Sometimes, career moves happen purely by chance. Just ask Adam Chernick, PhD/MBA, an associate at IDT (a Danaher business), who was in the right place at the right time for a tremendous career opportunity.
In 2016, while working on his PhD, Adam was considering using an IDT product to selectively enrich a specific viral genome to improve the on-target sequencing rate. He was working with IDT’s applications support team to explore that solution and had a discussion with the local sales manager, who mentioned he was looking to hire an inside sales representative.
“I’d already been considering non-academic careers at that point, and the opportunity to move into a non-academic career while still getting to use my scientific knowledge every day was very compelling—and IDT sounded like the kind of place where I could do that,” explained Adam. “It was also an opportunity to learn more about the business side of science, where I really had no personal experience.”
Adam was hired for that role and two years later, IDT was acquired by Danaher. Every few years, he progressed to higher roles until landing in his current role as Senior Commercial Product Manager – CRISPR, in May 2023.
Today, he manages a team of Commercial Product Managers who oversee the launch and maintenance of IDT’s CRISPR and Functional Genomics products. He works closely with other teams to take mature technologies and get them ready for customers to purchase and use in their own experiments. He also collaborates with many other IDT functional teams—from manufacturing and R&D to legal and sales—on product updates such as new features, pricing and marketing materials.
Thriving in a culture of continuous improvement
With access to Danaher’s portfolio of best practices (known as the Danaher Business System or DBS), Adam finds his work especially fulfilling.
“DBS helps us tackle a whole range of business and technical challenges in reproducible and dependable ways,” he said. “Danaher has been using DBS successfully for decades, and the DBS toolbox has taken that success and enshrined it into something everyone here can use in their daily work.”
Making a real difference—one experiment at a time
“It’s exciting to see my work contribute to something that scientists all around the world use every day,” he said. “Not every industry gets to say that they contribute to positive change in the world, but IDT products are integral for customers who are advancing medicine and our collective understanding of biology—that’s truly inspiring.”
“While customers are doing their work, we’re committed to learning about their challenges and developing tools to help overcome them,” he added. “This is a really satisfying way to apply my technical background to solving problems that’s a little different from running my own research program in an academic setting.”
Going forward, Adam isn’t sure what his career future looks like, but he knows it will be exciting.
“Most of the products I support are based on CRISPR, a technology that’s barely a decade old,” he said. “I doubt anyone can truly predict what the future holds in such an innovative and dynamic industry, but I’m excited to be part of it.”
Over the past decade, CRISPR has taken life sciences and the biomedical world by storm for its ability to easily and precisely edit DNA. Today at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) (a Danaher company), Bahri Karacay, PhD, Sr. Manager, Product Marketing Gene Writing and Editing, applies himself to advancing this innovative technology, both for research and therapeutic applications. Not only is this work his passion, it’s also his way of helping Danaher innovate at the speed of life.
Dr. Karacay at IDT’s Therapeutic Oligonucleotide Manufacturing facility.
Tell us a bit about your background.
Originally from Türkiye, I came to the US for graduate school. I received my PhD from The Ohio State University and did part of my postdoctoral work at Nationwide Children’s Research Institute in Columbus. After my lab moved, I completed my postdoctoral work at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. I continued after finishing my postdoc as a research scientist in its Child Neurology Division.
What drew you to IDT initially?
As a research professor at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine and a long-standing customer of IDT, I knew IDT and its solutions very well. I was always curious about working in the life sciences industry, so when I was ready to make the switch from academia to industry, IDT was the first logical place to start.
What does your current role entail?
Currently, I lead a product marketing team for the Gene Writing and Editing product portfolio. That includes CRISPR genome editing products and services, both for research and therapeutic applications, as well as gene regulation and synthetic biology products that are mainly for research applications. In simplest terms, we empower scientists to rewrite the code of life through strategic marketing, data-driven insights, and engaging educational content.
What does your day-to-day work look like?
My day-to-day work is dynamic, revolving around strategy, collaboration and execution. I develop marketing strategies and tactics to drive the success of our portfolio, focusing on customer-centric messaging and market trends. Leading a talented team, I provide guidance and support on various projects. Additionally, I serve on cross-functional teams to bring innovative products and services to market.
Since last year, I’ve also enjoyed supporting cross-company initiatives between IDT and Aldevron, another Danaher business. Together, we work towards delivering impactful solutions for customers in the cell and gene therapy space, including Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) manufacturing and Research Use Only (RUO)-to-CGMP workflows. My work is a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, science, and teamwork—making every day exciting and fulfilling.
Dr. Karacay at the University of Iowa
Since you’ve been with IDT, what are some of your most memorable moments?
One of the most memorable moments was the ribbon-cutting ceremony for IDT’s state-of-the-art therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing (TOM) facility in October 2023. This marked a major milestone for IDT, as it represented our entry into therapeutic space. Until then, we had primarily supported our customers in the discovery phase of their research. With the opening of the TOM facility, we now offer a comprehensive end-to-end workflow solution—from bench to bedside.
This achievement was particularly meaningful to me as a former scientist with firsthand experience in gene therapy. I had conducted research focused on developing therapies for two devastating conditions: neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer of the nervous system typically diagnosed before age five, and Alexander Disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that most commonly strikes in the first decade of life.
Why are you inspired and excited by CRISPR technology?
CRISPR technology has already revolutionized scientific research, and its impact is now transforming medicine as well. With the first CRISPR-based therapies having been approved in December 2024 both in Europe and the United States, we are witnessing the rapid evolution of the technology from research tool to life-saving treatment modality. From groundbreaking cancer treatments to innovative therapies for genetic diseases, CRISPR’s potential seems limitless.
How is your career as a part of Danaher accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health?
Though I am no longer directly involved in gene therapy research, I feel as though I am still walking side by side with the scientists who are striving for the same life-changing goals. Developing gene therapies for diseases was my passion and purpose, and now, with CRISPR genome editing making that dream a reality, I am proud to continue contributing by enabling scientists with IDT products and resources.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
I’m the founder and lead singer of TURKANA, a band comprised of Turkish and American musicians performing Turkish folk and pop music. I’m also a popular science writer, podcaster and the author of two bestsellers: “The Secret of Life DNA” and “Happy Brain”. My favorite pastime activities are making music and skiing.
Dr. Karacay’s band TURKANA is comprised of professors from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. They play Turkish pop and folk tunes, as well as some of Dr. Karacay’s original compositions, at festivals, concerts, cultural events and radio programs.
Why do you think other people in your field would enjoy a job at IDT or another Danaher company?
IDT and other Danaher life sciences companies are great places to work for anyone passionate about advancing science and human health. With Danaher’s promise of ‘innovation at the speed of life’ and IDT’s focus on ‘Accelerating the pace of genomics,’ we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Initiatives like the IGI Beacon Program, which aims to expand access to CRISPR technologies, and partnerships that improve genome-editing precision, highlight our impact on global challenges. Associates at IDT or other Danaher life sciences companies benefit from cutting-edge tools, a collaborative culture, and opportunities to grow professionally, making it an ideal environment for those driven to shape the future of science and health. I’ve seen the work we do here and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of it.
When Noreen Karim started at Integrated DNA Technologies in January 2023, she began a journey of impact and collaboration, using her STEM skills to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Noreen continues to gain new skills with the Danaher Business System (DBS) of continuous improvement.
We met Noreen to discuss her experience and her dreams for the future.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your role.
I grew up in a small village in the northwestern Pakistan called Malakand. I received my Ph.D. in Medical Genetics in Pakistan where I worked to unveil the genetic causes underlying inherited skin diseases. After completion of my PhD in 2019, I came to the United States for a postdoc to join Dr. Robert Rice’s lab at UC Davis in Environmental Toxicology where I worked on multiple projects of genetic and proteomic nature.
I joined Integrated DNA Technologies, IDT, last year in January as a Research Scientist III. The work IDT does resonates with me because number one, my career has been centered around DNA and protein analysis. And number two, this is just something that clicked with me most of the time. The sheer molecular scale of genetic material fascinates me, especially considering its profound impact on life. And so, I am in it to pursue a long-term career in molecular biology and genome technologies.
What does your day-to-day look like?
I was hired for a project related to making a kit that would make it easier to detect or sequence cancer-causing mutations. It was put on hold based on a business decision, but since then, I’ve worked on several other projects. Lately, I’m involved in a project aimed at developing CE-IVD approved products for the detection of diseases.
There are two categories of products — RUO or research-use-only products, that are used solely for laboratory research purposes and CE-IVD or products approved for invitro diagnostic uses can be used in clinical labs. The latter category products undergo rigorous testing and validations to meet regulatory requirements.
It is very exciting to be part of a product development process that has a positive impact on real people’s health and lives.
I am a Research Scientist, so I work in research, development and innovation. My day-to-day work includes designing and executing experiments to answer questions about the product ideas that we are working towards. It also entails data analysis and interpretation to draw conclusions, troubleshooting any roadblocks, as well as presentation and report writing. My day-to-day depends on where we are in the product roadmap.
For example, for this CE-IVD project, I need to ask myself, “What data do we need to fulfill the regulatory standards? What are the experiments we will need to obtain the data? What are the documents that we need to have completed?”
What are some of your most memorable moments over the year you’ve worked with IDT?
I worked in what IDT calls “sandbox projects” — projects that are not on the company’s project list but we test different ideas that can someday be developed into a product/project. I worked on a sandbox project related to cDNA synthesis.
We had an inhouse developed reverse transcriptase enzyme at IDT. My team and I developed the buffers and identified the optimal chemical and physical conditions for that enzyme. Now, that enzyme and the buffers can be used to make RNA from very minuscule quantities, down to the picogram scale. It was exciting to see something developed so well in such a short time.
I actually presented that work as a poster presentation at the last general meeting of Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) in Florida and . I got very good feedback on that from the attendees.
Can you talk us through what your career journey has looked like as a woman in STEM? Do you have any advice for women starting their own STEM careers?
As I mentioned, I’m from the northwestern part of Pakistan. In that area, there was a lot of resistance to women’s education at the time. During my undergrad, there were times when our university would be closed for months at a time because of threats coming from the Taliban. That was one of the things that impacted me, or rather, weighed on my mind. I was constantly reminding myself, “I have to move forward. I have to resist this resistance.” That was something that kept me progressing.
I believe that people should follow their passion, whatever resonates with them, be it STEM or any other field. We spend most of our waking hours doing our work. Therefore we should pursue what brings joy to us. I think one will be more productive at what one genuinely enjoys.
Can you tell us anything else about your experience working at IDT?
Working at IDT is my first industry job.
IDT has provided me with a valuable glimpse into the industry environment. As someone who previously used these products, I now see them from the developer’s perspective. In my past year with IDT, I learned how products are meticulously planned and developed, I observed significantly larger teams collaborating towards shared goals, and understood a bit more of how companies grow and progress.
Lately, I’ve been delving into the DBS tools, also known as the Danaher Business System tools. I completed a Kaizen and a PSP this year, and I am really looking forward to applying the DBS tools in my work. What appeals to me is how systematically structured these tools are – they can be applied to both small-scale and large-scale challenges. Take the Problem Solving Process (PSP) tool, for example, while it may seem very basic, its structured approach allows it to be employed across many scenarios, taking you to the core of issues and their solutions. I think DBS tools are a good way of gaining leadership skills allowing one to be more productive and efficient at work.
Why do you think other people in genomics would enjoy a job at IDT or any other Danaher company?
Everyone who has worked in molecular biology knows IDT for their oligos (oligonucleotides). If you talk about IDT to anyone, they’ll be like, “Oh, the oligo company.” It was the same for me. I worked with IDT products throughout my career so much that when I saw there was an opening and I got the offer, I was very excited.
Another exciting feature of IDT is the cutting-edge nature of the field and therefore, our products. To give you some background, in next generation sequencing there is pre-sequencing, sequencing and post-sequencing areas. Pre-sequencing is when the DNA/RNA samples are prepared for sequencing, and post-sequencing is when the sequencing data is crunched, analyzed and interpreted. IDT works ion the pre-sequencing area making kits for sample preparation for next-generation sequencing. We are working on continuously improving the NGS track by simplifying the sample processing and driving to obtain more in-depth information from as little sample as possible. It’s a very advanced field positioned at the very forefront.
The other thing I like about IDT is its collaborative environment. Because my experience before IDT was in the post-sequencing area, it was a switch for me. The collaborative environment of IDT made it much easier. for me to learn and be productive ASAP.
Lastly, being a part of Danaher, we have access to all the DBS tools and processes which is a great way of growing and developing one’s career.
What does the future hold for you and your career?
I do not see myself being confined to the lab forever. I definitely want to learn more about organizational structures and business strategies. I like looking at the bigger perspective, which I think is very important for even somebody who’s working in the lab.
If you could give potential candidates considering a role at IDT any information or advice, what would you share with them?
I find myself very fortunate to have landed at IDT. I would circle back to what I said earlier about the cutting-edge nature of our work, the collaborative environment of IDT and Danaher, and the impact our work has on the world of genetics and on the health of people’s lives. We are also in the Bay area, which is the hub of biotech giving us the opportunity to be more aware of what’s happening in the field. It’s these things that are important for career and professional growth.
Find Your Next Step at Danaher
At Danaher, we believe in giving people the skills they need to innovate. With us, you can pioneer groundbreaking innovations and see the difference you make in people’s lives. As an industry leader in biotechnology and other fields, we help people build meaningful careers and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
