Adam Kowalczyk (he/him)

About me

I was born/grew up in: I was born and raised in Thornhill, ON, just outside Toronto.

I now live in: Vancouver, BC.

I completed my training/education at: I completed my Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemical Biology from McMaster University and my Master of Science (MSc) in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia.

What I do at work

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.

My career path is

When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future! I decided to apply to university programs related to high school courses I liked – mostly chemistry, biology, etc. When I was in university, I joined the co-op program. This was one of the best decisions I made in school. I was able to get hands-on experience working in the life sciences industry. I also learned so much very quickly from other scientists. It was amazing to see the things I learned in the classroom be applied in a real-world setting. It was also a good feeling to have an impact on science and the world in general. My biggest challenge was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I exposed myself to as many different areas as I could (including non-scientific ones). I learned a lot about what I don’t like in the process!

I am motivated by

I like the fact that the work I do has a real-life impact on the world and has a benefit to society. I also like that I can apply the things I learned in school to my job. It’s also incredible being able to work on the cutting edge of new scientific advances. Things that you read about in news articles – I get to do that! Growing up, I always enjoyed solving puzzles, playing games, and generally was a good problem solver. My job requires a lot of problem solving! I like the fact that my career allows me to excel in these things that I enjoy and that I’m good at.

How I affect peoples’ lives

The work I do is an important step in creating new medicines. In 2020, Acuitas helped create the COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines were distributed to billions of people worldwide and saved numerous lives. I also get to work on projects involving exciting new ways of tackling disease. These are things that could change the future of medicine!

Outside of work I

I like snowboarding, cooking, and playing video games and board games. I also enjoy relaxing at home with my two cats Cooper and Giles.

My advice to others

Try to expose yourself to as many things as you can that you’ve never done before! Even if you think you might not like it, just try it. At least then you’ll know it’s not for you. I hated studying analytical chemistry in the classroom. But I learned that I really like doing it in the real world. Now it’s what I do every day as part of my job!