Rachele DIni

How did you come to ChemService?

My path started by studying in Milan, both in the three-year and master's degree programmes. The job opportunity came at the end of my studies, which took place 14 years ago, through an internship. One of the main reasons why this job opportunity arose was my graduation thesis, written with Professor Galassi (very famous in her field).

You have been here for quite some time now, how are you getting on with the job?

I have been here since May 2010. My career started here, and I have never changed jobs. Of course, I have changed jobs, but my work has remained basically the same. However, I can say that boredom is never present, on the contrary. There is always a lot of studying to be done, and this means a constant change in approaches to work.

I imagine you are fond of laboratory work, could you elaborate?

Certainly. I like the lab very much, and I love life talk. I am extremely interested in the world of entomology, and in fact I am also involved in studies on non-target arthropods (NTAs) including ladybirds for example. Maybe it's just me, but I love spiders so much that I got a tattoo of one (laughs).

I get on well with my colleagues, so much so that a good working environment has been created, with a lot of harmony, so if there are any problems at work, I prefer to resolve them immediately. 

Has your career path been marked by anyone in particular?

Yes, I personally had a mentor, whom I still consider to be such. I am talking about the figure of Chiara, who was fundamental for me during my initial training period. For me she will always remain my mentor. Today, my boss is Erica, with whom there has always been a wonderful relationship; she is someone I greatly respect. Last but not least is Desirèe, my historical desk 'companion' and support in the most difficult moments.

How do you balance work and personal life?

It is difficult, but with the help of my parents, we manage to organise our day as best we can. My husband works far away and leaves very early in the morning and comes back very late at night. It is an effort you make for your children.

How do you manage your typical day at work?

I manage the terrestrial ecotoxicology part and the studies that are done. While I take care of the coordination and project management part, my colleagues take care of the practical part and the management of the experiments. In this respect, I really enjoy teaching what I know to young people, because I think that a person's knowledge and experience should not be hidden, but shared. For the projects I handle, I manage 2 to 4 people, it depends a lot on the type of study we are conducting. Other times I do smart work, but the workload is still high.

How do you handle work disagreements?

You have to handle the divergence by talking immediately and trying to find common ground. The worst thing for me is to keep everything inside and work with negative feelings towards your colleagues. In short, I see dialogue as the best solution in cases of conflict of interest.

How do you see the move to what will be the new premises in Origgio?

On my side extremely positively. In addition to the fact that it will definitely be less of a journey for me (laughs), the workshop at the new location in Origgio will have new, much more modern and efficient infrastructure, which is why I am extremely happy to have this new experience.

I can't wait to start working with new tools and organising my studies and work in a better way.

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