Jeff Varelman
CEO
About Jeff Varelman
In 2006 Jeff founded KML Laboratories in North Idaho to provide microbiological testing in regulated industries where companies need to be empowered by accurate results which allow them to make the best decisions about their products and to act in the best interests of their customers.
Jeff’s vision is to have KML Laboratories be recognized by its clients as a vital and cooperative partner in their quality management system.
Jeff is committed to the local community and those who work at KML Laboratories include one-on-one training, leading and developing a highly experienced team who are experts in all aspects of ASTM, AOAC, AATCC, FDA, EPA, USDA, USP, CTFA, JIZ and ISO requirements and test methods, and specialty methods developed for specific customers unique needs.
Jeff started his career in microbiology at the University of Wyoming working with Dr. Phyllis Bear who had worked at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, with Alfred Hershey who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries in the replication mechanism and the genetic structure of viruses. Jeff graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees majoring in Microbiology and Molecular Biology in 1994 having been a teaching assistant and environmental microbiologist working in drinking water analysis and the anaerobic bacterial degradation of contaminated soils and water.
Since graduating Jeff has held several positions which have prepared him to found KML Laboratories and focusing its mission on what he believes is most important and relevant to his clients.
As a microbiologist at the USDA-ARD Laboratory, Jeff preformed genetic investigations and developed pathogenic assays in a BSL-Level 3 environment. At Myriad Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory, he developed a laboratory for DNA isolation and gene capture. As Laboratory Director at ARUP Laboratories, Jeff led the infectious disease molecular pathology team. As Laboratory Director at Salus Therapeutics, a research-orientated laboratory, Jeff researched anti-sense therapies for various diseases. As Senior Microbiologist at Dugway Proving Ground, Jeff worked in a BSL-Level 3 environment developing novel real time PCR assays for biological warfare type organisms.
As a Fermentation Engineer at Ajinomoto, Jeff applied his process experience to include fermentation with design process development and microbiological and molecular biological experimentation.
When Jeff moved to Northern Idaho in 2002 he worked at the US FDA as a Consumer Safety Officer investigating complaints of injury, illness, or death causing by an FDA regulated product as well as conducting establishment inspections of food, dietary supplement, drug, veterinary medicine and biological manufacturing and investigations including recommending enforcement actions.
Before founding KML Laboratories Jeff was the Quality Laboratory Director at Thorne Research, a leading brand-holder in the practitioner channel of the dietary supplement industry where he was responsible for all aspects of the management and operation of the laboratory.
Back to All Staff