New faces in the DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Cores

We would like to inform you about important staff additions and changes in the Cores. The current manager of the DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Cores, Ryan Kim, PhD, will be leaving us to take up an exciting challenges in the field of big genomic data as Director of National Center for Biological Research Resource Information in Korea, a.k.a. KOBIC (Korean Bioinformation Center). We wish him great success in this position. We would like to introduce you to three new members of the Core:

Manager of DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Facilities

Lutz Froenicke, PhD, will assume the Core manager position on July 1st. Lutz has strong training in animal and plant genomics and brings much expertise to the Core. He has extensive next-generation sequencing and management experience as part of the Michelmore lab and from his role as a leading member of the International Peanut Genome Initiative at the UCD Genome Center. For this project, he has been involved in designing and implementing strategies for genome assembly and genome mapping in a complex polyploid species as well as diploid progenitor species. Previously, he studied feline and primate genetics at the UCD Veterinary School and molecular cytogenetics at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland. He has a strong interest in method development, protocol optimization and in improving data value through bioinformatics. He has interacted with the UCD Core as a user and is excited by the opportunity to lead the Cores and enhance genomics for the UCD research community through improved access to current and emerging technologies. Charlotte Acharya will be joining us in mid-July from Cornell University. She has previously developed and managed the world-leading laboratory for high throughput Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) service at Cornell and brings with her extensive scientific project planning and management experience. She will be able to assist UCD researchers implement cutting-edge strategies for sequencing and genotyping projects. Emily Kumimoto has recently joined the Core from the University of Oklahoma. Her background in genotyping and her 10 years of experience in the biotech industry will support the efficient generation high throughput sequencing libraries and data. To improve communication you can now reach the cores under a unified email address: dnatech@ucdavis.edu. For a summary of our current genomics services please see the websites for the DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis core facilities. These additions of staff and competencies will allow us to expand and improve our sequencing and genotyping services.