Meet Our Scientists

Microbial Insights provides unparalleled expertise. There is no substitute for experience. Our laboratory personnel have received graduate degrees, and are published, recognized experts. You can rest assured that your samples are in the hands of our dedicated professionals.

Meet a few of these extraordinary scientists below:

Dora Taggart
Chief Executive Officer

Since joining Microbial Insights in 2001, Dora Taggart has advanced the field of Molecular Biological Tools, including pioneering work in qPCR analysis and stable isotope probing. Dora continues to propel MI forward by collaborating with leading researchers in academia and federal agencies to keep MI at the forefront of the industry. As CEO, Dora has become a global ambassador for MBTs, regularly presenting as an invited speaker at environmental and corrosion conferences, leading hundreds of technical workshops worldwide, and co-authoring guidance documents with groups like the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) EMD team and ER Wiki (Remediapedia) to support appropriate use and interpretation of MBTs. In 2011, Dora was named the most valuable team member for the ITRC EMD team, in 2016 received the woman-owned business of the year, in 2017 was honored as Business Person of the Year and in 2022 received the National Groundwater Association Technology Award. She also serves on the Board of Directors of  Boys and Girls Club of the Cumberland Plateau as well as serves on the town council committee of Farragut, and the Board of Visitors for the University of Tennessee Department of Microbiology. For 2022-2024, Dora will serve as chair for the National Institute of Health MCST (12) section.   Dora received her degree in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Sam Rosolina
Vice President of Applied Innovation

As Vice President of Applied Innovation, Sam works with each of the laboratories within Microbial Insights and collaborates with experts across multiple industries to continually drive innovation forward. Throughout the development of new molecular biological tools, his focus is a balance of hard science, accessible methods, and actionable data. He received his B.A. in Chemistry from Berea College and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Tennessee. Throughout his Ph.D. research, Sam focused on analysis of trace-level environmental toxins including heavy metals and toxic gases. Dr. Rosolina is also proud to serve as the Board Chair for Discover Life in America, a non-profit and Great Smoky Mountains National Park partner dedicated to discovering, understanding, and conserving biodiversity.

John Gallagher
Vice President of Business Development

John works closely with the Research and Development team to commercialize new products and services.  In addition, he works with MI’s sales teams, both domestically and around the globe, to ensure that clients have access to the tools they need to accomplish their goals.  Finally, he is charged with monitoring business processes and quality controls to ensure that MI is working as efficiently and accurately as their clients have come to expect.  He received his B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University and his M.S. in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Omara Robles
DNA Laboratory Director

As DNA Laboratory Director, Omara is responsible for processing and analyzing samples using techniques such as qPCR, QuantArray® and Next Generation Sequencing. She has diversified her skills in quality assurance and management working in the biopharmaceutical industry for many years. She received her B.S. in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, where she performed undergraduate research in cell regeneration and gene expression granted by the National Institute of Health (NIH). She assists by overseeing the DNA Laboratory operations, her main goal is to ensure the quality of the process while providing accurate results to uphold our high customer service standards.

Joseph Headrick
Assistant DNA Laboratory Director

In his capacity as Assistant Laboratory Director, Joseph provides oversight for the daily operations of the qPCR laboratory, which supports analytical workflows for Census, QuantArray, and Sequencing projects. He is committed to ensuring that all laboratory activities meet established turnaround times while upholding the highest standards of quality assurance. In addition to his primary responsibilities, he provides essential support to the DNA Laboratory Director in the management of laboratory operations, personnel, and strategic initiatives.  Joseph’s combined experience in clinical sample processing and academic research laboratory management enables him to bring a well-rounded and disciplined approach to his role at MI. His background ensures that all samples and analyses are handled with accuracy, consistency, and professionalism. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Microbiology from East Tennessee State University, where he conducted research on natural alternatives to antibiotics for the treatment of Salmonella in agricultural settings.

Charles Slater
Senior Research Scientist

Charles is instrumental in qPCR and QuantArray® assay design and ensuring that Microbial Insights continues to remain at the forefront of molecular microbiology. Charles’ expertise and experience both at the lab bench and at the computer spans the continuum of molecular biology from DNA (extraction, qPCR, sequencing) through gene expression (mRNA, RT-qPCR) to protein purification and analysis (SDS-PAGE, HPLC, MS). Over the past 20 years, the molecular microbiology field has exploded not just in terms of technology but also in terms of data volume with nearly 200,000,000 gene sequences available. Simply put, developing and validating new MBTs requires a special team of scientists and a corporate commitment to research and development. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Tennessee and his M.S. in Forensic Science and Biotechnology from the University of Alabama.

Adam Partin
Statistician

Using advanced statistical methods, Adam helps to translate both biological data and its relationships with the natural world into actionable and understandable insights for client projects. Adam works within the Research and Development team to elucidate trends and dive deeper into molecular data for valuable information that guides innovation. He also provides bioinformatics support, such as developing new analytical workflows and pipelines. He received his B.S in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee and his M.S. in Applied Statistics from the University of Delaware. His diverse background of experience allows him to bridge scientific disciplines and provide unique insights into the intersection of complex biological data and project needs.

Christian Polanco
Director of Project Success

Christian is responsible for project management and helps clients with selecting the correct assays for their projects, sampling logistics, and routine customer service requests. He also assists the technical director with overseeing the customer service department and DNA and PLFA laboratories to ensure that high-quality, accurate results are delivered on time. Christian is a detail-oriented Biotechnologist specialized in cell culture with extensive experience in Biopharmaceuticals. He is passionate about the environment and draws from his previous experience to improve processes in our facilities and communicate to clients the utility and applications of our MBTs.  He obtained a B.S. in Biotechnology from the InterAmerican University in Arecibo, PR.

Hannah Ward
Project Management

As a Project Success Manager, Hannah is a primary point of contact for MI’s clients, responsible for fielding questions, initiating projects, and offering technical expertise upon completion. An avid crafter and music lover, Hannah’s multidisciplinary background brings a people- and process-focused approach to the application of MI’s molecular biological tools. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University with departmental honors in independent research and an MBA from East Tennessee State University in 2024.

Jessica Martin
Finance Administrator