Leka Papazisi
About Leka Papazisi
Leka Papazisi serves as the Director of Microbiology R&D at ATCC, where she has worked since 2019. She holds a Ph.D. in Pathobiology from The University of Connecticut and has extensive experience in microbiology and diagnostics development.
Current Role at ATCC
Leka Papazisi serves as the Director of Microbiology R&D at ATCC, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she oversees research and development activities focused on synthetic biology and next-generation sequencing (NGS) standards for microbiome research. Her leadership encompasses efforts in bacteriology and virology, contributing to the advancement of diagnostics standards within the organization. ATCC, located in Gaithersburg, MD, benefits from her extensive expertise in microbiology and related fields.
Previous Experience in Microbiology
Prior to her current position, Leka Papazisi worked at OpGen, Inc. as Technical Director for Surveillance Solutions from 2018 to 2019. Before that, she held various roles at Canon U.S. Life Sciences, including Manager of R&D Assay Development and Manager of R&D Microbiology, from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, she served as a Senior Scientist in R&D Assay Development from 2011 to 2014. Her experience spans multiple aspects of microbiology, enhancing her capabilities in research and development.
Educational Background
Leka Papazisi has a diverse educational background in veterinary medicine and microbiology. She earned her Veterinarian Diploma from the Agricultural University of Tirana in Albania. She further advanced her studies at Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, where she achieved a Doctor Medicinae Veterinarie in Veterinary Microbiology. Additionally, she obtained a Ph.D. in Pathobiology from The University of Connecticut. This solid educational foundation supports her expertise in protistology and microbiology.
Career Development at J. Craig Venter Institute
Leka Papazisi worked at the J. Craig Venter Institute from 2003 to 2011, where she held the position of Staff Scientist I-III for eight years. During her tenure, she contributed to significant advancements in microbiology research. This experience laid the groundwork for her subsequent roles in R&D and established her as a knowledgeable professional in the field.
Expertise in Microbiology and Pathobiology
Leka Papazisi possesses specialized expertise in microbiology, particularly in protistology, bacteriology, and virology. Her extensive experience in R&D roles has equipped her with the skills necessary to lead complex projects and develop diagnostics standards. This expertise is integral to her current responsibilities at ATCC, where she drives innovation in microbiome research and related fields.