Michelle Clay, Ph.D. is SeqCoast’s Director of Genomics Operations and a microbiologist with over a decade of research experience supporting basic science, translational medicine, and entrepreneurial goals. Michelle earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at Dartmouth College investigating microbial physiology and evolution in chronic infections of persons with cystic fibrosis, and she conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of Pittsburgh on the evolutionary dynamics of bacterial populations at high resolution. She has specialized knowledge of advanced microbiology techniques and analyses, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. She also has experience in mentoring, group leadership, and project management, always working to achieve clear communication and a reciprocal feedback process. She enjoys developing streamlined, accessible protocols and techniques, and she is motivated by seeing the fruits of her labors develop into meaningful scientific discoveries.​