McLellan Lab Summer of 2023
Ice cream after Shuchen Feng’s successful Ph.D. thesis defense – 2019
Professor
The major research focus of my laboratory is to investigate the connections between environmental processes and human health. Urban coastal areas are greatly impacted by pollution sources including stormwater runoff and sewage overflows. Oftentimes, pathogens are present that can contaminate our beaches and drinking water supplies. The overall goal of our research is to understand pathogen fate in large freshwater systems such as the Great Lakes, and develop new approaches for assessing pollution sources so that strategies can be devised to protect the Great Lakes and human health. Click for more information about Sandra
Shuchen Feng
Research Assistant Professor
I am a Research Assistant Professor in the McLellan lab. I am a microbiologist and bioinformatics scientist specializing in public health microbiology. I earned my Ph.D. in Freshwater Sciences with a focus on Environmental Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the mentorship of Dr. Sandra McLellan. My doctoral research involved developing innovative molecular assays (TaqMan qPCR) to quantify human fecal contamination in water using extensive datasets from deep sequencing of microbial communities. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have contributed to SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance in Wisconsin and Illinois, focusing on quantification (ddPCR) and genomic surveillance, respectively. My research also extends to investigating SARS-CoV-2 evolution in hospitalized and immunosuppressed patients and controlled laboratory settings, where I have led efforts in custom viral genome sequencing and host transcriptomics. My current role in the McLellan Lab focuses on understanding environmental antibiotic resistance and the microorganisms associated with it.
Melissa Schussman
Lab Manager
I’m a research specialist and lab manager in our highly collaborative lab. The research I focus on in the lab bridges environmental and human health in urban ecosystems. I explore various dimensions of wastewater-based epidemiology and surveillance, exploring how various wastewater parameters can modulate viral and bacterial analyte signals. And, assess the best approaches to quantifying and analyzing pollutants in water, specifically stormwater and freshwater systems. As a lab manager, I also play a critical role in managing all aspects of complex multi-disciplinary projects including contributing to study design, coordinating implementation, managing budgets, external collaborations, lab personnel, documentation, data analysis, reporting, and communication.
Kieyarrah Dennis
Graduate Student
I am a graduate research assistant in the McLellan lab with a focus in multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). I am currently working on identifying viable ARG targets to then observe their population variability in MDROs in the environment. I have also done E. coli source tracking in Laguna Bacalar in Bacalar, Mexico as an extension of the McLellan lab. I received my B.A. in Biochemistry and History from the College of Saint Benedict.
Melinda Bootsma
Chemist
I am a chemist in the McLellan lab and validate/run qPCR assays on a variety of projects that track host-associated bacterial markers in the environment. Additionally, I train incoming students and other laboratory personnel on the qPCR assays we use in the lab. Prepping lab samples for high-throughput sequencing is also a regular activity.
Patricia Bower
Research Technician
I am a research technician in McLellan lab. I have a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and I’m semi-retired. My lab duties are predominantly involved with molecular biology methods such as cloning and qPCR/digital drop PCR technologies. I am involved in the development of new molecular biology procedures and troubleshoot procedures pertaining to molecular biological techniques. I am also responsible for the biological and chemical safety issues in the lab.
Nicole Price
Research Technician
I am a research technician in the McLellan Lab, and I provide laboratory support for various research projects associated with the fate and transport of urban coastal microbial ecology and the urban freshwater microbiome. Currently, I work with various DNA isolation methods and qPCR for environmental water samples including coastal beach, stormwater, and wastewater samples. I received my B.S. in Freshwater Ecology and Marine Biology at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater with a minor in Chemistry. I have worked in a molecular diagnostics research and development laboratory focusing on SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and vaccine efficacy, as well as other infectious disease studies before joining as a research technician in the McLellan Lab!
Benjamin Gallion
Undergraduate Student
I am an undergraduate research assistant in McLellan lab, working under the SURF grant. I am currently in the Freshwater Science undergraduate program at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Within the lab, I help quantify DNA from freshwater samples and bacterial isolates via concentrating and extracting samples, and performing PCR analysis.
Former Lab Members
 Sophia Ward – |
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 Brenden Nihart – |
 Deb Dila |
 Elexius (Lexi) Passante – Stormwater Specialist,WI DNR |
 Brigid Meyers – Watershed Program Coordinator, Sweet Water |
 Adelaide Roguet – Scientist, Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene |
 Autumn Saunders -Research technician, Marquette University |
 Natalie Rumball – Scientist, PSN Labs |
 Emily Koster |
 Jill McClary-Gutierrez – Postdoc Researcher, University of Notre Dame, NSF Research Coordination Network |
 Ryan Bartelme – Postdoc Researcher, Univ of Arizona, Soil, Water and Enviromental Science |
 Alexis McAdams – Research Analyst at Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |
 Patrick Siwula – Field Scientist at Terracon Consultants |
 Katie Halmo – Master’s program, Univ of Colorado, Sustainable Agriculture |
 Danielle Cloutier – Policy Director for American Sportfishing Association (ASA) |
 Jen Fisher – Assistant Professor at Indiana University Northwest |
 Hayley Templar – Hydrologist with U.S. Geological Survey |
 Morgan Schroeder – Bioinformatician at Stowers Institute for Medical Research |
 Kristina Surfus – Legislative Director for National Association of Clean Water Agencies |
 Chelsea Corson – Project Manager at Drake Environmental Consulting |
 Marcia Silva – Facility Manager at Water Technology Accelerator (Global Water Center) |
 Amber Koskey – Epidemiologist at Minnesota Dept. of Public Health |
 Ian DeTunq – Associate Scientist at Luminex Corp. |
 Beth Sauer – Supervisor at Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District |
 Keri Lydon |
 Caleb Abfall – School of Dentistry Marquette University |
 Kendra Dahmer |