When did you graduate, and what was your major? What about your minor? 

I graduated in early 2022, with my major being Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. My minors were Industrial Engineering and Management and Computational Biology. I started my studies under the old study plan (HOPS) and made my major and course selections accordingly. If I had to choose from the current options, I might have picked a different major, although I really enjoyed the tissue engineering track! Toward the end of my studies, I became more interested in medical devices, and that’s also the field I currently work in.  

During my studies, I found everything incredibly interesting and wanted to learn more about everything! As a tip for fellow students: you can still learn a lot in working life, and I personally continue to learn new things almost daily. So, you don’t need to hoard an excessive number of extra courses. For my current job, the most useful courses were the ones covering medical device regulations and project-based courses where we developed a device and pitched it. In my previous job, the most valuable courses were all the laboratory courses I had taken. Programming and statistics courses have also been helpful in both of my workplaces!

One more thing I want to highlight is how valuable project management and organizational skills gained from working in student organizations have been! I highly recommend student organization activities to everyone. 

Did you work during your studies? 

Yes, I had summer jobs every year. For the first couple of summers, I worked in production at DuPont/IFF’s enzyme factory in Hanko. Later, I worked for a small research equipment manufacturer. During my studies, I also worked a few days a week at Tamppi Areena. 

What was your first job after graduation? 

When I graduated, I worked at Santen, focusing on ophthalmic drugs. I however soon transitioned to research in the Eye Research Group at Arvo. At that time, a fascinating Business Finland-funded project was starting, exploring the commercialization potential of a bio-ink developed by the research group. I joined the project team, which was an amazing experience and a highly interesting job! 

Where do you work now? 

I currently work at Nightingale Health in the Quality & Regulation team! 

How did you end up in your current job? 

I already touched a little on my career path earlier—it started from ophthalmic drug quality management from which I moved to commercialization research and bioprinting, and now to medical devices and clinical laboratory regulations & quality management. Nightingale Health seemed like an exciting company where I could work on something meaningful—preventive medicine. I applied for an open position there and was selected! 

Can you describe a typical workday? 

I’d say there isn’t really a ”typical” workday as every day is slightly different. My days varyingly consist of various quality and regulatory tasks, such as regulatory research for potential new market areas, audits, and updating device documentation. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Probably its versatility! We have a small and dynamic team, where everyone does a bit of everything. I also get to learn something new almost every day, which is important to me. The work feels meaningful, and I believe there are great opportunities for professional growth. Plus, I have fantastic colleagues! 

What kind of aspirations do you have for the future of your career? 

This is always a tough question—I don’t have any huge career ambitions, as I really enjoy my current job. I just want to continue working on meaningful things and learning new skills! One thing I know for sure is that I want to stay in the medical field. A year-long international work assignment could also be an exciting opportunity! 

What advice would you give to students in this field? 

I already mentioned some tips when talking about courses, but in addition to those, go on an exchange! It really broadens your perspective and is an amazing experience!