Discover the DNA of… Karen Mulderij

GenDx is a global leader in molecular diagnostics for matching stem cell transplant patients with donors, and monitor success of transplantation. Our team consists of specialists, strategists, technicians, developers and creatives, all with different competences but with the same drive: to improve the quality of life of transplant patients worldwide. In our blog Discover our DNA, we would like to introduce you to the people behind GenDx. This time we are happy to introduce our colleague:  Karen Mulderij

Karen in a few words
Cheerful, reliable, enthusiastic and responsible

What position do you fulfill?
I am a Technician R&D, which I have been for 2 years now.
My main responsibilities are:

  • Production of numerous GenDx reagents .
  • Quality control of reagents using the MiSeq, qPCR or Sanger workflow.
  • Research and development experiments for new products and procedures.
  • Improving existing products and workflows.
  • Maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Our R&D and production activities take place in different laboratories. Therefore, I alternate every 4 to 6 weeks between these laboratories.

What do you like about your job?
I really appreciate the work atmosphere at GenDx. Teamwork is important, and my colleagues are always willing to help me. . I also like the diversity of my tasks and my responsibilities within the company. My favorite workflow is qPCR because I find the theoretical background very interesting.

Another reason why I like my work so much is because with everything we do, we contribute to the best possible match between patient and donor.

What achievement are you most proud of (work related)?
First of all, I am proud that people know where to find me if they need help. It is very satisfying to know that people trust and value the quality of my work.

Secondly, I am proud of what the team has achieved during covid-19. During the pandemic the technicians had to work harder to produce the same amount of products, because the maximum number of technicians in the lab was restricted. Lastly, I am proud of being responsible for validation and contacts for the qPCR for over a year.

What do you do when you are not at work?
I love watching movies. I enjoy almost any genre, except for horror movies, those I don’t like at all. Besides watching movies, I also like to play board games or card games with friends. My favorite games are The Werewolves, Codenames, Pandemic and Hanabi. I especially like the games where you have to work together in order to win (cooperative play).

What I love to do as well is hiking in the forest or mountains. Hiking trails along small creeks, the real ‘hidden’ places’, I enjoy the most.

What do people probably not know about you?
What people may not know is that I have spent a high school year in America as an exchange student, before I went to college. This was the first time I really stepped out of my comfort zone. A few years later, I went abroad for six more months to study in Australia. Since that time I haven’t lived abroad anymore, but I did move three times within the Netherlands. In December, I will move again and hopefully that will remain my home for the coming years.