Impulsonics Introducing: Dr Amanda Franklin, Engineering Lead
Welcome to the first in our Impulsonics Introducing series about the people who make our team run in their own words. First up is our amazing Engineering Lead Amanda Franklin.
1. What do you do at Impulsonics?
I am the Engineering Lead, which encompasses guiding the research and prototype development. A big part of that is working out what to do: defining the key questions we need to answer and identifying knowledge gaps which are currently preventing us from answering them! Day to day I am designing and building rigs and prototypes to learn about different technical and customer aspects of the product, measuring and characterising acoustic devices, and running experiments on cells in the lab with Ximena, our biologist. I am also involved in making strategic technical decisions, and making sure there are enough tea breaks.
2. What inspired you to join Impulsonics?
I was interested to try the “start-up” thing, and gain experience being at that early stage where everything is pretty fluid, but you still need to choose a path! In the last company that I worked for the culture was amazing, and I was excited to foster from the beginning a great environment in which to work. Having a PhD in Acoustic Manipulation and having worked for one of the few extant companies using ultrasound for drug discovery (LUMICKS) and having read hundreds of papers extoling the promise of the technology for biotech applications I was keen to try to make those claims into a reality!
3. What inspired you to join Impulsonics?
I was interested to try the “start-up” thing, and gain experience being at that early stage where everything is pretty fluid, but you still need to choose a path! In the last company that I worked for the culture was amazing, and I was excited to foster from the beginning a great environment in which to work. Having a PhD in Acoustic Manipulation and having worked for one of the few extant companies using ultrasound for drug discovery (LUMICKS) and having read hundreds of papers extoling the promise of the technology for biotech applications I was keen to try to make those claims into a reality!
4. What part of your job excites you most?
I am really interested in the “how” of product development – working out how to ask and answer the most important questions at each stage. Testing and constantly building my understanding of acoustics through experiments – and it still always feels a bit like magic to see particles, cells, or organoids being moved by the power of sound! Down the line, building a team for the product development is something I’m really excited about.
5. What do you like to do outside of work?
I really love being outside – hiking, climbing, camping, swimming... In the summer before I started at Impulsonics I tried to cram in as many adventures as possible which included climbing a volcano, cycling the length of Wales and hiking over the Alps to Lake Geneva. I also love reading, calligraphy and salt and vinegar crisps.
6. If Impulsonics had a coat of arms what would you put on it and why?
A UFO for acoustic levitation, a heart for health-tech, a whiteboard for my favourite piece of “office tech” - and a pingpong bat for the lunchtime sanity break activity!
7. Can you describe your role using only emojis?
Thanks Amanda!
To get in touch with Amanda or any of the Impulsonics team please email enquiry [@] impulsonics.com