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Lily is a senior laboratory technician in the analytics laboratory, responsible for conducting analyses and preparing reports, from gel electrophoresis to stability tests.
Leila is a specialist. She deals with both the construction of cloning schemes and the interpretation of sequencing results. Leila also collaborates with Lily in the analytics lab.
Liina, the third sister, is a PE teacher and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in this field.
From a young age, the sisters were always on the move, full of energy and vitality. During their school years, they worked as coastguards during summer, where they were introduced to training as part of the job.
A colleague, who happened to be an amateur runner, noticed their impressive performance in long-distance running.
“Running 5 km for the first time seemed like a long distance for us, but over the summer we did training and when the three of us had the first race, we ran 10 km in 50 minutes,” Leila recollects.
It was a very good result considering it was their first time, and gave them a lot of confidence and motivation to continue. Because most of all, they liked to run past the others.
“Our friend was a former professional cyclist and suggested training under Harry Lemberg, whom she knew. Thus, in 2010 we started training under him and in 2011 we won Estonian champion titles,” states Leila proudly.
From there, their progress snowballed, as they aimed for greater distances and constantly pushed themselves to enhance their performance.
“It’s said that at the age of 24, it’s too late to develop speed for a midrange run. Therefore, we focused on building endurance and stamina, which led us to choose longer distances,” Leila adds.
“Occasionally we couldn’t help but wonder, what if we started earlier,” Lily concludes.
Shortly after completing their studies at Tartu Healthcare College, the sisters embarked on a journey in high-endurance sports. They swiftly immersed themselves in rigorous training, attending camps and dedicating their time to excelling in their chosen disciplines.
This period of intense sports engagement began immediately after college, during a gap year to solely focus on sports.
Following their participation in the Rio Olympics in 2016, they initially aspired to qualify for the subsequent Olympics. Unfortunately, due to health setbacks, they failed to meet the stringent standards and their financial support vanished.
Without adequate funding, pursuing top-level sports became an insurmountable challenge. Luckily, Leila stumbled upon a job advertisement for Icosagen’s construction lab. A few months later, Lily also joined through connections.
Lily believes that they have always had a knack for quick learning, and their ability to multitask proves advantageous in the laboratory.
“It helps us get the work done swiftly but well,” Lily chuckles.
According to the sisters, their time as top athletes not only trained their bodies but also honed their minds. It enhanced their tolerance for stress and routines, which not only proves valuable in life but also in their work.
A strong physique and regular exercise provide respite to their spirits, keeping their minds alert.
“In any case, we encourage others to engage in physical activity and unwind after work. Your body will thank you,” Leila asserts.
“I like working at Icosagen because the analytics team is amazing. I have a great time coming to work and I don’t feel exhausted when I return home in the evening. What I appreciate the most is that work isn’t stressful, and I don’t have to bring work home,” Lily grins.
Leila adds, “It’s fantastic that the training here is good. One major advantage is the opportunity for professional growth within the company, whether it’s moving up the career ladder or transitioning to different lab roles. It’s truly awesome.”
Written by Lisett Liblekas
Interviewed by Karl Mumm
Photos: Robert Kask, Reuters/Scanpix, personal gallery
© 2024 Icosagen
