Dmitry Karlov
By Dmitry Karlov, KTP Associate
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) offers you the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real world challenges. KTPs are a three-way partnership between an organisation, a university and a graduate or postgraduate (known as a KTP Associate).
Projects are varied, spanning all academic disciplines and organisations of any size and in any industry or sector. Read on to hear Dmitry’s experience.
Please tell us a bit about you
I am a computational chemist with more than 10 years’ experience in academia and industry with focus on organic and medicinal chemistry. I applied machine learning tool to chemical problems together practical design of chemical compounds with predefined properties with potential to neuropharmacology and agriculture.
I am bit of a history buff and nature lover so the best way to spend holiday is to go to picturesque place, have a lovely walk, and enjoy a conversation with local people.
Why did you choose to become a KTP Associate?
Given a strong background in academia I wanted to explore industry from the inside. Most companies – unless it is a very junior position – require industrial experience. And it is totally understandable as many experienced academics can be very independent and not used to being part of a team.
The KTP programme provides entry into industrial experience with smooth transition from academia to an industrial setting.
Tell us a bit about the company and your role
Colorifix is a biotech company developing technology to dye fabrics using microbially produced dyes and pigments.
Microorganisms are genetically modified and grown in bioreactors to produce a culture liquid containing colourants that can be used directly in the dyeing process. The thing is, natural colourants are usually produced by living organisms to help them survive. So many natural colourants are quite toxic as they help to protect against predators, or they are not stable because their function doesn’t require stability.
Developing a biosynthetic path to one of these colourants is very costly so the company wanted to know if the colourant of interest is suitable for industrial use before starting the project.
My role was to develop a computational tool to assess colour, toxicity, dyeing affinity, and photostability of prospective colourants.
What has been the most memorable part of your KTP experience?
Ashorne Hill’s Corporate Management training and the KTP conferences were the most memorable events. I had never had any formal management training, so all the team building exercises were very relevant.
How has the KTP experience benefitted you?
In addition to sharpening my technical skills, I also had the opportunity to develop my soft skills, and I gave my best effort in this area. I have nearly completed the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, having passed five out of six assignments.
I learned a lot about life in the company through helpful presentations from different departments – for example, the finance team shared valuable information about pensions and fundraising. And last but not the least, I met a lot of interesting people.
How did you find the application process?
It does not differ too much from the applications to postdoc positions. For a final interview stage I had to travel to Cambridge to meet the team in person which took some time, but it was also a good opportunity to explore this city.
Would you recommend becoming a KTP Associate? if so, why?
Absolutely! It’s a great boost for my career, offering many learning opportunities and real-world, important tasks that are waiting to be solved.
Want to apply your knowledge and create a transformative impact in a real-world project? Launch your career with the Knowledge Transfer Partnership.
Posted on Tuesday 2nd December 2025