What’s it like to be a BioTech Scientist in the Silicon Valley?
Tags: Startup, Biotechnology, Silicon Valley, Entrepreneurship, Global Health

Nelda Vazquez, Senior Scientist at OmniVis

Please tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Nelda Vázquez-Portalatín and I am a Senior Scientist at OmniVis. I grew up knowing that I wanted to study something that connected science to people and thought that meant going to Med school. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I decided I wanted to go into the biotech industry to help develop tools to improve people’s lives and pursued a BS in Industrial Biotechnology. While in college, I realized that I wanted to gain more experience and skills to make me a well-rounded professional which led me to pursue a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and my current position.

How did you first hear about OmniVis and why did you want to join the team?

I heard about OmniVis while I was in grad school. At that time, Dr. Katherine Clayton was developing the technology behind the start-up and I thought it was an interesting and innovative technique to detect pathogens. I wanted to join the team because I believe in the end goal and mission of the company. I believe everyone should have access to healthcare and I want to help different communities around the world so they can receive proper and rapid diagnostic tools and treatments.

What does your day-to-day look like? What are your key responsibilities for OmniVis?

My day-to-day varies depending on the project I’m working on, but it mostly consists of running experiments in the lab and participating in meetings with the team and outside companies and vendors. My key responsibilities are to develop and improve the assays responsible for the pathogen detection and to help integrate the assays into the detection device.

What is your favorite thing about working at OmniVis and what do you think makes OmniVis special from other biotech startups?

I really enjoy working at OmniVis, but one of my favorite things has to be the camaraderie. Everyone on the team is doing their best to move our products forward so we can grow as a company. OmniVis is not only different from other biotech startups because of the great team we have, but because of our mission to provide communities around the world, particularly in developing countries, with the knowledge to protect their own health.

What are your thoughts on OmniVis’s Team Culture?

I love the team culture at OmniVis. As soon as I started my new position, I felt as if I had been part of the team for months if not longer. Everyone was very welcoming, and I never felt out of place. I also appreciate that we can have discussions with people from other teams and all perspectives and opinions are welcome.

What has been your favorite project you have been working on and why?

When you work at a biotech startup you have to be flexible and able to take on many projects and wear many hats. I’ve worked on several projects that range from research to regulatory to administrative, but I would have to say that my favorite project so far has been developing an assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The current pandemic has had a big impact on how people live and has highlighted the importance of rapid and accessible diagnostic tools. Our SARS-CoV-2 assay and detection platform is a rapid, portable, and cost-effective alternative to current tests available in the market.

Is there anything unexpected you’ve learned while working in the Biotech industry?

I think something I didn’t expect or wasn’t used to is how fast things move and change. The biotech industry is a fast-paced environment and you have to keep up or you will be left behind.

What would you recommend for anyone who would be interested in a similar career or industry?

I would recommend participating in internships, summer programs, volunteer positions, informational interviews, or any other opportunity that will give you a glimpse of a particular career or position of interest and what it means to take on that role.

Is there anything else you would like the readers to know?

One piece of advice I have for readers is to be confident in yourself and believe that you can achieve your goals. If you don’t believe in yourself, people won’t believe in you either.

Fun Fact About Yourself!

I grew up in a small coastal town in Puerto Rico and love being in the water. I also love reading, learning, traveling, and listening to true crime podcasts!

Want to learn more about OmniVis? Visit us: https://www.omnivistech.com/