People are the chemistry: Lana Mogilyanskiy
At Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, we believe that our people provide our strength. Their dedication to quality, professional competence and hard work are the key elements in the company’s success. In this regular feature, we introduce you to some of the people who have helped make Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories an industry leader.
As the new Manager of Cell Banking in Lancaster, Svetlana (Lana) Mogilyanskiy brings nearly 20 years of experience in cell banking and virology to the table. She oversees the company’s new cell banking facilities as well as manages all non-production cell banks. Lana grew up in the Ukraine and earned a master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Kharkiv National University. She also holds an M.S. in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University and an MBA from Penn State University. Read more about Lana:
What does your current position entail?
With Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories further expanding Cell Banking capabilities, as Manager of Cell Banking my responsibilities involve ensuring clients needs are met, managing the Cell Banking Team, overseeing continuous process improvements, and training additional scientists that will be hired to support expanding services. Most of all, my job is to ensure that we provide the highest quality service in the area of Mammalian and Insect Cell Banking, which means not only producing high quality Cell Banks, but also giving our clients the best customer service in the industry.
What is the scope of your group?
The Cell Banking Team is responsible for Mammalian and Insect Cell Banking (GMP Production, GMP Non-Production, and R&D) and for cell expansion and preparation of samples for pre-bank testing and for the preparation of samples for the post bank characterization testing.
What process improvements does your group initiate to serve clients better?
We are in the process of transitioning from the Project Management Group managing Cell Banking communications with clients to a singlepoint person in the lab liaising with clients, which will be me. For projects of this nature and importance, it is an advantage for clients to have the opportunity to speak immediately and directly to the scientists intimately involved with their product. We see it as a way to improve communications by addressing the issues in a faster pace. To further enhance their service experience, Cell Banking clients will have my cell phone and will be able to call me 24/7 in case they have any questions for my team.
Why should clients trust us with their projects?
Our scientists have significant knowledge and years of experience in the Cell Banking area. I bring to the bench over 15 years of GMP cell banking experience and more than 20 years of general Cell Culture experience. Our goal is to achieve perfection every time we perform a cell bank regardless of its size and/or GMP status. I am and will continue to be in the laboratory to assess the cell growth and morphology, provide guidance to analysts, and personally work with cells at every critical step.
How would you characterize your leadership style?
I have to confess that I am very controlling. I feel personally responsible for clients’ projects and
everything that is going on in the lab. I feel I need to make sure that things are done perfectly and that clients are well informed about successes and possible challenges as the project progresses. To that, I tend to plan out minute details of every cell banking campaign with the goal of a seamless culture progression, thereby affording clients a timely quality product. Client trust is paramount in this line of work, and I take great pride in nurturing these relationships.
And when you’re not working?
When I am not working, I value the time I can spend with my children (ages 10 and 1.5) and my dog 120+lbs Rottweiler. I also enjoy ice skating, cross country skiing (when PA has a snow), and swimming.
