Two Alumni Put Their Biotechnology Degrees to Use in the Midwest

Last year, Mount Marty graduated its first class of biotechnology management students. Now, these students are impacting the biotechnology industry, an area of employment made a national importance after the COVID-19 pandemic. Aaron Koupal '20 '24 and Mitchell Lonneman '20 '24 both work in the biotech industry but in different capacities, and they love what they get to do. Koupal and Lonneman received their bachelor's degrees from Mount Marty and created a lasting friendship, but their connected journeys didn't stop there. 

After graduating with his pre-professional studies degree, Koupal started at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Koupal realized medical school wasn't quite his calling and decided to leave and take some time to work on a local farm while searching for new opportunities. Meeting his wife, Noel, brought Koupal to Iowa City in 2023, where he ranched cattle and supported Noel through her medical school journey. Around this time, Lonneman mentioned the new biotechnology program at Mount Marty to Koupal, and they both joined the first cohort of biotechnology students. Koupal said, "This strong scientific foundation [of the pre-professional studies program] prepared me well for my master's in biotechnology, where I could build on those fundamentals and dive deeper into specialized areas. … I've always been interested in the idea of using science to tackle pressing real-world problems. Biotechnology sits right at the intersection of theory and application, and it's exciting to see how quickly breakthroughs can impact health care, agriculture and environmental solutions. There are also countless niches within biotech, which means you can continually discover and pursue new interests as the field evolves." After attaining his master's, Koupal began work at Integrated DNA Technologies in Iowa, a leading supplier of custom nucleic acids for academic research, clinical diagnostics and pharmaceutical development, as a quality control technician. "My role centers on testing and releasing products for consumer use, as well as evaluating intermediate manufacturing samples. Each day involves performing a variety of tests, managing sample workflows for different quality control departments, and ensuring accuracy and efficiency in every step. The work is challenging yet rewarding, as it demands both technical expertise and creative problem-solving."

Lonneman graduated with a pre-professional studies degree and minors in chemistry and biology. After graduation, he worked at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a patient care technician in outpatient surgery. Lonneman heard about Mount Marty's biotechnology program and decided to apply as he knew he wanted to work in health care and found the pharmaceutical area appealing. "The biotech program is a good way to establish relationships with biotech professionals, and it also opened my eyes to a whole new world in health care that I had not yet explored." In the second semester of his master's program, Lonneman interned with a small biotech start-up called Inanovate in Sioux Falls. Here, he assisted with the manufacturing process and the creation of new standard operating procedures and other regulatory documents. After receiving his master's, Lonneman started working as a lead clinical research coordinator at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. He recently accepted a new position with Sanford Health as a clinical research project manager. Lonneman said, "I will be working with physicians daily to determine what new studies we want to start here at Sanford, along with managing the ones that are currently in place." Lonneman said that in this new position, he will manage Sioux Falls's entire cardiology research portfolio and other smaller portfolios across Sanford's entire enterprise. "What I love most about the job is working with various pharmaceutical companies and making sure proper and effective communication is happening to allow these trials to run as smoothly as possible." 

Koupal and Lonneman appreciate the growth opportunities and faculty they have encountered on their journeys through Mount Marty. Koupal was especially grateful for the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) program as it "allowed me to apply my classroom knowledge in real-world research settings and network with peers and mentors in STEM fields." He was influenced by many professors here, including Kathleen Gibson, Ph.D., Chun Wu, Ph.D., Tim Rice, Ph.D., and, in his master's program, Mark Brown, Ph.D. Koupal said, "All of them truly care about their students' success, and they have been supportive well past my graduation, offering guidance and encouragement at every step." Koupal mentioned that even after graduating from the master's program and transitioning into the workforce, the biotech faculty "continued to treat me as a colleague rather than just a former student. Their open-door approach and willingness to share industry insights and connections were key in helping me secure my current position." Lonneman concurred as he credits Brown with helping him find his current position with Sanford. "I feel very fortunate not to have to relocate for a job in the biotech industry," said Lonneman. "I know Sioux Falls does not have a very large biotech presence, but it is growing at a rapid rate. So being able to stay close to home is, and will continue to be, a large priority for me." 

Mark Brown, Ph.D., executive director and professor of biotechnology, said, "Aaron and Mitchell are on a path to becoming executives in the pharmaceutical industry. Given the booming job market for early career biotech leaders throughout the U.S., I was thrilled that Aaron and Mitchell chose to stay in the Midwest!"

Koupal's advice to anyone considering entering the biotechnology program is to explore all the different areas of biotech. "It is one of the most vast industries in the world, and it will only continue to grow.  I also recommend keeping up to date on new technologies and advancements in the field. One of my favorite parts of being in biotech is the constant push for innovation. Staying up to date on new ideas and learning how to think outside of the box and present your ideas confidently will make you stand out." Lonneman recommends biotech majors get their foot in the door and start networking as soon as possible "because you do not know where the next opportunity might come from."

###

About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.