At only 28 years old, Katharina Steger is the head biomedical analyst at Patholab Salzburg. The woman from Tennengau looks back on a diverse educational background.
Katharina Steger comes from the community of Kuchl. She attended the agricultural college and started an apprenticeship as a pharmaceutical technical assistant in a pharmacy in Salzburg. After completing her apprenticeship, however, she wanted to know even more about working in a laboratory and expand her career options. Her goal: to study biomedical analytics at the FH Salzburg.
With an apprenticeship to a degree
Katharina Steger managed to get one of the coveted 15 places for beginners in the bachelor's programme in biomedical analytics right away. With her professional qualification, she was able to start her studies after taking an additional exam.
Insight into different areas
Katharina Steger has never regretted her decision to study. During her training at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, she became acquainted with a wide variety of topics and specialist areas and was able to work in different departments through the internships. Thus, through several professional internships during the three-year training, students get to know the areas of clinical chemistry, haematology, immunohaematology, haemostaseology, histology, cytology or microbiology.
Katharina Steger describes this aspect - gaining insight into different specialties and fields - as added value in the study programme. She also encourages future students to get involved with new things, to keep an open mind and to try things out.
Job entry in the laboratory
Katharina Steger's special interest was already in the processing and analysis of tissue samples during her studies. This exciting activity is also her daily task now in her professional life. She has been working at the "Patholab Salzburg" for almost four years and now also heads the team of 12 biomedical analysts. The "BMAs", as they are often called, are mainly responsible for processing the samples. "In pathology, we work together with clinics and specialists. By analysing tissue samples, we help to detect and prevent diseases at an early stage or monitor the course of therapy," explains Katharina Steger. In addition to the manual work in the laboratory, the 28-year-old laboratory manager is also responsible for personnel agendas, duty and holiday schedules and application processes.