Alumni Spotlight on Kevin Kania, M.S. '21
Kevin Kania, M.S. '21, Used His Passion for Biology to Play a Pivotal Role in Pfizer's Efficacy Testing for Their COVID-19 Vaccine During the Pandemic
Kevin Kania, M.S. '21, played a pivotal role with Pfizer Inc., in testing the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine -- the first to be approved in the United States. Mr. Kania has had a lifelong interest in biology and built upon it, earning a Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences at New York Medical College (NYMC), all while conducting research as part of the development of the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
Q&A
Briefly describe your current role:
I am a senior associate scientist for the sample management group at Pfizer Inc. Our group is primarily responsible for maintaining custody of samples from diverse clinical programs, such as COVID-19, RSV, GBS, C-difficile and many more, as well as distributing them to clinical laboratories for testing.
Who or what inspired you to pursue your field?
I have had a passion for science and biology since high school. I always want to figure out how things work in life. I had a lot of great high school teachers and college professors who inspired me greatly to achieve my goals.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
My team’s central role in testing the efficacy for our COVID-19 vaccine is my top accomplishment. A close second would be my contribution to the Prevenar 13 vaccine against pneumococcal bacteria.
What made you choose NYMC?
My two top factors were NYMC's curriculum and its convenient location.
What is your fondest memory of NYMC?
There were a lot of great classes that I took at NYMC. I loved all of the discussion-based classes and getting a chance to listen to a diverse number of perspectives regarding various scientific topics.
Based on your experiences, what advice would you give to future students and/or future alumni of NYMC?
I would advise them to try to interact with as many professors as they can. They offer so much wisdom and knowledge which has benefited me greatly. Always ask questions in class. Be very excited about the journey you are taking to accomplish whatever goal you are trying to achieve.
When you're not working, where are you most likely to be found/what are you most likely to be doing?
I enjoy spending quality time at home with my wife and my 11-month-old son. When I am not working or studying, you can also find me watching movies and sports.
