Bioinformatics Group
Promega Corporation Bioinformatics Group
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Name/Title: Monika Wood, M.S., Manager, R&D Bioinformatics (first.lastATpromega.com)
Links: Promega
Group size: Two. Monika Wood heads the group and supports primarily molecular modeling, protein & small molecule engineering. Ethan Strauss supports primarily sequence analysis, database design, tools development. Separate IT department manages applications upgrades, systems, network.
Environment: We are part of the R&D Department and primarily support ~100 biologists at our WI headquarters and ~20 chemists at our CA site. We also serve as liaison to the IT Department. We have started to develop tools for external customers. We contribute to courses at Promega's non-profit institute BCTI, UW-Madison, and Madison Area Technical College.
Tools: Lasergene, Vector NTI, OLIGO, ChemDraw, Discovery Studio (molecular modeling; Accelrys), GEMS Launcher (gene regulation; Genomatix), several graphics apps.
Pertinent hardware info: One dual-Xeon HP workstation (molecular modeling). One Windows server for in-house developed applications and databases. One shared R&D workstation for general use of scientific & graphics applications not licensed department-wide. Desktops are PCs.
Training: New employee orientation with customized follow-up training. Hands-on group training after release of major software updates. Have dedicated 16 PC training room. Lots of ad-hoc one-on-one training.
Bioinformatics support model: Research collaboration and consulting, Data analysis, Software development, Database development, Training.
Funding model: R&D Department budget.
