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Jennifer McDaniel (Fed)

Biologist, Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group

Jennifer McDaniel has been engaged in genome-scale measurements and standards development since coming to NIST in 2005.  She started in the wet lab leading laboratory operations in developing standards for gene expression and whole genome sequencing measurements. She is currently serving as a bioinformatician on the Genome in a Bottle (GIAB) team contributing to the development of germline and somatic, small and structural variant benchmarks and development of tumor-normal paired reference materials. She contributes to organizing and managing GIAB consortium-contributed genome-scale datasets, ensuring their public availability and thorough documentation. This work establishes comprehensive, transparent and accessible resource for human genome sequencing variant calling benchmarking activities, including analytical validation, technology development, optimization, and demonstration. This work supports the NIST mission to advance U.S. innovation through leading-edge measurement science, standards, and technology. Additionally, Jennifer serves as the Division Deputy Quality Manager supporting division staff in understanding  and adherence to the requirements of the NIST Quality System. 


CURRENT PROJECTS

Genome in a Bottle
Cancer Genome in a Bottle

  • Nature Scientific Data publication describing the project and data:  Development and extensive sequencing of a broadly-consented Genome in a Bottle matched tumor-normal pair  (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05438-2)

Vector Copy Number Reference Materials

NIST REFERENCE MATERIAL WORK

Human DNA for Variant Calling

  • Utah/European (daughter), HG001, RM8398
  • Ashkenazi Jewish Family Trio (Son HG-002, Father HG-003, Mother, HG-004), RM8392
  • Han Chinese (Son), HG005, RM8393

DNA Sequence Library for External RNA Controls, SRM2374

Awards

NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Accolade for Measurment Services Excellence, 2023
For outstanding management of the larges,most diverse set of publicly avialable cancer genome data for a new broadly consented tumor cell line

U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal , 2022
For contribution to mapping the first ever complete human reference genome

NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Accolade for Service and Support , 2020
For coordinating on-site monitoring of NIST facilities during pandemic mandatory telework period       

U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal, 2019
For advancement of human genomics metrology

NIST Judson C. French Award , 2017
For development of human genome Reference Materials and methods for expression of confidence

U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal , 2015
For work with the External RNA Control Consortium (ERCC) to develop gene expression measurement controls leading to release of NIST SRM 2374

Publications

Interlaboratory Assessment of Candidate Reference Materials for Lentiviral Vector Copy Number and Integration Site Measurements

Author(s)
Hua-Jun He, Zhiyong He, Steven Lund, Barbara Paugh, Jennifer McDaniel, Justin Zook, Sierra Miller, Samantha Maragh, Simona Patange, Mahir Mohiuddin, Alessandro Tona, John Elliott, Kenneth Cole, Sheng Lin-Gibson
Reference materials are essential for accurately measuring integrated lentiviral vector (LV) copy number (VCN) and integration sites for the safety and efficacy

Small variant benchmark from a complete assembly of X and Y chromosomes

Author(s)
Justin Wagner, Nathanael Olson, Jennifer McDaniel, Lindsay Harris, Chunlin Xiao, Fritz Sedlazeck, Kishwar Shafin, Andrew Carroll, Justin Zook
The sex chromosomes contain complex, important genes impacting medical phenotypes, but differ from the autosomes in their ploidy and large repetitive regions

Cybersecurity of Genomic Data

Author(s)
Ronald Pulivarti, Natalia Globus, Frederick R. Byers, Justin Wagner, Justin Zook, Samantha Maragh, Jennifer McDaniel, Kevin Wilson, Martin Wojtyniak, Brett Kreider, Ann-Marie France, Sallie Edwards, Tommy Morris, Jared Sheldon, Scott Ross, Phillip Whitlow
Genomic data has enabled the rapid growth of the U.S. bioeconomy and is valuable to the individual, industry, and government because it has multiple intrinsic
Created October 9, 2019, Updated September 24, 2025
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