Tag: People

Southern Research hires Jim Pannucci to lead infectious disease research

Posted on August 17, 2016

Infectious disease research veteran Jim Pannucci, Ph.D., has joined Southern Research as senior director for infectious disease research, the largest focus area within the organization’s Drug Development division.

Jim Pannucci is senior director for infectious disease research at Southern Research.
Jim Pannucci is senior director for infectious disease research at Southern Research.

In this new role, Pannucci will direct a diverse team focused on developing vaccines and conducting ground-breaking research on a number of high-profile diseases, including HIV/AIDS, influenza, and mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika, chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever. Last month, the team received a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases contract to develop a non-human primate model for Zika drug candidate analysis.

Pannucci joins Southern Research with 24 years of life science industry experience. He previously served as vice president and Life Sciences division manager at Reston, Virginia-based Leidos.

Based at the company’s Frederick, Maryland, location, he had management responsibilities for a staff of 130 and oversaw research on vaccines and research programs related to infectious diseases, cancers and neurological disorders. He also managed client relationships and led the pursuit of new business opportunities.

LEVERAGING CAPABILITIES

Pannucci’s scientific career began with characterizing antiviral therapeutics at pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough. He conducted post-doctoral studies at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he became a technical staff member and a team leader in the BioScience Division over nearly eight years. He joined Leidos in 2006.

“As a scientist, I am excited that my work helps people and contributes to curing. Much of my professional success stems from the opportunities I’ve had at the intersection of business and science, and that has helped me develop skills I can take to my new role,” Pannucci said.

“Southern Research is in an incredible position to leverage its unique capabilities into new growth opportunities. We have brilliant people who have proven themselves capable of solving some of the world’s hardest problems,” he added.

Pannucci has identified four key goals for Southern Research’s infectious disease team: maximizing growth opportunities, both in size and scope; optimizing the team’s business practices; aligning capabilities with the goals of current and future customers; and retaining world-class talent.

SPEARHEADING GROWTH

“Jim joins Southern Research at an exciting time for our organization, and he is the perfect person to spearhead our continued growth in the strategically important arena of infectious disease research,” said Tim McGrath, vice president of the Drug Development division.

“Our infectious disease research team has a number of unique capabilities championed over the years by Mike Murray, Jon Rayner, and Roger Ptak, and I am eager to support Jim and the team as they continue to advance research on some of the most pressing global health issues of our time.”

Murray, formerly Southern Research’s director of infectious disease research in Frederick, Maryland, now serves as director of government business development. Rayner is director of infectious disease research in Birmingham. Ptak is program leader for in vitro antiviral drug development in Frederick.

Pannucci will work in Southern Research’s Frederick office, which has been in operation since the early 1990s. Southern Research also carries out significant infectious disease research at its campus in Birmingham, where the Drug Development division is based.

Pannucci holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in biology from Seton Hall University, and a bachelor’s in pathobiology from the University of Connecticut.

Industry Vet Tim McGrath Tapped to Lead Drug Development

Posted on August 10, 2016

Concluding a national search, industry veteran Tim McGrath has been named the new vice president of the Drug Development division at Southern Research.

With over 30 years of general management and global operations experience, McGrath has worked in laboratory and commercial settings, most recently with North Carolina based Q2 Solutions, a Quintiles/Quest Diagnostics joint venture. There he served as the Global Head for the company’s Bioanalytical and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) labs responsible for multiple sites in the U.S. and Europe.

In joining Southern Research, McGrath has one primary goal in mind — embracing market opportunities and maximizing scalable growth potential for the division.

“Throughout the course of my career, I have had the fortune of leading several highly scientific teams with the mandate of building world-class scalable operations in GLP [Good Laboratory Practices] regulated environments,” said McGrath. “Southern Research is positioned as well as, if not better than, any other organization I have seen in terms of growth potential. The breadth and depth of their work is truly impressive.”

McGrath’s experiences in management and business development run deep. He started his career in Massachusetts with the Foxboro Company, where he spent 18 years in commercial operations working his way up the ranks to ultimately serve as a global director responsible for project support services for Foxboro’s Distributed Control Systems Division. In 1999, he left the multi-billion dollar company to join Biotage, LLC, a venture backed start up in Charlottesville, Virginia.

At Biotage, McGrath served as vice president of operations where he helped grow the business 12-fold over six years before assisting the company leadership in selling the company to Pyrosequencing AB located in Uppsala, Sweden. Following the sale of Biotage, McGrath joined Ithaca, New York based Advion Biosciences in 2006 as executive vice president of Operations to manage their product and lab divisions.

This move launched the start of a new phase in McGrath’s career — one in which he spent the next decade leveraging his strengths in operations to help expand the size and capabilities of several highly scientific companies, product lines, and research-based teams. Quintiles Transnational then acquired the laboratory business of Advion Biosciences in 2011 – Bioanalytical and ADME Labs – before becoming part of Q2 Solutions in 2015.

“Drug Development at Southern Research is a broad area — our largest division — where we help government and commercial clients develop potential treatments for HIV/AIDS and cancer, as well as Zika, influenza and other infections,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research. “I am enthused by the growth the division has had in recent years, and even more enthused that Tim will be joining our team to lead and accelerate that growth. His incredible track record, and the strategic direction he brings to the team, coupled with our great scientific depth will add up to a very bright future for Southern Research.”

To echo this point, McGrath was quick to explain his thought process on the new role. “My job is to lead a team of brilliant scientists, while creating the optimum collaboration between science and operations in order to deliver world class project execution. Southern Research has rightfully earned a solid reputation in the scientific community, and I cannot be more excited to work with the team to determine where we want to be 5 and 10 years down the road.”

McGrath is married and has three grown sons and one daughter who is in her second year at Georgia State in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally from Massachusetts, he and his wife are huge fans of their beloved Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.

 

About the Southern Research Drug Development Division
Southern Research is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization with four key divisions: Engineering; Energy & Environment; Drug Discovery and Drug Development, the largest of the four. The division has broad capabilities in toxicology, and serves as a contract research organization (CRO) with more than fifty years of experience providing preclinical research and testing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as government agencies. The nationally-accredited, board-certified staff conducts research in facilities that are FDA inspected, AAALAC accredited, and registered with the CDD and USDA for work with Select Agents including Tier 1 agents.

Southern Research Leads ‘Innovation Week’ Panel on Zika Response

Posted on August 8, 2016

Southern Research’s rapid and multi-faceted response to the emerging threat of the Zika virus will be explored in a panel discussion held as part of this month’s “Innovation Week” in Birmingham.

The session, called “Advances in Zika Research,” is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., August 25, at Southern Research’s Southside campus.

“The more we learn about Zika, the more we realize how complex this virus truly is.”

Infectious disease scientists at the Birmingham-based non-profit organization have been heavily involved in efforts to understand and combat Zika, which has been linked to severe birth defects and other neurological conditions.

Southern Research panelists are Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D., director of infectious disease research, Drug Development; Timothy Sellati, Ph.D., chair of the Infectious Diseases Department, Drug Discovery; Sarah Ziegler, Ph.D., responsible official and biosafety professional; and Rossi Carlson, advanced marketing specialist.

“The more we learn about Zika, the more we realize how complex this virus truly is,” Rayner said.

The panel will explain how the organization has approached research into the poorly understood mosquito-borne virus while also engaging in community and public relations outreach to increase awareness and preparedness. Key points in this effort include:

  • Southern Research proactively self-funded internal Zika projects to advance the scientific understanding of the viral infection and set the stage for external research projects.
  • An internal, multidisciplinary committee now meets weekly to share updates on Zika-related research projects, funding opportunities, and more.
  • Southern Research groups such as the Drug Discovery and Drug Development divisions are collaborating on Zika work being done in each division.
  • Ziegler has been working with a Jefferson County Department of Health team to provide guidance to law enforcement, firefighters, first responders and local hospital staffs about how to respond to the Zika threat.
  • The public relations team has actively shared basic Zika awareness guidance, including protective measures, and highlighted the progress of Southern Research’s research programs.

The organization’s infectious disease scientists in Birmingham and Frederick, Maryland, have already made notable advances.

Earlier this year, Southern Research scientists developed a unique antiviral assay, a test that researchers worldwide can use to detect Zika in cell cultures. The organization’s scientists are also developing animal models for the evaluation of candidate vaccines and drug therapies.

In July, Southern Research received a contract worth as much as $3.9 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand its Zika work and support the quest for a vaccine.

Brazilian intern joins SR to study Zika virus

Posted on July 6, 2016

Throughout our 75 year history, Southern Research has worked to empower interns, women and people of diverse backgrounds to succeed in the sciences and we are proud of the hard work and unique story of our summer intern, Rafaela “Rafa” Medeiros. Originally from Brazil, Rafa joined our Infectious Disease Research team in Frederick, Maryland from North Dakota State University in Fargo, and will be analyzing ZIKV samples for clues that may help lead to a vaccine.

Rafaela Medeiros analyzing Zika samples in the lab
Rafaela Medeiros (left) and senior biologist Beth Snyder (right) working in the Infectious Disease Research lab.

We sat down with Rafa to learn more about her unique story.

Tell us a little about where you’re from.

I’m from Natal. It’s a coastal city located in northeastern Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

(Note: Natal is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte, and was a host city for the 2014 World Cup. It is also one of the cities where the Brazilian Zika outbreak was first noticed in 2015.)

And, what do you study?

I completed my undergraduate studies in Biomedical sciences in Brazil, and am currently in the second year of a Masters in Public Health with an emphasis in Management of Infectious Diseases at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.

What brought you to Southern Research?

I’m actually here because a former professor of mine, Nathan Fisher, introduced me to Southern Research, and recruited me to work on Zika with the infectious disease research team in Frederick, MD.

I first met Dr. Fisher when I was was in Fargo interviewing for the MPH program. We discussed the possibility of me applying for the Cellular and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program at NDSU, but he has since left and taken a position with Southern Research in Frederick, MD.

As I began my search for internship opportunities, I contacted Dr. Fisher because he knew my background, research interests and capabilities. I’ve been interested in Zika since coming to the U.S. for my program in 2015, but did not know of Southern Research’s work on the virus. So, Dr. Fisher surprised me by introducing me to the team and providing me the opportunity to join the global fight against Zika through this internship.

The work is very important to me because of the impact Zika has had on the region of Brazil where I am from.

What are you working on, specifically?

The internship is a 10 week program, so I’m working to get as much experience as I can. Right now I’m exploring the similarities and differences between two different strains of the Zika virus — African and Asian — and how both strains replicate in vitro.

This means, I’m exploring how the Zika virus replicates in human neuronal cell tissue so that we can get a better understanding of the exact mechanisms of how this virus affects neural tissue.

The research we’re conducting is exploratory in nature, but the Infectious Disease Research team at Southern Research has already made significant progress on a number of assay models that I am getting to learn about.

Rafa at the microscope analyzing zika samples with Beth Snyder.
Rafa at the microscope analyzing samples with Beth Snyder (right).

As a Brazilian, what are your personal thoughts about how the Zika virus is affecting your country?

This is obviously a very hard thing for Brazil, and this outbreak comes at a very difficult time given the state of our government and the lack of funding available for research. But, there are a lot of great people working to fight this virus, both in Brazil and around the world. As a future public health professional, I would love to see our work at Southern Research lead to a vaccine or future eradication of Zika.

What are your career goals?

Research. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist, and my ultimate goal is to help people and make an impact in the community.

As we’re seeing with Zika, research plays a tremendously important role in helping combat the break of an infectious disease, or other major public health crisis. So, my goal is to continue doing research, and stay on the frontline of trying to fight outbreaks, while making a difference in the world.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I’m crazy about movies, books and theater — I was very involved in theater since I was a young girl and it helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. I also love traveling and sports, especially Marta! She’s broken so many barriers for Brazilian women soccer players.

(Note: “Marta” Vieira da Silva was named FIFA World Player of the Year a record five consecutive times, beginning in 2006, and in 2015 she set World Cup record with her 15th career goal.)

Southern Research has a long history of working to empower women and people of diverse backgrounds in STEM careers. What advice do you have for young women who are considering going into science?

Stay focused and believe in yourself.

I always knew I wanted to come to the U.S. to study, and it wasn’t easy, but I jumped at the first opportunity I had. The trick for me was having supportive friends and family. When times got hard, they helped me stay grounded and remain focused on reaching my goals. Life and science can be hard, so it’s important to always believe in your own abilities to succeed.

 

Gen IV nuclear focus unveiled with key hire

Posted on June 14, 2016

Southern Research, which has engaged in energy-related work for decades, is expanding its focus in the field to incorporate the development of Gen IV nuclear, a new kind of nuclear power that is more affordable and even safer than the nuclear reactors in use today.

To direct its next-generation nuclear initiative, Southern Research has hired Lance Kim, Ph.D., as senior nuclear engineer. Kim most recently served as a Research Fellow in the Nuclear Security Unit at the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. In this role, he analyzed nuclear security and non-proliferation issues, as well as safeguards to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands.

Kim’s work experience includes stints at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in reactor safety, the International Atomic Energy Agency in nuclear safeguards, and the U.S. Department of State in verification and compliance. He also served as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the RAND Corporation.

While Southern Research’s historic focus in energy has been on fossil fuel and air pollution, its capabilities have expanded in recent years to include solar and clean water. To accelerate that evolution, the organization established an Energy & Environment division in 2015 and hired Bill Grieco, Ph.D., who has deep experience in research and development, to head the unit.

“Under Bill’s leadership, our team has added robust new capabilities and expertise, allowing us to address energy and environmental issues worldwide with a full set of tools aligned with that industry,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research.

“We view next-generation nuclear as part of an overall energy solution, and adding Dr. Kim to the Southern Research team gives us new capacity in that area while complementing our capabilities in fossil, solar, energy storage and biofuels,” Tipton said.

DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Generation IV nuclear power, as it’s known, is viewed as a substantial leap forward compared to current technology, though next-generation reactor designs remain in the developmental stage. Southern Research will work with leading utilities, universities, and technology developers with the objective of developing safe Generation IV nuclear power systems with no radioactive waste or nuclear proliferation concerns.

In addition to being safer, this new form of nuclear power will deliver significant benefits over conventional technologies including greater efficiency, affordability and environmental soundness.

Next-generation nuclear power has the potential to play a key role in meeting future demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), global energy consumption is projected by increase by 48 percent by 2040, compared to 2012 levels. Renewables and nuclear will be the world’s fastest-growing energy sources over the period, the EIA projects.

“Southern Research’s Energy & Environment division was built on a foundation of fossil energy,” said Grieco, the division’s vice president. “Decades ago we worked to reduce emissions from stationary power sources. Today, we work in renewable energy, water treatment, sustainable chemistry, energy storage, carbon capture, and now Generation IV nuclear power.

“Dr. Kim will help drive our continuing evolution within the energy sector,” he added.

Kim received a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a Public Policy and Nuclear Security Threats Fellow.

 

 

 

Southern Research Engineer Lauded for Space Flight Contributions

Posted on January 22, 2016
John Koenig is presented with an award by Tim Lawrence, System Manager, SLS booster motor program for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Leaders from the nation’s space flight community gathered in Birmingham to honor Southern Research engineer John Koenig, whose work with NASA enhanced the safety of space missions and inspired many in the aerospace industry.

Koenig’s career was the focus of a ceremony on Wednesday, January 20, marking his retirement from Southern Research, where he concentrated on materials research and development for 39 years. He remains a consultant to the Birmingham-based research organization, investigating methods to develop and test new advanced materials with multiple space applications.

Koenig was a long-time collaborator with NASA, which recognized him for numerous technical achievements over the years. He also served on high-level NASA investigation boards that explored the causes of accidents, including the 2003 Columbia shuttle incident, and formulated solutions and strategies to prevent future problems.

In 2006, Koenig received a Silver Snoopy Award, an award given by NASA astronauts for contributions that improve the success and safety of space flight. The award was tied to that year’s launch of STS-121, a shuttle mission that tested new safety technologies adopted after the Columbia accident.

“John Koenig is a national asset,” Dr. Raymond “Corky” Clinton Jr., Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, said at the Wednesday night ceremony.

Clinton praised Koenig’s work with Marshall on research and development initiatives, space flight component development, and critical analysis efforts. At the event, Koenig was presented with the Director’s Commendation Certificate from NASA for his expertise in high temperature materials.

Others who presented special recognition awards at the event included Kevin Rivers, Deputy Director of the Research Directorate at NASA’s Langley Research Center, and Tim Lawrence, System Manager of the SLS booster motor program for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Both Rivers and Lawrence worked closely with Koenig on manned spaceflight critical programs and both credited him as being a mentor to their own careers as well as to the community.

Also presenting Koenig a special recognition award was a team from Orbital ATK in Promontory, Utah, where he was instrumental in materials development for improved safety and cost reduction on the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket boosters.

“I am proud to have worked alongside such an innovator and leader in materials engineering as John,” said Michael Johns, Vice President of Engineering at Southern Research. “For nearly four decades he has successfully built and sustained a dynamic technical group that has consistently solved our sponsors’ hardest problems.”

Koenig joined Southern Research in 1973, after retiring from the Air Force as captain. In 1980, after a brief return to the Air Force research labs, he began his decades-long journey with Southern Research as director of the materials research team, which became one of the most consistent and innovative groups in Southern Research Engineering over the last 35 years.

Koenig has received several prestigious awards and recognitions during his career, including being named a semi-finalist for the Air Force’s Charles J. Cleary Scientific Achievement Award for outstanding research contributions. He has authored many technical papers and presentations, organized sessions at national and international events, and chaired international committees and working groups.

Art Tipton, president and CEO of Southern Research, said Koenig’s technical accomplishments exemplify the mission of the Birmingham research organization, which has a long history of advances in drug discovery and development, engineering, and energy and the environment.

“The lifeblood of Southern Research has always been innovative leaders like John, who work collaboratively to solve problems others think are intractable,” Tipton said. “It’s particularly impressive to me that so many important members of the space flight community took part in the celebration and still consider John their mentor. I’m thrilled that John will continue to be a resource for our teams at Southern Research as we continue to support space missions.”

About Southern Research
Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 400 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment. We work on behalf of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, major aerospace firms, utility companies, and other private and government organizations as we solve the world’s hardest problems. SR, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Frederick, Maryland, Durham, North Carolina, Cartersville, Georgia, and Houston.

Southern Research Names Tom Blasey New Director of Intellectual Property

Posted on November 23, 2015
Thomas Blasey, Director of Intellectual Property
Thomas Blasey, Director of Intellectual Property

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – November 23, 2015 – Today, Southern Research announced that Thomas Blasey has been named director of intellectual property. Blasey will lead Southern Research’s IP functions, including the identification, evaluation and protection of intellectual property, as well as the transfer of technology through the commercialization process.

He has an extensive background in the strategic management of intellectual property, including the design, management and leveraging of IP portfolios consisting of a wide variety of technologies. From 2001 to 2015, he served as chief intellectual property counsel for ITT Defense, ITT Corporation and ITT’s aerospace, defense and information solutions spinoff, Exelis Inc.

“Tom brings with him vast experience in intellectual property management from both the business and legal perspectives,” said Allison Taylor, vice president and general counsel, Southern Research. “He will play a strategic role in the development of appropriate technology transfer paths, maximizing the value of Southern Research’s intellectual property assets, and bringing together Southern Research scientists/engineers with external partners.”

Blasey is active in a number of professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Licensing Executives Society, Association of Corporate Counsel, and Federal Circuit Bar Association, of which he is currently co-chair of its Corporate Counsel Committee. Additionally, he is past chair of the Aerospace Industries Association’s Intellectual Property Committee, which, among other endeavors, monitors developments in data rights regulations and other intellectual property issues relevant to the aerospace and defense industry.

Blasey earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at Rice University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and he is a certified licensing professional and certified patent valuation analyst.

“We have had a notable history of generating and monetizing IP here at Southern Research,” said Arthur Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO, Southern Research. “Great innovations need a process of IP development on the path to commercialization, and the resulting strong patent is a critical step to have effective products that will help people. We are thrilled that Tom will be part of that team going forward.”

About Southern Research

Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 400 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment. We work on behalf of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, major aerospace firms, utility companies, and other private and government organizations as we solve the world’s hardest problems. Southern Research, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Frederick, Maryland, Durham, North Carolina, Cartersville, Georgia, and Houston. Visit southernresearch.org for more information.

Media Contact:
Rossi M. Carlson
205-581-2266
rcarlson@southernresearch.org

Southern Research Announces 2015 Excellence Award Winners and Presidential Award Winner

Posted on November 20, 2015
Art Tipton presents the Presidential Award to John Koenig.
Art Tipton presents the Presidential Award to John Koenig.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – November 20, 2015 – Today, Southern Research celebrated its employee Excellence Awards program with an organization-wide event to acknowledge the winners. Individuals and groups at Southern Research’s Alabama, North Carolina, and Maryland facilities were awarded for going above and beyond their standard roles and responsibilities to deliver exceptional customer service, project results, and teamwork. The work of these winners impacts HIV/AIDS research, emerging infections, new fuels, hypersonic materials, and safety for Southern Research employees and the population as a whole. The Presidential Award recognized the accomplishments of a four-decade employee who has made critical contributions to manned space flight.

“This year and moving into 2016, we are bringing a renewed energy to our corporate culture with a renewal of our core values, and intentional appreciation of employee achievements, such as the Excellence Awards and Intellectual Property Awards,” said Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton, Ph.D. “Our employees are working to make the world better in a wide range of areas. I am thrilled to be celebrating these employee-nominated awards today, and at this time of year.”

Winners and their accomplishments:

  • August Meng, advanced chemical engineer, Energy & Environment, North Carolina, submitted new concept papers and proposals that led to new Energy & Environment programs.
  • Zora Govedarica, engineering chemist, Energy & Environment, North Carolina, exceeded her normal duties to assure enhanced safety and ISO compliance, including chemical inventory enhancement that will lead to a reduction in chemical waste.
  • Bini Mathew, research chemist, Drug Discovery, performed extraordinarily on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases database project where chemical structures needed to be entered; the project was done ahead of schedule and on budget.
  • LaVinia Ray, pathology supervisor, Drug Development, demonstrated technical excellence, customer focus, and exceptional resourcefulness in aiding in the completion of the largest commercial project in Drug Development and one focused on emerging pathogens.
  • Charles Hebert, senior program manager, Drug Development, displayed outstanding customer service, revenue, science, staff, and safety focus in managing one of Drug Development’s largest government programs, a program focused on the potential impact of early life exposure to certain chemicals and to determine their impact to developmental and reproductive systems. He was also recognized for mentoring young scientists, and chairing important committees for multiple years.
  • Michael Moser, engineering project leader, and Ben Carmichael, mechanical engineer, Engineering, both led efforts at White Sands Hypervelocity with high speed testing of composites; valuable data was generated that will help long-term technical and business growth in the Engineering division.
  • Margaret Wiginton, advanced controlled document specialist, Quality, developed innovative and collaborative tools to aid the Quality team in enhancing Southern Research’s drug development efforts for commercial and government customers.
  • The Frederick, Maryland, Drug Development Team exceeded their responsibilities in order to maintain safety, compliance, business focus, and a spirit of camaraderie.
  • Birmingham technical divisions, the Facilities department, the Environmental Health & Safety department, and the Security Team combined strengths to work through two facility electrical outages around the clock to assure safety, compliance, and a return to standard operations quickly.
  • John Koenig, senior engineering fellow, Engineering, received the Presidential Award. Koenig has dedicated his career to driving technical excellence, while maintaining strong client relationships, revenue, and processes to assure future growth. His work with NASA also led to a Silver Snoopy Award, the astronauts’ personal award.

About Southern Research
Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 400 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment. We work on behalf of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, major aerospace firms, utility companies, and other private and government organizations as we solve the world’s hardest problems. Southern Research, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Frederick, Maryland, Durham, North Carolina, Cartersville, Georgia, and Houston. Visit southernresearch.org for more information.

Media Contact:
Rossi M. Carlson
205-581-2266

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