About

We are a group of Promega scientists and writers blogging about research and science news and other things we think will be interesting and of value to other scientists. Here we will also try to give a personal perspective on the tools Promega provides to support the advancement of science and science education.

Promega is a Biotechnology Company headquartered in Madison WI, with branches throughout the world. We manufacture products for life science research, drug discovery, forensics and diagnostics.

Michele Arduengo	Michele Arduengo earned her B.A. in biology at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and her PhD through the BCDB Program at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She enjoys leisure reading, writing creative nonfiction and knitting. She is also a cross country skiing fanatic who carries her skis from the basement to the garage every winter with great determination.
Robert Deyes	Robert Deyes has been a Technical Services Scientist at Promega for over 10 years. He also worked for two years as a Technical Advisor at the Paisley, Scotland facility of Life Technologies Inc. After earning his Masters in Medical Genetics from the University of Glasgow, he spent 18 months at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France where he did research into the molecular basis of the inherited disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He also holds a BSc from the University of Portsmouth in England.
	Anupama Gopalakrishnan is a Technical Services Scientist at Promega Corporation. She did her graduate work at Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi, India and post-doctoral training at UC Irvine and UW Madison in neurobiology and pharmacology. She lives in Madison with her husband and 9 year old son. Anu enjoys spending time with family, reading and playing the violin.
Kelly Grooms	Kelly Grooms earned her B.S. in Genetics from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Prior to coming to Promega, she worked for biotech companies in  San Diego and  Madison. Kelly lives just outside Madison with her husband, seven-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. Kelly collects hobbies including reading, writing poetry and fiction, photography and knitting. She would like to be an avid runner, as evidenced by her growing collection of running gear and her single, six-year-old half-marathon finishers t-shirt.
Amy Hendricksen	Amy Hendricksen earned her B.S. in biology at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, and her M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Outside of working in biotechnology, she enjoys cooking and sailing.
Kari Kenefick	Kari Kenefick has been a science writer/editor for Promega since 1996. Prior to that she enjoyed working in veterinary microbiology/immunology, and has an M.S. in Bacteriology, U of WI-Madison. Favorite topics include infectious disease, inflammation, aging, exercise, nutrition and personality traits. When not writing, she enjoys training her dogs in agility and obedience. About the practice of writing, as we say in DNA purification, spin, rinse and repeat.
	Sara Klink is a native Wisconsinite who grew up on a fifth-generation dairy farm and decided she wanted to be a scientist at age 12. She was educated at the University of Wisconsin—Parkside, where she earned a B.S. in Biology and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology before earning her second Master’s degree in Oncology at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. She has worked for Promega Corporation for nine years, first as a Technical Services Scientist and now as a Scientific Communication Specialist for the past six years. Sara is camera shy but may succumb to peer pressure and post an image.
	Gary Kobs earned his B.S. in Bacteriology, UW-Madison in 1982. From 1982–1986 he served as Research Tech at UW-Madison. From 1986 to the present Gary has been with Promega Corporation serving in many capacities including as the very first editor of Promega Notes. He was also Manager Tech Services and Training, Product Manager Restriction/Modifying Enzymes, Product Manager Protein Analysis, and is now Marketing Manager Protein Analysis.
Nives Kovacevic	Nives Kovacevic is a Promega Technical Service Scientist. She was born and educated in Knin, Croatia, where she developed her love of science and music. After completing her Agronomy studies at University of Belgrade, Serbia, Nives was a high school teacher in her home town. After her teaching experience, she continued her graduate studies at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She then continued with post doctoral training at UW-Madison in maize epigenetics. Today Nives lives in Middleton, Wisconsin, with her husband and enjoys hiking, swimming and skiing in the nearby bluffs, lakes and hills. The warm society and rich cultural life of Madison is a perfect environment for them.
Isobel Maciver	Isobel Maciver is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and of Aston University in Birmingham, U.K.  She is a technical writer and editor, and is also manager of the Scientific Communications group at Promega. She enjoys writing about issues in science and communication.
Karen Reece	Karen Reece is a Senior Research Scientist in Nucleic Acid Technologies at Promega. She has a BS in Biochemistry and MS and PhD in Physiology, all from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Karen was born and raised in Madison, WI and every time she would think of moving away something would come up, so she just decided to stay. When she’s not doing research and/or development, Karen enjoys the local music scene (particularly Hip-Hop), playing the cello and singing, and fighting for social justice.
Caroline Sober	Caroline Sober is a software developer at Promega and just had her 10-year anniversary. She’s not a scientist, so if you hear her talking about DNA purification or pipetting or current issues in bioprivacy, she’s totally faking it and you should tell her to hush. She is, however, passionate about building useful software, the interactions between people and technology in general, and how social media is changing the communication landscape between companies and customers. She lives in Madison with her husband and their rock star dog.
Terri Sundquist	Terri Sundquist has worked as a Scientific Communications Specialist at Promega Corporation for more than 9 years, and prior to that, spent more than 5 years solving problems and answering questions as a Promega Technical Services Scientist. She graduated with B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biology at the University of Wisconsin—River Falls, then earned her M.S. in Molecular Biology from the Mayo Graduate School in Rochester Minnesota.
Becca Terdich	Becca Terdich is a Recruitment Specialist at Promega where she gets to interview fascinating people and do yoga during the lunch hour. She earned her BS in psychology with a minor in dance at the University of Iowa. In her free time you can find her dancing, practicing yoga, rock climbing or cooking.