Company Profile

Aptagen, LLC is a global leader in aptamer development with over 25 years of experience generating high affinity and specifically-binding aptamers for small molecules, proteins, cells, and tissues. We produce state-of-the-art target-recognition elements for diagnostics, therapeutics, and bio-industrial applications.

Aptagen has grown from a one-man operation with the ingenuity and support of interns, graduate students, and post-docs to a tight-knit developing business with a world-class team of scientists, servicing clients ranging globally from research academics at top-tier institutions to BigPharma companies. Aptagen was named as a finalist for the “Top Emerging Business of the Year” of 2011 by Central Penn Business Journal. Aptamers are an emerging technology that is poised to become the next evolution in diagnostics and drug discovery. Aptagen continues to play a leading role in developing aptamer technology that will assist in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Today, Aptagen is a leader in the field of aptamers and has a strong reputation for “Taking on Challenging Projects, and Delivering Positive Results.”

Aptagen was formed in 2004, and operations began two years later in 2006. Aptagen is located in Jacobus, PA, a suburb of York, beautifully surrounded by hiking and horseback riding trails near Lake Williams and Lake Redman. We are conveniently situated off of Interstate 83. The facility is a forty-minute drive from Johns Hopkins University and Hershey Medical Center.

**G. Thomas Caltagirone,**
**Ph.D.**
**President & CEO**
tom@aptagen.com
**ext. 500**

Dr. Caltagirone, who has over 25 years of research and business experience in start-ups, is the President & CEO of Aptagen, LLC. A native of York, PA, he began his studies at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry followed by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Drexel University. He completed his thesis on “Proton-Sensitive Ribozyme Switches with Molecular Memory” at Yale University. His training and technical skills are primarily in the area of Molecular Biology with several patents and publications under his name.

**Michelle L. Young**
**Administrative Assistant**
admin@aptagen.com
**ext. 301**

Michelle is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She earned her Associates Degree from Consolidated School of Business. Before coming to Aptagen, she was a judicial secretary. She has over 10 years’ experience in an office setting.

**Weihua Pan, MS**
**Principal Scientist**

Weihua began basic studies at Nankai University in China, and continued advanced training at Nankai, Harbin Medical University (China) and IPK (Germany). In US, he has focused on R&D of Aptamer and Anti-Sense strategies for more than 25 years.

**Albert M. Liao, BS**
**Lab Director**
lab@aptagen.com
**ext. 508**

Albert Liao earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in the field of Biomedical Engineering. He then participated in the internship program and graduated to assume the Lab Director position. In his time at Aptagen, Albert contributed to many aspects of the lab, including Aptamer R&D and Oligonucleotide Synthesis.

**James S. Vandegrift, BS**
**Director of Chemistry**
oligos@aptagen.com
**ext. 400**

James Vandegrift is the Director of Chemistry at Aptagen. James graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Ursinus College. His research currently focuses on the synthesis, modification, and purification of aptamers.

How to Apply

(DNA Helix Trophy) = Graduated & fulfilled all requirements of the Aptagen Internship Program.

Aptagen Interns

Veera V. Basamshetty National Institution of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Guwahati Ph.D. Biotechnology 03/21 - Present

Fatima Kazmi Stevens Institute of Technology M.S. Biology 03/21 - Present

Wesley C. Reindel Univ of South Carolina B.S. Biomedical Engineer 09/20- 03/21

Thu Thuy Ha Univ of South Carolina B.S. Biology 09/20-03/21

Maranda S. Gibb York College of PA B.S. Biology 09/20- 03/21

Katherine L. Brooks Univ of Delaware B.S. Biotech & Applied Biology 09/20- 01/21

Jessica Rodriguez Penn State Univ B.S. Pharmacology & Toxicology 09/20- 03/21

Trung 'Jay' Le Univ of Virginia M.E. Chemical Engineering 06/20 - 12/20

Rebecca L. Rose York College of PA Chemistry 06/20 - 12/20

James S. Vandegrift Ursinus College B.S. Chemistry 06/20 - 12/20

Deanna M. Dahir Penn State Univ M.S. of Biotechnology 06/20 - 12/20

Daniel T. Dreyfus Univ of Delaware B.A. Biological Sciences 06/20 - 10/20

Jorge L. Garcia Univ of Pittsburgh Neuroscience 01/20 - 05/20

Meredith D. Davis Dickinson College Biochem & Molecular Bio 09/19 - 03/20

Brianna L. Ankney Univ of Pittsburgh Biology & Chemistry 09/19 - 03/20

W. Nate Hoxie UMBC Chemistry 06/19 - 12/19

Jacob R. Shaw Towson University Molecular Biology 09/18 - 5/19

Andrew Yuhas University of the Sciences Biology 09/18 - 12/18

Lauren A. Smith George Mason University Bioengineering 09/18 - 2/19

Mangyin 'Matthew' Mo Penn State University Biomedical Engineering 06/18 - 12/18

Benjamin J. Rose Penn State University Biochem & Molecular Bio 01/18 - 07/18

Jay Patel Penn State University Chemical Engineering 01/18 - 07/18

Aaron J. Embry Millersville University BAS. Biology 06/17 - 02/18

Anna M. Waite Rutgers University Masters of Science 05/17 - 12/17

James S. Lyons, Jr University of Maryland Ph.D. Candidate, Molecular Medicine 06/16 - 12/16

Adam D. Poff Gettysburg College Biochem & Molecular Bio 05/16 - 03/17

Erika Gedvilaite Penn State University MS, Biotechnology 05/16 - 12/16

Melanie Hardy University of Maryland Biochemistry/Math 03/15 - 09/15

J. Cory Benson Arcadia University Biology 09/14 - 05/15

Brittany Copenhaver York College of PA Biology 05/14 - 01/15

Jenny Liu John Hopkins University M.S.E. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 01/14 - 08/14

Robert Nwokonko Kutztown University Biology/Pre-medical 07/13 - 04/14

Raphael Williams, BS Clarion University Molecular Biology 06/13 - 11/13

Andrew Sutton, BS York College Biology 04/13 - 11/13

Sara Wing York College Biology and Chemistry 09/12 - 02/13

Tsai-Chin (Donna) Wu, Ph.D. University of Illinois Bioengineering/Nanotechnology 08/12 - 03/13

Matthew J. Murray, BS Dickinson College Physics 07/12 - 03/13

Houng Nguyen Penn State Biology 06/12 - 12/12

Jennifer Minteer, BS Harrisburg University Biotechnology 06/12 - 11/12

Amiee M. Green, BS Kutztown University Biology 05/12 - 10/12

Kelsey Weren Gettysburg College Biology 01/12 - 05/12

Matthew Gladfelter York College Mechanical Engineering 01/12 - 02/13

Albert M. Liao, BS Johns Hopkins University Biomedical Engineering 01/12 - 10/12

Caitlin Nealin, M.S. Georgetown University Biotechnology 10/11 - 04/12

Chelsea N. Thompson Millersville University Biology 05/11 - 12/11

Kyle Kentch, B.S. University of Rochester Biomedical Engineering 03/11 - 12/11

Kevin P. Jackson, BS Liberty University Biology with Pre-Med 11/10 - 09/11

Amy R. Smith, BS Temple University Biology/Biochemistry 11/10 - 03/11

Norman Rogers, BS Salisbury University Biology 10/10 - 03/11

Christopher Dower, BS Millersville University Biological Sciences 10/10 - 08/11

Dane Kikola Millersville University Biology 09/10 - 08/11

Anne Nixon, BS Penn State University Biology 080/10 - 06/11

Katherine E. Eisner Loyola University Biology 06/10 - 09/10

Kristen Sheaffer Millersville University Biology 05/10 - 01/11

Aaron Montani Millersville University Biology 05/10 - 01/11

Dionisi Daoularis Drexel University Biomedical Engineering 05/10 - 09/10

Sakkaphan Sawatphanit Bucknell University Biochemistry 12/09 - 08/10

C. Nicole Groves, BS Towson University Biology 07/09 - 06/10

Marija Debeljak Millersville University Biology 06/09 - 04/10

Jason Huska Millersville University Molecular Biology 05/09 - 20/10

Karen Kofroth Millersville University Molecular Biology 04/09 - 08/09

Ron Ho York College Biology/Pre-medical 02/09 - 06/09

Jamie S. Harper York College Biology 01/09 - 10/09

Nadine Chase, BS Penn State York Science 12/08 - 07/10

Derek J. Jendras York College Biology 07/08 - 05/09

Andy L. Ngo, BS York College Biology 07/08 - 06/09

Bethany N. nEILL Franklin & Marshall College Biology 05/08 - 11/08

Mitchell B. Crawford Millersville University Molecular Biology 05/08 - 01/09

Raisa Janella N. Cheng York College Biology 05/08 - 11/08

Shelly L. Wesner, BS York College Biology 02/08 - 06/08

Jose L. Pelliccia, BS Millersville University Biology, Molecular/Biotech 01/07 - 08/08

Elliot Eckard Penn State York Science 01/07 - 07/10

Vladimir Torres Millersville University Molecular Biology 01/07 - 01/08

Sameer Shah Millersville University Biology, Molecular/Biotech Option 01/07 - 12/07

Alexis Norris Millersville University Molecular Biology 01/06 - 01/07