Contact us

Meet the hardworking team that provides your DNA sequencing services.

staff
(L-R:) Sara Thompson, Raamuel Plair, Jaime Heltke, Kirsten Bracale

Back to Keck DNA Sequencing Facility

Contact us

The best way to contact us is by emailing DNAseq@Yale.edu. You can also reach us at 203-737-2566.

Staff contact info

Jaime Heltke

Jaime Heltke, MS

Director

Sara Thompson

Sara Thompson

Lab Manager

DNA seq RP

Raamuel Plair

Lab technician

Kirsten Bracale

Kirsten Bracale

Lab technician

Our members

Jaime Heltke

Jaime Heltke, MS, Director

Jaime Heltke, MS

Jaime has been working at Yale since 2011 with over 13 years of service in the genomics cores.  Jaime joined the Keck DNA Sequencing core as the director in 2022. Jaime’s fascination and love for genetics led her to become a scientist here at Yale in hopes of helping cure diseases. “I originally thought I’d go into a specific research lab," she says. "I never would have imagined I would have ended up at the cores. Instead of focusing on one disease, I’ve been able to help countless researchers from Yale University and outside institutions progress in their studies of disease."

Sara Thompson

Sara Thompson, Lab Manager

Sara Thompson

Sara obtained her BS in forensic science (biology) from the University of New Haven in 2012. She began her cores career with Yale when she first joined Keck DNA Sequencing in 2013. She then joined YCGA in 2019 as a manager where she expanded her NGS knowledge and skills. Sara later rejoined Keck DNA Sequencing in November of 2022 as a Research Associate 1. She serves as the lab manager.

DNA seq RP

Raamuel Plair, Lab Technician

Raamuel Plair

Raamuel earned her BS in biology from Southern Connecticut State University in 2016. She expanded her knowledge in the field through independent research and internships. In the summer of 2021, Raamuel began her career as a Research Assistant 1 at the Keck DNA Sequencing Facility. 

Kirsten Bracale

Kirsten Bracale, Lab Technician

Kirsten Bracale

Kirsten obtained a BS in biology and a BA in psychology with a certificate in nuroscience from Providence College in 2022. Later that year she joined Keck, working in both the DNA Sequencing core as well as the Oligo Synthesis Resource as a Research Assistant I.