Shane Wesener

Director of Research and Development and Scientist in Wisconsin

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With over 15 years of experience across industrial microbiology, natural products discovery, and leading-edge strain engineering R&D, Dr. Shane Wesener focuses on revealing nature’s hidden mechanisms to drive sustainable solutions as the Director of Research and Development at Bio-Technical Resources.

Shane’s passion for microbiology traces back to his youth on a family dairy farm in Wisconsin, where he was actively involved in 4H and FFA programs. This instilled an early appreciation of genetics and microbiology – interests that evolved into a career driven by curiosity and built upon a love of learning.

Shane received his BS in Biology/Biological Sciences from St. Norbert College, and his Master’s PhD in Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His graduate research included engineering microbial processes for developing new anticancer therapies. He subsequently instructed microbiology coursework and led key research initiatives elucidating inter-microbial compounds influencing virulence and symbiosis.

Career highlights include contributing to innovations in custom biofertilizers, biopesticides, therapeutic scaffolds, and robust fermentation isolates. Career highlights include engineering new Bacillus production strains at BTR with a 20-fold production increase of peptides and proteins from 4 kDa to 100 kDa. Development of a rapid expression/secretion screen in yeast and new high protein secreting yeast strains.

He continues providing trusted guidance on strain selections, media optimizations, and data-backed troubleshooting. When not revealing new microbial insights, Shane enjoys community building, exploring Wisconsin’s natural parks, and playing volleyball.

  • Work
    • Bio-Technical Resources
  • Education
    • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    • St. Norbert College