Program Leadership and Staff

M.S. in Biotechnology Program Leadership

The M.S. in Biotechnology Program operates independently under Biomedical Sciences and Technologies (BIOMDSCI) within the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). The M.S. in Biotechnology Program Office is located in the MGE Innovation Center in the heart of the University Research Park.

M.S. in Biotechnology Program Office
510 Charmany Drive, Suite 150
Madison, WI 53719-1262

Bryan Husk (Administrative Associate Director), Michele Smith (Graduate Program Manager), and Barbara Bielec (Graduate Advisor) oversee daily operation of the program from the M.S. in Biotechnology Program Office.

Natalie Betz (Academic Director and Faculty Associate) leads the management and delivery of the program’s curriculum. She divides her time between the M.S. in Biotechnology Program and the BTC Institute located on the Promega Corporation campus.

Natalie Betz

Credentials: PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Position title: Academic Director
M.S. in Biotechnology Program (in-person)
Capstone Certificate in Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (online)
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Email: nabetz@wisc.edu

Phone: Program Office: (608) 262-9753

Bryan Husk

Credentials: M.A. in Counseling Psychology

Position title: Administrative Associate Director
M.S. in Biotechnology Program (in-person)
Capstone Certificate in Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (online)
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Email: bthusk@wisc.edu

Phone: (608) 265-4295 office
(608) 577-9182 cell

Michele Smith

Credentials: M.S. in Biotechnology, SCT (ASCP)

Position title: Graduate Program Manager
M.S. in Biotechnology Program (in-person)
Capstone Certificate in Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (online)
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Email: michele.smith@wisc.edu

Phone: Office: (608) 262-9870

Barbara Bielec

Credentials: M.S. in Genetics

Position title: Graduate Advisor
M.S. in Biotechnology Program (in-person)
Capstone Certificate in Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (online)
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Email: bielec@wisc.edu

Phone: Program Office: (608) 262-9753

Current SMPH Leadership

Anjon (Jon) Audhya, Executive Director of the M.S. in Biotechnology Program; Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies

Kurt Zimmerman, Director of the M.S. in Biotechnology; Senior Director of the Office of Biohealth Industry Partnerships in the Dean’s Office for the School of Medicine and Public Health developing industry-focused strategic initiatives such as The Isthmus Project, a collaboration within UW Health to foster medical innovation, and the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Federal grant led by BioForward Wisconsin.

Jon Audhya

Position title: Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology, and Graduate Studies; Professor in the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry

Kurt J. Zimmerman

Position title: Senior Director of Biohealth Industry Partnerships
Director, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Phone: (608) 262-0685 office
(608) 219-6425 cell

Former SMPH Leadership

Rick Moss, (emeritus) Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies; founding Executive Director of the M.S in Biotechnology Program (former)

Gail Roberson, Professor of Neuroscience; founding Director of the M.S. in Biotechnology Program (former)

Richard L. Moss

Credentials: Ph.D. in Physiology

Position title: Emeritus Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies; Executive Director and Co-founder, M.S. in Biotechnology Program; Professor, School of Medicine and Public Health

Gail Robertson

Credentials: Ph.D.

Position title: Professor of Neuroscience
Director, T32 Training Program in Translational Cardiovascular Science

The Robertson Lab