Employee Spotlight: Nichole Taymon

At Streamline Scientific, we believe that organizations aren’t successful by the greatness of their product, but by the greatness of their people. We bring on team members that excel in their respective fields, of course, but in learning their stories, we’ve found that there are often significant reasons for why they’ve become so good at what they do.

In our Employee Highlights Series, we hope to showcase great employees that are fueling their passion and making a difference.

Nichole Taymon - Molecular Application Specialist

Nichole works in the consulting division of Streamline Scientific, where she helps medical practices who are navigating the implementation of PCR testing technology via an in-house Physician Office Lab (POL). Her work begins by identifying which personnel needs to be involved for a successful implementation—which typically includes the lab technician, their supervisor, and a laboratory director.

“My favorite part of the job is the ability to merge my love of science with my passion for customer care.”

She performs a gap analysis to determine what upskilling or training is needed to accelerate the PCR adoption process so that the client may provide diagnostic results to their patients. This process often starts with the new laboratory and will continue with support throughout development.

A Day in the Life of a Molecular Application Specialist

Nichole generally starts her day with a morning team huddle, where she collaborates with her team about her clients’ challenges, obstacles, and progress on their journey to become an accredited POL. This time is valuable for brainstorming, a necessary process to determine the best way to keep progress moving forward at an efficient pace.

She then spends the day connecting with lab techs, supervisors, and other relevant personnel to walk them through proper laboratory technique training, assay implementation, and regulatory requirements. Nichole typically works with three or less clients at a time to ensure they receive in-depth, personalized help throughout the entire process.

How Nichole Became a Part of Streamline Scientific

Nichole’s journey in the world of molecular diagnostics began when she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Jacksonville State University. During the early months of 2020, she joined the company as a laboratory technician and was quickly promoted to a lead.

Processing samples during the peak of the pandemic left a significant mark on her career direction. She always loved science, but she was now driven to be a part of something that could make a bigger difference in the current crisis. So, she was promoted to a Molecular Application Specialist, where she spends her days making patient testing more accessible.

“One thing I consistently stress to our clients is the importance of their work and how diagnostics changes patients’ lives.”

Enjoying Her Clients’ Journey

Starting up a PCR laboratory can feel daunting in the beginning, as it often involves the acquisition of lots of new knowledge. Some of this is technical, like learning proper laboratory techniques and equipment operation. However, there are also broader elements clients learn along the way, such as understanding how new workflows and processes will impact the rest of the practice.

While this can prove to be overwhelming for clients, Nichole notes that breaking down the process into categories and tackling them one at a time allows it to be achieved in a stress-free manor. “I enjoy watching my clients’ knowledge base grow along with their confidence in what they do,” she said.

To do that successfully, it takes a good listening ear. “I let customers tell me what they know and what their confidence level is,” Nichole said. “Then I use this information to cater a training plan to that meets the client's needs and desired pace.” Increased confidence and knowledge will often lead to expanded roles for her clients.

Outside the Office

When she’s not making a difference in the world of molecular diagnostics, Nichole is an outdoors enthusiast—you’ll often find her hiking, kayaking, or rafting. She’s an animal lover and enjoys spending time with her three dogs: Snoop, Yeti, and Ollie.

Making Molecular Diagnostics a Reality

It’s rare to find someone who can skillfully co-navigate the worlds of people-focused training and the highly technical elements inherent to diagnostics. Without a finely attuned listening ear to really understand where someone is at in their journey, it’s difficult to communicate what matters most in the moment. It’s people like Nichole that make the work we do possible.