Michelle Brown

My college years weren’t smooth sailing, I took a few years off after securing a two-year degree to work and make money to finish my education. I graduated with a BA in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and joined MilliporeSigma in 2011. I started as a packaging operator, then moved to manufacturing for two and a half years, and then a scientist production associate for three and a half years. Most recently, in June 2020, I was promoted to a senior associate scientist.

I accidently fell into the position of scientist when a department was short- staffed and asked for volunteers in the trace metal lab. Now almost 5 years later, I can’t imagine not being a scientist. I love my job, and I am so lucky to have a great supervisor. There are four employees currently in our lab.

What is a day in your life at MilliporeSigma like?
My job responsibility is to test samples in the lab for traces of metal. I prep and load the samples and train new scientists to use the machinery and record the tests. It is a highly specialized department that allows consumers to find out which metals are in their products.