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Dr. MacRenaris is a research associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and the Director of the newly established Quantitative Bio Element Analysis and Mapping (QBEAM) Facility at Michigan State University (MSU). Founded in January 2021 by Professor Thomas V. O’Halloran, QBEAM serves as an interdisciplinary center within the Elemental Health Institute (EHI) focused on examining elemental quotas in biology at the single cell and whole organism levels. His research explores the interplay between metals and systems biology to develop therapeutics, elucidate disease mechanisms, and enhance understanding of the ecological and environmental consequences of metal exposure. Dr. MacRenaris obtained a Bachelor of Science in Cell Developmental Biology from the University of Rochester, where he researched the developmental role of acetylcholine receptors in early maternal axis development in purple sea urchins. He earned his PhD in Biological Sciences from Northwestern University in 2009 under Professor Thomas Meade, specializing in metal-based imaging probes for non-invasive imaging of cancer progression, with a particular focus on gadolinium-based contrast agents and gold nanoparticle delivery systems. Prior to his current role, he held positions as a postdoctoral fellow, research associate, and research assistant professor in molecular biosciences at Northwestern University, where he also directed the nationally recognized Quantitative Bio-element Imaging Center (QBIC). Currently, he collaborates with Professor O’Halloran at MSU to establish QBEAM as an internationally recognized center for elemental analysis and mapping, providing state-of-the-art instrumentation and expert services to the MSU community.
Department of Psychology