Voice of the Groundworker: Tamar Tenenvurzel and Mihal Blaschkauer

Tamar Tenenvurzel , R&D Operation Manager

“You can’t ask more from a workplace than to be tasked with saving the world!”

Tamar is responsible for managing the operations of Groundwork BioAg’s laboratory, background research and field trials.?

Q: Your role seems so interesting - what inspires you about what you do?

A: Everything I do is interesting because I get to touch every part of the process, from the initial experiment plans to the execution, to the results. It is magical to discover that your hypotheses are proven correct. I also love seeing the results as we continuously improve new formulas - there is nothing like being face-to-face with success.

Q: Talk to me about the R&D team.

A: Our team is wonderfully diverse and impressive. Each member is amazing in her field and brings her own unique background and skills. We all learn from each other.?Our backgrounds are very international and we all bring a range of expertise to the table. Our team is comprised almost entirely of women, so we also have that extra layer of connection.??

Q. That’s interesting! How do you feel as a “woman in science?”?Is the “woman in science” cliché a noteworthy aspect of your regular reality?

A: I’m really a “human in science.” But I did choose biology specifically, and it’s true that most of the people I encountered in academia were women, but the private sector is mostly men. At the end of the day though, we are dealing with data and the numbers don’t care who you are.?

Q: What brought you to Groundwork BioAg??

A: When I started looking for work after my master’s degree, I knew I wanted to be part of a company that is making a positive impact. I sent my CV out to dozens of companies and when I arrived at Groundwork BioAg, I saw that it had everything I care about: agriculture, biology, and?a mission to work for the benefit of the environment. You can’t ask more from a workplace than to be tasked with saving the world!

Mihal Blaschkauer , R&D Associate??

Girl power is alive and well here and it’s great!

Mihal's responsibilities include a range of R&D responsibilities, including biochemical analysis and carbon sequestration.

Q. You wear many professional hats – tell me about your multi-faceted role.

A. I’m an R&D Associate. My work aligns almost perfectly with what I learned in my Biotechnology, Desert Agriculture and Environmental Sciences degrees. I did my doctorate on the physiology of wheat. My role is broad and general because I do many things - analyses, biochemical and molecular work, experiment building, plant physiology, carbon sequestration. I do whatever is needed.??

Q. What brought you to Groundwork BioAg?

A. I sent my cv to many companies, but when Groundwork BioAg explained to me what they were doing, I understood that this was everything I had studied and where I want to dedicate my career. My thesis was about finding microorganisms that will aid commercial agriculture. At the time, my professors told me that my research claims were too grandiose and I should tone them down in my thesis. This really bothered me; I’m thorough and morally grounded, and I believe I should be trusted as a professional to carry out quality research regardless of whether or not my claims were “realistic.” Ironically, the research I was discouraged from focusing on as a student is exactly what I’m doing at Groundwork.?

Q. What are your thoughts as a woman in a male-dominated field, on an all-female team?

A. Well, when I joined, R&D wasn’t an all-female team. But after a few months, the men left and more women joined. I found a unique kinship with my fellow scientists and researchers. Our collaboration gives us a feeling that we can ‘make the impossible’ happen. Our team has a definite vibe of “we can do anything.” Girl power is alive and well here, and it’s great!

Q. What inspires you about working at Groundwork BioAg?

A. Working on projects like those occurring at Groundwork BioAg is exactly what I wanted to do since starting my studies. These days, my team at Groundwork inspires me and I feel I’m fulfilling a dream. I enjoy a lot of support to think outside the box. In particular, I can approach our CTO Danny Levy , suggest exploring a topic further, and he’ll trust me and go with me in any direction.?In particular, I really believe in the potential of our carbon project. It truly excites me. We’re tackling it from all directions - registries, farmers, data - there is still a lot of work but there’s already substantial progress and the potential is huge.