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Genomics Resource Center - Team
The multi-disciplinary GRC team includes scientists, bioinformatics software engineers, bioinformatics analysts, project managers, and research specialists with extensive experience in planning, managing, and delivering projects ranging from small-scale plasmid sequencing to large-scale comparative genomic and transcriptome sequencing. Many members of the team brought to the GRC years of experience at large sequencing centers, enabling the GRC to provide cutting edge genomic services from within a smaller, more responsive and available setting.
Luke J. Tallon, Scientific Director,is responsible for the scientific oversight of the GRC, including the high-throughput sequencing platforms, the LIMS, sequence data processing and analysis systems, and laboratory and informatics R&D projects. Luke provides scientific guidance to researchers on the application of each sequencing platform and analysis of resulting data.
Lisa DeShong Sadzewicz, Ph.D., Administrative Director,is responsible for managing GRC finances, including budgets and invoicing, monitoring and scheduling projects, vendor relationships and facility operations, and for developing collaborations with external researchers working with the GRC. Lisa provides administrative oversight and monitors project progress to ensure that projects meet their scheduled deadlines.
Ivette Santana-Cruz, Senior Bioinformatics Software Engineer,is responsible for the development and maintenance of GRC sequence data processing, QC, and delivery/storage pipelines for all platforms. She maintains and develops web tools, the LIMS, and leads the implementation of improvements to each pipeline. She also coordinates the development and implementation of genome assembly, variant detection, and other customized analysis pipelines.
Ellie Zhao, Ph.D., Lab Manager,has more than 20 years of molecular biology and biochemistry experience and is responsible for managing all GRC sequencing operations. She specializes in the development and implementation of new methods and technologies for our high-throughput platforms as well as viral genome sequencing techniques.
Sandy Ott, Program Manager – Special Projects,joined the GRC in 2008 and has more than 20 years of experience with high-throughput platforms. She coordinates platform development activities, laboratory automation development, and specialized and custom projects. She also serves as advisor to and liason between the UMMC clinical sequencing teams and the GRC.
Kranthi Vavikolanu, M.S., Bioinformatics Analyst II Aditya Mehta, M.S., Bioinformatics Analyst II Holly Roussey, M.S., Sequencing Research Specialist Toni-Ann Wiggan, M.S., Laboratory Research Specialist Jack Boylan, Sequencing Research Assistant