Name: Rachel Moore
How long have you been with Metrics Contract Services?
Two years
What is your role?
As an Analytical Chemist II for Metrics Contract Services, I have had the opportunity to participate in both stability and release testing of many different drug products. Working in the Specialty Group, I have been able to interact with many forms of drug product and active pharmaceutical ingredients. These forms range from liquid, in the form of ophthalmic solution, to solid, in the form of capsules and tablets. Additionally, I have worked on evaluation and development of new methods as well as following established methods. My group also works directly with manufacturing to release APIs for use in the production of development, clinical trial, and commercial batches.
What accomplishment/project/area of work is your specialty or makes you proud?
I was able to troubleshoot and identify a solution for a method that was particularly troublesome for our group. There was a USP Tailing requirement for our UPLC method that was difficult to meet. Every time we ran the method, we would have to also run at least 10 runs of test injections on multiple systems, days, columns, etc., until we could meet the tailing requirement. This exhausted tons of resources and time that could have been put towards another project. I was able to find a pre-column to add to our set-up which resulted in consistently meeting the tailing requirement. It was a relatively simple fix to a problem, but it had a big impact on our ability to reliably run the method. We were also able to provide a much quicker turnaround time for the stability study, which pleased the client.
Are there any special organizational strategies you use to be efficient at work?
Regarding lab work, I am a color coordinator. I match up colors on my labels as well as having a system for what color means “standard,” “sample,” “sensitivity,” etc. This gives me an additional visual cue to check that I am using the correct solutions. This organizational strategy has allowed me to catch a few mistakes before they happened. For example, if my first preparation of a sample is labeled with a yellow label, but I notice that I am about to dilute into a green flask, I can catch that mistake before it is made because of that visual cue.
Regarding desk work, I try to reduce as much clutter as possible and utilize filing systems to retain paper copies. I also am a big fan of To-Do lists to keep myself accountable. I order my items in terms of priority so that I can make sure deadlines are met.
What’s are your team’s latest achievements?
My team has recently evaluated and validated a method with a high level of quality. This client had utilized other companies before coming to Metrics Contract Services but was not satisfied with them. My group has been able to provide the client with quality results in a timely manner. The client has expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the work that we have done for them and are satisfied with bringing their business to Metrics. This is something my group should be extremely proud of!
How do you think those accomplishments might impact the contract pharmaceutical industry and the industry at large?
The entire industry should strive for the highest level of quality imaginable. My group’s accomplishments have bolstered Metrics Contract Services’s reputation of being able to do so. Competition in the contract pharmaceutical industry is intensifying, and the more we can do to make Metrics emerge from the crowd, the better.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job, by far, is the satisfaction of knowing that what we do helps people. The drugs that we support and produce play a huge part in extending and enhancing patient’s lives.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from one of your mentors/colleagues?
Everyone has heard of the Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated. I have always tried to incorporate the Golden Rule into the way I live my life. One of the first pieces of advice that I received when I started working at Metrics was to always treat the products as if yourself or your family members were going to use them. This piece of advice resonated with me, and I strive to use it as motivation to provide the highest quality of work possible.
Comments are closed.