George Schwenkel
Office address
MICR Core
6339 Scott Hall
Office phone
313-577-2511
Biography
George joined the Microscopy, Imaging, and Cytometry Resources (MICR) core in June 2025. A 2013 graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s in Human Biology, George brings nearly a decade of bench science experience from laboratories at Wayne State and Henry Ford Health.
He spent 7 years with the Perinatology Research Branch (NIH/NICHD/WSU) in several roles ranging from research assistant to laboratory manager. As a member of the Perinatal Immunobiology Unit of the PRB, his research focused on elucidating inflammatory mechanisms that lead to preterm birth using mouse models and clinical samples. At Henry Ford Health, he studied how the tumor microenvironment contributes to the pathogenesis of plexiform neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) using 3D cell culture techniques and RT-qPCR.
With a background in perinatal immunology and cancer biology, George has co-authored 10 peer-reviewed publications, including one as first author. His expertise in fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry is well-aligned with the instrumentation and services offered by the MICR core facility. George’s main focus in the MICR core lab is multiplex immunofluorescence staining and imaging using the automated Parhelia Spatial Station and Akoya Pheno-Imager, respectively, while also supporting the confocal microscopy and flow cytometry services.