Just a few months out from graduation, Megan Stein ’17 is busy doing what she loves — working with microorganisms.
Stein is a quality control technologist for Microbiologics in St. Cloud. As a quality control technologist Stein is evaluating colony count and general project review.
“It’s very hands-on. There’s always something to do,” she said. “Every day gives you a different opportunity.”
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“We found an organism that was giving off a lot of antimicrobial properties, and we worked to enhance those properties,” Stein said.
Those courses and research opportunities gave her the skills she needed to prepare for working in the field.
“St. Cloud State really was a great opportunity,” she said. “It really provided me with a good foundation for what I want to be doing with my life.”
Stein credits the Career Center for helping connect her to Microbiologics since she first learned about internship opportunities there through a job fair on campus. She handed over her resume and applied for the internship that day. She got the internship working with Microbiologics’ research and development team while finishing up her last class during Summer Sessions in June.
While interning, Stein worked on a project to increase the performance and stability of Microbiologics’ existing products. The project was broken up into projects conducted by different teams who evaluated moisture content, tested formulations and production methods and performed an evaluation of a competing product.
— Megan Stein ’17
Stein worked with the entire team to help perform tests and analyze data, said Melissa Epple, microbiology research and development manager.
“She did great,” Epple said. “There was definitely a lot for her to learn. She stepped up to the challenge really well, got all the testing done and helped to plan additional studies.”
Stein was able to explain the projects and their results by the end of her internship, and the entire research team was excited when she was hired full-time in quality control, she said.
It was while she was interning that Stein learned of an opening in quality control, applied and was offered the job. She started in her new role after her internship ended in August — just three months after graduation.
Now she’s settling in to a career she’s worked toward since day one at St. Cloud State.
“As long as I’m working with microorganisms and in the laboratory I’ll be happy,” Stein said. “That’s my game plan — I want to work in a lab as long as I can.”
