Members of Rosetta Inpharmatics' Gene Expression Laboratory team in South Lake Union, Washington.

What does the Gene Expression Laboratory team do?

We're responsible for high-throughput gene expression profiling. We're the team that creates large datasets for data mining. We also receive requests to do deviations on experiments, and identify new technologies to support dataset development. We keep our collective finger on the pulse of Merck Research Laboratories to figure out how our services can most effectively impact drug discovery.

What's the driving factor behind this team? What keeps the Gene Expression Laboratory team members motivated and excited to be at work every morning?
We like being involved in the technical aspects of drug discovery. Many of us find a lot of enjoyment in being the first to learn about new technologies, and finding out if we can apply these technologies to meet the company's goals and objectives. The members of our team involved in quality control are motivated by the opportunity to put systems in place that allow data to be generated in a compliant manner. Those of us who work in production are motivated by the end product: the data. We like to make sure that the data is absolutely perfect.

What are some of the extracurricular activities that involve most of the Gene Expression Laboratory team?
We schedule a number of team cook-outs. We also have a few events, such as our pre-Thanksgiving luncheon, and a barbecue when the directors cooked for and served the staff. In addition, some of us are involved in sports, such as softball and golf.

The Gene Expression Laboratory team is based in Rosetta Inpharmatics' South Lake Union production facility. What's so great about South Lake Union?
Once a Native-American settlement, the South Lake Union neighborhood became a vital industrial and commercial region of Seattle. More recently, the area has begun a transformation into a high-tech research, recreational, and residential hub.