Welcome!
The University of Maine CORE Genetics Facilities provide comprehensive molecular biology and genomics services that support research, environmental monitoring, education, and innovation across Maine and beyond. Serving academic investigators, government agencies, industry partners, non-profit organizations, and community groups, the facilities deliver expert technical services, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and collaborative scientific support for projects ranging from routine DNA analysis to advanced environmental genomics.
The CORE Environmental DNA (eDNA) Service Center specializes in detecting genetic material from environmental samples—including water, soil, and air—to identify and monitor species without direct observation or collection. This powerful approach supports biodiversity assessments, invasive species detection, conservation biology, fisheries management, ecosystem monitoring, and environmental research. The facility offers end-to-end project support, including survey design, filtration, DNA extraction, assay development, quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, data interpretation, and researcher training. The laboratory serves clients throughout the academic, government, environmental, and private sectors while advancing innovative approaches to environmental stewardship and natural resource management.
The CORE DNA Sequencing Facility provides high-quality Sanger DNA sequencing and fragment analysis services for researchers across the University of Maine System and external organizations. Equipped with high-throughput capillary sequencing instrumentation, the facility supports a broad range of applications including DNA sequence verification, mutation detection, microsatellite analysis, SNP genotyping, and fragment analysis. Flexible service options accommodate both full-service sequencing and client-prepared samples, providing rapid, reliable, and cost-effective molecular analysis for research, education, and diagnostic applications.
As part of the University of Maine's Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE), the Genetics Facilities operate as shared research resources that provide broad access to advanced molecular technologies, standardized workflows, expert consultation, and professional training. By making specialized instrumentation and technical expertise accessible to diverse users, the facilities accelerate scientific discovery, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, support workforce development, and strengthen Maine's research and innovation ecosystem.
Operating Hours:
Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Self-Service Availability:
Monday - Friday 9am - 4 pm by reservation only. Please visit the Schedule Equipment tab to reserve.
Please ship samples to:
CORE Environmental DNA Lab
Attn: Alexandra Sacco
University of Maine
5751 Murray Hall Rm 223
Orono, Me 04469
Alexandra Sacco, PhD. CORE Genetics Facilites Manager
Megan Franz, Genetics Laboratory Coordinator
Julie Rutherford, Fiscal Officer of CORE
Michael Call, Facilities Manager of CORE
Megan Tardif, Director of CORE
| Name | Role | Phone | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Sacco |
Genetics Facilities Manager
|
207-581-2591
|
alexandra.j.sacco@maine.edu
|
Murray Hall
|
| Julie Rutherford |
Fiscal Officer
|
207-581-1118
|
julie.rutherford@maine.edu
|
155 ESRB-Barrows Hall
|
| Michael Call |
CORE Facilities Manager
|
207-581-3382
|
michael.call@maine.edu
|
ESRB-Barrows Hall
|
| Megan Tardif |
CORE Director
|
207-581-1225
|
megan.tardif@maine.edu
|
153 ESRB-Barrows Hall
|
| Megan Franz |
Genetics Laboratory Coordinator
|
207-581-2795
|
megan.franz@maine.edu
|
Hitchner Hall
|
| Service list |
| ► Consulting & Technical Services (3) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Jackson |
Bioinformatics Consultant & Integrative Data Scientist |
Internal
$82.00
/hr
External $100.00 /hr Academic $90.00 /hr |
|
| Alexandra Sacco, PhD. |
Per hour Rate applies to activities performed by the eDNA lab expert which are not included in the established service offerings. Examples include training, assay development, and report writing. |
Internal
$90.00
/hr
Academic $100.00 /hr External $115.00 /hr |
|
| Megan Franz |
Per hour Rate applies to activities performed by the Genetics Lab Coordinator which are not included in the established service offerings. Examples include training, sample processing, and trouble shooting. |
Internal
$55.00
/hr
External $75.00 /hr Academic $63.00 /hr |
|
| ► eDNA Sample Processing (5) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| eDNA Sample Filtering |
Per Liter Sample Vacuum filtration of water samples for eDNA collection |
Internal
$10.00
liter
Academic $11.00 liter External $12.50 liter |
|
| eDNA Extraction |
Per Sample Extraction of eDNA from water sample filters. Specialized kits available per request and charged as add-on. |
Internal
$10.00
Sample
Academic $11.00 Sample External $12.50 Sample |
|
| Sample Clean-Up |
Per Sample Purification of extracted eDNA to increase PCR efficiency using Zymo PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit. |
Internal
$9.40
Sample
Academic $10.50 Sample External $12.00 Sample |
|
| Targeted eDNA Assay Single Probe qPCR (4 Replicates) |
Per Sample Batch of 4 qPCR replicates using a single Taqman MGB-NFQ probe assay. |
Internal
$24.80
Sample
Academic $27.25 Sample External $31.00 Sample |
|
| Targeted eDNA Assay Double Probe qPCR (4 Replicates) |
Per Sample Batch of 4 qPCR replicates using two Taqman MGB-NFQ probe assays |
Internal
$28.00
Sample
Academic $30.75 Sample External $34.75 Sample |
|
| ► Sample Processing (6) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| Gel Electrophoresis |
Separation and visualization of DNA fragments on an agarose gel. Confirms PCR amplification and fragment size. |
Internal
$30.00
each
External $37.50 each Academic $33.00 each |
|
| Purification: ExoSAP |
Enzymatic Purification method provides 100% recovery of amplicons regardless of fragment size. |
Internal
$4.90
Sample
External $6.20 Sample Academic $5.50 Sample |
|
| Purification: QIAquick |
Spin column purification method provides up to 95% recovery of amplicons between 100bp - 10kb. |
Internal
$5.70
Sample
External $7.00 Sample Academic $6.25 Sample |
|
| Quantification: QubitTM Fluorometer Measurement |
DNA quantification |
Internal
$4.80
Sample
Academic $5.30 Sample External $6.00 Sample |
|
| PCR |
DNA Amplification Price per sample with 2 replicates. |
Internal
$9.00
Sample
Academic $10.00 Sample External $11.50 Sample |
|
| BioRad ddPCR |
Absolute quantification of DNA |
Internal
$40.00
block
Academic $44.00 block External $50.00 block |
|
| ► Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (2) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| Oxford Nanopore MinION Amplicon sequencing |
Price includes the library preparation and sequencing for 6 native barcodes (can barcode individual, mixed samples or dual-indexed libraries for metabarcoding) on a MinION flowcell using the Nanopore Mk1D device. Typical output: 30–50 Gb of data in a single run. Flowcell charged separately. HPC charged separately as applicable |
Internal
$343.00
Run
Academic $456.50 Run External $520.00 Run |
|
| Oxford Nanopore Small to Medium Sized Genome Sequencing |
Price includes the library preparation and sequencing of small to medium-sized genomes on a MinION flow cell using the Mk1D sequencing device. Suitable for bacterial (<10 Mb), fungal/yeast (10-100Mb), and small eukaryotic genomes. Flowcells charged separately HPC charged separately as applicable |
Internal
$375.00
Run
External $493.75 Run Academic $434.50 Run |
|
| ► MiSeq Sequencing (1) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| MiSeq® Sequencing Run |
Next-generation sequencing (Reagent kit billed separately) |
Internal
$383.80
Run
Academic $425.00 Run External $480.00 Run |
|
| ► Sanger Sequencing (3) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| Sanger Sequencing - Cycle Sequencing |
Cycle sequencing, ETOH/EDTA clean up, and electrophoresis of DNA samples. The lab uses the Big Dye brand of reagents. |
Internal
$4.80
reactions
External $6.00 reactions Academic $5.30 reactions |
|
| Electrophoresis |
Provides capillary electrophoresis of a client's prepared plate for Sanger Sequencing. |
Internal
$1.90
reactions
External $2.50 reactions Academic $2.15 reactions |
|
| Fragment Analysis |
Electrophoresis and sizing of DNA samples using ABI Genescan Analysis Software. |
Internal
$1.90
reactions
External $2.50 reactions Academic $2.15 reactions |
|
| ► Reagents & Consumables (3) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| Extraction: DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen) |
Item / Catalog #: 69506 |
Inquire | |
| Extraction: DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit (Qiagen) |
Item / Catalog #: 47016 |
Inquire | |
| Extraction: DNeasy PowerWater Kit (Qiagen) |
Item / Catalog #: 14900-100-NF |
Inquire | |
| ► Self Service (10) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| Self-Service: Agilent 4150 TapeStation |
Price is per hour with a 15 min. minimum reservation. The Agilent Tape Station performs automated electrophoresis of DNA or RNA samples and generates |
Internal
$10.00
/hr
|
|
| Self-Service: Agilent Cytation 5 Plate Reader |
Price is per hour with a 15 min. minimum reservation. Agilent Cytation Biotek Multi-Mode Plate Reader. Cytation 5 combines automated microscopy and conventional microplate detection. The microscopy module offers up to 60x magnification in fluorescence, brightfield, high contrast brightfield, color brightfield, and phase contrast. The multimode detection modules include filter- and monochromator-based fluorescence detection, luminescence, and UV-Vis absorbance detection. The multimode detection modules include filter- and monochromator-based fluorescence detection, luminescence, and UV-Vis absorbance detection. Gen5 software provides complete control over all imaging and data capture, plus powerful image and data analysis.
|
Internal
$8.00
/hr
|
|
| Self-Service: Extraction |
Per Sample Extraction of eDNA from water sample filters. Specialized kits available per request and charged as add-on. |
Internal
$6.44
Sample
|
|
| Self-Service: Filtering |
Per Liter Sample Vacuum filtration of water samples for eDNA collection |
Internal
$6.19
liter
|
|
| Self-Service: Sample Clean-Up |
Per Sample Purification of extracted eDNA to increase PCR efficiency using Zymo PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit. |
Internal
$6.97
Sample
|
|
| Self Service: PCR |
DNA amplification Work performed by client |
Internal
$5.25
Sample
|
|
| Self Service: Targeted eDNA Double Probe qPCR Assay |
Batch of 4 qPCR replicates using two Taqman MGB-NFQ probe assays Work performed by client. |
Internal
$18.45
Sample
|
|
| Self Service: Targeted eDNA Single Probe qPCR Assay |
Batch of 4 qPCR replicates using a single Taqman MGB-NFQ probe assay. Work performed by client. |
Internal
$17.70
Sample
|
|
| Self Service: ddPCR |
Absolute quantification of DNA Work performed by client |
Inquire | |
| Self Service: Qubit Quantification |
DNA quantification performed by client. Fluoresence based assay is nucleic acid specific and can accurately measure both dilute samples and samples with contaminates. |
Internal
$1.25
Sample
|
|
| ► Inactive (1) | |||
| Name | Description | Price | |
| MinION® *Inactive* |
Long sequencing reads (consumables billed separately). |
Inquire | |
