Laboratory technician Ayan Abdirahman is naturally curious, and that trait led her to choose chemistry as her field of study. Now, as she works full-time at the CH-Polymers R&D center, she enjoys the research aspect even more.
As a chemistry student at the Turku Vocational Institute, Ayan Abdirahman was looking for a place to do her internship. She searched for potential laboratories in the Turku area and came across CH-Polymers. Her application was a success, and she began her career as an intern at CH-Polymers R&D center in Raisio in early 2022.
– Everyone at CH-Polymers was very welcoming and it felt easy to become part of the team. Anytime I’ve needed support, the team has been there to help me, she says.
After finishing her internship, Abdirahman took on a project as a full-time laboratory technician. Her responsibilities include doing chemical syntheses and analysing and testing the results – in other words, testing whether a certain product or formula is ready for commercial production. Abdirahman appreciates the versatility of the job.
– I chose to study chemistry because I find exploring and testing different hypotheses fascinating. Actually working in the field has only increased my interest in chemistry, she says.
– My daily schedule varies a lot, and some days I finish earlier and other days later, depending on the task at hand. We’re a tight-knit team and as colleagues we spend a lot of time with each other. We have good chats during coffee breaks and sometimes we do things outside of work, too.
Cooperation with schools is a win-win situation
Abdirahman’s story is a typical one at CH-Polymers. Although a relatively small company, CH-Polymers has practically doubled its personnel in the last ten years. Cooperation with schools is an important recruiting channel.
The company offers opportunities for internships, theses topics, and apprenticeships and works closely with local schools such as the Turku Vocational Institute that offers a program for laboratory technicians, and the Swedish speaking university, Åbo Akademi, in Turku. The production facility in Kaipiainen gives opportunities to students from the local vocational school Eduko studying the laboratory field.
Each student works under a designated supervisor who introduces them to their colleagues and goes over the job details and safety guidelines. Often, like in Abdirahman’s case, the study-related connection leads to a summer job or a project as a full-time employee.