Carola Mancini: From Apulia to Berlin, Exploring Molecular Biology and Savoring Italian Delicacies

Carola Mancini, a passionate molecular biologist, joined the Molecular Devices family in September 2021. Let's delve into her journey, her role, and her vision for the future of clone screening.

Carola’s Background

Born and raised in a picturesque town in Apulia, Italy, my academic journey began at the University of Bari, where I got my Bachelor of Science degree in biotechnology and I delved into the cellular effects of potential anti-cancer compounds. Enthusiastic about the most recent developments of the biopharmaceutical sector, I relocated to the University of Bologna to study pharmaceutical biotechnology. Here, I immersed myself in the research of molecular signatures of brain tumours. This path led me to join a European-funded project in Bilbao, Spain, where I was focusing on the study of novel therapies for prostate cancer treatment. Passionate about genetic engineering and cellular physiology, I then moved to Germany to conduct to my PhD in molecular biology at the University of Potsdam, focusing on nutrition and aging on energy metabolism. In particular, I was interested in how humans are more prone to metabolic diseases (e.g. obesity and diabetes) during aging.

How did your journey unfold?

Before joining Molecular Devices, I honed my expertise in cell line development, clonal screening, and synthetic biology. Recognising the challenges of manual protocols, I was drawn to the idea of aiding researchers in integrating automated instruments into their BioPharma workflows. As a BioPharma Field Application Scientist for Molecular Devices, I now cover the European territory, and I work with our customers on both pre- and post-sale side. On the pre-sale side, I support the BioPharma sales offering scientific technical consultancy to our customers and by conducting educational seminars. On the post-sale side, we offer tailored product training to ensure our customers are successfully pursuing their scientific projects with the MolDev BioPharma portfolio of instruments.

What makes the role of a Field Applications Scientist stand out?

I think the uniqueness of a Field Application Scientist lies in understanding the intricacies of scientific research. With hands-on lab experience, we are an interface between sophisticated scientific tools and bench scientists. As a FAS, I guide our customers in harnessing next-generation automated instruments, ensuring they achieve their objectives. The teaching part is key to the application scientist role and is something I have always enjoyed. As science evolves, so does our role, therefore it´s relevant to tackle emerging scientific applications and adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

Molecular Devices and its portfolio must be exciting. Could you share your thoughts?

Absolutely! The thrill of working with state-of-the-art technologies to cater to customer needs is unparalleled. Our portfolio of clone screening systems allows researchers to reduce their FTE time, paving the way for faster discoveries and accelerate their products to the market. Our solutions for antibody discovery and microbial/ mammalian cell line development provide dedicated, scalable, and easy-to-use products for establishing clonal populations. The systems feature a selection of options and models to address specific research applications, including monoclonality analysis, multiple imaging modes, biology-specific pins, fluidics, and environmental control. These solutions combine intelligent imaging with analysis and automation to increase throughput, consistency, and provide image-based documentation. In addition, our Customization and Automation team has the capability to customize our clone screening systems to meet the unique needs of our customers.

Emerging applications in clone screening seem promising. Could you shed some light on them?

The Covid-19 outbreak accelerated the development of mRNA-based vaccines, opening a new era for the cure of infectious diseases. Cancer and genetic diseases are also targeted conditions of this technology. Automated clonal screening is often required to improve drug discovery process and ensure cell monoclonality, therefore the future of clone screening is bright. Another exciting application of clonal screening navigating is CRISPR-based gene editing gene and cell therapy (GCT), which is gaining more and more attention within the scientific community. For instance, we can isolate patient-derived iPSC cells and engineer them using CRISPR for reprogramming, to differentiate stem cells into the population that we are interested in. Another workflow currently trending for clone screening and personalised medicine is the CAR-T cell therapy, e.g. for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Other emerging applications such as synthetic biology, and research on alternative proteins are just a few areas where clone screening is making waves. For instance, cultured meat is an emerging technology which is crucial to supply the increasing meat demand while being more environmentally- and animal-friendly than conventional meat production.

Any advancements you foresee in clone screening in the coming years?

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools within clonal screening systems will revolutionise the field. AI-implemented clonal screening will allow improved selection and identification of the most promising hits, empowering scientists to design experiments, interpret vast datasets, and uncover insights previously unimaginable with traditional methods.

Away from the lab, how do you spend your leisure time?

Living in Berlin offers endless opportunities for exploration. I cherish moments spent with my partner and our adorable Jack Russell terrier, whether it's a walk in nature or discovering the city's hidden gems. As a sci-fi enthusiast, movie nights are a regular affair in our household.

Lastly, any favourite Italian dish you'd like to share?

Ah, the classic eggplant parmesan! Layers of fried eggplant, cheese, and tomato sauce baked to perfection. Over the years, my partner and I have perfected our recipe, and it's always a hit with friends.

To explore our innovative solutions, visit our clone screening systems page.

Recent posts