Get to know SCIENION: Kristina Mykhailiuk, Application Scientist

As a full solution provider for the development and manufacturing of new diagnostic platforms, SCIENION accompanies its clients through the whole process from an idea to a viable product. This couldn’t be done without a dedicated team of application scientists working in the R&D department. Kristina Mykhailiuk, MSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, joined SCIENION in 2017 and contributed to many successful projects in this exciting field.

Q: How did your career at SCIENION start?

A: During my master’s studies, I attended a course led by Dr. Wilfried Weigel, VP of R&D at SCIENION. He mentioned that the company works on interesting and challenging projects, e.g., the development of biosensors. And added that there is no such thing as routine while working on his team. This sparked my interest and motivated me to join SCIENION later.

Q: What were your first impressions?

A: Every time this question comes up, I have to grin. It was my very first job after I graduated. I knew very little about the market in the diagnostic sector. I was quite impressed by the technologies and expertise that SCIENION provides for the development and manufacturing of diverse diagnostic platforms. I was very fascinated by what SCIENION’s customers do and by our contribution to their products. It took me about a year until I was able to explain to my family and friends what SCIENION as a company does.

Q: How would you describe your role?

A: As Application Scientists in the R&D department, we support our customers during different steps of their assay development. Working intensely side by side, we master feasibility studies, process optimization, and scale-up phases together. The heart of almost every project is the biofunctionalization of sensors which is my favorite part of the process. Here, we also utilize different dispensing technologies proprietary to SCIENION.

Q: What do you like about SCIENION?

A: I like the variety of challenges I am constantly facing as a scientist and project leader. As a chemist, I enjoy developing methods for the biofunctionalization of different diagnostic platforms where I can use my creativity. But my time at SCIENION wouldn’t be as enjoyable as it is without my colleagues who I am very grateful for. It’s such a supportive and inspiring environment.

Q: Having worked in this field for several years, do you see any trends becoming stronger?

A: Well, now I know how little I know about this field. It is huge and grows rapidly. This leads to more accessible technologies for preventive diagnostics. Thus, people care more about their own health which also awakens the desire for self-testing at home to be able to monitor their own health parameters. And this is one of the driving forces to develop new technologies and new ideas for biofunctionalization.

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