Catherine Lewus Ph.D. 

 

ACCOMPLISHED CORPORATE QUALITY/MICROBIOLOGY CONSULTANT

Interested in bringing skills and expertise to a food or consumer product organization

 

• Respected expert industrial quality and microbiology professional in the food and personal care industries

• Strong practical operational, quality and regulatory focus

• Outstanding communication, management and leadership skills in globally diverse and cross-cultural situations and functions

• Champion of continuous improvement, cost reduction, and simplification with ability to provide business relevant recommendations

• Highly energetic and solution driven with unparalleled, intuitive critical thinking skills

 

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Manufacturing microbiological and quality control strategies: cleaning and sanitization with microbiological, quality, engineering and plant floor perspectives; environmental monitoring, micro risk and GMP vulnerability assessments; water system monitoring, maintenance and improvement; SOP development.

 

Laboratory microbiological management and control strategies: quality control and assurance inclusive systems (instrument routine monitoring, maintenance and validation, media controls, documentation, data management and integrity, LIMS, analyst training and proficiencies); design; audit readiness.

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Preservation and method strategies: product specific preservation system design with incorporated testing and regulatory strategies; Pharmacopoeia (e.g. USP,     Ph. Eur., JP) compliance application; Method Suitability, Microbial Limits and preservative efficacy testing expertise.

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Rapid microbiological innovation: strategy development, validation and execution; rapid microbiological release methods for finished products and raw materials; rapid microbiological methods for microbial identification, cleaning and sanitization and water; innovation for improved efficiencies and effectiveness in laboratory management and throughput.

 

Training: development and execution of training programs in various areas of industrial and fundamental microbiology and quality to diverse cultural and organizational teams; mentoring of program trainees.

 

Quality Systems:  design and implementation of quality systems with expertise in validation strategies, root cause analysis, failure investigations, technology transfer, audit readiness and regulatory compliance.

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EDUCATION

Ph.D. Food Science/Microbiology, Rutgers University

M.S. Food Science/Microbiology, Cornell University

B.S. Food Science & Technology, University of Rhode Island

B.S. Nutritional Sciences, University of Rhode Island

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CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HAACP Certification (2020)

FSCPA Preventative Controls for Human Food Certification (2021)

Women Unlimited

Coaching and Feedback

Center for Creative Leadership

American Management Association

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Personal Care Products Council, Microbiological Committee

Institute of Food Technologists, National and New York Section

American Society of Microbiologists

Tribute to Women in Industry

Douglass College STEM Support