At Xelect, we believe that great genetics start long before a breeding value is calculated, or a selection decision is made. Behind every dataset, every breeding programme, and every breakthrough is a team of lab specialists in molecular biology, population genetics and bioinformatics. This exceptionally dynamic team works seamlessly together to transform raw tissue samples into powerful coded resources for selective breeding pipelines, used around the world and across multiple species.
As Head of Laboratory, I’m proud to have grown Xelect’s Lab from a small University lab bench to a state-of-the-art genomics facility, and even prouder to lead such a remarkable team behind it.
Today, I’m excited to introduce our team and launch Inside the Xelect Lab, a new blog series that will take you behind the scenes to the inner workings of our laboratory. Over the coming months, we will explore the technologies we use, the standards we uphold, and the scientific expertise of the team behind Xelect’s world-class laboratory.
Before diving into specific topics like DNA quality, genotyping best practices and turnaround times, we wanted to start with what makes our lab truly exceptional: the people and the science.
A World-Leading Laboratory for Aquaculture Genetics
Xelect’s laboratory is built around the philosophy that complete control of our customers’ samples and the quality of data which is produced is fundamental to everything we do. Accuracy, repeatability and speed are critical to our customers who depend on trustworthy data to drive key selective breeding decisions, improve stock performance and unlock long-term genetic gain.
Our lab is equipped with advanced DNA extraction systems, high-throughput workflows, automation, and industry-leading genotyping technologies to deliver the scale and precision needed for modern aquaculture breeding programmes.
Technology is only part of the story. Our strength comes from an exceptional team whose expertise spans the full spectrum from sample handling to advanced analytics.
The Expertise Powering Our Laboratory Excellence
Dr Rachael Wilbourn – Head of Laboratory
I lead a multidisciplinary laboratory team, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, operational discipline and continuous improvement. With more than a decade of experience in molecular biology, population genetics and high-throughput systems, my combined technical and practical abilities ensure our operations run with scientific integrity, precision and efficiency. I guide my team by setting high quality standards and optimised workflows to enable them to consistently deliver accurate, high quality genetic data that our customers depend on.
I also play an active role in shaping Xelect’s strategic priorities and wider success. I work closely with our customers and partners, support new business opportunities, and collaborate across the company to drive innovation, R&D, and the development of new services. I translate emerging technologies and scientific opportunities into practical commercially valuable solutions that positions Xelect at the forefront of Aquaculture genetics, particularly in a rapidly evolving industry.
Our customers depend on fast, reliable results and forward-thinking solutions, and I am committed to ensuring we deliver both.
Dr Paolo Ruggeri – Senior Scientific Officer (Molecular Biology Specialist)
Paolo is a senior member of the Xelect Lab and not only contributes to the smooth, coordinated delivery of projects, but brings specialist expertise in aquaculture, population genetics, marine genomics and molecular biology. His hands‑on proficiency in DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing provides the technical backbone required to maintain and advance our core laboratory capabilities. His experience also allows us to adapt quickly to species-specific needs and troubleshoot complex sample challenges, a key factor in ensuring the reliability of our results.
Beyond operational delivery, Paolo plays an important role in advancing our R&D and innovation efforts, contributing to testing and development of new technologies, genetic marker discovery and helps strengthen Xelect’s service offering. His blend of technical, theoretical and practical knowledge makes him an essential driver of both day‑to‑day excellence and the continual advancement of Xelect’s lab capabilities.
Aaren Dannoch - Scientific Officer (NGS Specialist)
As Xelect’s NGS specialist, she plays a pivotal role in delivering high‑quality genomic data that underpins our core capabilities. She specialises in library preparation and sequencing across Illumina platforms, bringing precision, consistency to every stage of the workflow. From meticulous sample preparation to the execution of complex sequencing runs, she ensures that our data output meets the rigorous standards required for our breeding programmes.
Her work is central to maintaining the reliability and scalability of Xelect’s laboratory operations, and she collaborates closely with our bioinformatician to support downstream analysis, troubleshooting and continuous improvement. Her expertise strengthens the entire genomics pipeline, making her an essential contributor to the accuracy, efficiency and scientific excellence that define Xelect’s laboratory.
Danielle MacRae –Scientific Officer (Traceability & Quality Assurance)
A core strength of Xelect’s laboratory is the meticulous traceability and quality assurance embedded into every step of our workflows – Danielle leads this effort.
She ensures:
- Every sample is fully traceable, from arrival to final data output
- Quality is built into the workflow, not checked in retrospect
- High-throughput processes remain efficient, accurate and repeatable
Her combined expertise in high‑volume molecular workflows, quality auditing and process automation and optimisation ensures that every dataset produced by Xelect is robust, repeatable, traceable and ready to support critical breeding decisions. Danielle’s commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence makes her a cornerstone of the lab’s reliability and long-term performance.
Jeroen van der Kaay – Laboratory Technician (Express Services Specialist)
Another area where Xelect’s laboratory stands out globally is our industry-leading Express Service portfolio which is not exclusive to aquaculture customers. These lab services include, but are not limited to, gDNA extractions and triploidy and sex verification; the latter being vital for hatcheries producing sterile, female-only stocks for performance, containment or environmental protection.
Any lab, anywhere, can request genetic services of with our express service offerings.
With over 30 years of experience in molecular biology, Jeroen brings exceptional accuracy to various DNA isolation techniques and specialized assays, particularly qPCR-based sex determination and flow-cytometry based triploidy determination. His work provides:
- High quality genomic DNA extraction methods for any downstream application
- Highly sensitive, accurate verification methods
- Rapid turnaround for hatchery-critical decisions
- Seamless traceability from sample receipt to certification
Jeroen’s expertise is central to maintaining precision, reliability and trust giving our customers the confidence to deliver genetic quality.
The Data-Powered Laboratory
Our “dry lab” specialists transform molecular outputs into actional insights for breeding programme managers and producers worldwide. The integration between the lab team and our data experts ensures consistency, accuracy and constant quality control. It’s this seamless link between wet lab and dry lab that allows Xelect to deliver scientific outputs trusted by producers worldwide.
Dr Stelios Kyriakidis - Lead Bioinformatician
Stelios is Xelect’s lead bioinformatician and the driving force behind the development of our bespoke species SNP panels and genotyping pipelines. His expertise in variant detection, domestication genomics and data engineering enables him to design, optimise and maintain analytical frameworks that transform raw sequencing data into high quality actionable genetic data for our customers.
He develops and refines custom bioinformatics workflows tailored to the specific needs of our laboratory and the diverse species we work with. From variant discovery and genotype calling to data QC and reporting, Stelios ensures that every stage of the analytical pipeline is robust, reproducible and aligned with the scientific and commercial requirements of our aquaculture customers.
Dr Max Coulter - Bioinformatician
Max designs, builds, and maintains Xelect’s in-house databases ensuring genomic sequences, genotypes, sample metadata, and breeding records are stored securely, accurately, and at scale. His work underpins Xelect’s ability to deliver key selective breeding decisions at speed, by creating robust pipelines enabling the safe and efficient access by our genetics services team to clean, well‑structured data for downstream analyses.
What's next in the series?
- Why SNPs lead the way — a look at the molecular markers behind our genotyping platform, and why we’ve chosen SNPs over alternative technologies
- The art and science of quality control — why accuracy matters, how we spot red flags, and when something doesn’t look right
- The hidden journey of a sample — what happens after a sample tissue arrives at our lab, and how we turn it into high-quality genetic information
About the Author
Rachael Wilbourn leads Xelect’s laboratory services team with strategic oversight and over a decade of experience in molecular biology and population genetics. As Head of Laboratory, Rachael provides decisive leadership in designing, managing, and continuously improving Xelect’s laboratory operations.
