Open to opportunities

Tarena Whitfield

@tarenawhitfield

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Experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist specializing in molecular diagnostics.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role applying molecular diagnostics and flow cytometry in a collaborative, quality-driven lab where I can lead process improvements and mentor staff.

I am an experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist with over a decade of hands-on clinical and research laboratory experience, including flow cytometry, dPCR, NGS/RNASeq, qPCR, ELISA, and immunoblotting. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology and have worked across clinical and pharmaceutical settings to deliver accurate, high-quality results.

Throughout my career I have led teams, optimized workflows, and improved quality control—contributing to measurable gains such as increased throughput and reduced testing errors. I am comfortable independently troubleshooting instruments, performing method validation, and curating metadata for regulated laboratory environments.

I bring a strong commitment to scientific rigor, collaborative problem-solving, and continual improvement to support patient outcomes and research objectives. I seek opportunities where I can apply molecular techniques, mentor teams, and contribute to robust laboratory operations.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Current

Quest Diagnostics

Dec 2023 - Present (1 year 9 months)

Performed flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting assays, maintained QC and instrument troubleshooting, and updated laboratory databases to ensure accurate patient results.

Quality Control Plasma Preparation Regulated Laboratory Troubleshooting

Medical Laboratory Scientist

IU Health

Dec 2020 - Dec 2023 (3 years)

Executed quality control testing, instrument maintenance, and troubleshooting in a flow cytometry lab while verifying analytic accuracy, sensitivity, and reference ranges.

Quality Control Sensitivity Accuracy Verification Team Coordination Regulatory Compliance Troubleshooting

Medical Lab Scientist

Covance Pharma Solutions

Dec 2018 - Dec 2019 (1 year)

Assisted research studies in neurodegeneration and immunology, performed molecular diagnostics including dPCR and NGS/RNASeq, and curated metadata for research reporting.

RNAseq Experimental Design Data Analysis Digital Imaging

Biologist

Eli Lilly

Dec 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years)

Conducted molecular assays (qPCR, ELISA), developed and validated new testing procedures, and led a team to increase throughput and reduce testing errors through improved QC.

Team Leadership Workflow Optimization Quality Control

Microbiologist

Indiana State Department of Health

Dec 2011 - Dec 2014 (3 years)

Performed routine pathology and molecular tests, conducted point-of-care and quality testing in a regulated environment, and supported experimental design and team research.