Skip to main content
Site navigation
Department of Allied and Population Health

April Nelsen

April Nelsen Headshot

Title

Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Coordinator

Office Building

Avera Health and Science Center

Office

338

Mailing Address

Avera Health & Science 338
Allied & Population Health-Box 2202C
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Dr. Nelsen has been an ASCP Certified Medical Laboratory Scientist for over 10 years and completed her M.S. in Microbiology from South Dakota State University in 2015, followed by her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from South Dakota State University in 2022 while remaining in her faculty position. She worked as a Medical Laboratory professional in a hospital setting before moving into education. Dr. Nelsen has taught or is presently teaching courses in Immunology, Clinical Chemistry, Advanced Medical Diagnostics, Advanced Clinical Experience, Management and Education, and First Year Seminar. She is also the Clinical Coordinator for the Medical Laboratory Science Program. In 2023, Dr. Nelsen became a certified Molecular Biologist (MB) through ASCP.

Education

South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences (December 2022)
Dissertation: Emerging Respiratory Viral Pathogens

South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Masters of Science in Microbiology (August 2015)
Thesis: Virus-Like Particles Generated by Expressing Proteins of Porcine
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Using the Recombinant Baculovirus Expression System

South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Bachelors of Science in Microbiology (Infectious Disease) and Clinical Laboratory Science (December 2009)

Academic Interests

Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics

Academic Responsibilities

Clinical Coordinator for Medical Laboratory Science Students
MLS 403: Diagnostic Immunology
MLS 471: Advanced Medical Diagnostics
MLS 472: Advanced Clinical Experience I
MLS 473: Advanced Clinical Diagnostics II
MLS 483: Senior Capstone Clinical Practicum

Committee Activities

MLS Admissions Chair
MLS Conduct Committee
Department of APH Standards Document Chair
ASCLS-SD President

Awards and Honors

Oral Presentation Award at ASCLS National Meeting (2023) for Identification of a Novel Bovine Astrovirus Associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease
Omicron Sigma Award for ASCLS-SD and ASCLS Region V (2015-2023)
Keys to the Future Award (2023)
Voices Under 40 Award (2023)
Student Association Teacher of the Year Nomination (2022)

Professional Memberships

ASCLS-SD (2015-Present)

Work Experience

2023-Present Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Medical Laboratory Science, South Dakota State University

2015-2023 Instructor, Medical Laboratory Science, South Dakota State University

2012-2015 Research Assistant/ Teaching Assistant, Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University

2009-2012 Medical Laboratory Scientist, Microbiology and Generalist, Sanford Sioux Falls

Area(s) of Research

Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2022
Nelsen, A., Lager, K.M., Stasko, J., Nelson, E., Lin, C.M., Hause, B.M. Identification of Pulmonary Infections With Porcine Rotavirus A in Pigs with Respiratory Disease.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2021
Nelsen, A., Lin, C.M., Hause, B.M. Porcine Parvovirus 2 Is Predominately Associated with Macrophages in Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex.

Veterinary Microbiology 2017
Wang, X., Martha, O., Nelsen, A. A., Nelson, E. A. Porcine Epidemic
Diarrhea Virus Does Not Replicate in Porcine Monocyte-derived Dendritic
Cells, but Activates the Transcription of Type I interferon and Chemokine.

Virology Journal 2017
Van Noort, A. M., Nelsen, A. A., Pillatzki, A. E., Diel, D. G., Li, F., Nelson, E. A.,
Wang, X. Intranasal immunization of pigs with porcine reproductive
and respiratory syndrome virus-like particles plus 2', 3'-cGAMP VacciGrade™
adjuvant exacerbates viremia after virus challenge.

Department(s)