A career thanks to a stay in Sweden, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Michèle Mindach began her career with a three-year apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory assistant and a part-time vocational baccalaureate. However, her interest in chemical processes drove her to study at the FHNW School of Life Sciences: a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences with a specialisation in Chemistry, followed by an MSc in Life Sciences specialising in Molecular Technologies. From the outset the goal was clear: to gain a foothold in analytical chemistry and continuously expand her expertise in this field.

During her MSc, Michèle faced an important decision: she knew that practical experience and international qualifications were increasingly important in the modern world of work. Spending time abroad appealed to her, but she also wondered whether this step would really pay off and what challenges it might entail.

Michèle decided to give it a try, and spent part of her master's studying at Linköping University in Sweden. There, she worked on her thesis, which involved developing a validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the forensic analysis of cannabis resin. GC-MS is an analytical technique for separating, identifying and quantifying chemical compounds in samples. Gas chromatography separates substances while mass spectrometry determines the mass and structure of the separated molecules. This analysis can help compare different cannabis resins and investigate their relationship to each other.This work not only opened new scientific horizons and insights into new topics for her, but also challenged her linguistically and culturally. Her English skills improved and she learned Swedish. At the same time, exchanges with international colleagues gave her valuable insights into different scientific approaches.

Michèle's stay abroad paid off: the knowledge and skills she acquired opened the door to renowned companies. After completing her master's, she started working at Bachem in Bubendorf as a project chemist and gained important experience in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).She then moved to Carbogen Amcis AG in Aarau, where she now works as a Senior Chemist QC&A (Quality Control and Analytics). She manages various customer projects and acts as the main interface between customers, the labs, Quality Assurance (QA) and Regulatory Affairs (RA).Her experience abroad has proven to be a valuable asset in her career development. "I am convinced that this step contributed significantly to my professional success" explains Michèle, who recommends that students definitely take advantage of the opportunity to spend time abroad.