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As part of Danaher’s global team of innovators, these associates are making a meaningful impact by advancing scientific discovery and improving the quality of life around the world.
In this Q&A, three women leaders share insights about their work, their most valuable career skills, and how they stay at the forefront of the industry.
Rebecca Young, Ph.D. | Senior Scientist II, RNA Sciences R&D — Aldevron
Tell us about your current role.
In my current role, I lead a small team of RNA scientists who evaluate new technologies, innovate ways to improve RNA manufacturing, and troubleshoot specific client questions and concerns.
Reflecting on your career journey, what skills have been the most beneficial for your professional growth?
The most important skills for my professional growth have been around communication and analysis. Statistical skills help us draw strong and robust conclusions from the data the team generates. Communication skills, both written and oral, ensure that our scientific findings are communicated clearly and concisely to a wide range of audiences.
What industry trends are capturing your attention right now?
We follow the ever-shifting field of how RNA can be processed. There are always new chromatographies and purification technologies coming out. The type of RNA therapeutics we get asked to manufacture also changes over time.
How do you make continuous learning a natural part of your work routine?
I work with my team to incorporate continuous learning into our weekly workflows. We have a data analysis and study design workshop weekly, and we make sure to keep up with industry webinars and new academic papers that are released.
Reka Geczy | Senior Scientist, Product Development — Cytiva
Tell us about your current role.
I’m a product development scientist focused on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development for cell and gene therapies. We use LNPs to deliver cargo for gene editing to these cell types to enable transformative therapies. Over the last five years, I’ve experienced startup agility and process-driven efficiency. Day to day, I translate customer needs into experiments, build data packages, write up methods, and collaborate across R&D, operations, and marketing to turn proof-of-concepts into commercial products.
Reflecting on your career journey, what skills have been the most beneficial for your professional growth?
To me, scientific illustrations and scientific communication have been critical for my progress. One clear figure speaks a thousand words, and a great PowerPoint slide can help accelerate decisions. I’d also say having the right attitude creates infinite learning opportunities. If I see a gap, I’ll commit time to investigate it, learn, or find a solution.
What industry trends are capturing your attention right now?
In terms of trends, cell therapy is rapidly evolving, and LNPs are central. I’m tracking the in vivo CAR T space with targeted LNPs, permanent non-viral gene insertions, and various allogeneic cell therapies.
How do you make continuous learning a natural part of your routine?
In my opinion, learning is built into the career path I have chosen. Getting a Ph.D. trains one on how to learn, form questions, find sources, and pressure test ideas. As part of my job, I have a living document full of questions, and when I have a chance, I chip away at it through mini deep dives.
Bernice Thommandru | Innovation Product Manager, Gene Writing and Editing — Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT)
Tell us about your current role.
After nearly a decade as an R&D bench scientist, I recently changed roles to the business side as an innovation product manager at IDT. My work centers on understanding CRISPR technology, market changes, and customer needs. I gather and compile customer insights to guide decisions on what solutions to develop and help successfully transition those solutions from R&D to commercialization.
Reflecting on your career journey, what skills have been the most beneficial for your professional growth?
Technical skills and scientific expertise are important, but what has been most valuable for me was learning to communicate. Learning how to tailor a message to different audiences can open a lot of doors. Being a confident communicator accelerated my growth, both personally and professionally.
What industry trends are capturing your attention right now?
To me, all trends – from AI-driven R&D to sustainability to regulatory and policy changes – are worth learning.
How do you make continuous learning a natural part of your routine?
I say “yes” to as much as I can. Every conference, webinar, training course, bootcamp, and process report-out is an opportunity to learn. Gaining knowledge is not always formal, but it definitely can be intentional.
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