We are continuing our series profiling members of the excellent team we have at Biosero. Today we’d like you to meet Tim Karsten, European Applications Support. He joined Biosero in 2019 and is based in Germany. It’s his job to make sure that we understand our customers’ exact specifications and can set them up with the right system for their needs. He has a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Veterinary Research Hanover.
Q: What do you do at Biosero?
I make sure that a potential customer’s specifications are achievable with our software and our integrations team. I dig into the specifications, provide design renderings, and put together the statement of work. After the purchase, I work with our software development team to make sure that our drivers fit their requirements, and I provide finalized programming to the integrations team for the factory acceptance test. At the customer site, I handle both the software and operational training, and the site acceptance test.
Q: How did you get on this career path?
I did my PhD on the topic of zoonotic coronaviruses, but I was uncomfortable in the academic environment. I looked for entry-level jobs in industry and got my first job as an international applications specialist at Hamilton. Then I moved to Boston and worked for a couple of years as a senior automation engineer at Moderna and Intellia Therapeutics.
Q: What brought you to Biosero?
My family moved back to Germany more than two years ago and I looked specifically for a field position so that my wife could become a professor at her preferred university. I have been with Biosero ever since. I am really happy to work at Biosero and be a part of the BICO group. This position is perfect for my interests, so it gives me a great sense of achievement. Our company is truly international now and we are leaders in this industry in many regards, but especially workflow orchestration and mobile robotics.
Q: What’s one thing you wish more people knew about laboratory automation?
People worry that automation will take away their job. The truth is rather that their job becomes more complex and less repetitive. While before they used to do things manually, now they need to monitor more complex machines, make sure they are set up correctly, and troubleshoot. As long as employees are willing to be trained, it creates more productivity.
Q: If you could automate anything in your life, what would it be?
General household upkeep — things that would make it easier to complete chores in less time without skimping on the quality.
Q: What’s your best career advice?
Most things are not achieved quickly. I went to university for 12 years and spent an additional five years getting the job that I really wanted. I am now at a level where the speed of my personal development is keeping pace with the requirements of my job. Playing the long game is what distinguishes a lot of successful careers from unsuccessful ones.
Q: What was the first thing you ever wanted to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a confectioner because I like cakes and sweets.
Q: What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I build and fly first-person video drones. Being a young father doesn’t leave much time for other endeavors!