Team

Leadership and Staff

  • Michael Kissner

    • Director of Operations

    Michael has been in the flow cytometry field for over fifteen years in a variety of settings that have given him a unique perspective of the field. He was first introduced to flow cytometry and cell sorting as a laboratory technician in a developmental biology lab and has been in the field ever since. Having experience in both academic core facilities and at multiple companies, where he participated in instrument launches, Michael was recruited to Columbia University in 2017 to establish the Columbia Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI) Flow Cytometry Core from the ground up. The CSCI Flow Cytometry Core Facility now maintains over 12 instruments and serves hundreds of users and has become a key resource of both cytometry instrumentation and knowledge at Columbia University.

  • Christopher Wu

    • Flow Cytometry Specialist

    Hailing from the great state of New Jersey, Chris joined the CSCI Flow Core in December of 2023 as a part of the core staff. Chris did his undergraduate at The College of New Jersey earning a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology. Chris loves all things computing and engineering, working on his car and computer during his free time. You can find some of the current side projects he is working on in his GitHub below: https://github.com/mnist-wu.

  • Ryan Wantroba

    • Flow Cytometry Specialist

    Ryan Wantroba has been with CSCI since his move to NYC in December 2023. A Connecticut native, he obtained a B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Connecticut. Ryan is particularly curious about research concerning the nature of consciousness and its emergence from biology. In his free time, Ryan is a passionate hobbyist in artistic and competitive endeavors, including rock drumming, acting, directing, chess, and video games.

  • Juan Idiarte

    • Flow Cytometry Specialist

    Born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay, Juan is a biologist with a background in molecular and cell biology and clinical research. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences in 2021 from the Universidad de la Republica (UdelaR) and went on to pursue a Master's degree in Molecular and Cell Biology in the same institution, honing his expertise in the field. Since 2023, Juan has been a member of the CSCI Flow Cytometry Core, working side by side with the users.