Meet the MIBI Team: Sean Pawlowski, Customer Success
First up is Sean Pawlowski, Director of Customer Success. He’s all about keeping customers happy and helping them achieve their scientific goals. Sean earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wheeling University and his PhD in chemistry and biochemistry from Duquesne University.
Q: What do you do at Ionpath?
A: I prioritize the work that we do in order to maximize our customers’ output with whatever MIBI product they use, whether it’s our MIBIplus service or the MIBIscope instrumentation. That involves collaborating with them to figure out how to best do their projects, application support, field service, and other tangential things that would affect their science. I also manage the team that handles preventive maintenance for our instruments.
This collection of abstracts demonstrates the value of combining Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI) with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) by simultaneously extracting untargeted molecular composition and targeted single-cell phenotypes from the same sample, enabling comprehensive tissue analysis through multimodal imaging. This integration offers high-resolution insights into tumor microenvironments, revealing detailed immune-tumor interactions, identifying biomarkers, and facilitating personalized medicine. It also enhances the understanding of disease mechanisms, accelerates drug development, and optimizes combination therapies, ultimately leading to more effective and tailored treatment strategies.
Q: How did you get into the spatial biology field?
A: My background is in analytical chemistry, with a specific focus in applications in biology. My PhD was in small molecule spectroscopy of different types of biological components, and from there I went to work for a mass spectrometry company. That is what led me to Ionpath, since MIBI is a mass spec imaging tool. With my background I have a very good working concept of not just the spatial proteomics application but also the hardware itself, so I’m able to troubleshoot issues and help the engineers figure out where to go next for the technology.
Q: What made you want to join Ionpath?
A: I was first drawn by Ionpath’s ability to look at these highly multiplex panels in a single, sub-10-minute run. What they’ve done to push the field of mass spec imaging forward really grabbed my interest. Then, once I started interviewing, I was impressed by the truly collaborative work environment here.
Q: What’s one thing people should know about MIBI technology?
A: That it gives researchers the ultimate flexibility for their samples. They can do highly multiplex panels and they can reimage the tissue multiple times because the instrument doesn’t destroy the sample. It’s also very fast, possibly the fastest mass spec imaging technique out there.
Q: If you could use spatial proteomics to answer any scientific question, what would it be?
A: I would like to see MIBI used to examine the physiological changes of long Covid in brain tissue. We know that brain fog and cognitive decline are linked to long Covid, and it would be really interesting to see the morphology changes that may underlie that.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do when you travel?
A: I love to find out about the interesting things that the locals like about their area. When I visit customer labs, it’s always fun to say, ‘Hey, what do you like about this place that I wouldn’t know as a tourist?’
Q: What’s your favorite kind of food?
A: I truly enjoy various types of Thai food, from curries to noodle dishes. I grew up in Pittsburgh at a time when other food from nationalities was not very prevalent. American Chinese food and Italian food were the most non-traditional you could get. I came across a Thai restaurant in college and fell in love with pad see ew. It was incredible!
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A: Superspeed. It would interesting to be able to get places immediately, and super speed wouldn’t be as obvious as flying.