Summary
Dr. Andrew Gorzalski has been a member of the University of Nevada, Reno since 2003. Andrew obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Biochemistry, and his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology all from the University. Andrew has previously worked as the Director of GenQuest DNA Technologies where he routinely performed capillary electrophoresis, PCR, and sequencing. In 2018, Andrew was hired at the Nevada State Public Health Lab, where he implemented Next-Generation Sequencing methods. By 2023, the sequencing program at NVPHL included 2 MiniSeqs, 1 NovaSeq, 2 iSeqs, 4 Minions (ONT), automated library preparation and was performing WGS on thousands of SARS-CoV-2, bacteria, and yeast a year. Andrew helped create bioinformatic tools that were capable of determining single nucleotide differences between many isolates and communicating that information to disease control investigators.
Research interests
Genetic epidemiology of Candida auris, foodborne pathogens, and SARS-CoV-2
Publications
Gorzalski A, et al. The use of whole-genome sequencing and development of bioinformatics to monitor overlapping outbreaks of Candida auris in southern Nevada. Front. Public Health 11:1198189.
Gorzalski AJ, et al. Rapid Lineage Assignment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Cases through Automated Library Preparation, Sequencing, and Bioinformatic Analysis. J Mol Diagn. 2023 Apr;25(4):191-196.
Gorzalski AJ, et al. Characteristics of viral specimens collected from asymptomatic and fatal cases of COVID-19. J Biomed Res. 2020 Sep 28;34(6):431-436.
Education
Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 2015
M.S., Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2010
B.S., Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2006