The Faces of Luminex: Jackie Surls, Assay Development

When Luminex decided to start a custom assay development service, we knew who would be a natural fit—Jackie Surls, a scientist with a gift for building assays.

As a Development and Applications Scientist, Jackie works with a team of talented researchers to design customer-requested Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?

A: We have customers and partners with specialized needs in designing and developing their customized assays. I provide support, either by responding to a request for a custom assay and developing it in-house, or by guiding them through the process to develop a working assay. I also look for areas where we can apply xMAP Technology to help customers streamline their workflow.

Q: What did you do before this job?

A: I was working at another biotech company—a provider of premier clinical microbiology and women’s health products that was interested in going molecular. I built out a BSL-II lab and developed their molecular product line. Some of the molecular tests I designed and developed were for arbovirus testing, antibiotic drug resistance testing, and plant pathogens. Prior to that, I spent two years as a scientist here at Luminex.

Q: What drew you to Luminex in the first place?

A: I used xMAP Technology quite a bit in grad school. I was studying cytokine secretions using ELISAs until my PI asked that I move our entire workflow onto xMAP Technology. It was frustrating at the time because I had to redo two years’ worth of work, but it ended up only taking one week and produced better results. The data corroborated my ELISAs with better sensitivity. When I had the opportunity to join Luminex, I was a little starstruck because I was so impressed by the technology.

Q: If you weren’t a development and applications scientist at Luminex, where would you be?

A: If I weren’t a scientist, I would probably be a sci-fi author writing about science. That’s how much I love biology.

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

A: That would be systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. It hits close to home because I have many family members afflicted by this disease. It would make my day if I could wave a magic wand and make SLE go away.

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

A: I am a ham radio-licensed operator. I took my general technician exam and have my own call sign, KI5EID. Every now and then I pop on the radio to see who’s around. You never know who you’re going to meet, which is part of the fun. We call it ragchewing, just talking about whatever.

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

A: I love trying local restaurants, especially ones with Korean food. I’m always surprised to find the tastiest food in the most unlikely places.

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