Meet Sofia Nguyen, a microbiologist based in PRO-TECH’s Santa Fe Springs, CA office. Sofia plays a pivotal role in expanding our in-house capabilities and driving excellence in microbiological testing and sterilization validation.
A Global Journey to Science
Sofia’s path to PRO-TECH spans continents. She grew up in Vietnam before moving to the U.S. at age 15, first settling in Iowa and later Massachusetts. After earning her BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, she moved to Orange County, got married, and quickly dove into the world of microbiological testing.
Her professional journey began at NAMSA in Irvine, where she specialized in bioburden testing. It was there that she first encountered PRO-TECH—testing a few of our products as part of her role. When she later came across a job posting for PRO-TECH on LinkedIn, the name felt familiar. Four years later, Sofia is now a cornerstone of the company’s test lab.
A Role That’s Evolved
Sofia’s role at the company is anything but static. She performs bioburden and LAL testing for both validation and routine production—designing test specifications, running tests, and compiling reports from start to finish. But her impact doesn’t stop there.
Unlike her previous role at NAMSA, which focused exclusively on bioburden, Sofia has broadened her skill set to include steam, EO and gamma sterilization validations. “Here at PRO-TECH, I get to see the entire process,” she says. “I understand how what I do ties into bigger outcomes—and that’s incredibly motivating.”
One standout moment? Supporting a client to successfully launch a life-changing medical device. Her rapid turnaround on an LAL test ensured that the product met its impending launch deadline. The result of her efforts supported the overall launch and confirmed that the device met all testing requirements before launch. The customer was so pleased that he sent a photo of a successful surgery using that device to show his gratitude and to reinforce that her timely, thorough work helped make that surgery possible.
Growing with PRO-TECH
Sofia’s learning curve hasn’t slowed down—and she doesn’t want it to. She’s currently diving deeper into sterilization validation and hopes to become a subject matter expert in EO, gamma, and steam processes. She also has her sights set on expanding the lab’s offerings to include additional testing.
“The growth at PRO-TECH has been incredible,” she says. “Between our expansion in Texas and the acquisition in Minnesota, it feels like there’s always something new happening—and I get to grow with the company.”
A Love for Nature and New Horizons
When she’s not in the lab, you’ll likely find Sofia planning her next adventure. She’s passionate about travel, especially visiting national parks. She has seen Acadia, Yellowstone (her favorite), Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Bryce, Zion, and more. Next up: the Canadian Rockies—with Banff, Jasper, and Yoho on the itinerary. And at the top of her bucket list? Alaska.
Focused, Curious, and Detail-Oriented
What makes Sofia great at her job? “Focus and detail are everything,” she says. “When you’re running tests, you can’t afford to get distracted or skip steps. Everything has to be precise.” Her innate curiosity keeps her engaged—she’s always asking how the results she generates impact the broader product lifecycle.
We’re so proud to have Sofia on the PRO-TECH team. Her dedication to scientific excellence, continuous learning, and the greater mission of improving patient outcomes embodies everything we value.