The Member Spotlight is an ongoing Q&A series focused on getting to know the CASSS community. Today’s spotlight shines on Kristin Schultz-Kuszak, Associate Director at AstraZeneca.
Kristin became a CASSS Associate Director in 2020. Kristin has attended, volunteered, and presented in many CASSS meetings throughout the years, including CE Pharm, CMC Strategy Forum North America, DC Discussion Group, and WCBP. Most recently at CE Pharm Symposium 2023, Kristin was Co-Chair of the Symposium, presented "We All Have Baggage: A Deep Dive into the Characterization of a Complex cIEF Electropherogram from an Antibody-drug Conjugate using a Novel Integrated icIEF-UV/MS System" in Session I: CE-MS and Product Characterization, and was a Session Chair for Session II: Gene Therapies and New Modalities Part I.
Q. What was your motivation to volunteer with CASSS?
One of my former bosses recommended that I attend CE Pharm in 2017. That conference opened my eyes and I have been hooked on all things CASSS since then!
Q. What do you do to relax? Do you have any hobbies?
My hobbies involve sewing, riding horses, playing Nintendo video games, and watching Disney movies with my kids. I also enjoy teaching myself how to cook.
Q. What's your favorite type of food or special dish you cook? Why?
I love Italian food and I luckily married into a family with a Sicilian grandma!
I enjoy teaching myself how to cook through various cookbooks and food network shows. My specialty dishes include fettucine alfredo, pork chops, chicken and broccoli, and lots of desserts. My favorite things to cook are the desserts because it lets my loved ones with food allergies be able to partake in the decadence of life!
Q. What is your favorite movie, tv show, music, or book?
I love everything Disney! My favorite movies include Bed knobs and Broomsticks, Beauty and the Beast, and Lilo and Stitch. I do also enjoy Shawshank Redemption, Life is Beautiful, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
My favorite TV shows include Rings of Power, The Chef Show, and the Mandalorian.
Q. What famous person (dead or alive) would you choose to have dinner with? Why?
I would like to have dinner with "Weird Al" Yankovic. I have been a fan of his music since I was a little kid. I remember laughing hysterically in the backseat of the minivan listening to "Lasagna" for the first time. It would be interesting to geek out with him to understand his creative genius more.
Q. What’s your favorite travel experience?
I toured Italy with my mother and it was amazing. I have never eaten so much glorious food in all my life (I learned that eggs do go well on pizza). The sites were amazing and I made so many great memories with my mom. One of them involves a tomato salad in Rome (BTW if you order a tomato salad, be ready just to get a bowl of tomatoes).
Q. What would people be surprised to know about you?
I almost was a Spanish teacher. My tongue tie killed that dream because I am incapable of rolling my "r"s. Luckily I discovered Chemistry shortly thereafter.
Q. How did you get inspired to go into science/biotech/pharma industry?
Both of my grandfathers passed away from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (I actually never met one of my grandfathers). Kids should be able to grow up with their grandparents so I strive to be able to help everyone live longer to enjoy precious time with his or her family.
Q. If you did anything other than your current occupation, what would it be?
I would spend a lot of money on a horse and train to be an Olympic Equestrian! My dream is to do a dressage routine to "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga at the Olympics someday.