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Megan Cleveland (Fed)
Research Biologist
Megan received a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she studied pancreas development in mice. In her work at NIST, Megan focuses on projects related to clinical diagnostics and biomanufacturing. She is particularly interested in digital PCR and next generation sequencing.
Megan led the production of NIST SRM 2365 (BK Virus DNA Quantitative Standard) and NIST SRM 2367 (JC Virus DNA Quantitative Standard). She also worked with the Genome in a Bottle (GiaB) consortium to examine results from targeted sequencing panels on GiaB benchmark genomes. Targeted sequencing panels may offer a cost effective way of characterizing a high number of clinically important genomic regions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan produced Research Grade Test Material (RGTM 10169) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. She worked with the Public Affairs Office to make a video about the creation of this material. At present, RGTM 10169 has been distributed to over 170 labs in 25 countries.
Megan is also interested in using NGS for the detection of possible contaminants in biologically produced materials. She co-organized a NIST/FDA workshop in 2019 for Standards for NGS Detection of Viral Adventitious Agents in Biologics and Biomanufacturing. A summary of the output of the workshop was published in 2020. She is the leader of Subgroup B (Standards and Reference Materials) for the Advanced Virus Detection Technologies Interest Group (AVDTIG).
Postdoctoral Research Opportunities
Megan is currently looking for applicants for the following opportunities:
Accurate Nucleic Acid Measurements for Molecular Diagnostics
Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines and Biologics
If you are interesting in applying to either opportunity, please email Dr. Cleveland at megan.cleveland [at] nist.gov.