Dr. Steven Higgins (PhD) joined the Rapid Micro Biosystems’ validation team in 2019 and serves as a subject matter expert in Microbiology and the Validation of alternate microbiology methods / technologies. Steven focuses on applying Pharmacopeia / Industry recommendations to the validation of the Growth Direct, an automated colony counter and data reporting system, and was responsible for developing the on-site validation for the newly launched Rapid Sterility System.

Steven began his career as a QC Microbiologist focusing on water quality, where he specialized in the isolation of Legionella spp from hot water systems, as well as assessing bioburden levels in aviation fuel. He has since completed his PhD in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Nottingham, UK, before moving to the University of Zurich, Switzerland, to complete 4 years of Postdoctoral training.

Steven has over 18 years of microbiology experience across numerous laboratories in Europe. He has published several articles on bacterial communication and the adaptation of bacteria to different environments or stresses using Pseudomonas and Burkholderia spp. Steven is an expert in several Next-Generation Sequencing and Molecular Biology techniques, as well as an expert in pharmaceutical microbiology techniques and methods.