager in charge of management and supervision of daily operations in the basic sleep
research program. Duties included ensuring the continued ongoing processes and activities of the
research laboratories ran in a cost effective manner, complied with all applicable safety standards,
monitored budgets, reviewed grant proposals and IACUC protocols. Developed and/or modified
existing protocols, managed the purchase of laboratory equipment and supplies through the
identification of cost sharing and obtaining volume discounts. Managed and coordinated moves
within facility and initiated to completion designed experiments through data acquisition and
analysis.
•Managed laboratory personnel
•Managed expenses for research grants (10 Projects) from the National Institute of Health and
the Veteran’s Administration
•Implemented the Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety Program, Chemical Hygiene Program, Fire and Safety Program, Blood Borne Pathogens Program, Employee Testing and Training, Laboratory Self Inspections, Computer Setup and Implementation of Hardware and Software.
•Preparation of grant paperwork and review of completed proposals
THOMAS D. PITTS award recipient- presented by the Biology Department to the graduating senior for academic excellence and service to the University.