What inspired you to join the BioRender team?

I’ve always had a profound love for science and technology since childhood, and as a kid I couldn’t decide whether to pursue a career in computer science or biology. My education and career drove me down the path of software engineering but my interest in science always remained. I’ve had a ton of great experiences at various tech companies, each one learning how software was made and participating in the evolution of the modern web stack. When BioRender came across my feed, I was super interested in the prospect of using my skills to support the advancement of science. After checking out the product, I knew that was the team I wanted to be on!

What are you looking to accomplish as a Staff Software Engineer here at BioRender?

My primary goal is to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement. Every software project with waves of feature development is a multi-layered archeological site that requires new members to piece together a tapestry of tech before adding to it. It’s my mission to take a step back and make sure that anyone can feel they can make meaningful contributions with confidence from the start.

What has been an exciting project you have worked on? 

Recently, I’ve been involved in a fascinating project supporting statistical analyses in R, a language I hadn’t used before. Surprisingly, I’m really enjoying the language, especially when it comes to handling and manipulating datasets. I’m not only happy to add a new skill to my toolkit, but I’m finding it incredibly rewarding working with my new team. Despite not having met in person yet, we’ve been tackling challenges together, brainstorming ideas and refining solutions in a supportive and collaborative virtual space.

What is the first thing you do when you start your workday?

I begin each workday by walking my daughter to the bus stop and coming back to the house to enjoy a cup of coffee and a bit of family time at the breakfast table before taking my hot beverage down to my office. After I log in, I check my calendar and messages and put together my daily notes. My schedule can vary quite a bit from day to day, so these notes serve as a helpful anchor to keep me focused.

Which three words would you want your teammates to describe you with?

1. Collaborative - I’m always up for a good discussion, sharing what I know and picking up new things from others. My teammates bring a mix of skills, viewpoints, and experiences to the table, and it’d be a shame to dismiss that collective wisdom.
2. Supportive - Whether providing guidance on technical issues or assisting in project tasks, my goal is to ensure the success of the team. Everyone should feel supported and empowered to achieve their best work.
3. Curious - Even with a lifelong interest in science and biology, this is a new domain for me professionally, and while I am happy to bring my expertise to table, I’m super excited to see how real science is done and how we can best support it!

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I’m immersed in the gaming universe: video games, board games, cards, and tabletop adventures. After the kiddos are in bed for the night, I’m spelunking caves in the new Zelda game, or working out intriguing card combos, or rolling up a new character for an upcoming tabletop RPG night. My breakfast table doubles as a puzzle haven, strewn with crosswords, jigsaws and four sets of Kanoodle for some family competition.

What's your go-to comfort food or favourite dish? 

Cooking is a joy for me and a source of pride and family togetherness. I like to dabble in dishes of various cuisines, but I mostly love creating spontaneous meals with whatever fresh ingredients I have on hand. My go-to comfort food is any kind of slow-cooked, spiced stew, curry, or chili, served over a bed of fragrant rice. I’ve learned to reserve the extra heat for my own bowl while the rest of the family enjoys the milder version resting in the pot.

What does the perfect weekend look like to you? 

With two young kids, sleeping in on a weekend is a rare treat, so grabbing those extra Zzzs is a perfect start to a great weekend followed by breakfast and fresh coffee overlooking the dense woods of our backyard. After doing some puzzles together, the kids look forward to spending the day with Granny, while my spouse and I take a short drive to the downtown Ann Arbor shops. I explore my favorite hobby game store while my partner enjoys discovering new and old vinyl records. We come back home to enjoy a cozy fire after tucking the girls into bed.

What is a piece of advice you would give to new BioBuddies? 

As a Software Engineer, some advice I would offer to others: embrace a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity! Software is a dynamic field, technologies evolve quickly and new challenges emerge constantly. It’s important to be aware of industry trends, new tools, and ways to expand your skills. If you have a particular interest: dive deep and share it with the team!

If you are interested in joining Oliver and the Engineering team, head on over to our careers page to learn more! You can also try out our product for free by signing up for a BioRender account here.