Ray serves as the Institutional Biosafety Officer (BSO), at the Penn State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey, Pa, who manages all aspects of Biosafety within life science and clinical research. Responsible for all federally mandated compliance audits, biosafety and recombinant DNA protocol reviews, laboratory surveys and subsequent summary reports, development of Standard Operating Procedures for all biological materials and associated management of laboratory incidents.
Develops and provides educational and training programs specific to biosafety to all laboratory personnel. Ensures proper operations and asset management of all laboratory scientific equipment. Provides leadership in addressing all laboratory equipment and facility issues during normal and emergency circumstances.
In addition his role provides ancillary reviews involving biosafety issues with human DNA protocol development with the IRB (Institutional Review Board) and in the development of specific IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) protocols. He has served as a voting member of the IBC (Institutional Biosafety Committee) in the College of Medicine for 20 years.
Formally served as the Central Service Manager in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in Hersey that encompassed the maintenance of departmental cell lines and viral stocks, oversight of media preparation and departmental sterilization and decontamination of materials.
Highlights include the development and management of the Penn State College of Medicine BL 3 facility in Penn State Hershey.
Ray received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Bloomsburg State College (Now Bloomsburg University) in Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Pollution Control from Penn State University with research focused on the degradation of toluene by the use of Pseudomonas plasmids where he published several papers involving the extraction of plasmids from contaminated soils.
Ray is also a Registered Biosafety Professional RBP(ABSA)
A member of several professional biosafety groups including ABSA International and the Biosafety Administrators Professional Association.
Active in the Community as a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist, the development and maintenance of a community 36,000 square foot environmental meadow named PEAP (Palmyra Environmental Area by the Pool), and a co-founder of a tree planting initiative in Palmyra, Pa named Beau-tree-fy.
Hobbies include Fly fishing, birdwatching and gardening.
