Award Winner (Distinguished Service Award) 2023: Sebastian B. Teitz, PhD

When I started my career right after university, I was working for a service provider company and that is where I made my entry into virus safety. I very quickly recognized that PDA was one of the most important forums to exchange information on this aspect. Unfortunately, the first six years of my career, I was handcuffed to my desk, but when I made a job change to a supplier company, I immediately suggested that I would become a member and get active in the community. I became a member in 2013 and attended a few events. In 2016, Falk from PDA Europe wrote my boss and me an email asking if we would like to become trainers on virus filtration. From there on I took on more and more. About a year later, I met Josh at a conference in Valencia and we connected very well, so I became even more involved. I took on more training courses was active in the revision of a technical report on virus filtration, became a Bio AB member in 2020, and have been on a few conference committees in Europe and the U.S. It was always great for me to have this externally facing role not only for me, but also to give my company visibility. It was always really great fun, too.

I am so happy to receive this award and thankful for the recognition.