DONALD S. PIJAK

46 Elizabeth Street, Pemberton, NJ 08068

609-234-3462 http://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldpijak donpijak@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Highly qualified researcher and manager with over 20 years of experience managing research laboratories, hiring and training of students, technicians and post-doc’s in daily experiments and techniques while ensuring quality control and regulatory requirements are strictly followed. Extensive knowledge of microbial, virological, molecular biological and protein analysis techniques. Areas of expertise include:

Budget Management / Laboratory Operations Design & Management of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) Laboratories Maintenance and Service Contracts on Laboratory Equipment and Facilities Lean Six Sigma Certificate Healthcare and Research to include Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals	Recruiting, Developing, Retaining & Motivating Top Performing Personnel Quality Control and Quality Assurance Implementation of Training Programs in BSL3 Laboratory SOP Development Creative Thinker & Problem Solver with Strong Leadership & Communication Skills

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 1989- 12/2009

Manager Research Project – Department of Microbiology, (2004-12/2009)
Manage BSL2 and BSL3 laboratories in a fast pasted atmosphere, monitoring and performing maintenance on a laboratory server while recruiting and training technical staff. Responsible for managing a yearly budget of $500,000, make purchasing decisions on equipment and supplies, maintaining service contracts and interacting daily with various Principal Investigators within the department to assist them with their needs.

Worked closely with architects, scientists and environmental health to design a new BSL3 and ABSL3 (animal biosafety) laboratory and personally redesigned the anterooms to meet our specifications.
Check and follow USDA and CDC guidelines while managing BSL3 laboratory.
Took lead on generating SOP’s for BSL laboratories creating a safer work environment.

Research Specialist D – Department of Microbiology (2001- 2004)
Managed laboratory, supervised 22 employees and a BSL3 Laboratory. Hired, trained and retained individuals to conduct daily experiments on Alzheimer’s disease and HIV using molecular biological techniques, fluorescent microscopy on adherent cells, protein analysis using Western blot techniques, virus preparation to generate pseudo types for expression of Alzheimer’s and HIV proteins and tissue culture techniques.

Set up and maintained a Biosafety (BSL3) laboratory.
Implemented 15 databases to follow inventories, ordering and personnel records in FileMaker Pro which increase productivity 40%.

Research Specialist C – Department of Pathology (1997- 2001)
Oversaw operations of a large laboratory and conducted experiments on Alzheimer’s disease. Performed molecular biological techniques, immunohistochemistry on adherent cells for co-localizing proteins in cells, fluorescent microscopy, protein analysis using Western blot and tissue culture techniques.

Organized laboratory, ensured laboratory followed safety regulations.
Developed an ordering system for supplies within laboratory increasing ordering proficiency 50%.

Research Specialist B – Department of Neurology (1989- 1997)
Managed a small laboratory and conducted experiments on spinal cord regeneration. Used immunohistochemistry, paraffin and frozen tissue sections, bright field microscopy, and protein analysis on one and 2d gels using Western blot techniques to perform these studies.

Developed a method to grow Lamprey CNS cells in tissue culture.
Produced and characterized monoclonal antibodies to Lamprey spinal cord tissues.

Osteotech, Inc., Shrewsbury, NJ 1988- 1989
Osteotech, Inc. is a global leader in the processing of human bone and connective tissue for transplantation and an innovator in the development, manufacturing and marketing of biologic, biomaterial and device systems for musculoskeletal surgery.

Assistant Scientist
Performed quality control and quality assurance on bone and soft tissue products. Used microbial assays to assure sterility of product.

Designed a computer program to assist with inventory.
Monitored finished product to assure correct labeling and packaging following GMP and GLP practices.

American Cyanamid, Princeton, NJ 1987- 1988
American Cyanamid is a large, diversified, American chemical manufacturer.

Assistant Scientist
Conducted stability studies, SDS PAGE assays and clean room experience packaging pharmaceutical products.

Pijak Home Builders, Creamridge, NJ 1985- 1987

Carpenter

Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, NJ 1983- 1985
Schering-Plough makes pharmaceutical products specializing in anti-inflammatory, infectious disease, cancer, cardiovascular, and women's health drugs.

Assistant Scientist
Study director in microbiology working in large animal research. Performed efficacy studies on new products in animals and microbial resistance assays on developing compounds.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, 1983, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Lean Six Sigma Certificate, 2010, Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Member, 2005-2008, University of Pennsylvania’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
National Youth Leadership Forum
Minority Undergraduates of Science
Pennsylvania Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

TECHNICAL PROFILE

Proficient in FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Office and Photoshop
Maintenance of laboratory server
Knowledge of PC and MAC based computer systems
Maintained Blog for Graduate student who biked across the United States

PUBLICATIONS

Morais, V.A.; Leight, S.; Pijak, D.S.; Lee, V.M.; Costa, J. Cellular localization of Nicastrin affects amyloid beta species production. FEBS Lett. 2008 Feb 6;582(3):427-33.

Morais, V.A.; Pijak, D.S.; Crystal, A.S.; Fortna, R.R.; Tong, L.; Wong, P.C.; Doms, R.W.;Costa, J. N-glycosylation of human nicastrin is required for full beta-secretase complex activity and for interaction with calnexin and ERGIC-53. J. Neurochemistry, Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Sep;1762(9):802-10.

Fortna, R.R.; Crystal, A.S.; Morais, V.A.; Pijak, D.S.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W.: Membrane topology and nicastrin-enhanced endoproteoloysis of APH-1, a component of the beta-secretase complex. J Biol Chem. 2004 January 30, 279(5): 3685-3693.

Morais, V.A.; Crystal, A.S.; Pijak, D.S.; Carlin, D.; Costa, J.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W.: The transmembrane domain region of nicastrin mediates direct interactions with APH-1 and the beta-secretase complex. J Biol Chem. 2003 October 31, 278(44):43284-43291.

Crystal, A.S.; Morais, V.A.; Pierson, T.C.; Pijak, D.S.; Carlin, D.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W.: Membrane topology of beta-secretase component Pen-2. J Biol Chem. 2003 May 30;278(22):20117-20123.

Huse, J.T.; Byant, D.; Yang, Y; Pijak, D.S.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W; Cook, D.G.: Endoproteolysis of beta-secretase (BACE) within its catalytic domain: A potential mechanism for regulation. J Biol Chem. 2003 Jan 27, 278 (9): 6936-6941

Huse, J.T.; Liu, K.; Pijak, D.S.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W.: Beta-secretase processing in the trans-Golgi network generates truncated amyloid species that accumulate in Alzheimer’s disease brain. J Biol Chem. 2002 May 3, 277 (18): 16278-16284.

Huse, J.T.; Pijak, D.S.; Leslie, G.J.; Lee, V.M.-Y.; Doms, R.W.: Maturation and endosomal targeting of BACE: the Alzheimer’s disease beta-secretase. J. Biol. Chem. 2000 Oct 27, 275(43): 33729-33737

Skovronsky DM; Pijak DS; Doms RW; Lee VM: A distinct ER/IC gamma-secretase competes with the proteasome for cleavage of APP. Biochemistry 2000 Feb 1;39(4):810-817

Jacobs AJ; Pijak DS; Gladstone LJ and Selzer ME: Recovery of Neurofilament Expression in Regenerating Reticulospinal Neurons. J Neurosci. 1997 Jul 1; 17(13): 5206-5220.

Pijak DS; Hall GF; Tenicki PJ; Boulos AS; Lurie DI and Selzer ME: Neurofilament spacing, phosphorylation and axon caliber in regenerating and uninjured lamprey axons. J Comp Neurol. 1996 May 13; 368(4): 569-581.

Merrick SE; Pleasure SJ; Lurie DI, Pijak DS; Selzer ME and Lee VM-Y: Glial cells of the lamprey central nervous system contain keratin. J. Comp. Neurol. 1995, 355:199-210

Lurie DI; Pijak DS and Selzer ME: The structure of axon terminals and there cellular environment during regeneration in the sea lamprey spinal cord. J. Comp. Neurol. 1994, 344:559-580.