EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
JESSICA HAYDEN
R&D Scientist 1
How long have you been with MMQCI and how did you first learn about our company?
I joined the company about 2.5 years ago after finding the job posting on Indeed.
What are your primary responsibilities?
My main role is to support the design and development of quality controls. The scope of my responsibilities is broad and can differ depending on the stage of the project, which keeps my day-to-day interesting. But you can often find me in the lab conducting molecular cloning, culturing, clinical assays or functional assays such as ddPCR and mass spectrometry, followed by data analysis and troubleshooting.
What is something about you that most people don’t know?
I was born deaf due to a mutation in my Connexin 26 gene and hear via two cochlear implants.
At the time, newborn screening for deafness was not standard practice. Eventually my parents learned of my condition and sought early intervention, which is paramount for improving developmental outcomes. Similar stories ring true for countless families and conditions, which makes my professional contributions to improving newborn genetic screening to facilitate early intervention that much more personally meaningful. If the opportunity arises, I would be proud to help develop a control for the Connexin 26 gene or deafness in general!
What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work?
As is the nature of R&D, some of our projects are quite the puzzle but we are up for the challenge! Whether it be novel methodologies of quality controls or a highly multiplexed panel, there is always something to troubleshoot and discover.
How would you describe your team?
My team is incredibly supportive, friendly, intelligent, and willing to teach. Everyone’s contributions are valued and we strive to support a positive work life balance.
How have you grown professionally since you’ve joined the MMQCI team?
I value the exposure I’ve gotten to the larger development workflow of quality controls. We are not siloed in our departments but rather work cross-disciplinary to support our colleagues and products from start to finish.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to learn?
I signed up for a kombucha fermenting class. It’s both an interesting application of my microbiology degree and a tasty probiotic beverage!
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of work I love to read, travel, be outside, junk journal, and play games on the Switch!
Where were you born and raised?
I’m from Central Maine, born in Bangor and raised in the town of Milford another 30 minutes north. It’s a small, rural community with only one stoplight in the entire town, and you can’t make it out of the grocery store without running into your Kindergarten teacher.
What’s your go-to coffee or morning beverage order?
Maple iced coffee through sun or nor’easter. True New Englanders know 😉
What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?
I’m flying through the show Attack on Titan and just finished the second book of my annual LOTR reread.
What best advice can you give someone who might be interested in joining us here at MMQCI?
Before I applied, I researched the company to learn more about its mission and values. Reading the employee spotlights provided some insight into the company culture and the people I would be working with, and now here I am writing my own. If you’ve read this far, you’re already on track! Check out the open positions to see what department might be a good fit for you and apply!