Dean Shinabarger, Ph.D.  Co-Founder

Dean Shinabarger received a B.S. in Biology from Emporia State University in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology
 from Louisiana State University in 1986.  He was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Leo Parks
 at North Carolina State University from 1986-88, studying sterol synthesis in yeast.  In addition, he completed
 a second fellowship from 1989-91 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago under
 Dr. Chakrabarty, investigating the molecular biology and enzymology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate synthesis
 as related to cystic fibrosis patient lung infections.  Dr. Shinabarger began his industrial career at
 Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals in 1992 in their anti-infective discovery program.  After 2 years, he moved
 to Upjohn Pharmaceuticals in 1994 to join the discovery and development team working on the oxazolidinone class
 of antibacterial agents.  Dr. Shinabarger continued with the program, contributing to the eventual approval of
 linezolid (Zyvox) in 2000 and then exited a few months after Pfizer acquired Pharmacia in 2003.  In 2004,
 Dr. Shinabarger cofounded Micromyx, a microbiology services company that conducts preclinical R&D for biotech,
 Pharma, and animal health companies.

 Publications 

Chris Pillar, Ph.D.  Director of Science and Operations

Chris Pillar received a B.A. with a major in Biology in 1996 from Kalamazoo College and a Ph.D. in Microbiology
 from Wayne State University in 2001 where he studied the contribution of toxins and proteases to the pathogenesis
 of Pseudomonas keratitis.  He was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Gilmore at the University
 of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Harvard University Schepens Eye Research Institute, studying toxin expression
 and regulation in Enterococcus faecalis.  Dr. Pillar began his career in industry in 2007 at Eurofins Medinet where
 he served as Senior Scientist for five years under Dr. Daniel Sahm.  In 2011, he joined Micromyx as Chief Scientific
 Officer and continues in this role at the present time.  In his time as both Senior Scientist at a global CRO and as
 the CSO at Micromyx, his primary responsibilities have been to: serve as the scientific lead on projects involving
 the testing and development of new antimicrobials for clients (pharmaceutical companies and biotech), manage the day
 to day operations of a group of scientists assigned to conduct these projects, generate final study reports, present
 study findings at international conferences and to standards committees (e.g. CLSI), and consult clients on the
 development of anti-infectives (testing for IND/NDA submissions). 

 Publications

Danielle Hall,  Scientist

Danielle Hall received her B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University in 2004.
 From 2004-2007, Dani helped to run a Surgical Support business serving patients in Southwest Michigan.
 Beginning in 2007, she worked for MPI Research conducting studies in the reproductive toxicology laboratories
 and auditing the analytical, bioanalytical, and immunology departments for conformity to regulatory standards.
 She became proficient at adherence to study protocols, Standard Operating Procedures, and Good Laboratory Practices.
 Dani joined Micromyx in March of 2013 where she conducts susceptibility testing, time-kill studies, and a variety of
 other microbiology assays.

Bev Murray,  M.S.  Director of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry


Bev Murray received her B.S. in Biology from Millersville State University in 1981.  She attended graduate school
 at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a M.S. in biology in 1989.  Bev then joined Lilly Research Laboratories
 as a Research Associate where she investigated antisense and triplex DNA technology for antiviral therapy. 
 She moved to The Upjohn Company in 1990 as a Biochemistry Associate working in the laboratory of Dr. Donald C. Carter.  
 There she established stable cell lines for research on the GABAa receptor expression system and worked on assay
 development in Alzheimer’s research.  Bev moved to the laboratory of Dr. Che-Shen Tomich where she worked as a Research
 Biochemist in assay development and screening in antibiotic research.  In 2005, Bev moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan working
 for one year in a contract position as a research scientist in Antibacterial Pharmacology at Pfizer, Inc.  In 2006, Bev
 accepted a position at the University of Michigan as a Senior Research Lab Technician I the Life Sciences Institute. 
 Bev joined Micromyx in August of  2007, where she conducts mechanism of action studies, ß-lactamase assays, and a variety
 of susceptibility assays.

Doug Stapert,  Scientist


Doug Stapert is a graduate of Western Michigan University, receiving a B.A. degree in the Group Sciences (1973). 
 During his 34 years of service at Upjohn/Pharmacia/Pfizer, Doug worked in a variety of scientific settings. 
 Initially, he provided technical assistance to include dosing, blood draws, urine collections, and TB testing
 for long term animal studies in Chronic Toxicology.  For the majority of his tenure with Upjohn/Pharmacia/Pfizer,
 Doug worked in the Infectious Diseases Group, developing small animal efficacy models for the evaluation of antibiotics. 
 Doug has also consulted with MPI Research (Mattawan, MI), providing assistance in bringing small animal models to their
 collection of assays and scientific studies.  In 2007, Doug joined Micromyx, where he conducts a variety of studies
 involving susceptibility testing, time-kill, PAE, and spontaneous mutation studies.  In addition, Doug is responsible
 for the maintenance and calibration of all equipment at Micromyx.        

Laure Stapert,  Scientist


Laure received her B.A. in Medical Technology from Western Michigan University. She has 6 years of combined hospital
 laboratory experience at both Bronson Methodist Hospital and Borgess Medical Center.  Laure worked at
 Upjohn/Pharmacia/Pfizer for 19 years in the laboratory for Drug Safety and Pathology/Toxicology performing analyses
 on hematology, coagulation, chemistry, and urinalysis specimens for both veterinary and human protocols.  Laure joined
 Micromyx in 2011, where she currently conducts susceptibility testing, time-kill kinetics, and a variety of other assays.
 Laure’s training in Good Laboratory Practices has been vital to numerous regulatory studies conducted at Micromyx.         

Audrey Stoneburner,  Scientist & Purchasing Manager

Audrey received her B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 2009.  She joined Micromyx
 as a Scientist in 2011, conducting susceptibility testing, time-kill, PAE, disk diffusion, Tier 1 and Tier 2, and a variety
 of assays.  Audrey also serves as Purchasing Manager, ordering supplies and tracking inventory for Micromyx.

Deb Sweeney,  Director of Microbiology and Laboratory 

Deb received a B.S. in Biology at Madonna University in 1988. After graduation, she accepted a position at Difco Laboratories
 in Detroit as a Quality Control Scientist testing bacterial growth media and supplements.  In 1999, Deb joined Pharmacia
 in Kalamazoo as an Associate Scientist supporting antifungal and antibacterial research. Deb joined Micromyx in 2005,
 conducting a variety of assays for antibacterial/antifungal discovery and development.  Deb is currently the Director of
 Microbiology and overall Laboratory Manager at Micromyx, conducting studies and serving as a leader for the scientific staff.