By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLISóDr. Scott Olenych has raised the profile of the scientific institute that runs the Core Laboratory at the N.C. Research Campus.
Olenych trains scientists to use cutting-edge microscopes in the Core Lab. His work on how to image proteinsóessential parts of cellsówas published in 2006 in Science, the world’s leading scientific journal.
“He is an expert far beyond what we thought we would have here and really has contributed to our credibility,” said Dr. Randy Allen, director of business development for the David H. Murdock Research Institute, which owns and operates the Core Lab.
Olenych works for Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Inc. but serves the scientists at the Research Campus, a $1.5 billion biotechnology hub under development by Dole Food Co. owner David Murdock.
Olenych comes to Kannapolis from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, a world-renowned microscopy center at Florida State University.
“Scott is able to start generating experiments and data right away,” Allen said.
Allen worked for more than two years to strike a deal with Zeiss. In it, the Murdock Research Institute purchased all its imaging equipment from Zeiss.
In exchange, Zeiss made the Research Campus a testing site for new instruments and sent an embedded consultantóOlenychófor two years.
“The whole thing with Zeiss is an experiment in how to avoid becoming obsolete,” Allen said.
At many institutes, microscopes and imaging equipment are outdated a few years after purchase, Allen said. But the Research Campus will have the most cutting-edge instruments, and Olenych will make sure they are working properly.
“When other scientists get a new microscope, they have to make all these adjustments,” Allen said. “Scott will always maintain our instruments in perfect order.”
Olenych also leads workshops, seminars and works one-on-one with researchers to design their experiments.
“He does a great job selling us,” Allen said. “One of the best things we have done is to have him here.”
#######