BioTalent Canada is pleased to announce the three finalists for the 2017 MAGNUS Catalyst Award for Top New Hire. The three finalists are:
Michael Domenichiello from PriMed Instruments in Mississauga, Ontario
Alysha Law from eSight in Toronto, Ontario
Venkata (Teja) Nandamuri from RightBlue Labs in Toronto, Ontario.
Since the start of the Career Focus wage subsidy program in 2005, BioTalent Canada has helped over 800 new graduates find a job in the bio-economy. Employer feedback on the contribution of these young workers has been overwhelmingly positive. The MAGNUS Catalyst Award is an effort to recognize these talented young people, hired through wage subsidies.
Michael Domenichiello, Quality Assurance Technician
Michael, a Humber College graduate, works at PriMed Instruments, a developer and manufacturer of medical devices related to flexible endoscopy. Increased inspection requirements from clients as well as industry was putting a strain on PriMed’s time-to-market. Michael’s dedication, professional attitude and willingness to take on new challenges has helped PriMed speed up its inspection capability at least three-fold. As a result, PriMed is expecting to bring their medical devices to market sooner. Moreover, Michael’s initiative in PriMed’s multi-language product documentation, will help the company comply with foreign regulations–opening opportunities for PriMed to expand into new foreign markets previously not available to it.
Alysha Law, Vision Advocate
Alysha, a Western University graduate, works at eSight, the developer of a technology that allows the legally blind to actually see. Alysha was hired to help foster a culture of creativity and innovation dedicated to helping the product-development team incorporate customer feedback into eSight’s prototype electronic glasses. With Alysha’s willingness to tackle major challenges, she recognized that while there is high demand for eSight’s electronic glasses, accessibility and affordability are prevalent barriers. With her positive attitude and action-oriented mindset, Alysha helps fully fund this life-changing technology through external sources such as grants and other creative funding solutions. Alysha has contributed towards designing and implementing what has now become eSight’s Affordability Initiative – in line with eSight’s mission that everyone deserves to see.
Venkata (Teja) Nandamuri, Senior iOS Software Engineer
Teja, a Lambton College graduate, works at RightBlue Labs, a company developing monitoring systems that reduces illness, injury, and burnout among athletes. Challenges and delays with the iOS version of RightBlue Labs’ app were jeopardizing its product launch and expansion into the US market. Teja, with his contagious optimism, inquisitive mind and pride-of-work, increased RightBlue Labs’ development velocity by two-three folds, taking the development status of the iOS app from delayed to ahead of schedule. Through Teja’s knowledge and dedication, he single-handedly created enhancements, initially thought impossible to achieve within the available timeframe, positioning the company for a strong product launch in the US.
BioTalent Canada and award sponsor MAGNUS Personnel congratulate the finalists and salute the employers for hiring outstanding young talent.
“We would like to congratulate these young professionals who are taking initiative and helping their biotech employers achieve success,” says Erik Simins, President and CEO of MAGNUS Personnel.
“We are pleased to once again recognize the future of Canadian biotechnology,” says BioTalent Canada’s President and CEO, Rob Henderson. “It is gratifying to see the industry continues to attract and retain the best and the brightest.”
The finalists were chosen from 21 entries and evaluated by an independent judging committee. The winner of the 2017 MAGNUS Catalyst Award will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and will be announced in April.
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