Adam Kowalczyk (he/him)

I work in the lab and run experiments to measure properties of medicine. I look at such things as how pure is the medicine? How do we know if it’s been made correctly? Where does it go once it enters our body? What other molecules is it interacting with? These are all questions I help answer.

A large part of my job is coming up with new ways to measure things. Many of these are things that no one has ever done before! I get to use specialized equipment worth millions of dollars to run my experiments. I use scientific principles I learned in school every day in my job. This includes theoretical knowledge about chemistry and biology as well as how to design an experiment and think critically.

Sometimes I have to make tough decisions about my experiments. Sometimes an experiment fails or generates data that doesn’t make sense. This can be frustrating! One of the most important things to do is take a step back and think about what to do next to identify the problem. This is where I get to be creative. The solution often requires thinking outside the box. Sometimes it still doesn’t work – and that’s OK! Sometimes knowing when to give up and focus on something else is also important.

Despite a good chunk of my time requiring me to be on my own to run experiments, I also get to work with a great team. This team includes scientists, engineers, writers, businesspeople, lawyers and more. Together, we share data, engage in scientific discussions, and plan what to do next. Having a team with such different backgrounds and experiences can allow for unexpected new ideas to come forward.