Rebecca Kitts

Rebecca Kitts serves as a Team Leader at a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in the Bay Area, where she oversees mid-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing of oligonucleotides, which are short strands of DNA and RNA. Since entering the field in late 2020, she maintains production schedules for clients, manages quality records and team trainings, and collaborates with upper management on research and development projects, including method development for new instrumentation. Kitts attributes her success to her team and the positive energy her coworkers bring during long shifts. Her educational path was non-traditional, beginning with two years as a chemistry pre-med major at the University of Nevada Reno, followed by an associate's degree in natural sciences at a local community college and a bachelor's degree in microbiology with a clinical lab science focus from Chico State. Prior to her current role, she briefly worked at a local hospital and as a wine microbiologist before transitioning to biotech. She advises young women entering the industry that everyone's education path is unique, everyone learns at a different pace, and they should find what works for them while approaching each day as a sponge eager to learn everything. Kitts notes current challenges in the field include layoffs across Bay Area biotech companies and manufacturing moving out of the United States.