Under the Microscope with Praful Aggarwal

At MDG, Real Science matters; it is our foundation. Our teams conduct rigorous, market-informed research and development while innovating new solutions for our partners. Let’s hear from Praful Aggarwal about what it’s like to be an Associate Research Scientist at MDG.

What is your role at Microbial Discovery Group (MDG), and when did you join the team?

I am an Associate Research Scientist for the CORE Innovation team in the R&D department. I joined MDG in January 2024 and have enjoyed my time here since.

What initially drew you to MDG?

I really liked the job posting for my role and the opportunity it presented. When I later interviewed with the Culture Panel, I knew that, if given the opportunity, this was the group of people I wanted to be surrounded by to help grow my career.

What drives and fulfills you about the work you do at MDG?

I am fascinated by the science behind the things we do here at MDG. Having worked in human genetics for over a decade, working with microbial data has required a shift in thinking, but I love the learning opportunity and challenge that presents. This will help me become a more well-rounded computational biologist and understand different aspects and avenues of biology.

What is your favorite part of being on the MDG team?

In my short time here, I have really enjoyed the interactions I have either been a part of or have observed between my colleagues. Most of them are highly focused on our continued and collective growth as a team and as individuals.

What is something at work that you’re passionate about?

I have a certain set of technical skills that we as a group want and need, and I am passionate about continuing to utilize them and help us grow. People here have made it abundantly clear that they want MDG to keep growing, and I believe I can play a part in that. Understanding that will help me continue to learn, which is both fun and empowering.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love to either run, bike, or swim, or just lay around watching Instagram memes (I wait for TikToks to make it to Instagram). However, I am now starting to partake in reading by joining the UAH Book Club, so that’s been a fun new thing that’s helping me expand my horizons.

MDG’s mission is to “Feed, Clean, Save the World”. What does that mean to you?

We have all heard about Mike King’s India trip. I grew up about two miles from that river and crossed it every weekend to either go the temple or visit my grandma. I have seen that way of life—I have felt powerless to be able to do anything about it—and so this mission means to me exactly what it says. I now have an opportunity to utilize my skills to help people lead a life that we all deserve as humans, one with good food, clean water, and a safe environment.

Since working at MDG, which Feed, Clean, Save (FCS) community involvement event was the most impactful to you?

I have been fortunate to have participated in multiple FCS community events, and I must take the easy way out and say they all impacted me equally—differently, but equally. Prepping food at The Gathering, working with Groundwork MKE, participating in our food drive… I have enjoyed it all.

What is a professional goal you’re working on?

I enjoy working with data, but more than that, I love helping others find the meaning and value in the data that they generate. At some point, I will run a team of data scientists who can help people really see the fruits of their labor by showing them all the cool, interesting things that their experiments and projects have generated.

In your opinion, why should others want to work at MDG?

Before seeing the job posting for my role, I had never heard of MDG. Now, six months into my role, I can’t get enough of MDG. If people want to learn, grow, and feel like a part of something that is truly making a difference, they should want to work at MDG.