Meet the Team
Our dedicated global team of scientific professionals brings unparalleled expertise and knowledge to the industry.
Your Process is Our Priority
With diverse specializations, our team collaborates with Customers to tackle the most complex industry challenges. We conduct laboratory studies to simulate our Customers’ process conditions and provide them options that are scientifically sound, optimized and tailored to their unique needs.
Our team is dedicated to helping manufacturing facilities develop and maintain their contamination control programs, while remaining compliant with regulations. Our team's ability to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge allows us to offer insights that meet current regulatory standards, ensuring that our Customers receive the most efficient and compliant guidance.
A partnership with STERIS provides access to the expertise and resources that empower you to achieve your goals safely and effectively. Reach out to our team today.
Bruno Aze
Bruno Aze has over three decades of industry experience, predominantly in the pharmaceutical sector, with expertise in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), biosafety research and aseptic food and beverage production. He has held senior technical leadership roles driving innovation and standardization in contamination control technologies. He holds a degree in electronics engineering and process and instrumentation.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Bruno leads innovation in Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP™) technology and spearheads continuous improvement in aseptic processing. His deep expertise in process control, instrumentation, and automation has enabled standardized integrations with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and helped establish VHP as a building biodecontamination utility.
Bruno is an active member of leading professional organizations, including the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), A3P, the Association for the Prevention and Study of Contamination (ASPEC) and Pharmapack. He is deeply involved in shaping industry regulations and best practices and is a published author and frequent global speaker on decontamination technologies and process optimization, reinforcing his role as a thought leader in the field.
Brian Bosso
Brian has over a decade of industry experience, with expertise in developing and implementing cleaning validation process lifecycles, process design, analytical method development and validation, risk assessments and regulatory remediation. He has held supervisory and management positions within multiple pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Brian provides global technical support for pharmaceutical detergents and other critical environment products and applications.
Brian is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), contributing to ongoing industry knowledge and professional engagement.
Richard Chai
Richard has over two decades of industry experience in manufacturing, validation and technical support, with expertise in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, process and cleaning validation, aseptic processing and sterility assurance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and production engineering.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Richard provides global technical support to Customers for process equipment cleaning and contamination control in cleanrooms. He has prior experience working in biotechnology sterile fill finish, medical device and biopharmaceutical environments and also spent three years as a Validation Consultant supporting equipment validation, cleaning validation and disinfectant validation programs.
Richard has published several articles on contamination control and is a frequent speaker at industry events. He is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and currently serves as a Member at Large of the PDA Singapore Chapter.
Matt Hofacre
Matt has over two decades of industry experience, with expertise in sterilization, biodecontamination, water, steam and washing applications for the biopharmaceutical, medical device, food and beverage, biological containment and laboratory research industries. He holds a master’s degree in finance and marketing and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Matt supports global Customers, regulatory and industry groups with consulting and technical guidance for contamination control strategies and sterilization applications. His areas of specialization include Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP™) biodecontamination, VHP sterilization, moist heat sterilization, pharmaceutical and laboratory washing systems, pure steam production, purified water systems, and equipment services. He is also a dedicated student of lean methodologies, focusing on maximizing value for Customers through streamlined processes.
Matt is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). He serves as a PDA course instructor and participates in the ISPE Mentoring Program. His industry contributions include co-authoring PDA Technical Report No. 48: Moist Heat Sterilization Systems: Design, Commissioning, Operation, Qualification and Maintenance, as well as authoring and contributing to numerous publications on biodecontamination, sterilization, washing technologies, water for injection systems and pharmaceutical equipment selection.
Paul Lopolito
Paul has over two decades of industry experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory research settings, with expertise in process cleaning, cleaning validation and contamination control. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Paul provides global technical support through field consultations, site audits, training presentations and educational seminars. He also manages the Process and Cleaner Evaluation (PACE™) program and analytical testing laboratory, which simulate Customer cleaning processes and support analytical method development and validation.
Paul is experienced in managing cross functional projects related to process cleaning and critical environment operations, with direct experience in the biopharmaceutical and biomedical device industries. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and has published several articles and book chapters related to cleaning validation and contamination control. He is also an active member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA).
Aaron Mertens
Aaron has over two decades of industry experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with expertise in cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and contamination control. He has held several positions within the pharmaceutical industry, representing quality assurance programs and collaborating with global regulatory agencies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in genetics.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Aaron leads the global Technical Services team, which includes scientists such as chemists, biologists and microbiologists. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, he plays a critical role in evaluating and consulting global manufacturing sites to ensure compliance with international regulations. He also provides global technical support for critical environments, sterility assurance and sterility maintenance applications and validations.
Aaron is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). He previously served as President of the ISPE Great Lakes Chapter and is currently a member of the ISPE Sterile Products Processing Steering Committee. His professional contributions also include posters, publications, virtual and live technical presentations and leading global sterilization master classes.
Cecilia Pierobon
Cecilia has nearly a decade of industry experience, with expertise in qualifying pharmaceutical equipment for production and laboratory environments and ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory standards. She has held roles in project engineering and GMP compliance within the pharmaceutical industry. She earned her degree in chemical engineering from the National University of Tucumán in Argentina and holds a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Applied Sciences in Biberach, Germany.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Cecilia serves as a Technical Services Manager based in Germany, where she provides global technical support on cleaning validation and contamination control in aseptic and controlled environments. She also delivers technical presentations at industry events and develops technical literature.
Cecilia is an active member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and has published articles in their journals, contributing to industry knowledge-sharing and professional development.
John Schallom
John has over a decade of industry experience in the pharmaceutical sector, with expertise in quality control, analytical chemistry and supporting drug product development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Expand
John has extensive experience supporting research and development, scaleup and manufacturing projects, assisting Customers with cGMP method validation, method transfer and stability programs.
At STERIS Life Sciences, John designs, develops and executes analytical methods and other specialized studies to assist Customers with the adoption and validation of STERIS Life Sciences products.
Karen Beffa
Karen has over two decades of industry experience, with expertise in project management, Customer support and disclosure agreements. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Karen manages the confidential disclosure agreement process as well as confidential and nonconfidential information disclosures. She also supports both internal and external Customers and oversees the management of their quality related requests.
Karen’s broad experience in Customer service, documentation processes and cross functional support contributes to her strong ability to streamline communication, ensure compliance and facilitate efficient information exchanges across teams.
Renee Buthe
Renee has nearly a decade of industry experience, with expertise in cell and gene therapies. She has experience generating environmental monitoring protocols, performing airflow visualization studies and aseptic process simulations, reviewing batch records and authoring final reports. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in animal sciences.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Renee assists Customers with sterility assurance and sterility maintenance product applications, providing consultation on product usage and contamination control best practices.
Renee is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and serves as an instructor through the PDA Training Institute, contributing to industry education and professional development.
Dijana Hadziselimovic
Dijana has over three decades of laboratory experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with expertise in technical support for process and research cleaners and conducting laboratory studies to recommend effective cleaning procedures. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Dijana has developed specialized expertise in cosmetics and personal care manufacturing, cannabis derived product processing and oral solid dose manufacturing. She provides technical support and laboratory testing to guide contamination control and cleaning practices across a variety of applications.
Dijana served as Chair Elect for the St. Louis Society of Cosmetic Chemists in 2016 and as Chair in 2017. She remains active with the organization and is also a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) and the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC).
Daniel Klein
Dan has over two decades of industry experience, including work in research and development for microbiology and clinical affairs, as well as managing a contract testing laboratory. He holds a master’s degree in biology and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Dan provides technical expertise to Customers, helping troubleshoot and resolve contamination issues. He supports a wide range of critical processes and offers guidance on the latest developments in the industry. He also frequently presents data and technical insights at international industry meetings and sponsored events.
Dan is an active member of ASTM International, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), AOAC International, the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) and the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). He previously served as Chairperson of AOAC International’s Committee on Antimicrobial Efficacy Testing, is an active participant in ASTM’s E35.15, E55.08 and D37 Committees and is a primary member of AAMI Work Group 08. Throughout his career, he has authored numerous peer-reviewed, industry articles and book chapters related to disinfection and sterilization.
Juha Mattila
Juha has over two decades of experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, research and biosafety technologies, with expertise in moist heat and Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP™) sterilization, VHP biodecontamination technologies and Water-for-Injection (WFI) distillation and pure steam systems. He holds a master’s degree in business informatics and a bachelor’s degree in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and process engineering.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Juha serves as a Senior Manager of Technical Services for sterilization applications, equipment and critical utilities technologies. He provides technical leadership across sterilization and biodecontamination systems and supports global Customers with complex equipment and utility related needs.
Juha is an active member of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), a Nordic Board member for the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and a member of the Finnish Biosafety Network. He has authored several technical articles and presented at numerous industry events. He also contributes to standards development through involvement with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the Finnish Standardization Organization (SFS), ASTM International and the British Standards Institution (BSI). Juha also coordinated the STERIS Life Sciences Equipment and Services commentary through the PDA for the European Union (EU) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Annex 1 draft and participated in the PDA EU GMP Annex 1 Workshops in 2022 and 2024.
Antonio Ortiz
Antonio has over two decades of industry experience, with expertise in research and development, technical transfer, process and cleaning validation, regulatory submissions and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) troubleshooting and investigations. He has held several positions within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, supporting validation, engineering and technical services functions. He holds a master’s degree in biomedical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Antonio is a member of the Technical Services team, where he provides support to Customers by integrating multiple areas of specialization to resolve complex pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical challenges.
Antonio is an active member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), contributing to industry knowledge-sharing and professional development. He also administers global pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry education programs and presents at industry conferences.
Jim Polarine Jr.
Jim has over three decades of industry experience, with expertise in cleaning, disinfection, microbial excursions and disinfectant validation and testing. He also has experience as a Clinical Research Manager with the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis, Missouri, and as a Biology and Microbiology Instructor at the University of Illinois and McKendree University. He holds a master’s degree in biology.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Jim focuses on microbial control in cleanrooms and other critical environments. He delivers onsite training, webinars and high-level technical support for Customers in the biopharmaceutical industry, helping guide best practices in contamination control and disinfectant validation.
Jim is a recognized industry contributor and award recipient. He received the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) Michael S. Korczynski Award in 2019 for advancing PDA’s international activities and the 2024 PDA Distinguished Service Award for leading the PDA Missouri Valley Chapter for four years. He has presented globally on cleaning and disinfection, microbial control in cleanrooms and disinfectant validation and has published multiple PDA book chapters and articles on contamination control. Jim served four years as President of the PDA Missouri Valley Chapter and is the current President Elect of the IEST Executive Board. He is also an active member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) and several other industry associations.
Si Myra Tyson
Si Myra has over a decade of industry experience, with expertise in raw material and formulation evaluation and quality control using wet chemistry and analytical instrumentation. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Expand
At STERIS Life Sciences, Si Myra conducts Process and Research Cleaner Evaluation (PACE™) services and analytical testing to support Customers with cleaning processes and validations. She also has Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) laboratory experience within the quality control group at STERIS Life Sciences.
Si Myra has coauthored several industry articles and has presented multiple webinars for Customers, contributing to ongoing industry education and knowledge sharing.
We’re Here for You
Your needs are unique – so is our approach. Discover how a partnership with STERIS can reduce risk and improve sustainability and efficiency at your facility.
Contact Us