College of Sciences and Arts News

Michigan Tech's Genomic Sequencing Lab, part of the University's Health Research Institute, plays a leading role in tracking animal-borne illnesses in the Upper Peninsula region while also advancing multiple, varied areas of research. To the novice eye, some of the equipment in the Genomic Sequencing Lab at Michigan Technological University resembles futuristic kitchen appliances. But these aren't air fryers or microwave ovens, and what's cooking isn't destined for a dinner plate. Local ticks, ice-dwelling Arctic bacteria, Isle Royale moose poop and lagoon wastewater from Copper Harbor have all been analyzed in the lab. As the facility extends its capacity, the hope is that additional impactful research collaborations will soon be on the menu.