Kyle Marlin hits the right note with IDT customers & musician friends .

As a Senior Customer Care Advocate at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), Kyle Marlin understands the importance of precise arrangements. After all, the unique sequencing of an oligo is instrumental to the success of researchers, who know that one variation could potentially throw off the everything.

“The aspect of my job I love the most is the team I work with,” said Marlin, a native of Keokuk, Iowa. “Every day I get to work with people who have become good friends. I’m guaranteed to laugh quite a bit, too, and I love the teamwork and collaboration we have.”

Teamwork and collaboration have been just as important with his favorite pastime away from IDT: playing the trumpet. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Northern Iowa, Marlin played in the Panther Marching Band, the UNI Pep band and two jazz bands.

“I think is one of the most incredible qualities of the instrument is its ability to be heroic and bright for fanfares and other musical motifs, but, when in the right hands, can also be one of the most mellow and warm instrument sounds,” he said. “This allows for an incredible range of emotion and musicality. I find that I really enjoy the instrument most when listening to a great jazz soloist or hearing a great lead trumpet player.”

During his time at IDT, Marlin has come to the realization that there is a parallel between his work and his music.

“Both music and life sciences work with a similar form of building blocks to make a unique ‘whole’,” he explained. “All DNA uses the same four bases and all music uses the same twelve notes, but in both fields these limited parts have made infinite variations. Considering that DNA is the universal building block of all life, it is fun to consider music in comparison as a universal language for that life.”

At work, Marlin is part of a customer service team that receives the industry’s highest ratings. In music, he cherishes being part of a team, as well. He recently had the opportunity to record a big band album with the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra. 

“Paul has been a good friend since college,” Marlin said. “Making music is wonderful (but) being able to make it with good friends is just a crazy, wonderful, moving experience. One of the best things about (playing the trumpet) is being able to express emotion, both my own and that of the composer. Knowing Paul made the project more personal for me. It’s one of my favorite things that I have ever done.”

At home, he likes to listen to recordings and try to work out the trumpet parts.

“I have come to really respect many musicians because what we hear from them is incredibly wonderful and also incredibly difficult at times,” Marlin said. “Playing trumpet is also a never-ending work in progress. There is always more to learn, more to listen to, more to play.”