QC Shift Chemist, China
|
 |
|
1. What is your current role at Lonza?
I am the Shift Chemist of LSIN QA department at Lonza China, and my major responsibilities are quality control of the intermediate samples and in-coming material.
2. Why do you like working at Lonza? How is the working environment?
I have worked at Lonza for more than 10 years. Lonza can offer us comfortable working environment, and there are sufficient instruments and equipments in our QC-Lab, including some GC, HPLC, IR, UV, etc.
I like shift work because I can get more time for my family.
3. What are some perks about working at Lonza?
The corporate culture of justice, honesty and open.
4. What is your motto?
Faith will move mountains, the utmost sincerity can influence even metal and stone.
|
Nathan Smith - QC Analyst Level III, Portsmouth, USA
|
|
|
1. What is your current role at Lonza?
I am a quality control analyst level III. My tasks involve supporting manufacturing and our stability program by performing analytical testing for the Biochemistry group. Some of my other duties include writing deviations, change controls, LIR’s and putting together training modules for assay technologies within my group.
2. Why do you like working at Lonza? How is the working environment?
I enjoy working at Lonza because it is a dynamic environment with opportunity for learning and professional growth. The personnel within the Lab are very friendly and enjoy having fun at work. Specifically, I get along very well with my immediate colleagues and we always find a way to make working together a very pleasant experience. The environment is fast paced and changeable. It is very rewarding when the team completes our goals and we are able to assist in product getting to market for patients who need them.
3. What are some perks about working at Lonza?
Here at Lonza an analyst has the opportunity to learn many different analytical techniques as well as tangential activities related to the lab such as tech transfers or bringing in new equipment. Another perk is that Lonza is close to where I live (10 min commute). The Portsmouth area is a very beautiful area with lots of geographical variety nearby.
4. What makes Lonza unique?
Lonza is very people oriented and I think it makes for a nice community of friends and colleagues.
5. Please tell me about an amazing experience you have had at Lonza.
The company held a party of Redhook as part of a customer appreciation for a client and it was a really nice time meeting and bonding with other employees from other departments. There was a local band that played and it was great to see the company celebrating together because of a milestone we had reached.
5. What do you like doing in your free time?
I enjoy doing daily yoga, practicing the piano, reading, dancing and travelling as much as possible!
6. What is your motto?
You can never ever become happy, you can only ever just be happy. I think it is important to realize that our happiness is a daily choice and not some task to be achieved. Always find the beautiful lesson offered within whatever current situation you may find yourself.
7. What did you do prior to joining Lonza?
I worked for a flooring company prior to working at Lonza. I went to school for Biotechnology while working at that company and when I got my degree I applied for a position here at Lonza.
|
John Arakelian -QC Raw Materials Specialist, Portsmouth, USA
|
|
|
1. What is your current role at Lonza?
I'm responsible for the creation, revision and review of GMP documentation as it applies to Raw Materials, including Material Specifications, Test Methods, and SOP’s. I'm ensuring vendor and QC requirements listed in the Raw Materials Specifications comply with process requirements; customer expectations; compendia monographs (e.g. USP, EP, and JP), if applicable; and any regulatory expectations for each material. These were just two of my several responibilities.
2. Why do you like working at Lonza? How is the working environment?
The people here, is the reason why that I like working at Lonza. Especially in my own QC Raw Materials Group. There is great Team Work and comradely. The working environment is extremely fast passed and challenging.
3. What are some perks about working at Lonza?
Working at the Portsmouth, NH site which is located on the New Hampshire Seacoast we are just moments away from the Atlantic Ocean and centrally located minutes from Boston, MA and the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine.
4. What makes Lonza unique?
Since Lonza is a contract manufacturing facility, the challenges and goals on transferring in a new process to fit our facility is always unique.
5. Please tell me about an amazing experience you have had at Lonza.
It’s always nice to have the customer telling you in person or by some sort of notification on how much they appreciated our successful effort on their product.
6. What do you like doing in your free time?
I spend my time with my family. My two children and my wife.
7. What is your motto?
Always be true to myself.
8. What did you do prior to joining Lonza?
Senior Laboratory Technician for a contract Analytical Environmental Laboratory.
|
Erin Houle - Stability Specialist, Hopkinton, USA
|
|
|
1. What is your current role at Lonza?
I am a Stability Specialist working in the Quality Control Department. I am involved from the beginning to the end of many Stability projects at Lonza. My number one goal is to meet the customer needs. My job requires me to be extremely organized, prioritized and able to multitask. Most of all communication is a huge factor in my daily work. I keep strong communication between different Lonza internal departments as well as with our various customers. Keeping the communication strong helps ensure that we are all working as a team to do our best. Personally, I really enjoy my current position at Lonza. I like to feel that the hard work that I do makes a difference.
2. Why do you like working at Lonza? How is the working environment?
I like working at Lonza because I feel that it really recognizes its employees. The site in which I work is smaller than other Biotechnology Companies in the area and I feel that it being a smaller group to work with you are more likely to be noticed and appreciated for your efforts. I think that one of the best parts of working at Lonza is the working environment. Everyone knows who everybody is and it makes it more personal and I feel that people work more as a team. Bottom line is that the people who work at Lonza are amazing. Because of this I look forward to coming in every day.
3. What are some perks about working at Lonza?
Comparing Lonza to previous companies I have worked at, I would say that Lonza has excellent benefits. Not only does Lonza have great health benefits like Dental and Vision, but it also has great perks like a Flexible Spending Accounts which it offers to its employees. Lonza also offers a hotline in which you can contact if you need any guidance on any personal issues you or someone you know may be dealing with. It is great to know that there is support like that being offered.
4. What makes Lonza unique?
Lonza is unique because it has employees that are completely dedicated in making the company better. As employees, we work as a team and try to better the quality of everything we deliver to our customers. In return, we feel like what we do makes a difference and it makes us feel that we are a very important piece of the success here at Lonza.
5. Please tell me about an amazing experience you have had at Lonza.
In the time I have been an employee at Lonza, I have been a part of many internal committees. I have participated on the Life at Lonza Committee which focused on the employee for the previous year. We focus on the improvement areas and strategies for development. Another committee I participate on is the Safety Committee. At Lonza, we take safety very seriously. This committee explores and establishes practices to make the company a safer place. Lastly, I participate on the Employee Activities Committee (EAC). The EAC offers employees a site-wide activity on a monthly basis which they can partake in. This builds morale and people really enjoy themselves. It is a great way to network with other employees in the company.
6. What do you like doing in your free time?
I am very active in my free time. I enjoy exercising, archery, spending time with my family and selling Avon. I love to relax and watch a good movie as well as taking my dogs for long hikes.
7. What is your motto?
I fully believe that everything happens for a reason. I think that when we go through bad times we have to believe that it happened for a reason and it will eventually get better. I look back on some of the bad things I have gone through and feel that they made me who I am today.
8. What did you do prior to joining Lonza?
Prior to joining Lonza I also worked at a local biotech as an Administrative Assistant supporting the Quality Department. Shortly after joining, I realized I was more interested in the Quality Control side and decided to go back to school to further my education. After receiving my degree, I became a Stability Specialist here at Lonza and have never once regretted my decision.
|
Katerina Cernovska - Head of the QA/RA, Kourim, CZ
|
|
|
1. What is your current role at Lonza?
I am head of the quality and regulatory department at the Kourim, Czech Republic site. I am responsible (with a great deal of help from my team) for maintaining and improving our quality system, which covers different types of quality standards (GMP, HACCP, FAMI-QS, ISO, kosher, halal) and also for managing regulatory requirements. We have the possibility of improving the well-being of humankind by providing high-quality intermediates, APIs, and services. Working for quality and regulatory is never dull.
2. Why do you like working at Lonza?
I like working at Lonza because I actively participating on interesting projects and working with knowledgeable colleagues. I enjoy leading and developing my team and working in flexible environment while managing diverse tasks.
3. What is your special (also regional) benefit about working at Lonza?
Lonza offers a competitive benefits package along with training and development programs. One of our “special” Czech benefits is that we provide commuters extra travel pay.
4. What are your goals at Lonza?
Together with my team, I would like to continuously improve the quality system within Lonza. Our site is working on many new projects, and I realized that the continuing support of QA/RA department is crucial to the success of these projects.
5. Which was your most amazing experience?
When I joined the company in 2005, like many visitors, was amazed by the combination of the small historical town of Kouřim and the high-tech technology plant of Lonza. More recently, I am very amazed by the Kourim team effort and flexibility during regulatory inspections.
|
|
|
