Microfluidic careers

Noémi Thomazo, research project management | My Microfluidics Career

Noemi Thomazo elveflow research project management

My microfluidics career – research project management

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?

I am working in Elveflow’s research department in research project management. Most of our research is funded by the European Commission (H2020 until 2020, and now… Horizon Europe) and my job is to ensure that we carry out enough research projects to continue developing new state-of-the-art instruments, and make sure that our partners are happy with our collaboration.

My job starts by seeking out new partners (in the academic or the private sector) who are interested in submitting a scientific project, and need our expertise for the microfluidic part.

“When we obtain a project, I am in charge of hiring the best engineer or PhD student to perform our tasks.”

Once we have identified how we can help, I write the parts dedicated to Elveflow’s work in the proposal, based on the discussions I had with the coordinator and the other partners, and take part in the general improvement of the proposal. When it is ready, we cross our fingers and hope for the best!

When we obtain a project, I am in charge of hiring the best engineer or PhD student to perform our tasks.

I am also responsible for the creation of new content related to European funding on our website, to disseminate our research and to help researchers to write successful H2020 or Horizon Europe projects.

How did you transition from microfluidics research to this position?

After my PhD about double emulsions, I wanted to continue working in relation with science, but in a more dynamic environment than my PhD lab.

I also wanted to get away from the bench to explore something else. This position allows me to use my scientific skills to understand researchers’ issues, and at the same time to gain new skills in international collaborations, web-marketing, and recruitment. Elveflow is also a very dynamic innovative start-up and I enjoy having to tackle new unexpected challenges on a daily basis.

“I wanted to continue working in relation with science, but in a more dynamic environment.“

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

When I get in touch with researchers interested in our work, they start by explaining their project to me, and the challenges they are facing. I need to be able to understand their issues, and to identify the solution Elveflow can develop to solve their problem. This would not be possible without a scientific background and a first experience with microfluidics.

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

I had the opportunity to learn about webmarketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), which are usually far from the concerns we have in research. It is however very interesting to understand how we can gain visibility online, and I think it is very exciting to brainstorm with the team to find new ways to reach and attract researchers. It is of course very useful in my current work to build new partnerships, but I am confident it will be useful in the following steps of my career as well.