Kody is a PhD candidate in Immunology studying the immune response to respiratory viral infections in the lab of Dr. Steven Varga. He graduated with a B.S. in Genetics from Iowa State University in 2012 where he studied model systems of HIV under Dr. Susan Carpenter. After serving in the US Navy and later working as a manager in vaccine research and development, Kody joined the University of Iowa's Immunology PhD program out of a desire to direct high level research. His main research interest is to understand how mutations in viral proteins induce inflammation and cause severe disease. Outside of lab, he spends his time outside going on adventures with his wife and two Siberian huskies, playing the guitar, and building vintage motorcycles.