SUMMARY

I received my PhD in 2013 from MIT in microbiology. I have over 10 years of experience leading and conducting laboratory research projects. I also worked for 3.5 years in a non-research role in biothreat reduction at Sandia National Laboratories with a heavy project management focus. In that role, I led and organized numerous international events and workshops (always on time and on budget) and successfully served as laboratory coordinator for an Ebola diagnostic laboratory in Sierra Leone (receiving multiple awards). I recently completed my MBA and PMP certification and have been doing market research, market sizing calculations, and strategy consulting. I have worked in the biotechnology industry, government, and academia.

EDUCATION

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM - Master of Business Administration

August 2023 - May 2025

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA - Ph.D. in Microbiology

September 2008 - June 2013

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI - B.S. in Microbiology, with Distinction

September 2004 - May 2008

EXPERIENCE AND SELECT PROJECTS

Freelance Management & Technical Consultant, Albuquerque, NM

February 2025- Present

Project 1: I conduct quantitative and secondary market research for small businesses, delivering strategic recommendations to drive business growth. 

Responsibilities include leading client meetings, preparing detailed analytical reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders. I consistently receive highly 

positive client feedback.

Project 2: I developed and proposed minimum viable product (MVP) strategies for a local, biotechnology start-up, effectively leveraging my expertise in 

biology (PhD) and business management to align scientific innovation with market viability.  

Nature’s Toolbox, Albuquerque, NM – Scientist

April 2022- February 2023

Project 1: I managed a project to develop a qPCR assay for DNA contamination, an essential assay for the company. I trained and oversaw the work of a 

research associate in this project. In addition to developing the assay, we surveyed and diagnosed environmental contamination challenges in the RNA 

production facility.

Project 2: I conducted experiments and wrote technical protocols for cross-functional development of the company’s bioreactor for producing RNA vaccines. 

These protocols served as the foundation for technology transfers to other companies. The data I collected constituted the basis for the technical 

performance of the bioreactor, the main product line for the company.

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM - Research Assistant Professor (Postdoctoral Fellow 

to start)

January 2017 - March 2022

Project 1: I directed and managed a research effort to identify and study noncoding RNAs important for parasite infection of mouse cells. This project 

required the development of a difficult technique for studying lncRNAs in mouse bone-marrow derived macrophages. I trained, mentored, and oversaw the 

work of an undergraduate and graduate student on this project. This project resulted in 4 peer-reviewed journal articles. The budget was ~$125,000 per year.

Project 2: I conceived of and spearheaded a project to overhaul the storage, organization, and safety of infectious materials in the Denkers laboratory. I 

recruited two undergraduates to assist me with this project. This project was completed with no budget and resulted in numerous benefits to the laboratory 

such as reduced storage costs, increased safety (no exploding vials), clearer and easier to use databases, and faster access to infectious samples.

Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM - Postdoctoral Appointee

August 2013 - January 2017

Project 1: I planned, led, and moderated numerous (~10) overseas workshops (typically with greater than 20 participants) to improve the safety and security 

of dangerous biological materials in public health laboratories worldwide. Logistics were especially challenging because workshops were held in developing 

countries. All events were completed on time and on budget and often resulted in follow-on funding. Budgets were ~$200,000 per workshop.

Project 2: I served as Laboratory Coordinator for an Ebola diagnostic laboratory in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. I routinely communicated 

with other stakeholders, including the CDC, WHO, local government, and our DoD sponsor. I also reported and compiled daily laboratory results and gave 

laboratory tours. I received multiple awards, including the DOE Secretary’s Appreciation Award (2017) for response to the Ebola virus global health 

emergency, Sandia’s Team Employee Recognition Award (2016), and a Sandia SPOT award (2014) for service during the Ebola outbreak.

Project 3: As the Division 6000 Intellectual Property Liaison, I met with inventors across the labs and wrote technical summaries of their inventions. These 

summaries were distributed to Division 6000 management in advance of IP decision meetings. I also attended these IP meetings with upper-level 

management to provide insight into specific inventions.

SKILLS

Secondary Market Research

Market Sizing

Go-to-market plans

Project Management                          

Microsoft Project

Research and Development                

P6 Primavera

Infectious Disease/Immunology           

Genetics                                   

Molecular Biology/RNA Biology

Microbiology                 

Public Speaking 

Professional Workshops                                                                          

Technical Writing                              

Laboratory Safety                                         

Biosecurity                               

Microsoft Office Suite                         

CERTIFICATIONS

Project Management Professional (PMP)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND VOLUNTEERISM

Project Management Institute Rio Grande Chapter Board Member

PUBLICATIONS

Menard K*, Doherty C*, Denkers E (Submitted). Knockdown of lncRNAs mir17hg and D43Rik in bone marrow-derived macrophages during Toxoplasma 

gondii infection reveals effects on immune gene expression.

Menard K, Bu L, Denkers E (2021) Transcriptomics analysis of Toxoplasma gondii-infected mouse macrophages reveals coding and noncoding signatures 

in the presence and absence of MyD88. BMC Genomics. (Open access journal article). 

https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-021-07437-0

Menard K and Denkers E (2019) Impact of Toxoplasma gondii Infection on Host Non-Coding RNA Responses. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection 

Microbiology. (Open access journal article) https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00132

Menard K, Haskins B, Colombo A, and Denkers E (2018) Toxoplasma gondii manipulates expression of host long noncoding RNA during intracellular 

infection. Scientific Reports. (Open access journal article) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-33274-5

Menard K and Grossman A (2013) Selective Pressures to Maintain Attachment Site Specificity of Integrative and Conjugative Elements. PLOS Genetics. 

(Open access journal article) http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1003623