Day in the life of
Product Development Scientist – Catherine Waalkes
A typical day at work includes lots of research and reading. I spend a lot of time reading scientific publications about genetics, biology, and health and also researching new and emerging technologies. One of my main tasks is working with our technical writer to use this research to publish informative genetic reports for CRI Genetics’ customers. These reports enable our customers to learn things about themselves and their health, from whether they are genetically predisposed to having more salt sensitive blood pressure or developing a vitamin C deficiency, to how likely they are to be lactose intolerant.
Pros and Cons
The best part about my job is that I am constantly learning. The more research I do and the more scientific publications I read, the more I am able to explore and learn about new concepts and innovations. I also love sharing my findings with my coworkers and having discussions with them to expand on new ideas. One tough part of my job is that it can sometimes be difficult to wade through scientific publications that use a lot of complicated, technical language. Sometimes it is necessary to read through a research paper 2-3 times in order to ensure you fully understand the results. Though reading the same thing multiple times in a row and scrutinizing statistical details can sometimes be boring, I almost always come away having learned something!
