From PhD to Phage Discovery in a Fast-Paced, Collaborative Culture
A Passion for Phages
Mariana joined SNIPR in 2020 to pursue an industrial PhD focused on phages, a field she had grown passionate about during her master’s studies. “I remember looking at the PhD application and thinking, this is what I want to do.” After completing her PhD at SNIPR, she transitioned into a full-time role as a Research Scientist. “It’s been more than five years now, and I’m still working with phages, which is exactly what I hoped for!”
Creativity, Curiosity, and Real-World impact
Mariana’s workday is a mix of lab experiments, design, and data analysis. “Most of my day is spent in the lab, and I have the opportunity to work closely with several teams. There’s constant communication.”
What motivates her is the balance between scientific curiosity and real-world impact. “There’s space to be creative and pursue unexpected lab results. It’s fun! It’s also motivating to know that what we do can help patients - that there’s a tangible goal.”
She values the shift from academia to industry, especially the collaborative environment. “Working in a dynamic team where different perspectives really boost what we can achieve.”
Thriving in a Diverse and Dynamic Workplace
As an employee representative, Mariana is committed to voicing colleagues’ concerns, improving workplace conditions, and fostering safety, trust, and dialogue.
She values SNIPR’s flat structure and international culture. “It’s super accessible and diverse. People come from all sorts of academic and cultural backgrounds which brings fresh ideas and ways of thinking to the table.”
“We have colorful personalities that keep things interesting. It’s a stimulating place to work and it’s nice to feel you’re doing something meaningful.”
