What I Do I am a research scientist at a national laboratory where I build tools to study the fundamental properties of different materials fabricated using additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) ranging from recyclable plastics to hydrogels for regenerative medicine. I have recently taken on new leadership roles to coalesce all of the additive manufacturing work our laboratory is studying.
Why Engineering? I have always loved tinkering and learning about how the world works, so becoming a scientist was an incredibly natural fit for me. I specifically love the national laboratory I work at (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) because it affords me the opportunity to work on science and engineering challenges that directly affect and help better the lives of the average person.
School Days I went to undergraduate school at the University of San Diego and graduated with a BA in Physics with a Minor in Mathematics. I loved optics and physics so much that I continued on to get my PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder with specialties in optics and material science.
My Day At Work My day is wonderfully varied. One day I could be in the lab conducting experiments and then next is spent analyzing all of the lovely data I collected. Then, the following days I could be in meetings presenting my and/or my laboratory's additive manufacturing work and collaborating with industry partners.
Best Part I am so grateful that my career and NIST, specifically, allows me to work at the junction between academia, industry, and government where I get to serve as an altruistic third-party doing research and developing standards to help bolster and grow a given field. It's a dream.
Proud Moments The proudest moment in my career was when I was the sole awardee of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) for being an Emerging Leader in the United States federal government. I was a tremendous and humbling honor, one that I do not take lightly and continue to work to prove I am worth of such a medal.
Want to be an Engineer? My greatest piece of advice, for everyone, is to truly be KIND to everyone. So much of life is about building connection, and it is no different when it comes to growing into your careers.
Hobbies Outside of the lab, I love to adventure around the mountains: skiing, hiking, and picnicking all the way up with my husband, kids, friends, and family.