About Us
Committed to excellence in both science and service.
We strongly identify with the objectives of the scientific and medical communities. At ACGT, we are committed to providing you with accurate and timely DNA sequencing and molecular biology services tailored to meet your specific needs. We take great pride in our exemplary customer service and the loyalty of our clients.
Our Values
Competence, trust and integrity.
Our Employees
We value the individual contribution of each and every employee. We work hard to promote personal and professional growth and cultivate an open, friendly workplace. At ACGT we are committed to rewarding dedication and strong employee performance.
Our Customers
We understand that your project is unique with its particular objectives and its own challenges. Regardless of size or complexity, each project receives a personalized attention from our expert staff and technicians. At ACGT, we are committed to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
Our Community
ACGT recognizes that it is privileged to possess the resources and technologies that can significantly enhance the lives of individuals and communities. We are committed not only to providing quality DNA sequencing and molecular biology services, but we also aim to be a great corporate citizen through our donations and charitable givings.
Our Story
Founder and President Heron Yu, Ph.D., at a trade show circa 1990s.
With a love of science and an entrepreneurial spirit, Heron Yu, Ph.D., founded ACGT in 1993 on the service of Sanger DNA sequencing. Through the years, her company expanded to include sequencing by NGS and regulatory and clinical grade sequencing. Today, ACGT serves a diverse clientele of life science researchers at academic labs, biotech companies and public health agencies. Since 2017, ACGT has been managed by her son, David Cook.
Heron and David in 2013.
Today, ACGT is owned and operated by Heron’s spouse Chyung Cook and her two children: Lisa Cook and David Cook.
Our Staff
Semyon Rubinchik, Ph.D.
Scientific Director
Semyon joined ACGT in 2010 where he serves as its most senior scientist and final authority with all molecular biology projects. Prior to then, Semyon was on staff at the Medical University of South Carolina where his research focused on cancer and viral vector development. Throughout his career in academia and industry, Semyon has contributed to the development of vaccine-related technologies and gene therapy. He is credited as a co-author on several patents and attained his doctorate in molecular biology from the University of Toronto.
Jonathan Dixit, M.S.
Manger of Molecular Biology
Jonathan joined ACGT in 2019 as a technologist with the Molecular Biology Group. In 2022 he became its manager where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations and project administration. Jonathan is also the QA supervisor, ensuring compliance with FDA and EPA regulations. He received his master’s degree in molecular biology and biochemistry from Loyola University Medical Center.
Emiliya Botvinik
Manager of Sanger Sequencing (Wheeling, IL)
Emiliya joined ACGT in 2011 as a technologist with the Sanger Sequencing group. She became its manager in 2021 where she is responsible for its day-to-day operations and the customer service team.
Hojoo Lee, Ph.D.
Manager of Sanger Sequencing (Germantown, MD)
Hojoo joined ACGT in 2012 where he manages the Sanger Sequencing facility in Germantown, MD. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and attained his doctorate from the Gyeong-Sang National University in South Korea. Throughout his career in industry and public health, Hojoo has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Richard Ren, M.S.
Sr. Bioinformatics Analyst
Richard is a bioinformatician responsible for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data analysis of high throughput and custom research projects. Additionally, he oversees development and validation of data analysis tools and pipelines, implements automation processes in streamlining lab operations, and engages in full stack development to complement service offerings. Richard studied biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and attained his master’s degree in bioinformatics from Johns Hopkins University.
Olivia Kim, CPA, MST
Manager of Finance and Accounting
Olivia joined ACGT in 2014 where she manages its finance and accounting, overseeing the company’s fiscal activities. Her responsibilities include analyzing financial reports and data, providing revenue planning and forecasting, and offering strategic business guidance. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Olivia completed her master’s degree in taxation from Northern Illinois University and studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Ash McKee
Assistant Manager of Sanger Sequencing (Wheeling, IL)
Ash is the assistant manager of the Sanger Sequencing Group and is responsible for customer service and technical support, account management, and data analysis. They received a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology with a certificate in cell and developmental biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
David Cook, Esq.
Vice President
David runs the day-to-day operations of ACGT on behalf of the Cook family. Prior to joining the company in 2012 he was an attorney in private practice where he regularly appeared before the U.S. Courts of Appeals and served the state bar as a continuing education instructor. He studied at DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.