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KRB Hires Dr. Kris Curtis as Director of R&D
Richmond, Maine – Kennebec River Biosciences is pleased to announce that Dr. Kris Curtis has joined as Director of Research and Development. Dr. Curtis comes to KRB from IDEXX Laboratories in Portland, Maine with 18 years’ experience in diagnostic product development. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003 (Go Heels!), where he studied the genetics and vaccine approaches for Coronaviruses. Following graduate school, Dr. Curtis was awarded a fellowship with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in Washington, D.C., and performed research on hemorrhagic fever viruses with the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick, MD, including Ebola and Marburg. Since then, Dr. Curtis has worked in the field of veterinary diagnostics and has held positions in both R&D and Marketing. Most recently, Dr. Curtis served as Senior Product Manager, where he was responsible for new product innovations and strategies focused on growing the business. “We are extremely fortunate to bring someone of Kris’s caliber on board our growing staff,” said Bill Keleher, President and CEO. “Pathogens are evolving rapidly across the global aquaculture sector, and demand for proactive solutions has never been higher. Kris is a perfect fit to help us meet the needs.” At KRB, Dr. Curtis will focus on vaccine development and manufacturing as part of a comprehensive aquatic animal management approach for the company’s many and diverse clients....
read moreHoping to join the team?
Kennebec River Biosciences hires often, and welcomes your inquiry at any time! A growing aquatic animal health company, KRB is based in Richmond, Maine. Employees live in greater Portland / Casco Bay, in the beautiful midcoast, in the Kennebec valley, at the southern beaches, and near the western lakes and mountains. For more on Maine, visit liveandworkinmaine.com. KRB’s clientele is global and our facilities include laboratory, R&D and manufacturing settings, but our team is our greatest asset. Professional and fun, we are self-starters who learn and adapt, carry out current protocols, solve problems, work both independently and with others, prioritize tasks and communicate and collaborate effectively. Microbiology / molecular biology and lab experience is required for some but not all positions. Salaries and wages are commensurate with experience. For current opportunities, please fill out our contact form and introduce...
read moreKennebec River Biosciences Hires Ann-Marie Allen as Laboratory Technician
Experienced zebrafish technician joins growing KRB team Richmond, Maine — Kennebec River Biosciences today announced its hiring of Ann-Marie Allen as laboratory technician. Allen comes to KRB from Maine’s Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, where she worked as animal technician and was quickly promoted to zebrafish technician. During her four years in this position Allen was responsible for most colony management activities such as nutrition, breeding, growth, record keeping, and biosecurity, as well as training new zebrafish personnel. Prior to her years at MDIBL, Allen worked at the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center at the University of New England. Here, she cared for a variety of recovering marine animals, working alongside veterinary and other scientific staff to meet the unique needs of each species. “This position at KRB lets me use my education and skill set to contribute to aquatic animal health and sustainable productivity on a global level,” said Allen. “I’m excited to be able to contribute to this team.” “Ann-Marie’s lab skills and background with zebrafish and other aquatic animals complement the needs of our lab well, said President and CEO Bill Keleher. “We are fortunate to have her join us.” Allen’s work will help Kennebec River Biosciences continue to grow its capacity to provide top-quality diagnostics and inspections for finfish and shellfish, as well as its first-in-class USDA-licensed autogenous vaccines. While KRB works with hundreds of species, it is seeing more and more interest from zebrafish researchers wanting to better understand the complete microbial profile of their colonies, and wanting to acquire zebrafish from other colonies more easily and with less pathogenic risk. Allen also enjoys cooking and kayaking, and is a PADI Certified Open Water Scuba...
read moreKennebec River Biosciences Licensed by USDA for Aquatic Vaccines
Strain-specific vaccines now available internationally and in all US states Richmond, Maine — Kennebec River Biosciences’ announced today that it is now fully approved by the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics to produce autogenous vaccines for fish. This approval greatly expands KRB’s ability to design and provide custom, strain-specific health solutions both to the aquaculture sector and to resource agencies worldwide. Unlike others, KRB CustomTM vaccines target the specific strains of bacteria and/or virus found at the client’s farm or facility. KRB’s veterinarians have made fish vaccines in this way for years, for clients in states where they were licensed. Now, KRB CustomTM autogenous fish vaccines are available in all U.S. states, as well as internationally. Susan Marcquenski, a Fish Health Specialist from Wisconsin, praises KRB for their “consistent, extremely effective autogenous vaccines.” A key advantage of KRB CustomTM vaccines is their connection to KRB’s experienced, high-throughput laboratory. The largest commercial fish health lab in the Americas, KRB has performed diagnostics and inspections for over 20 years, and offers more USDA-APHIS approved assays for export testing than any other lab. “Accurate detection and diagnosis is a core competency for us,” says Dr. Cem Giray, COO and Laboratory Manager. “By sampling on a regular basis and by producing our vaccines from recent, farm-specific isolates, we provide our clients with a precisely targeted solution.” To produce their vaccines, scientists at Kennebec River Biosciences use the pathogens most recently isolated from fish at individual farms or hatcheries. After identification, characterization and subsequent growth under optimized culture conditions, candidate organisms are inactivated and included in a vaccine. Each vaccine serial is rigorously tested to ensure its quality as well as its safety in fish. KRB clients praise the company’s proactive, full-service approach to fish health. According to George Nardi, founder of Great Bay Aquaculture, KRB provides “solutions for health needs that are tailored to my business.” Greg Lambert of Cooke Aquaculture USA, a longtime client, says “the personal relationships are excellent as is the regulatory assistance in determining what testing is required for a given situation. The vaccine production incorporated recently is an added bonus. Additionally, KRB is very flexible in working around our schedule which is always appreciated.” KRB can produce either immersion or injectable custom vaccines. Immersion vaccines are administered to fish through the gills and the gut by exposing fish to specific dilutions of the vaccine in hatchery water for a specific period of time. According to Dr. Peter Merrill, a KRB veterinarian and Director of Regulatory Affairs, “the use of immersion vaccines in fish as small as 5 grams can be an important factor in an integrated fish health management program.” Injectable vaccines are typically administered through intraperitoneal injection in larger fish, and often as a booster following an earlier immersion. KRB’s injection vaccines also include a proven adjuvant, to help enhance and prolong immunity in fish. Depending on the number of candidate pathogens, KRB can produce cost-effective immersion or injectable bacterins (bacterial vaccines) in as little as a week after isolation. Effective vaccines can not only reduce disease in vaccinated fish, but also reduce or eliminate costly antibiotic treatments. And because many pathogens are capable of changes in their antigenicity, autogenous vaccines (generally developed from more recent isolations) can potentially provide a critical advantage as fish encounter live pathogens and need...
read moreOpen Positions at Kennebec River Biosciences: Lab Technician, Molecular Biologist
UPDATE – THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED. Richmond, Maine — Kennebec River Biosciences, an aquatic animal health testing laboratory and USDA-licensed producer of autogenous fish vaccines, is now hiring for the following two positions: Laboratory Technician, and Molecular Biologist. Both positions are at KRB’s facility in Richmond. Details of each position are as follows: Molecular Biologist Growing global aquatic animal health company seeking a motivated individual with experience in molecular biology. Undergraduate degree and related laboratory experience, interest in microbiology, ability to work in a team environment, accuracy, efficiency and good work ethics required. Eligible candidate must be able to carry out current protocols and optimize/develop new molecular assays, problem-solve, work independently, prioritize tasks and train/supervise staff. Salary commensurate with experience. Job Type: Full-time Required experience: 2+ years in molecular biology Required license or certification: Driver’s license Required education: Bachelor’s degree or higher Laboratory Technician Entry-level position in aquatic animal health laboratory. An interest in microbiology, ability to follow protocols and perform repetitive tasks, attention to detail, accuracy, efficiency and good work ethics required. Educational background in Microbiology or Biological Sciences and/or laboratory experience preferred. Position activities consist of laboratory preparation and clean-up, finfish and shellfish necropsy, sample collection and processing, and preliminary laboratory evaluations. Moderate lifting, physical activity and some travel also required. Salary commensurate with experience. Job Type: Temporary Required license or certification: Driver’s...
read moreKRB Hires Mandy Hufstader as Laboratory Technician
Scientist eager to “develop skills and contribute to a dynamic team” Richmond, Maine — Kennebec River Biosciences today announced its hiring of Mandy Hufstader as clinical laboratory technician. Hufstader has an extensive background in biological laboratories like KRB, having worked as a lab technician for 15 years in her native Australia. Most recently, she worked as teaching services coordinator at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology. In this capacity she provided support to both undergraduate practical classes and to departmental research projects, supervised other laboratory staff, and handled purchasing, procurement and equipment maintenance. Prior to her years at the University, Hufstader had worked at the Bartter Vaccine Production Laboratory, at the Cancer Research Unit and Microbiology/Virology Research Laboratory at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and at the Royal Children’s Hospital. “KRB offers me a challenging opportunity in biological sciences where I can develop my skills, and contribute to a dynamic laboratory team,” said Hufstader. “It’s an excellent fit for me.” “Mandy is conscientious, efficient and pleasant to be around,” said Lab Director Dr. Cem Giray. “She has quickly become a very liked and respected member of our team and no doubt well-placed to soon take on a leadership role in our company.” Hufstader’s background will help Kennebec River Biosciences continue to grow its capacity to provide top-quality diagnostics and inspections for aquatic species, as well as its first-in-class USDA-licensed autogenous vaccines. By identifying viral or bacterial pathogens of concern and by isolating the specific strain(s) found at a client’s facility, KRB is able to target its vaccines to the precise needs of the customer. Hufstader enjoys camping and travel. She has served as an emergency warden, holds First Aid Level 2 competency, and is an avid distance...
read moreKRB Celebrates 20th Year in Business
Richmond, Maine — Kennebec River Biosciences today celebrated its 20th year in business, providing solutions for aquaculture, hatcheries and others concerned with fish and shellfish health. Formerly known as Micro Technologies, KRB was established on April 22, 1996 at 43 Main St in downtown Richmond. Initially focused on providing health testing such as diagnostics and screenings for aquatic animals, KRB has since expanded to provide solutions such as autogenous vaccines, regulatory consultation, and contract research. While KRB at first served local customers, it now serves hundreds of clients ranging from Mexico to Vietnam and from Canada to Indonesia, and has tested hundreds of species of fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms. Lab and vaccine production space has expanded into multiple adjacent buildings. KRB is today the largest commercial fish health lab in North America and offers more USDA/APHIS-approved assays for aquatic animal export certification than any other laboratory. Thanks to careful identification and isolation of more virulent pathogens, KRB is able to produce highly targeted, custom vaccines. As part of a proactive, well-structured fish health program, vaccination can help hatcheries and aquaculture enterprises reduce costs, improve growth and survival, and improve their overall...
read moreKRB Hires Ben Coupland as Molecular Biologist
British-born researcher “keen to work at the forefront of marine biological sciences.” Kennebec River Biosciences today announced its hiring of Ben Coupland as molecular biologist. Coupland has an extensive background in microbiology, pathology and biochemistry. As scientific officer at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, England, a leading cancer research facility, his work was published in four leading scientific journals. While there, he provided clinical diagnostic service to the Royal Marsden Hospital, operated DNA extraction, Sanger sequencing machines and an institute-wide sequencing service, maintained lab spaces and equipment, completed Sanger validation and MLPA confirmation of NGS data, and trained new staff on laboratory techniques, application and auditing of ISO15189:2012 standards. “I enjoyed immensely the challenges of working in a globally-respected cancer research center,” said Coupland, “but I was also keen to make the move to the USA and to work at the forefront of marine biological sciences at Kennebec River Biosciences.” “Ben is a terrific addition to our staff,” said Lab Director Dr. Cem Giray. “His talents and experience will enable us to do more for our customers in aquaculture and elsewhere in the blue biotechnology space.” Coupland’s background allows Kennebec River Biosciences to further expand its world-class diagnostic and health certification work for fish, shellfish and other aquatic animals. As a molecular biologist at KRB, Coupland will put to work his extensive experience in with microbial identification, genetics, cell culture and bacterial transformation experiments to help identify pathogens causing disease in fish and shellfish farms as well as wild fisheries. This careful identification and isolation of virulent pathogens by molecular biologists like Coupland is what enables Kennebec River Biosciences to design and produce the most effective custom vaccines, helping fish farmers and hatchery or nursery managers to avoid losses due to related diseases while also reducing treatment...
read moreKRB’s Seth Berry profiled in MaineBiz
Seth Berry, KRB’s Vice President for Business Development, was profiled in the latest MaineBiz. Questions focused on his transition from leadership in the public sector to the private sector, and his impressions of the laboratory and its clients. As former House Majority Leader in the Maine Legislature, Berry calls Kennebec River Biosciences “the kind of business that we want to grow more of here in...
read moreDr. Giray presents baitfish risk assessment at Fisherman’s Forum
Dr. Cem Giray, COO and Laboratory Director of Kennebec River Biosciences, presented an overview of risks to Maine’s fishery associated with imported baitfish at the 2015 Maine Fisherman’s Forum. The study was prompted in part by the increase in the number of species used as bait over the last few decades. Among the more than 30 species commonly used as baitfish in Maine’s lobster and crab fisheries today, many are imported from distant locations including the continents of Asia, Australia, South America, and Europe. Risk assessment of each baitfish source is important because without careful monitoring, movement of aquatic life can damage ecosystems, economies and livelihoods. Viral agents can cause diseases in finfish (e.g., viral hemorrhagic septicemia) as well as crustaceans (e.g., white spot syndrome in shrimp), as can bacteria or parasites. These diseases can directly affect wild fisheries, and aquaculture operations, or both. Invasive species can also compete with native species: for instance, Caulerpa taxifolia is native to the Indian Ocean, but was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea. An invasive algae, it has grown in dense monocultures, excluding other marine life and negatively affecting the livelihood of local fishermen. Biofouling, in which aquatic species such as tunicates can clog nets & fishing gear, can be made worse when invasive species are introduced into environments where their natural predators or other controls do not exist. The purpose of the study was to provide data on risk levels of alternative bait species sourced from different regions, allowing fishermen to make informed decisions while at the same time making as many baitfish species available for use as possible. KRB’s study analyzed nearly 50 bait sources, and found that at present, a majority pose a low risk to Maine’s environment and to other aquatic species. In cases where use of the particular bait source carries moderate risk, mitigation is possible. The collection season, for instance, can influence whether a pathogen is absent or dormant. Bait can be screened for targeted pathogens, using internationally accepted OIE standards. Processing such as freezing or salting bait may also help in some cases by destroying potential pathogens or parasites. A handful of the nearly 50 species screened by KRB were identified as posing an elevated risk. As of June 2015, approved bait for lobster and crabs in Maine will include Atlantic cod and herring, croaker, halibut, kinky, lingcod, mackerel, mullet, orange roughy, menhaden, pollock, redfish, river herring, rockfish, sablefish, skate, shad, sole, tuna, and any species caught in Maine coastal waters or the NEFMC groundfish complex. For specific, up-to-date regulatory information, readers should consult the lobster and crab baitfish page of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. “’Maine is a relatively pristine environment still,” said Dr. Giray, “but it is changing.” Ongoing monitoring will be required to help minimize future...
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