About Us
The GSAF is a full service sequencing core that provides Next Generation Sequencing and Spatial Transcriptomic services.
We are housed in approximately 2,000 square feet of controlled-access laboratory space and are an experienced NGS facility. Launched in 2008, the GSAF currently processes over 20,000 NGS samples per year.
Instruments in our lab:
Illumina NovaSeq 6000
Illumina MiSeq sequencers
Illumina NextSeq 1000
10x Chromium ix and CytAssit
10x Xenium
Agilent BioAnalyzer 2100
Invitrogen Qubit fluorimeter and Thermoscientific Fluoroskan
Tecan Evo and Hamilton NGS Star
Lab protocols we are experienced with:
RNA and DNA library prep, Single RNA-Seq (10x and Parse), 3' mRNA TagSeq, Visium Spatial and Xenium, DNA EPIC Arrays, 16S/ITS metagenomics
Computational and software resources:
The bioinformatcis group maintains a wide range of tools for NGS analysis and assembly and can assist with all of your analysis needs, please visit them here.
Need your own server or access to one of ours, here is an explanation of the Biomedical Research Computing services with instructions for getting an account.
In addition, the GSAF uses and works with the TACC bioinformatics group, supporting tools and applications suitable to the TACC environment.
New to Unix? Check out some Unix and Perl resources for beginners.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission: The Genomic Sequencing and Analysis Facility mission is to provide the community with a level of technical expertise and experience that will support ongoing research projects. We aim to provide the highest quality data, develop strong customer relationships through individualized support, and provide educational opportunities that focus on the rapidly evolving field of genomics.
Vision: The GSAF aims to be a leader in advancing scientific discovery by providing access to state-of-the-art genomic technologies and continuously evolving and expanding our services ensuring our research community has access to the most advanced tools to drive cutting edge research.
Values: Our core facility is committed to excellence in service, integrity, and collaboration. We prioritize the success of the researchers we support and the professional growth of the staff who make our mission possible. We foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for both experienced investigators and those new to genomic technologies, encouraging strong partnerships across all disciplines. Education is central to our approach, and we provide learning opportunities for our users and continuous professional development for our team. Most importantly, we operate with transparency, accountability, and commitment to scientific integrity.
Our People
Jessica Wheeler Podnar
Director
(512) 232-5924
NMS 1.118
Jessica is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University and began her career in cell and molecular biology over 19 years ago starting at a biotech company in Reno, NV focused on telomere biology. Her next endeavor led to the Genomic Sequencing Facility where she began as the Lab Manager in June 2010, as her role continued to grow and expand so did her responsibilities which eventually lead to the opportunity to serve as the Director. Her years of experience covers a wide range of applications, from protocol development and optimization, the many transitions in NGS platforms and preps, lab and personnel management, establishing pricing structures and policies for the facility, all the way to setting up COVID testing laboratory for the university. She is also an active member of the Association for Biomolecular Resource Facilities, a previous member and former chair of the DNA Sequencing Research Group, and current president elect for the South Central Core Collective, SC3.
Gabriella Huerta
Program Manager
(512) 475-7706
NMS 1.264
Gabriella manages the Illumina sequencing operations and contributes to all aspects of the genomic sequencing enterprise. Every library barcode, concentration and quality control metric is carefully scrutinized by Gabriella, as she performs the complex task of setting up the sequencing runs to assure the highest quality results. With prior experience running NGS operations at Perlegen Sciences and Pfizer, Gabriella has the depth of experience to get the jobs done right.