Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Jennifer McDaniel (Fed)

Biologist, Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group

Jennifer McDaniel has been engaged in genome-scale measurements and standards development since coming to NIST in 2005.  She started in the wet lab leading laboratory operations in developing standards for gene expression and whole genome sequencing measurements. She is currently serving as a bioinformatician on the Genome in a Bottle (GIAB) team contributing to the development of germline and somatic, small and structural variant benchmarks and development of tumor-normal paired reference materials. She contributes to organizing and managing GIAB consortium-contributed genome-scale datasets, ensuring their public availability and thorough documentation. This work establishes comprehensive, transparent and accessible resource for human genome sequencing variant calling benchmarking activities, including analytical validation, technology development, optimization, and demonstration. This work supports the NIST mission to advance U.S. innovation through leading-edge measurement science, standards, and technology. Additionally, Jennifer serves as the Division Deputy Quality Manager supporting division staff in understanding  and adherence to the requirements of the NIST Quality System. 


CURRENT PROJECTS

Genome in a Bottle
Cancer Genome in a Bottle

Vector Copy Number Reference Materials

NIST REFERENCE MATERIAL WORK

Human DNA for Variant Calling

  • Utah/European (daughter), HG001, RM8398
  • Ashkenazi Jewish Family Trio (Son HG-002, Father HG-003, Mother, HG-004), RM8392
  • Han Chinese (Son), HG005, RM8393

DNA Sequence Library for External RNA Controls, SRM2374

Awards

NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Accolade for Measurment Services Excellence, 2023
For outstanding management of the larges,most diverse set of publicly avialable cancer genome data for a new broadly consented tumor cell line

U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal , 2022
For contribution to mapping the first ever complete human reference genome

NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Accolade for Service and Support , 2020
For coordinating on-site monitoring of NIST facilities during pandemic mandatory telework period       

U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal, 2019
For advancement of human genomics metrology

NIST Judson C. French Award , 2017
For development of human genome Reference Materials and methods for expression of confidence

U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal , 2015
For work with the External RNA Control Consortium (ERCC) to develop gene expression measurement controls leading to release of NIST SRM 2374

Publications

Small variant benchmark from a complete assembly of X and Y chromosomes

Author(s)
Justin Wagner, Nathanael Olson, Jennifer McDaniel, Lindsay Harris, Chunlin Xiao, Fritz Sedlazeck, Kishwar Shafin, Andrew Carroll, Justin Zook
The sex chromosomes contain complex, important genes impacting medical phenotypes, but differ from the autosomes in their ploidy and large repetitive regions

Cybersecurity of Genomic Data

Author(s)
Ronald Pulivarti, Natalia Martin, Frederick R. Byers, Justin Wagner, Justin Zook, Samantha Maragh, Jennifer McDaniel, Kevin Wilson, Martin Wojtyniak, Brett Kreider, Ann-Marie France, Sallie Edwards, Tommy Morris, Jared Sheldon, Scott Ross, Phillip Whitlow
Genomic data has enabled the rapid growth of the U.S. bioeconomy and is valuable to the individual, industry, and government because it has multiple intrinsic

A Draft Human Pangenome Reference

Author(s)
Wen-Wei Liao, Mobin Asri, Jana Ebler, Jennifer McDaniel, Nathanael David Olson, Justin Wagner, Justin Zook, Erik Garrison, Tobias Marschall, Ira Hall, Heng Li, Benedict Paten
Here the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium presents a first draft of the human pangenome reference. The pangenome contains 47 phased, diploid assemblies from

Semi-automated assembly of high-quality diploid human reference genomes

Author(s)
Erich Jarvis, Giulio Formenti, Jennifer McDaniel, Nathanael David Olson, Justin Wagner, Justin Zook, Kerstin Howe, Karen Miga
The current human reference genome, GRCh38, represents over 20 years of effort to generate a high-quality assembly, which has benefitted society. However, it
Created October 9, 2019, Updated March 3, 2025