Luminex develops a number of instruments and molecular diagnostic tests that have to be reviewed by regulatory agencies before becoming commercially available. Each of them requires clinical trials to demonstrate accuracy and utility. For this, we count on team members like Eva Oleksy, Senior Clinical Research Associate. She joined Luminex in 2009, and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: As a team, we prepare for and manage clinical trials, which includes site selection, training, data monitoring, and upholding FDA guidelines that go along with each study. In my role, I am the liaison between clinical sites and Luminex—providing support, retraining, or any additional instruction the clinical sites need. I manage multiple sites in different locations nationwide throughout the entire trial process.
Q: What did you do before this job?
A: I have been with Luminex for more than ten years and I’ve been with this department for three. My previous position here was as an International Field Service Engineer. In this role, I organized and trained Field Service Engineers on software, instruments, maintenance, and troubleshooting. I also developed and implemented a global training program for positioning new trainers in our international corporate locations.
Q: What drew you to Luminex?
A: I came across an opportunity to work at Luminex in R&D developing a newborn screening assay—what drew me to it was the focus on biology. At my previous company, I was performing multiple chemistry-based tasks, so I was looking for something that would allow me to implement the biology side of my degree.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: Agricultural genetics is a big interest of mine. As our population is growing, our resources are becoming limited. The goal is to adapt existing food crops to current land urbanization, rising temperatures, water availability shifts, and changing pathogen and insect threats. If I could find a global solution that would allow for agricultural sustainability, that would be amazing.
Q: If you weren’t a Senior Clinical Research Associate at Luminex, where would you be?
A: I’m a running enthusiast, so I would love to be a director for big global races. Traveling and putting on races would be really fun and rewarding.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I don’t think people know I was an actress briefly. In high school, I performed in plays and musicals, which then sparked my interest in the local community theater. I worked mostly with the stage crew, and filled in on stage as an extra when needed. Two of my favorite productions were The Secret Garden and The Wiz.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend??
A: I love being involved with the local running community, so I’m typically out getting a long run in, or pacing a half marathon somewhere around Austin. I also play ultimate frisbee year-round in local leagues, and compete in a handful of tournaments. However, my favorite thing is having downtime with my boyfriend and two crazy dogs.
