Uppsala · Life Science

Hi, I'm
Ragna van Bruggen

I'm finishing my master's in Molecular Biotechnology at Uppsala University in June 2026. Excited to take my next step into the life science industry, where research becomes something real with an impact on people's lives. This is where I share my journey as a newly graduated, curious and optimistic engineer.

Ragna van Bruggen

Curious, social, and figuring it out

I am 23 years old and in my final year of the Master's programme in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering at Uppsala University, graduating in June 2026. The best part of my education has been its breadth. Molecular biology, bioprocessing, protein chemistry, bioinformatics. I genuinely find all of it interesting, which has made choosing a direction both exciting and a little overwhelming.

What has become clear to me is that I want to work in life science. I am drawn to environments where science is applied, where decisions are made under real constraints, and where the end goal is something that actually reaches people. Right now I am writing my thesis at Thermo Fisher Scientific, working on purification of recombinant proteins and investigating a self-cleaving tag system in an R&D setting.

Outside the lab I am most myself when I am being social, baking for friends, doing puzzles, or just spending time with people I care about. I am both creative and analytical, and I have never really seen those two things as opposites.

Honestly, the future feels overwhelming right now. I am finishing my degree, trying to figure out what comes next, and some days it is a lot. But I do not think I am alone in that. Part of why I started this is to reach other young women and juniors in the field who might be feeling the same way.

Bioproduction Protein purification Chromatography ÄKTA / HPLC Fermentation ELISA & Western blot Bioprocessing SDS-PAGE

Right now

Master's thesis at Thermo Fisher Scientific Investigating a self-cleaving tag system and working on recombinant protein purification. My first real taste of industry R&D.
Graduating June 2026 Five years at Uppsala University, almost done. It feels equal parts exciting and terrifying.
Figuring out what comes next Actively looking for roles in life science where I can keep learning and actually contribute to something meaningful.

Thoughts along the way

Honest reflections on student life, working life, and everything in between.

Scary and promising — stepping into working life as a new engineer

I am pretty sure I am not the only one feeling the pressure of finishing a degree and figuring out what comes next. Here are my thoughts on graduating, on not feeling qualified enough, and on why being junior might actually be more of an advantage than it seems.

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What I did not expect about working in industry as a student

An industry thesis placement is not a job, but it is not a course lab either. It sits somewhere in between, and that gap turned out to be where most of the learning happened.

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What I have worked on

Academic projects, lab courses and work experience that have shaped who I am as an engineer.

01

Master's Thesis — Thermo Fisher Scientific

Laboratory-based research on recombinant protein purification and a self-cleaving tag system. Includes experimental design, method development, data analysis and scientific report writing. Conducted under confidentiality agreement.

Protein purification R&D Fermentation Cloning ÄKTA systems
02

Spider Silk Protein Production — TESTA Center at Cytiva (2025)

Independent group project carried out in a team of three, October to December 2025. Expressed and purified spider silk proteins using bioprocessing equipment at TESTA Center. Developed laboratory independence and hands-on experience with upstream and downstream workflows.

Upstream processing Downstream processing Chromatography Collaboration Project planning
03

Antibody Fragment Production — TESTA Center at Cytiva (2025)

Hands-on lab course in bioproduction using AKTA Pure chromatography systems and bench-scale bioreactors. Analytical work including ELISA and Western blot. Developed a solid understanding of downstream processing and laboratory independence.

Upstream processing Downstream processing Chromatography ELISA Western blot
04

Bachelor's Thesis — Bio-Works Technologies AB (2024)

Literature review on self-cleaving tag systems, commissioned by an industry partner. Collaborative work in a team of five.

Literature review Industry collaboration Project planning
05

First Cabin Attendant — Destination Gotland (2023–2025)

Managed on-board bistro operations over three summers, developing skills in logistics, customer service and stress management. Promoted to First Cabin Attendant in my third summer.

Team leadership Customer service Communication Organisation Planning
06

Board Member — SFINX, Uppsala University (2023–2024)

Responsible for the study-social wellbeing of students and improving the quality of the study environment on campus.

Student engagement Planning Organisation Student advocacy

Let's talk

Open to conversations about jobs, life science, or just anyone who wants to reach out and talk.