Margaret Kocherga is a Ukrainian immigrant, scientist, entrepreneur, and choreographer whose career has brought together chemistry, nanoscale science, organic electronics, and entrepreneurship. She moved from Ukraine to Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family when she was 15. At the time, she did not speak English. She completed high school a year after arriving while learning the language and then enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College. Her journey eventually took her to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she developed a career in scientific research and technology commercialization.

Before becoming a scientist, Kocherga had been deeply involved in dance. She developed her interest in dance while growing up in Ukraine at her mother's dance studio and later continued dancing after moving to the United States. She had aspirations of becoming a professional ballerina, but an ACL injury affected that path. At Central Piedmont Community College, a chemistry instructor encouraged her to consider science as a career. That experience led her toward chemistry and eventually scientific research at UNC Charlotte.

Kocherga earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from UNC Charlotte and subsequently pursued a doctorate in nanoscale science. During her doctoral studies, she worked in the laboratory of chemistry professor Thomas Schmedake, researching organic and inorganic materials for applications in organic electronics. She completed her Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science in 2021. Her doctoral research provided the scientific foundation for the technology she later sought to commercialize through her company.

While completing her doctoral studies, Kocherga began exploring how scientific research could address challenges in the manufacturing of organic electronics. Through UNC Charlotte's Ventureprise program and the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, she conducted extensive customer discovery to determine whether there was a commercial market for the technology. UNC Charlotte reported that she interviewed more than 100 potential customers and partners as part of this process. The research helped her identify industry needs and refine the direction of her company.

In November 2019, Kocherga founded Light and Charge Solutions LLC. The company focused on developing materials for organic electronics, including materials intended to improve the performance and manufacturing economics of organic light emitting diodes, commonly known as OLEDs. Her work also led her to participate in Chain Reaction Innovations, an entrepreneurship program at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Through the program, she worked on materials intended to support higher efficiency and more cost effective OLEDs.

The company later rebranded as Margik Inc., broadening its focus to organic materials for consumer electronics, lighting, fluorescent markers, and pigments. In 2022, UNC Charlotte reported that Margik had raised $1.1 million in grant funding, including an NSF Small Business Technology Transfer award. The company also developed products based on organic LED technology. Its initial product line included recyclable, organic LED based lighted stickers and business cards.

Kocherga's entrepreneurial work gained wider public attention in 2022 when she appeared on The Unicorn Hunters, an online business program featuring entrepreneurs seeking investment. According to UNC Charlotte, all seven members of the show's investment panel made commitments to invest following her presentation. Her appearance brought additional attention to Margik's work in organic electronics and sustainable lighting technology.

Her work has also received recognition from the academic and entrepreneurship communities. In 2023, UNC Charlotte recognized Kocherga with an inaugural College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Distinguished Leadership Award. The university described her as an early stage entrepreneur, scientist, TEDx speaker, and choreographer, and identified her as the founder and CEO of Light and Charge Solutions and Margik. She has also participated in scientific entrepreneurship programs including Ventureprise and the Chain Reaction Innovations program at Argonne National Laboratory.

Kocherga's connection to both science and dance has remained part of her professional identity. While studying at UNC Charlotte, she taught dance and used her experiences in both fields to discuss creativity, precision, decision making, and perseverance. She has also been involved in science outreach, including hands on chemistry activities for students and families and programs designed to encourage interest in STEM education. Her experience demonstrates that her career has not been limited to laboratory research or entrepreneurship, but has also included education, public engagement, and the arts.

Margaret Kocherga's immigrant journey is closely connected to the development of her scientific and entrepreneurial career. She arrived in the United States from Ukraine at 15 without speaking English, completed high school while learning the language, earned degrees in chemistry and nanoscale science, and moved from academic research into entrepreneurship. Through Margik, she has worked to commercialize organic electronics research and develop applications for lighting and consumer technology. Her documented career reflects the intersection of immigration, scientific education, research commercialization, and entrepreneurship.