Matthew Bernard, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and current director of the MSU Flow Cytometry Core, has been named the new director of the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF). He was selected by a search committee following a robust internal search and input from RTSF staff.
Bernard brings exceptional strategic vision, proven administrative expertise, and strong institutional relationships—all paramount to leading a core facility and facilitating multidisciplinary science.
He joined MSU in 2015 as a research scientist in the In Vivo Facility, where he worked to design and implement preclinical efficacy, toxicology, and investigational models to drive drug discovery efforts at the university.
In 2016, he began directing the Pharmacology & Toxicology Flow Cytometry Core Facility, where he was instrumental in improving operations and administration while collaborating with scientists to support their experimental needs.
“Dr. Bernard’s scientific and administrative background makes him an excellent choice to lead the RTSF,” said Kay Connelly, associate vice president for Research and Innovation. “He will take the RTSF cores to the next level, empowering researchers to thrive and fostering innovation while meeting the evolving challenges of today’s research landscape.”
Bernard earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Rochester in New York and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California. His industry experience includes four years as a senior research investigator in drug safety evaluation at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he supported testing of life-saving cancer therapeutics.
“RTSF cores do so much more than just provide research services—they help spark innovation, support hands-on learning, and bring researchers together across disciplines. I’m excited to collaborate with this incredible team to advance our shared vision and elevate MSU’s leadership in collaborative, cutting-edge research,” said Bernard.
Bernard will assume his new duties on Nov. 1.
Bill Henry has skillfully served as RTSF director for the past five years and will transition back to his faculty appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology within the College of Natural Science.
“I want to thank Bill Henry for serving as RTSF director over the past five years,” said Doug Gage, vice president for Research and Innovation. “Bill has been a strong advocate for core facilities and has overseen the acquisition of equipment upgrades. He also supported the major renovation of the Mass Spectrometry Facility and the addition of new instrumentation for that important core, setting the stage for future biomedical applications under the able leadership of current Metabolomics Core director Maryam Goudarzi.”
The Research Technology Support Facility is a collection of five analytical facilities that provide researchers with access to essential, cutting-edge tools for contemporary life science research. The faculty and staff within the five cores are trained experts who conduct sophisticated analyses for MSU investigators. As a central resource, RTSF allows for highly efficient use of resources and ensures access to the latest developments in methods and equipment.