Damian M Menning, Ph.D.
Damian Menning is a Research Geneticist at the USGS Alaska Science Center.
Damian has a multi-disciplinary background combining molecular ecology, stable isotopes, geochemistry, and hydrology. As a Research Geneticist in the Molecular Ecology Laboratory at the Alaska Science Center he has worked on numerous diverse projects to include microsatellites, conversion of microsatellites to Next Generation Sequencing, transcriptomes, and mitogenomes. His primary area of expertise is the utilization of environmental DNA (eDNA) and its associated techniques to answer a diverse array of scientific questions such as identifying pathogens, invasive species, diet, community structure, and microbiomes of multiple species. Within this skill set he excels at the design, development, and validation of multispecies metabarcoding markers which he produces using custom Python and Biopython scripts. He is always open to collaboration during all steps of a scientific study from initial idea to sampling strategy to data analysis and everything in between.
Professional Experience
2021 - Present Research Geneticist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
2015 - 2021 Geneticist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2014 University of South Florida, Tampa FL Cell and Molecular Biology
B.S. 2006 Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston TX Marine Biology
Science and Products
Museum metabarcoding: a novel method revealing gut helminth communities of small mammals across space and time
A transcriptome resource for the Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida)
Genomics of Arctic cod
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Museum metabarcoding: a novel method revealing gut helminth communities of small mammals across space and time
A transcriptome resource for the Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida)
Genomics of Arctic cod
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.