Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Michigan State University

Daniel Vocelle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University. He is also the Assistant Director of the Michigan State University Flow Cytometry Core Facility, where he supports more than 350 active users, over 140 federally funded research projects, and 12 advanced analytical and sorting instruments. Vocelle is a seasoned Biomolecular Engineer with a dual Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Quantitative Biology, and over a decade of multidisciplinary research experience in a range of areas, including Immunology, Genetic Engineering, Exosomes/Nanoparticles, and Single-Cell Genomics. Drawing on these skills and experience, Vocelle excels at fostering research collaborations, assay optimization, and innovating non-traditional flow cytometry applications.

What inspired you to apply to the LDP or what are you looking forward to with the LDP?

I applied to the Leadership Development Program with a deep-seated desire to give back to the scientific community that has played a pivotal role in my own professional growth and  helped me advance cytometry in non-traditional fields of research. Throughout my academic journey, I have benefited immensely from the knowledge, mentorship, and support of the cytometry community, and I believe it is my turn to pave the way for future generations to be successful.

Moreover, I look forward to the networking and mentorship opportunities that the Leadership Development Program offers. Building connections with like-minded professionals, I aim to champion initiatives that bridge the gap between scientific research and industry, fostering collaborations that can lead to the development of novel assays and methodologies. By engaging in cross-disciplinary partnerships, I hope to further contribute to the integration of cytometry into diverse fields, unlocking its potential in areas that may not have traditionally utilized this technology.

In essence, my motivation stems from a genuine commitment to giving back, fostering the growth of future researchers, and seizing the chance to further develop my leadership skills within the scientific realm. I am eager to engage, contribute, and learn from this experience to continue advancing both my career and the field as a whole. 

Tell us a fun cytometry anecdote or a fun cytometry fact

One of my favorite “fun” projects involves using our BD Influx Cell Sorter to create pictures out of fluorescent bacteria. Using a website that turns pictures into cross stitching patterns (FlossCross), I wrote a program that converts the cross-stich outputs into a custom 64x 64 Sort Layout XML file. Using this Sort Layout, I sort fluorescent bacteria (Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and White) onto a 15cm petri dish to generate a 4096 (bacteria) colored pixel image.