Maria Velez
About Maria Velez
Maria Velez serves as the Associate Director of Microbiology at Kite Pharma in Frederick, Maryland, a position she has held since 2019. She has extensive experience in the field, having previously worked at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Kashiv BioSciences LLC, among other roles.
Work at Kite Pharma
Maria Velez has served as the Associate Director of Microbiology at Kite Pharma since 2019. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing microbiological practices and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Kite Pharma, located in Frederick, Maryland, focuses on developing innovative cancer therapies. Velez's expertise in microbiology contributes to the company's commitment to quality and safety in its product development processes.
Education and Expertise
Maria Velez earned her Bachelor's degree in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, where she studied from 1996 to 2001. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master's degree in Public Health from Universidad de Puerto Rico, completing her studies from 2004 to 2006. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her work in microbiology and public health.
Professional Background
Maria Velez has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, where she worked as a QC Senior Supervisor from 2001 to 2012. Following her tenure at Pfizer, she held the position of QC Senior Supervisor at Janssen-Cilag Polska Sp. z o.o. from 2012 to 2015. Velez then served as the Microbiology & EM Director at Kashiv BioSciences LLC in Chicago, Illinois, from 2015 to 2019, before joining Kite Pharma.
Career Progression
Maria Velez's career reflects a steady progression in the field of microbiology within the pharmaceutical sector. After starting at Pfizer, she gained valuable experience in quality control, which she applied in her subsequent roles. Her leadership positions at Janssen-Cilag and Kashiv BioSciences further developed her expertise, culminating in her current role at Kite Pharma, where she continues to influence microbiological standards and practices.