Research Safety
Meet the Team
Kalpana Rengarajan, PhD, MPH, JM, RBP (ABSA)
Director and Biosafety Officer
Contact Information
Email: krengar@emory.edu
Cell: 404-357-1821
Biography
Kalpana Rengarajan is the Director of Research Safety and Biosafety Officer for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO). She is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining laboratory safety programs to control occupational exposures and to oversee implementation and compliance with federal/state laws, regulations, and guidelines. Kalpana provides biosafety support for the Serious Communicable Disease Unit (SCDU) at Emory University. Prior to Emory, Kalpana was a Research Associate at the Emory Vaccine Center and a Visiting Associate at the National Eye Institute, NIH. She holds a PhD in Immunology and has received a Master of Public Health and Juris Master (JM) degrees from Emory University. She serves on committees for the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) and is a technical writer for ISO/TC 212/JWG 5, Laboratory Biorisk Management Standard and the CEN Workshop Agreements for Biorisk Management Systems: 16393: 2012.
Robin J. Ruthenborg, M.S.
Assistant Director
Contact Information
Email: robin.ruthenborg@emory.edu
Cell: 470-626-1835
Biography
Robin Ruthenborg, Assistant Director of the Research Safety/Biosafety Program for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) provides laboratory safety and biosafety support to the University's research community and assists in making the regulatory requirements of research less burdensome. Robin has been with Emory University and the EHSO Research Safety team since November 2017. She worked as a Laboratory Technician, Lab Manager, and Colony Manager before focusing her career on EH&S lab safety and biosafety. Robin holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology and has also earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, cum laude, from The University of Texas at Dallas. She is a member of ABSA International (formerly known as the American Biological Safety Association), Southeastern Biological Safety Association (SEBSA), and the Biological Safety Information Network (BioNet).
Melissa Jackson, MBA
EHS Analyst Assistant
Contact Information
Email: mtjackson@emory.edu
Biography
Melissa is an EHS Analyst Assistant for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO). Melissa manages the approval process for Biosafety and Chemical in Animals registrations and manages immunizations for lab personnel exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens. She coordinates IBC/RHSC meetings, plans and organizes the Get to Know EHSO events, and other departmental special events. Melissa received her Master of Business Administration from Shorter University. She has served as Secretary of Emory's Employee Council as well as Communications Specialist and Treasurer of the International Association of Administrative Professionals – DeKalb Chapter.
Brad W. Porter, PhD
EHS Professional II
Contact Information
Email: bradporter@emory.edu
Cell: 470-384-5044
Biography
Brad is an EHS Professional II in the Research Safety Department for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO). He supports Emory's biological and chemical safety programs, as well as the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Brad manages the chemical fume hood (CFH) annual performance testing program. Prior to Emory, he was a researcher in molecular biology, instructor, and served on the IBC at the University of Hawaii. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Kansas State University and B.Sc. degree in Bioenvironmental Sciences from Texas A&M University. He is a member of the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) and other safety professional organizations.
Amos Kennedy, M.S.
EHS Professional II
Contact Information
Email: amos.paul.kennedy.iii@emory.edu
Cell: 404-991-1533
Biography
Amos Kennedy is an EHS Professional II in the Research Safety team for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO). He manages laboratory radiation safety activities, radiation survey instrument calibrations, and radiation-producing equipment surveillance. Amos received a M.S. in Physics in 2005 from Emory University and a B.S. in Physics in 2002 from Indiana University. After finishing school and earning his graduate degree, he worked for an environmental laboratory conducting quality control and quality assurance on samples. Amos chose a career in research laboratory safety because he found that the environmental health and safety field was a unique area to apply his educational background. He enjoys giving back to a community that played a major role in his educational development.
Anu Romesh, MPH
EHS Professional II
Contact Information
Email: anurati.romesh@emory.edu
Cell: 470-493-6124
Biography
Anu Romesh is an Environmental Health and Safety Professional II of the Research Safety team for the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO). In addition to the wide range of services that the Research Safety team provides for laboratories, Anu manages the laboratory signage program, biological cabinet certifications, and registrations for non-Emory affiliates participating in research activities. She has a background in biological sciences, genetic engineering, and environmental public health. Prior to working at EHSO, Anu pioneered, drafted, and implemented the 5-Year Lung Cancer Prevention Program for the Georgia Department of Public Health, which was presented at the Georgia Public Health Association Conference in 2019. Anu received a Master of Environmental Public Health from Emory University and Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia.
Susana Contreras Alcantara, MS
EHS Professional II
Contact Information
Email: scontre@emory.edu
Cell: 470-514-0264
Biography
Susana attended Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), where she received an M.S. in Plant Biology in 2002 and a B.S. in Biology in 1995. Before joining Research Safety/Biosafety team at the Environmental Health and Safety Office, Susana gained vast experience in diverse laboratory environments. She worked at the University of Virginia, at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and at the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory National Primate Research Center (EPC) on several research projects. Because of her hands-on experience in the laboratory, Susana has become a passionate enthusiast of safety in research. She believes that excellent science can only flourish in a healthy and safe environment. As a Research Safety team member, Susana will be involved in lab inspections, Chemical Fume hood testing, etc.