Helix Lab Fellows, Class of Fall 2023

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow? I wanted to collaborate with industry for my master’s thesis and Helix Lab is great at facilitating this. Working with Unibio makes my thesis seem more relevant than the projects I have previously worked on at university.
Additionally, Helix Lab organises trips to visit the industry in Kalundborg, which further helps me get a better idea of what different companies exist and their operations. 

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow? It is hard to pick just one thing, but living with a lot of other students who are also writing their thesis makes the stay in Kalundborg much more enjoyable and makes it very easy to establish a social life in Kalundborg.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow? I hope that my stay at Helix Lab will make the transition from studying to working easier than it would have been otherwise. And if I end up working close to Kalundborg, my time as a Helix Lab Fellow means that I already know some people in and around Kalundborg, which would make working here less daunting than it otherwise would have been.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I wanted to combine my thesis project with the industry, so I can obtain experience in solving real-life problems.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a fellow at Helix Lab is the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds and make new friends.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

After my fellowship at Helix Lab, I envision myself well-prepared to transition into the industry with a strong foundation of practical skills and a deep understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I was determined that I wanted to do my master´s thesis in collaboration with industry to get the chance to work on real life problems that impact the industry. I was also curious to see what everyday working life looks like in the industry and get an experience of working as an engineer in a company. Beyond that I like to challenge myself in new environments and meet new people. Helix Lab was the perfect opportunity for me to fulfil all my wishes, and since Helix Lab provide help, housing and other facilities it made the decision to move to Kalundborg easier.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

As a Helix Lab Fellow I am in the fortunate position where I get to work on my own interesting project in collaboration with Unibio, but at the same time get to chance to meet other ambitious and talented students and learn about their projects. The other Fellows inspire me, support me and help with bringing new perspectives to my way of thinking. Beyond that I get to learn about multiple biotechnology companies and their current projects and challenges. It is interesting to see tendencies in the biotechnology industry and gain insight about my interests for a future work. I think it is truly fascinating and exciting to be in the centre of biotechnology in Denmark with some of the most significant bioproduction sites in the world. There are also big plans of expansion, and being here feels like being a part of something big and important.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

After my Helix Lab Fellowship I will be done with 5,5 years of studies at Aarhus University, and I want to pursue the next chapter. I am hoping to find an interesting job in Kalundborg where I can contribute to growth and sustainability in the industry.

I am looking forward to starting my next chapter and I feel hopeful that the right opportunity will come. 

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I wanted to work with biorefining and how it can be implemented in the industry for my master’s thesis. Since it is already a huge topic in the Kalundborg biotech symbiosis I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to come here. It would also allow me to work closer with the industry as you have an industry supervisor and the companies are located close to the Helix Lab.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I think the most exciting part so far is to see how the things I have learnt and worked with at AAU is implemented in the industry. It is exciting getting to see large fermentation tanks, downstream operations, waste-water treatment plants etc. in real life compared to just studying them. Also meeting and living with students from other universities with different academic backgrounds has been fun. 

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I am planning on staying in Kalundborg but have not decided exactly what career I want to pursue. I see myself working with biorefining in the future or optimization of fermentation technologies. I might try to pursue an industry PhD, a graduate program or a career in the industry where I can apply my creative thinking and keep learning.  

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow? 

I had long heard of the industrial symbiosis in Kalundborg and, as an engineer, I was curious and eager to find a spot for myself there. My master thesis at Novozymes was a great opportunity for me to set a foot in it and Helix Lab provided the perfect framework to make it happen. By becoming a Helix Lab Fellow I could avoid the common problems of commuting or finding affordable accomodation. But even more importantly, Helix provided a support team and a community of other highly motivated students to share this experience with.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

Working on an exciting and relevant project within my study field is of course the most exciting part of moving to Kalundborg. However, living with the other fellows, the social activities organised by Helix Lab and the help from their team is the icing on the cake. 

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

Work perspectives in Kalundborg could not be better. It is the perfect time to be an engineer here, and the network being a Helix Lab Fellow allows you to build only enlarges the possibilities. I think it is more than likely for me to start working in Kalundborg as soon as I finish my studies.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow was the fellowship of students with similar interests. This can furthermore help me increase my network within the areas. Moreover, the facilities available and the possibility of working closely together with the industry. 

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is the possibility to experience the fellowship with similar students all writing their master thesis, more or less within the same fields of interest.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

Increased and broadened possibilities in work relations and network. 

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

To learn what University can´t offer, as much as I can, thanks to the cooperation with an industrial company.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

From scientific point of view the fact that with my project I can contribute to a bigger change in the industry, while learn a lot about the industry.

From personal point, Helix Lab made a good environment with the social events, and built a good community regarding both the Helix Lab employees and the fellow students, which helped me to take the one last step in my academic life. 

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The possibility to move here, to Kalundborg and work in the biotechnology industry.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

Helix Lab offers a unique opportunity to work with industry and have a support network in a new city. This can help me, or any other student, with resettling as we are likely to after graduation anyway. In addition to this it is a unique opportunity to write a master thesis with industry. The support network in this organization makes the adventure of moving out and coming here to a new life easier.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

My thesis work is quite exciting, as I work with experts in my field, get to connect with many people all other the factory and in Novozymes. I feel like my understanding of the process line I’m working with is expanding quickly.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The opportunities provided by Helix Lab are second to none. We have already relocated to Kalundborg, which is a huge plus if you want to work in the danish biotech sector. In addition to this, there’s many great opportunities to connect with many different contacts and expand our network. It provides amble opportunity to choose a job either here in Kalundborg or someplace else.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

It was by a random chance that I discovered the Helix Lab Fellowship. I began as an interest in doing a project with Novozymes after a visit lecture at my university, through that channel of events I got familiar with this and discovered a master project alongside the company where I live as well. It reminds me of my internship days at the dairy companies, however, this is more social - like a dormitory.   

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exiting is getting to know the other fellows, I work a lot on the side and commute, but every Wednesday we do stuff together. People are really nice here.  

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

Hopefully I can start a carrier here, I can see myself settling down here after I’m done with my studies.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My main motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow was to make a connection with the industry. I heard that Helix Lab has a strong connection with the surrounding industry in Kalundborg and I thought it would be the perfect first step, for my upcoming career. The projects are also highly relevant for the different industries, meaning our theoretical knowledge from university, can be used in a real-life situation, where we can see an actual impact of our results. I saw that as an exciting opportunity to test my knowledge and see how my education can help the industry.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most existing part of being a Fellow, is being a part of the daily life at Novo Nordisk. I’m joining team meetings, talking to team members about their project and just getting a feeling for how it’s like to work, as an engineer, in one of Denmark’s biggest companies. It’s also exciting to hear about all the other Fellows project and how it is to work in their companies.

What perspectives do you see for you future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I already feel like I have gotten a strong network here in Kalundborg, both personally and professionally. By moving to Kalundborg through the Helix Lab Fellow program, I’m getting to be with other students, who are in the same situation as me. This creates a strong bond between us and friendships we can keep after the fellowship are over. I have also created many connections within the industry and the staff of Helix Lab are happy to help us with the process of getting our first job. So, I have only positive perspectives for my future after being a Helix Lab Fellow.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I see Helix Lab as an opportunity to integrate myself into the biotechnology industry in Kalundborg. Being a Helix Lab Fellow means I get to work closely with engineers from the industry on real-life industrial tasks and challenges. Moreover, I get the chance to learn industry-related practices and stay in constant contact with innovation. 

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

Being part of a team in a company and collaborating with experienced people. This gives me the chance to further deepen my knowledge of industrial bioprocesses and improve my skills. Besides that, I get to build a network by socializing and interacting with other fellow students.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I am hoping that the experience of being a Helix Lab Fellow will strengthen my chances of securing a job as a bioprocess engineer in a biotechnology company.