Helix Lab Fellows, Class of Fall 2024

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

Two years ago I was researching master’s degrees in Denmark, and I saw that Aarhus University had a news article about their collaboration with Helix Lab. This was really a small consideration back then, but when I started, I wanted to find interesting collaborations between academia and industry where projects focus on real world impact and potential benefits to society at large. The fellowship program’s apparent commitment to community building and development also really reassured me before jumping into this adventure. One could say that I came full circle with applying!

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

It has to be the unique combination of being challenged both scientifically and in terms of general project/collaboration skills. For the former, I need to be a bit more independent with the academic part, but I also feel assured that I have all the help I need and great facilities at the laboratory. As for the project part, I know I will need to work with many stakeholders and think outside the box to get the most out of my work. These two aspects make for an exceptional environment to learn so much!

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

Next year I will have to face the task of starting my career. For this, I hope I will have the help of the strong community here and the professional development I plan to go through during my project. My time here already helped me decide that I want to stay at one of the amazing biotechnology companies present in Kalundborg. I imagine my perspective will change a lot by then, but I always want to keep challenging myself, probably trying out different professional areas within biotech. I am sure that I will be able to use everything I learn at the Helix Lab to contribute in my own way to the future of biotechnology.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

During my time at the university, I worked on two exciting projects and felt compelled to seek opportunities beyond academia. As an international student, I believe this is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with company and work on practical problems. Moreover, there are numerous biotech companies in Kalundborg makes an ideal environment to kickstart my career.

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

In my opinion there are lot of reasons that is exciting to be a Helix Lab Fellow. Staying with other fellows who are from different educational background and working on different project makes it more exciting. Additionally, the opportunity to participate in company visits, attend tech talks, and engage in various social events adds to the experience, providing excellent networking opportunities and fostering connections with industry professionals.

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

After graduation, my goal is to secure a position in Kalundborg or with a company outside Kalundborg that aligns with my interests. I aim to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained during my fellowship to contribute meaningfully to the field. Whether in Kalundborg or beyond, I am eager to find opportunities where I can maximize my potential and grow professionally, making use of the experience and expertise I've developed throughout this journey.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I always knew that I wanted to work closely in collaboration with the industry for my Master's Thesis. Working on a problem where I get to design and implement solutions that will have a tangible impact was a big priority for me. I also sought to get experience in how work is structured and going through all the necessary steps to implement solutions within my field. I can think of no better place than Helix Lab, to allow me to explore and network in this setting, while also providing great support structures and a tight-knit community together with all my other fellows.

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

Getting to work in close collaboration with Meliora Bio and the projects they have made available is invigorating. Getting to meet all the other fellows, learning about their projects and using each other for feedback and support has been invaluable. I don't have much experience within the field of biotech, so getting to attend all the various tech talks, workshops and events planned for us by Helix Lab is an exciting opportunity to learn more about an unexplored area for me. Getting to see what these companies at the edge of technology and science are working on is fascinating, and inspires me to select my own path once I am finished with my studies.

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

Helix Lab is providing me many great opportunities for networking, both socially and professionally. Once I finish my fellowship, I will also be finished with more than 5 years of study at Technical University of Denmark (DTU). I hope to find an interesting job with varied and new challenges, such that I can continue learning and solving problems that create value both sustainably and societal.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

As a master’s student in Human-Centered AI at DTU, focusing on machine learning and computer vision, my motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow was about taking what I’ve learned and applying it to real-world situations. Helix Lab offers an amazing opportunity to collaborate with industry partners, and the structured support they provide really stood out to me. The setup is solid, and the team at Helix Lab is always there to help if you run into any issues or need guidance. Since hands-on fieldwork isn’t a big part of civil engineering studies, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to complement my academic background and get a real understanding of how machine learning models are deployed and optimized in industrial settings.

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

Honestly, the whole experience has been exciting—from getting the project, moving to Kalundborg, meeting the locals, and connecting with other fellows, to diving into the work at Meliora Bio and exploring different solutions. It’s been a great mix of academic and social learning. Applying what I’ve studied at DTU to a real-life problem and being a part of the company dynamics has been an interesting experience for me. It has been a journey that’s as much about growing professionally as it is personally.

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

I think this experience with Helix Lab will set me up really well to enter the tech industry once I wrap up my thesis. With all the networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities through workshops and tech talks, I’m optimistic about finding a cool and relevant job in machine learning—whether that’s in consultancy or R&D. Helix Lab has opened up many possibilities, and I’m excited to see where it leads me.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

It all comes down to the amount and type of expertise I see at Helix Lab, at Novonesis A/S, and the potential the city of Kalundborg has. I view Helix Lab as a scientific hub that attracts some of the best talent from around the world, as I noticed the very first moment I arrived at Kalundborg Kollegiet: people from a plethora of nationalities sharing diverse worldviews, along with personal, scientific, and engineering aspirations.

Moreover, the rapid growth of the city of Kalundborg has also played a significant role in motivating me to become a Helix Lab Fellow. One need only look at the presence of major companies in the city to see how bright Kalundborg’s future is, and I want to be part of that journey.

Finally, as an aspiring Process Engineer, I find it exciting to know that I can combine Computer Science and Chemical Engineering in my master’s thesis, especially given that the world will increasingly be driven by data and information manipulation in the near future. This is something that my project work at Novonesis A/S is allowing me to thrive in, reinforced by the fact that I am currently working in an on-site industrial setting.

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

To me, the most exciting part is the opportunities that Helix Lab—and, by extension, Kalundborg—offers me as a soon-to-graduate master’s student. I believe that the project I am working on has huge potential for my future career, and I have found astonishing support at Helix Lab in the form of technical expertise, industry networking, infrastructure, mentoring, and social gatherings. I would like to emphasize this last point, as all of the Helix Lab fellows are both passionate about a wide range of subjects (not just those related to science or engineering) and down-to-earth, which makes fruitful conversations possible.

Additionally, I want to highlight the types of skill sets that this fellowship is encouraging me to develop, whether technical, social, or cultural. I believe these skills will enable me to thrive in my future industrial or academic career.

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

After my fellowship, I would love to apply the skill set I will develop during this period in either an academic or industrial setting. Following my time at Helix Lab, I envision myself being well-versed in skills that are highly sought after by society. I would be eager to contribute to the development of either the city of Kalundborg or the broader society of Denmark. Both the city and the country offer a wealth of opportunities, both nationally and internationally.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I see it as a great opportunity for me to make contacts in the industry and a chance to meet other fellow students and make new friends. Many of the fellowships programs also sounds interesting and I would like to participate in them. Lastly, moving to Kalundborg will allow me to see a new part of Denmark that I have never experienced before.

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

One area I am very excited about is to work in close collaboration with Novonesis and to get a real feeling for how it is to work at a real company. I also really excite abut all the resources the helix lab fellows provides like access to labs and weekly events that helps develop knowledge about the city, and the people and companies with in it. 

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

I'm interested in exploring the potential of the Kalundborg industry following my graduation. The innovative and sustainable practices implemented through programs like the Kalundborg Symbiosis align closely with my professional interests and career goals and are something I can see myself being a part of.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow comes from the unique opportunity to connect academic research with real-world industry challenges. Additionally, having the chance to be immersed daily in one of the world’s largest biotechnological hubs is an experience no one should miss 

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

All the events and organized trips around Kalundborg bring me a lot of joy. Living in the Kollegiet with fellow Master’s thesis students makes the journey more collaborative and enjoyable. Additionally, the warmth and openness of the people in Kalundborg create a welcoming and comforting experience. 

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

Looking ahead, with the valuable experience I've gained and the professional network I've built during my time in Kalundborg, I hope to land a position within one of the companies in the area. This would not only allow me to further develop my expertise in process engineering but also provide an opportunity to contribute to innovative projects in a region known for its cutting-edge advancements in biotechnology and engineering.