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Hello! I’m Kirsten Meek

Get to Know Me

I’m thrilled you’re here. Please take a moment to explore my site, where you’ll find details on my background, experience, skills and more. To learn more or connect on an opportunity, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Home: Welcome

About Me

I am a natural people-person with a passion for continuous improvement.  I am constantly working to make myself better!  I have a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Utah and am dedicated to making science accessible to everyone through strong communication.  I am also a dedicated project manager who loves taking ownership of projects and shepherding them to completion.  Keep exploring my site to learn more information about me, and reach out directly with any questions.

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Resume

Background & Expertise

Technology Transfer Project Manager, BioFire Diagnostics

September 2017-February 2019

  • Managed over 30 projects involving the transfer of technology from research and development into manufacturing

  • Worked with diverse stakeholders  including engineers, scientists, regulatory affairs,  and marketing professionals to accomplish interdepartmental goals

  • Generated technical documentation (WIDs, SOPs, technical reviews, change orders, validations, verifications, etc.) to detail the progress of projects through the system while maintaining compliance

Technical Writer, Myriad Genetics

April 2016-August 2017

  • Worked independently and with a team to develop, edit, and manage over 50 publications through the approval process

  • Projects included abstract submission, poster development and design, manuscript planning, editing, and submission, and figure creation and design.  

  • Coordinated with internal researchers and external collaborators to manage dissemination of research

Graduate Research Associate, University of Utah

June 2011-August 2016

  • Designed, documented, and performed experiments in a collaborative chemical biology lab to solve complex chemical problems including the design of novel nucleic acid sensor platforms

  • Analyzed, presented, and generated data and written documents that resulted in 3 grants of greater than  $700,000.00

  • Mentored over 15 graduate and undergraduate and graduate students in experiment design,  troubleshooting, and data presentation

  • Acted as a primary teaching assistant for over eight different courses.  Responsibilities included writing and grading quizes/exams, leading discussion sections, holding office hours, and mentoring students

Lecturer, University of Utah

Summer 2014, Summer 2016

  • Course taught: Organic Chemistry 1 Lecture (Summer 2016)

    • Developed curriculum and syllabus for first semester organic chemistry.  Delivered 1.5 hour lectures four times weekly to 95 undergraduate students.  Managed 7 teaching assistants.

  • Course taught: Organic Chemistry 1 Lab (Summer 2014)

    • Developed curriculum and syllabus for undergraduate lab course and managed three teaching assistants

Home: Experience

Education

What I’ve Learned

My education has not only provided the foundation for the rest of my experiences, but has also made me a lifelong learner who is eager to gain more skills and knowledge. Take a look at my academics below.

September 2011 - August 2016

PhD. Chemistry, University of Utah

Research Thesis: Pushing the Boundaries of SELEX for the Generation of Aptamers with Unique Functionality

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Under my research advisor, Dr. Jennifer Heemstra, I primarily focused on the applications of the Systematic Evolution of Ligands for Exponential Enrichment to generate small molecule-binding aptamers with enhanced functionality.  In my time at the University of Utah, I worked on research that contributes to several grants including one funded by DARPA.   

2006-2010

BS Chemistry, Whitworth University

Research Thesis: Structure-Function Relationship between the E and G Subunits of Yeast Vacuolar ATPase

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At Whitworth University, I received a degree in Chemistry with  BioChemistry focus.  In addition to my studies in the sciences, I received a broad liberal arts education that made me a very well rounded individual with a passion for many topics.  One of my favorite topics was philosophy which included logic, epistomology, and eastern philosophy courses.  

Home: Education

My Skills

What I Do

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Scientific Communication

I am passionate about making science accessable to everyone.  This means that I believe in the importance of translating complicated ideas from one group to another.  I can effectively and creatively translate complicated ideas to all groups.  I have successfully worked with marketing, sales, engineering, research and development, internal and external collaborators, and more to create cohesive messages for all team members

Project Management

I have experience with leading many complex projects in a dynamic business environment.  I enjoy taking ownership of projects and leading them to completion in a cooperative environment.  I am effective at coordinating and generating timelines, working with resources, and effective communication with a team.

Technical Writing

I am experienced in writing technical documentation in many settings.  I have great attention to detail and ensure that everything I produce is impeccable.  I have worked extensively with data analysis and understand how to use data to portray a specific message.  I can write within a company's specific set of standards and have experience working to maintain company compliance.  I work quickly and effectively and am not afraid to ask questions to better accomplish my tasks.

Home: Skills

Publications

Punlished Scientific Works

Home: Projects

Enhancing aptamer function and stability via in vitro selection using modified nucleic acids

Kirsten N. Meek, Alexandra E. Rangel, Jennifer M. Heemstra

Nucleic acid aptamers have emerged as a promising alternative to antibodies for use as recognition elements in therapeutics, bioimaging, and analytical applications. A key benefit that aptamers possess relative to antibodies is their ability to be chemically synthesized. This advantage, coupled with the broad range of modified nucleotide building blocks that can be constructed using chemical synthesis, has enabled the discovery and development of modified aptamers having extraordinary affinity, specificity, and biostability. Early efforts to generate modified aptamers focused on selection of a native DNA or RNA aptamer, followed by post-selection trial-and-error testing of modifications. However, recent advances in polymerase engineering and templated nucleic acid synthesis have enabled the direct selection of aptamers having modified backbones and nucleobases. This review will discuss these technological advances and highlight the improvements in aptamer function that have been realized through in vitro selection of non-natural nucleic acids.

So find your team. Get to work. Whatever that work is that you find worth doing. Do it, and find some people to love who'll do it with you.

Leslie Knope

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Volunteer Work

Serving the Community

2011-Present

University of Utah Science and Engineering Fair Judge

I serve as a judge for the USEF Elementary, Junior, and Senior divisions competition.  This involves observing student posters and presentations, evaluating their use of the scientific process, and providing mentorship.  This event is full of amazing, hard working STEM students and I am proud to be involved.

2019

SheTech Volunteer

I served as a volunteer at the 2019 volunteered event.  This involved setup of the event as well as day-of student mentoring.  I volunteered at a chemistry workshop where I set up and guided high school women through experiments.  I also gave a brief presentation about the possibilities of STEM careers for women.  This event encourages women to pursue careers in STEM and I am tremendously proud to be involved with it.

2014-2016

University of Utah Chemistry Student Advisory Committee Vice-Chair

I served as the Vice-Chair of the Chemistry Student Advisory Committee.  This committee represented all graduate students in the chemistry department.  I was responsible for managing and coordinating guest speakers, student involvement in retention, promotion, and tenure processes, and organizing graduate student events. As a part of my time in this organization, I helped found a program to increase student awareness of the mental health issues facing graduate students.

2011-2016

ACCESS Program Volunteer

The ACCESS program provides aspiring women, from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a supportive path into STEM majors and careers through a scholarship award, first year learning experience, and an extensive network that fosters academic success throughout their undergraduate education.  I acted as a graduate student mentor for ACCESS students during my time in graduate school.  This included volunteering during the summer ACCESS event and mentoring students year-round in a research capacity.

Home: Volunteer Work

Interests and Hobbies

Just for Fun

Reading

I am a voracious reader and love nothing more than reading a good book.  In true nerd fashion, my go-to genres are science fiction and fantasy, but I love all fiction!  Here are some of my favorites:

  • Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

  • Old Man's War series by John Scalzi

  • Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

  • Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

  • The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin

  • Harry Potter (I couldn't bear to leave this one out!) by JK Rowling

This list isn't comprehensive by any means.  I'd love to hear from you on good reads if you like these books, too.  I am always looking for recommendations.

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My Dog Sam

I adopted this little pup when I was in my third year of graduate school.  He had been abandoned by two families before we he found his way in to our home.  He is the perfect companion and has been my best friend for over five years.  He loves walks, snacks, and rolling in the grass.  I can't thank the good people at Salt Lake County Animal Services for taking care of him until I could take him home.

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Gardening

I'm in the process of learning how to garden.  With a new yard full of raised beds, I wanted to start growing my own fruits, veggies, and flowers.  This year I am in the process of growing tomatoes, zucchinis, jalapenos, lettuce, wildflowers, zinnia, hollyhocks, and lavender.  Things are going well so far, and I am loving the opportunity to spend time outside.

Gardening
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Let’s Connect

kirsten.khoe@gmail.com

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