Karen Zimmerman
About Karen Zimmerman
Karen Zimmerman is a Senior Lab Instrumentation Specialist at Azzur Group, where she has contributed to the Validation Master Plan and developed a Qualification Plate for the Bio-Rad CFX384 instrument. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Penn State University and has extensive experience in laboratory compliance and instrument validation.
Work at Azzur Group
Karen Zimmerman serves as a Senior Lab Instrumentation Specialist at Azzur Group since 2020. In this role, she has contributed significantly to laboratory compliance and instrumentation validation. One of her key responsibilities includes assisting in the development of the Validation Master Plan. She has also developed a homemade Qualification Plate specifically for the Bio-Rad CFX384 instrument, demonstrating her hands-on approach to instrumentation validation.
Education and Expertise
Karen Zimmerman earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Microbiology from Penn State University, completing her studies from 2010 to 2014. She further enhanced her qualifications by obtaining a Green Belt in Healthcare through a Six Sigma program at Villanova University in 2016. Additionally, she achieved MLS Certification after studying Medical Laboratory Science at Pennsylvania Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science from 2014 to 2015. Her expertise includes writing User Requirement Specifications (URS) for instrument validation and familiarity with current Good x Practice (cGxP) guidelines.
Background in Medical Laboratory Science
Prior to her current role, Karen Zimmerman worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Penn Medicine Radnor from 2015 to 2017. Her experience also includes serving as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Penn State University from 2012 to 2014. Additionally, she completed a Quality Assurance Internship at West Pharmaceutical Services in 2013. This diverse background has equipped her with a solid foundation in laboratory practices and quality assurance.
Contributions to COVID-19 Testing
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen Zimmerman played a role in validating the extraction and real-time PCR method for SARS-CoV-2 testing at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This contribution highlights her ability to apply her laboratory skills in critical public health initiatives.