Ernesta Augustinienė from Panevėžys was fascinated by natural sciences, engineering and new technologies from her childhood. The great interest in these fields encouraged the alumna to associate her future with one of these specialties. Ernesta remembers the choice of studies as a difficult stage, with a lot of confusion and distraction. Now E. Augustinienė is glad that she paid attention to industrial biotechnology studies, which connected many of her inclinations. She is currently working as a researcher at the Bioprocess Research Center. She is conduct research related to bacterial metabolism, construction of genetically encoded biosensors, fermentation processes. We asked Ernesta herself about her success story.
– Where and what studies did you finish?
– I completed my bachelor’s degree in VDU Biotechnology, master’s studies in industrial biotechnology at KTU, and continued my doctoral studies in the field of Chemical Engineering at KTU.
– How did you choose to study at KTU? Was it the first wish? Or maybe the opportunity to dive into “unknown waters”?
– Since I didn’t finish my bachelor’s studies at KTU, I chose my master’s studies between the university where I already studied and KTU. The choice to study at KTU was determined by the desire to expand knowledge into the practical side of applying biotechnology.
– What was the most interesting thing during your studies?
– The studies were very interesting. In fact, I could separate laboratory work and thesis preparation. Each module had its own laboratory work, and such modules allowed to use theoretical knowledge in practice, thus facilitating their memorization.
– How is the knowledge gained at the university useful in everyday and professional activities?
– I could compare the knowledge gained at the university to the foundations of a house. Since my work is inseparable from constant learning and interest, every day I come across new research results and scientific articles, understanding and analyzing them is helped by the knowledge acquired earlier during my studies and expanded in my scientific activities.
– Briefly present your thesis?
– I wrote my master’s final project on the formation of potash cultures of plants and the evaluation of phytochemical compounds in them, and I prepared my dissertation on the construction of genetically encoded biosensors for organic and phenolic acids. My master’s thesis covered plant biotechnology and chemical analysis methods, while my PhD focused on synthetic biology and genetic engineering.
– What are you doing at the moment?
– I am currently working as a researcher at the Bioprocess Research Center. I conduct research related to bacterial metabolism, construction of genetically encoded biosensors, fermentation processes.
– What influence did the master’s degree obtained at KTU University have on your career opportunities?
– The obtained master’s degree in industrial biotechnology allowed me to continue my doctoral studies, and after completing my master’s studies, I got the opportunity to work on a scientific project.
Ernesta Augustinienė’s LinkedIn account: http://bit.ly/4buyEcX
More information about Bachelor of Industrial Biotechnology studies: http://bit.ly/3zmIOiv
More information about Master’s studies in Industrial Biotechnology: http://bit.ly/4cq4j0I