Alexandra Ask-Gullstrand, Markus Jonsson and Sanjana Parameshwaran

As you can tell by the name, CoreLab is the backbone of Antaros Medical’s day-to-day business. This is where co-workers centrally analyse imaging scans from all over the world, to investigate treatment effects on selected imaging endpoints in clinical trials. In this interview, we’re talking to three Image Analysts to find out more about life at the CoreLab.

All paths lead to Antaros Medical
They started out doing roughly the same job at Antaros Medical, but the interviewees, Alexandra, Markus and Sanjana, turn out to have quite different backgrounds and paths to get here.
– I studied Systems Science and one of my study buddies told me about an opening at Antaros Medical, so I applied. I was more of a computer nerd, and not really into imaging or even medicine before I came here, says Markus Jonsson.
Alexandra, on the other hand, studied to be a biomedical laboratory scientist and really wanted to work with research and imaging.
– I took an interest to imaging during my studies and looked for a job where I could develop my skills, says Alexandra Ask-Gullstrand.
Before she married and moved to Sweden, Sanjana had worked with a very similar kind of imaging for four years back in India.
– It’s quite an unusual skill, and I was worried that I wouldn’t find a job similar to my previous role in Sweden, so I was thrilled when I got in contact with Antaros Medical, says Sanjana Parameshwaran.

An open office in every sense of the word
About 20 people work at the Corelab. They all share an open office space in Uppsala. The building was once a stable, and the massive wooden beams are still visible in the ceiling.
– I really like working in an open office. When you want to discuss a tricky analysis, you can always grab your neighbor. We all have our different areas of expertise and people are always willing to help. But there are some drawbacks. We’re quite a young crowd, with a high energy level, so noise cancelling headphones are very useful, says Markus with a smile.
– There’s a gym on the floor beneath, and we have lots of freedom to plan our workdays. If I don’t have any meetings, I can take an extra-long lunch break and get some exercise, says Alexandra.

“A great part of working at the CoreLab is the variation. No two days are the same.”

No two days are the same
All analyst do not work in all projects, they specialize in different things, for example in different imaging techniques and disease areas.
– Me and Alexandra do analysis of MRI scans and Sanjana PET. We also gain experience in different endpoints, for example liver or kidney. But the longer you work here, the broader your competence gets, says Markus.
– A great part of the job is the variation. No two days are the same. We receive images from different sites and patients. There is a lot of variation in terms of projects as well, says Alexandra.
– And if you want to branch out, you can focus more on the creation of the method, or even move into software development, says Markus.

Lots of possibilities if you are willing to learn
None of them have been with Antaros Medical for longer than two years, but they are already taking the next steps in their development. Sanjana is moving on to be a Project Manager, Alexandra just got promoted to Lead Image Analyst and Markus new business card says: Team Lead and Lead Image Analyst.
– When I told my manager that I was ready for a new step, I got lots of encouragement, training and support, says Sanjana
– The company is growing, so if you’re ambitious and willing to learn there are lots of possibilities. But there’s also a culture of taking care of people, says Markus.
– To me it’s an amazing thing to be told not to work too much. Sweden’s work culture is always positive, replies Sanjana.