Randy Echavarria
“There are many ways to solve a problem. We tend to think you only have one path to find the answer you are looking for, but life is a lot more fluid than that.”
I love playing video games and RPGs. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I love sports, camping, and working on my car. I didn’t speak English at home as a kid, which made early school more difficult. I maintain lab equipment so that companies can achieve their scientific goals. I am a Lab Operations Associate.
Since the earliest clocks and measuring devices, science has always been driven by the best available tools. As science advances, the instruments we use to conduct science tends to advance as well. These days, many fields rely on complicated equipment to do things like count cells or measure particles. My job is to make sure that this equipment is working properly, and supporting the scientific teams who rely on it. At LabCentral, where I work, many different biotechnology companies operate in the same place, and I like to think of myself as part of their customer service team. Whether I’m monitoring inventory, managing equipment reservations, or troubleshooting a malfunctioning machine, I do everything I can to make sure the scientific process runs smoothly. I get to put my tinkering skills to work, use the people skills that I enjoy, and be part of the science without having to do the science.
Despite so much progress in biotechnology and medicine, there are still many people suffering from incurable illnesses. There are a lot of good ideas for treatments out there that don’t get a fair shot, either because they don’t get the resources they need or the scientists don’t have the skills to run a whole company on top of their research. LabCentral gives scientists an opportunity to explore new innovations and develop first-of-their-kind medications without having to worry too much about the resources, facilities, or business side of things. By allowing scientists to focus on their research, I get to play my part in increasing the chances of their treatments working, and making a real difference in people’s lives.
I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, in a neighborhood with mostly people of Puerto Rican descent. My family is from the Dominican Republic, and we didn’t speak English at home, so when I first started school, some of the more language-based subjects were tough. I’d always been fascinated by space, rocketships, airplanes, and figuring out how things work. I found that math and science were easier to understand because they didn’t rely as much on English and grammar.
My family has always been very close, and I was taught to always protect my values and show others respect. I spent a lot of my childhood camping, attending church, and playing football. When I enrolled at Boston Latin Academy in junior high, I was exposed to new people, ideas, and expectations that challenged me to grow. I took many science classes, and realize now that the classes I liked most were more about having the right teacher than the subject itself. I fell in love with physics and set my mind on becoming a physicist.
Things didn’t quite go according to plan. I juggled challenges with financial aid and loans with challenges in my coursework. I met my match with multivariable calculus, a course known for its difficulty, as struggled to pass the course. I was poised to become the first person in my family to graduate college, and I didn’t want to let myself or my parents down, so after two attempts, I decided to look for a major I could thrive in. With the help of a supportive group of peers, I graduated with a degree in biology, which set me up for success in the role I have now.
I met my wife in high school, and spending time with her is still one of my favorite things to do. It doesn't matter what we are doing – walking in the park or tossing a football – we always have a great time. I am very community-oriented and really enjoy looking for ways to support the people around me. I also love playing games with friends, primarily sports video games like Madden and NBA 2k, or RPG (role-playing games)like Skyrim. I also love driving, working on my car, and going on camping trips. I’ve recently started to travel more, and love taking spontaneous trips without too much planning, so I can soak up as much of the local food and culture as possible.
I was working at Starbucks when I learned about my current company, and applied on a whim not knowing if I had a chance. I got the job, which was more of a facilities role than I wanted, but it gave me a chance to prove myself. I worked hard and stayed passionate, so when the role I wanted on the lab team opened up, I was ready. And it all started with a flier going up at my Starbucks – you never know where your next opportunity will show up!
You do not need to be a scientist to be in the biotech industry! And you also don’t need to be a genius. There are a ton of careers centered around science that are a great fit for a wide range of people and goals. Keep a creative mind, stay open to unexpected possibilities, keep true to your values, and be patient. Sometimes to get the job you want, you have to put in the time to build the right skills and networks. Take every opportunity you can to do internships, build relationships, and take full advantage of any continuing education benefits that companies offer. You don’t ever have to stop growing and aspiring for more.
