Austin Lauer

Austin Lauer is a recent graduate from the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and Master’s in Pharmaceutical Product Development (MPD) programs. He has always been fascinated by the power that medication can have on an individual’s quality and duration of life. Austin has also always enjoyed being in laboratory environments.

Naturally, this led to the desire to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. During his Doctor of Pharmacy studies, he became heavily involved with the Concordia chapter of the Industry Pharmacist’s Organization (IPhO), including serving one year as chapter president. He also spent time working in the School of Pharmacy laboratory and enrolled in the MPD program in his 3rd year of pharmacy school.

All of this was done to help him achieve his goal of one day being a part of a team that helps newer and better medications make it to market.

Concordia University Wisconsin – School of Pharmacy Laboratory May 2019 – August 2023

Lab Assistant Mequon, WI

• Responsible for overseeing the zebrafish and the cell culture labs, as well as training students new to the lab.
• Zebrafish lab responsibilities included research specialization, husbandry work such as feeding, cleaning the tanks, collecting eggs, and raising larvae, as well as water quality testing. 
  • Oversaw the direction and standard operating procedure of zebrafish experimentation and developed skills in experimental design. 
  • Modified the standard operating procedure for raising zebrafish larvae to adulthood to improve survivability and yield. 
  • Demonstrated a high level of precision with microinjections. 
  • Familiar with troubleshooting and maintaining zebrafish lab equipment such as water pumps, UV sterilizers, and heating elements. 
• Cell culture lab responsibilities included changing the media in cell culture petri dishes, passing cells, mixing media, and freezing down cell lines for future use.
  • Developed confidence in practicing aseptic technique and proper procedure for working with cells in a sterile horizontal laminar airflow hood. 

Shopko Express Pharmacy November 2016 – June 2018

Pharmacy Technician Appleton, WI

• Primary responsibilities were split between data entry, packaging, and customer service. 
• Data entry responsibilities included entering prescriptions into the computer, managing the pharmacy inventory, and billing insurance. 
• Packaging responsibilities included filling and labeling prescriptions and compounding prescriptions when necessary.
• Customer service responsibilities included selling prescriptions to patients and organizing the pharmacy storefront. 
• Achieved extensive expertise in customer service and problem-solving skills related to community pharmacy. 

Essity Paper Mill May 2013 – August 2016

Material Handler Menasha, WI 

• Assessed the quality of recycled paper deliveries using “groundwood indicator” chemicals. 
• Utilized a forklift to unload recycled paper deliveries and to load pulper machines.
• Achieved a high degree of safety and comfortability working around and with heavy machinery.
• Familiar with industrial safety procedures such as lockout/tagout.

Concordia University Wisconsin July 2023 

MS Pharmaceutical Product Development

Mequon, WI

• Thesis title: “Predicting Synthetic Cannabinoid General Toxicity and hERG Specific Cardiotoxicity”
• Thesis project involved creating a computational model for predicting concern for hERG potassium channel inhibition by synthetic cannabinoids. The project also included development of a zebrafish in vivo early life stage assay as an efficient and high throughput animal model for validating the computational model.
• Devised a procedure for microinjections of nanoliter volume using zebrafish embryos. 
• Demonstrated capability in experimental design. 
• Gained experience in an expansive range of analytical chemistry tools such as HPLC, IR and NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and gas chromatography.
• Explored an assortment of process chemistry considerations for scaling up chemical reactions. 
• Accustomed to current good laboratory and manufacturing processes (cGLP & cGMP). 
• Knowledgeable on principles of green chemistry. 

Concordia University Wisconsin – School of Pharmacy May 2022

Doctor of Pharmacy Mequon, WI 

• Developed clinical skills and knowledge for managing a wide variety of medications including biologics and medicinal natural products. 
• Expertise in pharmacotherapy, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and cGCP. 
• Emphasized community pharmacy during clinical rotations resulting in a high level of comfort with community pharmacy.
• Participated in a research rotation in the School of Pharmacy lab that focused on experimental design and scientific literature review. 
• Rho Chi Honor Society. 
• President of the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) Concordia University Wisconsin chapter. 
• Dean’s List. (8 semesters) 

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh May 2018

BS, Major: Biology, Minor: Chemistry Oshkosh, WI 

• Honor Roll. (2 semesters)

University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley May 2015

AS, Emphasis: Biology Menasha, WI

• Dean’s List. (4 semesters)