There’s a big transition that happens when our R&D team hands off new products to our production team for commercial manufacturing. Each step needs to be planned and executed with meticulous attention to detail. We’re grateful for team members like Andrew Stinson, Manufacturing Engineer II. He joined Luminex earlier this year and holds a bachelor’s degree in medical engineering from the University of Utah.

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Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?

A: I’m the manufacturing engineer responsible for the transfer of new product lines. Internally, they’re first built by our R&D group, and now we’re looking to ramp up production with a commercial manufacturing process. I spend quite a bit of time on the manufacturing floor each day examining the current process and seeing what improvements we can make to achieve higher yields with full confidence in every product.

Q: How did you get started on this career path?

A: I was a fly-fishing guide several years ago when I decided to go back to school. I picked the degree with the best outlook, and in Salt Lake City, there was a lot of investment in biomedical research and design. As soon as I graduated, I took a role at a contract manufacturer, and I’ve been working in medical devices ever since. The cool part is being able to see the output of my work — the process improvements that lead to better yields.

Q: Engineering must be a big change from fly fishing, huh?

A: I have a big picture of the woods on my cubicle wall, but it’s not quite the same.

Q: What drew you Luminex?

A: I had worked with a similar company before, so I had some familiarity with Luminex. Knowing it had just been acquired by DiaSorin told me it was an attractive company, and once I met the people I’d be working with, I was sold. It’s pretty rewarding to know that each unit I help our team build is going to help a patient.

Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?

A: Rheumatoid arthritis has had a real impact on my family, so I would want to understand the contributing factors to autoimmune diseases to see why it is that the body attacks itself and prevent that from happening.

Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?

A: Teaching yoga and meditation. Just before taking this role, I opened a yoga/meditation studio in Portland, Maine. I sold it to come down here and take this job.

Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?

A: I am planning to write and release an album in the next year. I sing and play guitar, and the music is a mix of indie, folk, and country.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?

A: Hands down, it’s going to Barton Springs. I’m there all the time! It’s a beautiful spot by the water right across from downtown where you can swim, meditate, or do yoga.

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