Microfluidic careers

Benjamin Garlan, Innovation & science communication | My Microfluidics Career

benjamin garlan microfluidics career elveflow innovation science communication

My microfluidics career – Innovation & science communication

What can you achieve with microfluidics? What are the practical applications of microfluidics to a field of research, and how could microfluidics help your career?

We asked our own Elveflow teams for you. Our Microfluidics Careers pages give you a no frills, realistic idea of the wide variety of projects that can benefit from microfluidics.

What is your current job?

My job at Elveflow can be separated into two main activities.

First, I set up new partnerships with laboratories to create consortia (group of several research groups) on various projects that could benefit from our extended expertise on microfluidics and project management. I think that microfluidics can really improve project potentials in very different fields of research.

I also work on different projects that are already ongoing by creating microfluidic systems using Elveflow instruments.

Secondly, I help the diffusion of our researchers’ work by uploading reviews, application notes and by taking part in making our monthly microfluidics newsletter, and other science communication tasks.

“I set up new partnerships, […] and I help the diffusion of our researchers’ work.”

How did you transition from microfluidics research to this position?

After a Biomedical Master and engineering degree, I did a PhD project involving microfluidics, among other fields, that gave me a pluridisciplinary background that allows me to discuss with researchers about various subjects.

I wanted to distance myself from pure lab research for more diverse activities and to learn different new skills.

My position in Elvesys allows me to perform various tasks around science and science communication, which is a very rewarding experience.

In your current job, what are you doing that would be impossible if you had not previously known about microfluidics?

One of the key activities in my job is to explain to researchers how microfluidics can be critically useful for their scientific project. My theoretical and practical knowledge of microfluidics allows me to fully grasp how much this technology can be useful for a wide variety of applications.

Furthermore, I also create microfluidic platforms using the Elveflow instruments for these scientific collaborative projects.

“I really enjoy the human contact with researchers from very various backgrounds.”

What do you enjoy in your work that would not be possible if you were still working in research?

I really enjoy the human contact with researchers from very various backgrounds that are passionate about their field of research. Moreover, it is very satisfying to help them improve their project using our expertise.

I am also very interested in the diffusion and science communication part of my job, trying to reach and raise the interest of the biggest possible audience. I am taking part in the improvement of a great website, which is exciting to me.

Do you already know what you want to keep working on, in relation to microfluidics?

I want to keep helping the spread of microfluidic technology so it can lead to new incredible technologies that will shape the future of different fields (especially in biomedical but also in chemistry or environmental monitoring) because I believe that there is still an untapped potential of microfluidics technology applied to various applications.