We’re continuing our blog series, looking at the DNA of Telesis Bio — our incredible employees and their stories.
Team member: Izach Espiritu, Senior Field Service Engineer
Came aboard: 2014
What do you do at Telesis Bio?
As a field service engineer, I manage customer accounts and answer questions about our instruments. I also train our third-party service partners and internal field service staff. The job is customer-facing, so I interface with many customers that use our services.
How did you get into that kind of work?
My background is in electrical engineering. In 2014, when we were still prototyping the BioXp™ system. I was a technician on the R&D team for the BioXp™ system, and over time, I got into a role working in mechanical design. Then there was a need for instrument support, and who better for the job than one of the people who helped build it?
What brought you to Telesis Bio?
I did a lot of engineering technician work for a third-party engineering company and worked with various products. A colleague approached me about a position open at Telesis Bio, and I liked the idea of being on the producer side and especially with such cutting-edge science. I was also eager to get into a growing field like biotechnology.
What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on at Telesis Bio?
One of the most exciting things about joining Telesis Bio was learning about biology. I came from a different industry, and the science behind what goes into the BioXp was immediately fascinating to me. I enjoyed being exposed to a new world and learning about oligos, DNA, genome editing, and more.
How would you describe the company culture?
Since we’re a small startup, we each get to wear a lot of different hats. You can step out of your comfort zone and play distinct roles. At other companies, you can be siloed into a specific job description. The collaborative spirit here is something I enjoy, and I love getting to work with scientists every day.
What’s something fun about working at Telesis Bio?
The people and the culture. I love that our team is truly diverseand each person brings their perspective and expertise.
What was the first thing you ever wanted to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a pro rollerblader! As a kid, all I did was rollerblade.
How do you see synthetic biology changing the world?
I see it changing the world by addressing and tackling problems like the pandemic we’re in now. I think synthetic biology has the potential to address vaccine development and research discoveries significantly.