Interview with Giulia
21st June 2023
What is your current role and how long have you been doing this job?
I joined APC in 2016 and my current role is Technical Lead in the Chemistry function.
What kind of education and/or training did your career require?
I got a degree from University of Bologna and a Ph.D. from UCD. I worked for 8 years as a Process Development Chemist in a large API manufacturing facility in Ireland before joining APC.
What does a typical day look like for you?
We start with a morning meeting to make sure lab work can proceed smoothly and then I either work in the lab or on our iAchieve platform to prepare for clients’ updates.
What made you decide to pursue a career in this field?
I fell in love with Chemistry in high school. My teacher’s style was to explain a concept in a very simple way initially and then to show us that it was not the whole story. She would uncover the many layers hidden below the initial explanation and show that this game could be repeated an infinite number of times. I think this approach really resonated with me and helps me to this day to question results.
What excites you the most about the work?
I have to say that I love working in the lab, trying to understand a process or to resolve an issue a client is facing.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
We are client facing, so we need to provide updates to the client. This is exciting and challenging at the same time!
What advice would you give others that are looking to move into this field?
Aim high, especially in your youth! Exploit every opportunity to increase your education. I used to be intimidated by third level education in university, big pharma companies and R&D departments. I then realised my colleagues were normal people, with strengths and weaknesses, who maybe don’t remember all the reaction mechanisms!
