Meet the Staff of MicroChem Laboratory

Dr. Norman Miner, Ph.D. is a graduate of Purdue University where he studied Virology, Interferon, and Molecular Biology.  He has over 30 years of laboratory experience with disinfectants and sterilants.  He has published studies of the AOAC Sporicidal Test, organic soil neutralization tests, and laboratory and clinical evaluations of major disinfectants.  Dr. Miner is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and the American Society for Testing and Materials.  He lectures frequently on disinfection and sterilization of heat-sensitive medical devices.  Dr. Miner is available for consulting service and as an expert witness regarding disinfectants.

Valerie Harris, MPH, Laboratory Manager and Microbiologist/Chemist, came to MicroChem in 1999.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Arlington with a minor in Chemistry and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.  

Towanda Ebron, B.S., Microbiologist/Chemist, joined MicroChem Laboratory in 2006.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas Women's University with a minor in Chemistry.  As an undergraduate assistant, she worked to isolate and identify Helicobacter pylori plasmids.

Mary Cao, B.S., Microbiologist/Chemist, also joined MicroChem Laboratory in 2006.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Natalie Lukomski, Microbiologist/Chemist joined MicroChem Laboratory in 2008.  She has a Master of Science in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington.  She completed graduate research involving microbial aquatic food webs and wrote a  thesis titled "Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Stoichiometry of a Heterotrophic Flagellate."

John Opalach III, B.S., Laboratory Assistant, came to MicroChem Laboratory in 2001.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington.