Inside Promega
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Today we’ll meet Katie Kranz, Supervisor – Instrumentation Integration, Promega Corp. Madison, WI, USA
Tell us a little bit about what your role is at Promega.
I am the supervisor of the Instrumentation Integration Team in Operations. We support Promega’s on-market instrumentation and associated consumables. The bulk of that work right now is focused on the Spectrum CE System, but we have also worked on GloMax and Quantus and are expanding our capabilities to be able to support all of our instrument systems!
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
The importance of not losing sight of the big picture, and doing your best to balance the big picture with the little details. Whether I was processing forensic evidence in a case as a DNA analyst or troubleshooting a data quality problem in my current position, balancing the big picture with the little details has continued to help me find answers and solve problems.
What does a typical work day for you look like?
Every day is different! Our team might be focused on supporting QC testing of new instruments and consumables or working on product or process improvement projects. We could be assessing a change to an instrument part to ensure expected performance is maintained or troubleshooting the root cause of a data quality issue. We also support transition of new products from R&D into production. I am frequently collaborating with many teams across the organization. It’s so cool to be able to work with so many different people, both in Madison and across the globe!
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I started out as a customer of Promega, first using STR kits in grad school and then as a DNA analyst at the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab in Seattle. Knowing firsthand how important it is to have high-quality, reliable products to depend on in the forensics field, I love being able to solve problems or make improvements to ensure our customers have the best experience possible with our instrument systems in the field!
How would your teammates describe you in three words?
I asked a few of my teammates, and here’s what they said: compassionate, hard-working, approachable; analytical, collaborative, optimistic; and considerate, diligent, and upbeat.
What's your favorite way to unwind after a busy week?
I love to find a good book to read, hang out with my dogs, work on a project around the house, or find something fun to do around town with my wife, April!
If you could live anywhere for a year, where would it be and why?
Driggs, Idaho. I am lucky enough to be able to visit a few times a year, but would love to stay for an entire year. Driggs sits right at the Teton mountains and is so beautiful and peaceful. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way and the winters are nice and snowy. When the weather is warmer, you can spend your time kayaking down a river, hiking in the mountains, or finding a spot to read a good book and enjoy the scenery.
What’s a hobby or passion most people don’t know about you?
I love snow! I wait all year for winter and love bundling up to go for a walk in the snow! Which thankfully makes Madison, WI the perfect location for me.
What was the last thing you heard or saw which made you laugh out loud?
We’ve got a yellow lab, a golden retriever, and a black cat (Salem, Dani, and Binks – yes, all Hocus Pocus references). They are constantly doing something goofy that makes me laugh.