Kenzie Olsen

Research Associate I Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

About Kenzie

Kenzie Olsen is a Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Adam Harris who partners with Dr. Anne Avery of the Clinical Hematopathology Laboratory. Currently, Kenzie assists Dr. Harris with testing canine acute leukemia samples for cancer fusion genes as well as utilizing ddPCR to detect deletions of the CDKN2A gene. In the future, treatments for acute leukemia will be assessed through drug trials via primary cell culture techniques. Animal cancer research has always been a passion for Kenzie and she looks forward to the research accomplishments and experience she can achieve while working with Dr. Harris. Previous to this role, Kenzie was employed in the SARS-CoV-2 Saliva Screening Lab initiated by Dr. Mark Zabel as both a Research Associate and Laboratory Director. She gained immense experience with ddPCR while working in the Zabel Lab for just over 2 years, and was able to collaborate and lead various projects with researchers from CU Anschutz regarding SARS-COV-2 transmission and Flu/Covid co-infection. Kenzie has enjoyed her time gaining an education at CSU through the Microbiology Masters program and being able to give back to the CSU community through her employment and research opportunities.

Education

M.S., Colorado State University, 2021B.S., Utah State University, 2017

Publications

Wagner K, Fox P, Gordon E, Hahn W, Olsen K, et al. A multiplexed, paired-pooled droplet digital PCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. Sci Rep 13, 3075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29858-5