Joseph Mick

Background

About Joseph Mick

Professional trouble shooter, team leader, project manager, and mentor, with extensive experience in the identification of all organic materials. Over 30 years in research and development laboratories ranging from agriculture to fragrance to pharmaceutical to oil and polymer industries. In these different roles, demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience with analytical separation and molecular characterization.As a lead research scientist developed novel methods while managing research projects and perfecting problem-solving skills. Detecting, identifying, and quantifying organic material in all type of matrices, from waste to natural products, oils, polymers, asphalt, and soil/rock. Supervised analytical laboratories characterizing small & large molecules using LC/MS, MS/MS, NMR, LC/UV/DAD/CAD/ELSD/FLD, GC/MS, FT-IR and Raman as well as trained others to use these systems. Additionally responsible for designing and maintaining multiple open-access labs. Implemented software changes to streamline process and improve identification. Solving problems is my greatest satisfaction. Over the years, I have learned knowledge is important but communication is a necessity.Some takeaways learned over a 30-year career:1) Keep it simple.2) Time is important!3) Get the right people in the room. Typically, the original discussion around an issue involves those who are three or four degrees away from the problem. It tends to be a reactive high-level dialogue. This may be helpful, but if I don’t see those intimate with the problem, I recommend they be included. Most of the time, really listening to those closest to the issue contributes to a solution and success is imminent.4) Time commitment to solve a problem can be measured based on the amount of people in the discussion and who is in the room (see 3 above). I’ve found the shortest time for solving the problem with 2-5 people. As the numbers increase, success is still possible, but time commitment becomes exponential.