Genidaqs – Cramer Fish Sciences

Allen Huynh, B.S.

Laboratory Technician II

B.S. Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology

Phone: (888) 224-1221

West Sacramento, California

Allen is a laboratory technician with a background in California fish and invertebrate identification. He has extensive experience in identifying macroinvertebrates and fish samples collected from the field. Allen has experience identifying threatened larval Longfin Smelt and their prey and working as a deck hand pulling in trawls and identifying brackish water fish. Allen has experience as a laboratory assistant where he identified larval marine invertebrates, sorted fish and invertebrate field samples, and managed a green striped crab zoea aquaculture system. He also identified and tagged rockfish and other California marine fish as a part of a Marine Protected Area study.

Back to list of staff

Andy Lara, B.S.

Senior Biological Technician

B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Portland, Oregon

Andy is an Aquatic Ecologist with a variety of experience in population and community ecology, and freshwater conservation, ranging from the bayous of East Texas to the glacial rivers of Washington State’s North Cascades. Andy is skilled in multiple field sampling techniques, including backpack electrofishing, seine netting, hoop net trapping, eDNA collection, and various tagging techniques such as PIT tagging, Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE), and VHF transmitters for radio telemetry. He also has experience in technical laboratory methods, including stable isotope analysis, taxonomic identification and morphological measurements of aquatic species, and stomach content analysis. His previous research includes the study of taxonomic and functional diversity of freshwater fishes in East Texas, the investigation of connectivity and spatial distribution among different habitat types, the repatriation and tracking, via radio telemetry, of poached alligator snapping turtles into East Texas watersheds, as well as occupancy trapping for existing turtle populations. Recently, Andy participated in backcountry electrofishing and habitat survey expeditions to examine the existing salmonid populations in Northern Washington, and on a mark-and-recapture study utilizing electrofishing and PIT tagging of remote populations of O. mykiss in Southern California’s Piru Creek. Andy is also skilled in data analysis of community structures and dynamics, and population genetics. Through other work, He is also well-versed in public relations, civic engagement, and outreach focused on diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Back to list of staff

Brian Applegate, B.S.

Laboratory Technician

B.S. Biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation)

Phone: (888) 224-1221

West Sacramento, California

Back to list of staff

Cheryl Dean, B.S.

Senior Laboratory Manager
B.S. Biological Sciences
Phone: (916) 250-1717

West Sacramento, California

Cheryl is the Genidaqs Senior Laboratory Manager at Cramer Fish Sciences, and has over 22 years of experience developing laboratory techniques and generating genetic data in support of listed species conservation, fisheries and hatcheries management, and introduced species monitoring. She specializes in applying genetic tools to address natural resource management, protected species recovery, and habitat restoration issues. Cheryl’s work has primarily focused on salmonid population genetics, including applying genetic tools for mixed stock analysis (population dynamics), genetic mark-recapture (vital rates), and population genetic statistical analyses (population health). Additionally, Cheryl has worked on numerous other species, including using genetic monitoring to examine the reproductive success of sage grouse reintroduction programs, evaluate changes in population structure of California honey bee, and assess landscape effects on connectivity (gene flow) in mountain goats.

Selected Publications

Small, M., D. Burgess, C. Dean, and K. Warheit. 2011. Does Lower Crab Creek in the Eastern Washington desert have a native population of Chinook salmon? Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140:808-821.

Pearse, D., L. Wooninck, C. Dean, and J. Garza. 2007. Identification of northeastern pacific rockfish using multilocus nuclear DNA genotypes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136:272-280.

Hedgecock, D., M. Banks, V. Rashbrook, C. Dean, and S. Blankenship. 2001 Applications of population genetics to conservation of Chinook salmon diversity in the Central Valley. Pages 45-70 in R. L. Brown, R.L., editor. Fish Bulletin 179: Contributions to the biology of Central Valley Salmonids. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Banks, M., V. Rashbrook, M. Calavetta, C. Dean, and D. Hedgecock. 2000. Analysis of microsatellite DNA resolves genetic structure and diversity of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in California’s Central Valley. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57(5):915-927.

Back to list of staff

Dan Bingham, M.S.

Geneticist

B.S. Wildlife Biology; M.S. Wildlife Biology

Phone: (503) 925-6665

Portland, Oregon

Dan is a Geneticist with more than a decade of experience in fisheries science. Dan’s specialty is in applied ecology and population genetics, including environmental DNA applications. Prior to joining CFS, he served as the founding partner at Rogue Biological Consulting in Portland, OR, where he helped public utilities, tribes, and government agencies meet natural resources management objectives. Dan also spent several years as a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service where his work concentrated conservation issues facing Pacific salmon and trout. He has authored numerous journal articles focused on the application of science in natural resources management. Dan was the External Director of the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in 2017 and has served as Vice President of the Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals since 2018.

Selected Publications

Bingham, D. M. 2018. Genetic monitoring of invasive bullfrogs in the Yellowstone River floodplain, Montana. Contract report to the U.S. Geological Survey, Bozeman, Montana.

Bingham, D. M., and L. Caldwell. 2018. Comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing protocol surveys in streams managed by SDS Lumber Company. Contract report to SDS Lumber Company, Bingen, Washington.

Bingham, D. M., and L. Caldwell. 2018. Forest Practices Board water-type protocol field surveys. Contract report to SDS Lumber Company, Bingen, Washington.

Bingham, D. M., P. C. Gerrity, and S. Painter. 2018. Genetic tagging is an effective way to monitor survival of released hatchery saugers: conservation efforts in the Wind River, Wyoming. Environmental Practice 20:92-103.

Bingham, D. M. 2017. Statistical power to resolve parent-offspring relationships in Wind River saugers: applications in parentage-based tagging. Report to Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Lander, Wyoming.

Bingham, D. M., P. Buckskin, and H. Osborne. 2016. Isolation, migration, and local recruitment drive persistence of cutthroat trout in tributaries near American Falls Reservoir. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 36:590-605.

McKelvey, K. S., M. K. Young, T. M. Wilcox, D. M. Bingham, K. L. Pilgrim, and M. K. Schwartz. 2016. Patterns of hybridization among cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in northern Rocky Mountain streams. Ecology and Evolution 6:688-706.

Bingham, D. M. and G. Wyatt. 2015. Genetic evaluation of coastal cutthroat trout in Timothy Lake, Oregon. Contract report to Portland General Electric, Clackamas, Oregon.

Bingham, D. M. and P. Gerrity. 2015. Rapid genetic characterization of adult saugers spawned for hatchery supplementation: spawn year 2015. Report to Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Lander, Wyoming.

Bingham, D. M., B. M. Kennedy, K. C. Hanson, and C. T. Smith. 2014. Loss of genetic integrity in hatchery steelhead produced by juvenile-based broodstock and wild integration: conflicts in production and conservation goals. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 34:609-620.

Bingham, D. M. 2013. Relative reproductive success of hatchery- and natural-origin steelhead in Abernathy Creek, Washington. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Longview, Washington.

Bingham, D. M., R. F. Leary, S. Painter, and F. W. Allendorf. 2012. Near absence of hybridization between sauger and introduced walleye despite massive releases. Conservation Genetics 13:509-523.

Back to list of staff

Hilary Starks, M.S.

Senior Research Associate

B.S. Aquatic Biology, M.S. Ocean Sciences

Phone: (916) 250-2327

West Sacramento, California

Hilary has over 10 years of experience developing and implementing molecular genetic techniques for use in population ecology and management. She has applied these techniques to examine the coho salmon population in the Klamath River and to help inform coho hatchery practices in California. More recently, her research has focused on developing and implementing environmental DNA detection methods to investigate patterns of biodiversity in marine systems.

Selected Publications

Djurhuus, A., C. J. Closek, R. P. Kelly, K. J. Pitz, R. P. Michisaki, H. A. Starks, K. R. Walz, E. A. Andruszkiewicz, E. Olesin, K. Hubbard, E. Montes, D. Otis, F. E. Muller-Karger, F. P. Chavez, A. B. Boehm, and M. Breitbart. 2020. Environmental DNA reveals seasonal shifts and potential interactions in a marine community. Nature Communications 11(254). DOI:10.1038/s41467-019-14105-1.

Closek, C. J., J. A. Santora, H. A. Starks, I. D. Schroeder, E. A. Andruszkiewicz, K. M. Sakuma, S. J. Bograd, E. L. Hazen, J. C. Field, and A. B. Boehm. 2019. Marine vertebrate biodiversity and distribution within the central California Current using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and ecosystem surveys. Frontiers in Marine Science 6(732). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00732.

Andruszkiewicz, E. A., H. A. Starks, F. P. Chavez, L. M. Sassoubre, B. A. Block, and A. B. Boehm. 2017. Biomonitoring of marine vertebrates in Monterey Bay using eDNA metabarcoding. PLoS One 12:e0176343. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176343

Starks, H. A., A. J. Clemento, and J. C. Garza. 2015. Discovery and characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Molecular Ecology Resources 16:277-287. DOI:10.1111/1755-0998.12430 .

Clemento, A. J., A. Abadía-Cardoso, H. A. Starks, and J. C. Garza. 2011. Discovery and characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Molecular Ecology Resources 11(Suppl. 1):50-66. DOI:10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02972.x.

Back to list of staff

Katie Karpenko, B.S.

Senior Research Associate

B.S. Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Conservation

Phone: (916) 550-9793

West Sacramento, California

Katie’s experience includes collecting data from salmonid habitat restoration sites using various techniques, including: fyke trapping, beach seining, Hess and drift sampling, flow transects, environmental data collection, and PIT tagging. She plays a key role in processing lab-based data, and specializes in invertebrate identification, data entry and Access database management. Katie also works on projects with GENIDAQS. She has extensive experience collecting eDNA samples in the field, extracting DNA from tissue and eDNA samples, set up and programming of the eDNA auto-sampler, and extraction protocol development.

Back to list of staff

Mae Sierra, B.A.

Laboratory Technician II

B.A. Geography

Phone: (888) 224-1221

West Sacramento, California

Mae is a lab technician with diverse expertise in laboratory research. She has a background in ephemeral wetland restoration research, where her work helping to investigate the role of carbon cycling in vernal pool restoration practices granted her familiarity with the complex processes at place within California’s wetlands. She has extensive experience in the field, contributing to restoration efforts on the Channel Islands and in the Mojave Desert, in addition to her work sampling water and soil in ephemeral wetlands. Her laboratory background extends to the research and development of novel medical devices, where she utilized a wide array of microbiological techniques.

Back to list of staff

Michelle Leung, B.S.

Senior Laboratory Technician

B.S. Animal Biology

Phone: (888) 224-1221

West Sacramento, California

Michelle is a laboratory technician with Genidaqs at Cramer Fish Sciences. She works to collect, extract, and analyze eDNA samples from tissues and filters, write standard operating procedures, and maintain lab equipment. Michelle has worked in various labs including those studying marine invertebrates biology, plant biology, microRNAs in honey bees pheromone pathways and human vectored diseases in laboratory rodents. Her extensive background in laboratory research is a great support for Cramer Fish Sciences in solving challenges in aquatic ecology and fish populations.

Back to list of staff

Scott Blankenship, Ph.D.

Senior Geneticist

B.S. Biological Sciences; Ph.D. Genetics

Phone: (916) 231-1683

West Sacramento, California

Scott has over 19 years of experience applying genetic data to population monitoring and fisheries science, including extensive technical experience combining the newest tools of molecular biology and genetics theory with field observations of fish populations and their habitat. He is a recognized expert on the standardization of genetic data and sampling methodology for salmon and has collaborated on the design and implementation of species reintroduction programs, conservation hatchery programs, habitat restoration performance, regional genetic databases, innovative monitoring techniques, and the integration of genetic and geospatial information.

Selected Publications

Blankenship, S., G. Schumer, J. Van Eenennaam, and Z. Jackson. 2017. Estimating number of white sturgeon adults from egg relatedness. Fisheries Management and Ecology 24(2):163-172.

Finger, A., G. Schumer, A. Benjamin, A. Schreier, and S. Blankenship. 2017. Effective population size of delta smelt. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Sciences.

Bergman, P., G. Schumer, S. Blankenship, and E. Campbell. 2016. Detection of adult green sturgeon using environmental DNA analysis. PLoS One 11:e0153500. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153500.

Rawding, D. J., C. S. Sharpe, and S. M. Blankenship. 2014. Genetic-based estimates of adult Chinook salmon spawner abundance from carcass surveys and juvenile out-migrant traps. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 143:55-67.

Moran, P., D. J. Teel, M. A. Banks, T. D. Beacham, M. R. Bellinger, S. M. Blankenship, J. R. Candy, J. C. Garza, J. E. Hess, S. R. Narum, L. W. Seeb, W. D. Templin, C. G. Wallace, and C. T. Smith. 2013. Divergent life-history races do not represent Chinook salmon coast-wide: the importance of scale in quaternary biogeography. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70:415-43. DOI:10.1139/cjfas-2012-0135.

Limborg, M. T., S. M. Blankenship, S. F. Young, F. M. Utter, L. W. Seeb, M. H. H. Hansen, and J. E. Seeb. 2012. Signatures of natural selection among lineages and habitats in Oncorhynchus mykiss. Ecology and Evolution 2(1):1-18. DOI:10.1002/ece3.59.

Blankenship, S .M., M. R. Campbell, J. E. Hess, M. A. Hess, T. W. Kassler, C. C. Kozfkay, A. P. Matala, S. R. Narum, M. M. Paquin, M. P. Small, J. J. Stephenson, K. I. Warheit, and P. Moran. 2011. Major lineages and metapopulations in Columbia River Oncorhynchus mykiss are structured by dynamic landscape features and environments. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 140:665–684.

Blankenship, S. M., B. May, and D. Hedgecock. 2002. Evolution of a perfect simple-sequence-repeat locus in the context of its flanking sequence. Molecular Biology and Evolution 19(11):1943-1951.

Back to list of staff