Personnel

Sandra Splinter BonDurant, MS, Core Director
2120 Biotechnology Center
Email: gecinfo@biotech.wisc.edu

ORCID: 0009-0000-8178-3331

Background: Sandra has been the director of the UWBC Gene Expression Center since 1999. Prior to coming to the UW, Sandra was a cellular and molecular biologist in the CAPD division, working on antibiotic producing organisms, at Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL. Sandra received her bachelors in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Masters of Applied Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Harrison Pantera, PhD
2264 Biotechnology Center

Background: Harrison received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020 in the Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology graduate program under the supervision of Dr. John Svaren. In his graduate work, he studied transcriptional regulation of a dosage-sensitive gene involved in multiple forms of inherited peripheral neuropathy. Prior to this, Harrison received his bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

In the GEC, Harrison is responsible for 10X Genomics single cell/single nuclei projects and NanoString GeoMx projects, including leading consultations for these services as requested.

Lauren Wells, BS
2320 Biotechnology Center
Email: gecinfo@biotech.wisc.edu

Background: Lauren has her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. In her undergraduate research she studied organic synthesis of sugar sulfated polymers for use as antiviral agents. She has worked as a chemist in pharmaceutical and environmental industries.

Lauren is the Lab Manager for the UWBC Gene Expression Center and is also responsible for RNA extraction, bulk RNA-seq library preparation, and Parse Evercode single cell RNA-seq library preparation services.

Youngha Kim, MS
2322 Biotechnology Center
Email: gecinfo@biotech.wisc.edu

Background: Youngha received her BS and MS degrees in microbiology and molecular Biology.  She has more than 10 years of experience working in academic and industry research using molecular biotechnology techniques and different cell line cultures.  Her goal is to help and support researchers who are interested in the scientific study of gene expression.

In the GEC, Youngha is responsible for Parse & 10X Genomics single cell/single nuclei/spatial transcriptomics projects and is also the lab’s Biosafety and Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Katarina Volkmann, BS
2320 Biotechnology Center
Email: gecinfo@biotech.wisc.edu

Background: Katarina has her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology. In her undergraduate research she studied ecological impacts on coral reefs in Grenada. Prior to coming to UW she researched free-living helminths at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

In the GEC, Katarina is responsible for bulk standard- and long-read RNA-seq library preparation.

Bridget (Ladell) Benne, MS
2322 Biotechnology Center
Email: gecinfo@biotech.wisc.edu

Background: Bridget received her BS in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 2015 and completed her MS in Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018. Bridget joined the UWBC Gene Expression Center full-time in May, 2023.  She previously worked in the UWBC DNA Sequencing Facility, where she also contributed to the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project.

In the GEC, Bridget is responsible for bulk RNA-seq library preparation services and is also the lead staff member responsible for 10X Genomics Visium CytAssist spatial transcriptomics services.

Lily Engel

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Background:  Coming soon