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Consejos:  Advice from a Material Scientist-Yenny Cubides

4/30/2021

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1. How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in materials science?
Materials Science came to my professional career more as an opportunity rather than as a decision that I took in the first place. I was in my first year of my master’s program in chemical engineering at The University of Akron when my research advisor decided to move to the department of materials science and engineering at Texas A&M University. He offered me the opportunity to join his new research group and after some thought, I decided to take it. This was a difficult decision; by accepting this offering, I would have to move from Ohio to Texas only after a year of arriving in the US. Besides, I would have to take all my classes again for my master’s degree, this time in materials science. Despite this, there were two main reasons why I decided to leave behind chemical engineering and embark on a new journey in materials science. First, I was passionate about my research on designing coating technologies for preventing corrosion of metallic structures, and joining my advisor’s research group at Texas A&M, allowed me to continue with my research and to look at my project from a materials science perspective. The second and most important reason why I transferred to materials science was because of the mentorship, advice and support that I received from my colleagues and teachers. They gave me a high-level overview of materials science and I was fascinated by all of that. What I loved the most about materials science is how we can correlate the chemical composition and molecular structure of a material with its properties and how we can use these structure-property relationships to design materials with the desired performance. Although it was a challenge to join a master’s program in materials science coming from a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, it was one of the best decisions of my life, such that, after graduating from my master’s degree, I continue with my Ph.D. to become a materials scientist.

2. 
What does a day in your current role look like?  Do you get to do the hands-on lab work? 
Currently, I am a senior research specialist at Dow working in the product development team of advanced silicone elastomers. A typical day in this role involves conducting laboratory work to develop new silicone elastomer products or to enhance the performance of existing products based on business needs or as exploratory research. Besides formulating and processing these materials, I also perform laboratory testing to characterize their properties and overall performance for the desired application. Aside from my laboratory work, my role also involves designing experiments, processing and analyzing experimental data, documenting research findings and communicating results via presentations and technical discussions with colleagues.

3. 
What is the most difficult part of the job?
 
Dow’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. My mission as a scientist at Dow is to develop high-quality products and technologies that are aligned to our ambition. This represents a big challenge for us as scientist because it is not only a matter of creating materials in a laboratory, but to ensure that the final products will bring value to our company, to our customers, and most importantly, that they are sustainable for the people and the planet. Despite being a challenge, I must say that this mission is also the most exciting part of doing my job and the reason why I became a scientist.

4. 
What is your favorite part about your job?
 
My favorite part of my job is to be able to collaborate and learn from colleagues from diverse disciplines, not only from a STEM background, but also from other areas such as marketing, sales, finance, supply chain, legal, etc. Working with these multidisciplinary teams allow me to engage closely in the different stages involved during creating and commercializing a new product. Furthermore, it gives me the opportunity to challenge my critical thinking and to contribute to my team towards a common purpose of creating innovative products and solutions for our current and future customers.

5. 
What is a piece of advice you would give to a young girl who wants to pursue a career in STEM?
Be passionate about your career and have FUN! If you love what you do, no matter how many  obstacles, challenges and failures you will encounter in your journey, you will always be able to move forward and take these situations as learning experiences that will make you evolve, adapt, and ultimately become stronger and more confident. I also recommend that you find mentors and colleagues that can help you in your career, but keep in mind that they are just giving you guidance based on their experiences and at the end of the day, you need to create your own career path. That brings me to my next advice; don’t compare yourself to others, everyone has a different skill set and interests, instead learn how to work in teams where everyone can showcase their skills and talents. Lastly, don’t be afraid of failure, it happens more often than we imagine but the good part is that it is completely normal, and it happens to all of us, we just need to embrace our failures and learn from them.

6. 
Do you have any advice on how to find a research opportunity when in college?
 
First, you need to spend some time learning about the research area that you are interesting, if there are specific classes for those areas, I would also suggest that you take some of these classes, in that way, once you start connecting with professors and researchers, they can see that you already have some knowledge about the topic. It is also important that you attend events such as conferences, symposia, workshops, etc. where you will have the opportunity to meet professors and other students. I would also recommend talking to your academic advisor to learn about upcoming research events as well as research programs offered by the department or external institutions. My last recommendation is to connect and engage with professors and graduate students in the area that you are interested, they are typically looking for students to support them with their research. If they don’t have funded research projects available at the time, offer to volunteer, you will still gain research experience and they will consider you for future opportunities.

7. 
Is research at your company collaborative?   Do you have opportunities to publish in journals?  
 
Absolutely yes! all the products and technologies that we develop at Dow are the result of teams working together to achieve a common goal.
 
Yes! Dow offers several avenues how we can have an external presence as scientist, one of them being publishing our research work in journals. We also have other opportunities such as attending (and participating) conferences, participating in professional organizations and boards, providing seminars at universities and collaborating with external institutions (universities, national labs, etc.)
 
 
 
8.  Pursuing a degree in STEM feels daunting at times, any advice on how to navigate the stress that comes with coursework, research, etc?

 
First, it is important that you have an agenda or journal where you can manage all your projects, classes, research, etc., and their progress. Also, when designing your schedule of daily activities, don’t overload them with lots of activities that most likely you won’t be able to complete, that will only bring you stress and anxiety. Drop tasks that are not urgent or necessary and complete them in the order of importance starting with the activities with the highest priority or the ones that are causing you more stress. In planning your agenda, ensure that you are incorporating time for activities that help you releasing your stress. I would also recommend that you break down your large projects into steps, instead of defining an activity as “writing my dissertation”, you can set more specific goals such as writing a chapter or even writing a section of a chapter, in that way you will feel less overwhelm in trying to complete your entire dissertation as one activity and it will also bring you a sense of accomplishment as you are making progress. Speaking about research, keep in mind that it usually takes more time than you are expecting, so plan accordingly and give yourself enough room in case things go wrong. Also, when your research is not working and you are getting frustrated, I recommend that you stop working on those things for a few days, take a break from that work and then come back and try again. If things are still failing and you are getting more stressed, it would be better to reevaluate and perhaps change the approach or move on into something else. Lastly, make sure to connect with your classmates and colleagues from your research group, if you are feeling stress for your work load, it is possible that they feel the same way, so you can find ways together in how to help and support each other.
 
9. What was the biggest difference between research in grad school and industry?
 
Personally speaking, my research in graduate school was mainly focused on developing a mechanistic understanding of structure-property relationships that allow me to design materials with excellent performance. However, I did not pay much attention to the feasibility of making these materials at large scale as well as their final cost or repercussions to the environment when processing these materials. In industry, besides creating a fundamental understanding of our materials, it is critical to ensure that these materials that we develop at laboratory scale can be scale up to a manufacturing level and that they are cost-competitive to fit in the market. It is also essential that our materials fulfill our customer needs without compromising the future of our society and planet. 
 
10. Is it possible to invent a plastic that biodegrades in 10 years or less?  We need a material that is as durable and indestructible as plastic, but that biodegrades eventually
 
At Dow, we are committed with environmental sustainability. We are working together to make materials that can be biodegradable or that can be reused or recycled. In addition, we are also committed to reduce carbon emissions by implementing technologies that can reduce the resources needed in manufacturing our products. These efforts are part of our sustainability goals of implementing a circular economy to eliminate plastic waste and addressing climate protection.
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My STEM Journey:  Yenny Cubides, PhD

4/26/2021

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My passion for science started when I was in high school back in my hometown, Bogota, Colombia. I was fascinated with my chemistry, biology, physics and math classes. I was particularly impressed by learning how chemistry and physics can be used to make products that surround us every day in our lives. Besides, I loved learning how machines work and being able to explain natural phenomena such as weather, evolution, metabolism, etc. It was at that time when I realized that I wanted a career in STEM; however, I had my doubts of what specific career to follow, I remember considering chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and even food science. Thanks to the support and help of my teachers and my desire for being able to produce materials and products that can bring value to our society, I finally decided that I would like to pursue a career in chemical engineering. 

Even before deciding on a specific major for my career, I already knew which university I would like to attend: The National University of Colombia. The National University of Colombia was and has been one of the most prestigious universities in Colombia for STEM education, so, I took my admission exam for their chemical engineering program and sadly, I was not admitted. I was completely devastated by this; however, my family and friends supported me and help me understand how difficult the admission process was with thousands of people taking the exam for the same major and with only 1% of them being admitted. This failure was my driving force to continue my journey and prepare better in a way that I was able to be admitted in the next term. 

Being in chemical engineering was an incredible experience for me, I met amazing teachers and classmates, I took very interesting and insightful classes and it was a great platform for developing my passion for doing research. For my bachelor’s degree thesis, I had the opportunity to come to the United States to conduct my research on chemical inhibitors for preventing internal corrosion in oil and gas pipelines in the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. This experience strengthened my love for doing research and my desire for pursuing graduate studies. I decided then to move to the US to start my master’s program in chemical engineering at The University of Akron. I have to admit that it was a difficult decision leaving my family and coming alone to another country but it has been one of the most rewarding experiences, both personally and professionally, and I do not have any doubt that it has been one of the best decisions of my life. 

Up to this point, it seemed that I would become a scientist in chemical engineering, however, after a year of being in chemical engineering, another opportunity appeared in my career: Materials Science and Engineering. I transferred to Texas A&M University where I did my master’s and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering focused on designing coating technologies and magnesium alloys with enhanced mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. Once again, this was a tough decision; switching careers, moving to another city and essentially, start all over again. Nevertheless, this was another of those best decisions in my life, I love materials science and bring me joy every time that I learn something new about it. 
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My background in materials science and engineering brought me to where I am today, working at Dow as a senior research specialist in the product development team of advanced silicone elastomers. With less than a year since I started, my experience at Dow and in my current role has been amazing surrounded by an exceptional team and working together to develop high quality products that bring value to people and our planet. This entire journey of becoming a materials scientist has been a compilation of successes, failures and challenges but most importantly, it has been possible thanks to the help and support of my family, friends, colleagues and mentors and it is beyond words to express how grateful I am to all of them. I am excited to continue with this journey in materials science and to become a mentor for younger STEM generations. 





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April 19th, 2021

4/19/2021

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Careers in Materials Science

Material scientists are at the forefront of research in developing new materials for applications in infrastructure, transportation, technology, and much more.  A degree in materials science allows for a career in sectors such as manufacturing, research, aerospace, coatings, biomedical systems, and technology.  Changes in the chemical and atomic structure leads to new materials with improved properties such as toughness, flexibility, hardness, etc.  Materials science research also pushes the processing and synthesis of materials to make them more reliable, sustainable, and economic.  

Since materials science combines the study of chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics and biology, careers in materials science include product/process development scientist, design engineer, and technical sales engineer.  

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, industries with the highest levels of employment in materials science are Scientific R&D service and chemical manufacturing.  The mean annual wage is $104,450 with the highest materials scientists employed in Massachusetts and Washington.   

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Consejos:  Advice from a Biomedical Researcher

4/12/2021

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What is the most difficult part of the job?
As veterinary pathologists, we are trained to examine tissue in a microscope and provide a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes we are not able to give a definitive diagnosis. Although this aspect may be a little frustrating at times, it is what makes it, in my opinion, an intriguing and life-long learning career.
 
What is your favorite part about your job?
The most exciting aspect of my job is working with infectious diseases and animal models. At Texas Biomed, we work in BSL2, BSL3, and BSL4. These represent different levels of containment of infectious diseases. There are few places in the world with BSL4 containment laboratories. TxBiomed is one of the few places in the world you can work with infectious agents such as Ebola and Tuberculosis. The best part is there is always something new to learn.
 
Stephanie, 24, asks: 
How did you know this is what you wanted to do? I’m majoring in medical/molecular biology and I haven’t decided what I want to do career wise. There are so many things involved in the world of biology, it makes it hard to pick something. 
 
Hi Stephanie, That is certainly a great question. Number #1 find a mentor by reaching out to your professors. I would highly recommend exploring research opportunities in your local university during the semesters and explore internship opportunities at the center for disease control (CDC) during the summer break. This is time to build your resume and learn new skills that can only be gathered with hands-on experience in the laboratory setting.
 
From Ilia on Facebook:
I saw in the news that vets are vaccinating primates for Covid-19.  What can you tell us about how Covid-19 affects primates?  Do you have any experience or have any colleagues in your industry researching if Covid is just as lethal in primates as it is in humans?
 
Hi Ilia, at Texas Biomed, we have worked with primates as animal models for Covid-19. I can tell you from experience that monkeys get infected with COVID19, but do not tend to develop the lethal outcomes seen in humans. Monkeys were used to test the safety and efficacy of our current Covid-19 vaccines. 
 
From Ilia on Facebook:
Will scientific research ever reach a point when we no longer have to experiment on live animals?  (I’m a rabbit rescuer)
 
Research in animals is a highly regulated industry. All research follows the three Rs, which represent: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. The current pandemic has shown how animal models save lives.
 
Submitted anonymously:
What does a day in your current role look like?  Do you get to do the hands-on lab work? 
 
A typical work week consists of performing necropsies at different level containment laboratories, collecting tissues, spending many hours at the microscope, and writing pathology reports. Pathologists are also involved in scientific manuscript write-ups.
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What is a piece of advice you would give to a young girl who wants to pursue a career in STEM?
 
Number #1 and most important step is to find a mentor by reaching out to your teachers or professors. I would highly recommend exploring research opportunities in your local university during the semesters and explore internship opportunities throughout the US or abroad. Your time as an undergraduate student is the perfect time to build your resume and learn new skills that can only be gathered with hands-on experience in the laboratory setting.
 
 
You now work at a research institute; did you have prior research experience?  Do you have any advice on how to find a research opportunity when in college?
 
Number #1 and most important step is to find a mentor by reaching out to your teachers or professors. I would highly recommend exploring research opportunities in your local university during the semesters and explore internship opportunities throughout the US or abroad. Your time as an undergraduate student is the perfect time to build your resume and learn new skills that can only be gathered with hands-on experience in the laboratory setting.
 
Is research at your institute collaborative?   Do you have opportunities to publish in journals?  
 
Yes, absolutely. Veterinary pathologists are also involved in scientific manuscript write-ups of research projects. We are also able to pursue our own research interests and publish on those topics.
 
We have had a rough year dealing with the pandemic and the road to vaccines.  What is the most impressive scientific advantage that has come out of it?  
 
 The most impressive scientific advances, in my opinion, have been how quickly researchers throughout the world have been able to develop, test and deploy a vaccine for a novel virus in record-breaking time. I think this sets a very positive precedent for the treatment and vaccine development of other infectious diseases.
 
 
 
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My STEM Journey:  Olga Gonzalez, PhD

4/12/2021

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​Early on during my childhood years growing up in Puerto Rico, I focused on the idea of becoming a veterinarian. Opportunities to study veterinary medicine in Puerto Rico were non-existent at that time, requiring me to look beyond the island setting and exploring veterinary professional schools in the US mainland. However, at the time, the idea of moving far away from the family for many years was daunting. I understood this was the only way.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, I worked as a research assistant at a parasitology laboratory led by Dr. Sharon File. We worked with animal models of bilharzia to understand transmission and pathology associated with this endemic parasite. I also volunteered at the local veterinary clinic to gain contact hours working with domestic species. With my family's support and the help of many mentors who selflessly opened their doors to their clinics and research laboratories, I finished my Bachelor's degree in Biology and fulfilled the experience requirements to apply and be accepted into veterinary school. I completed the veterinary program at the University Of Wisconsin Madison School Of Veterinary Medicine, and then I decided to specialize in veterinary pathology. After completing my veterinary pathology residency and completing board certifying exams, I worked in multiple settings, including academia, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and primate centers.  
As a veterinary pathologist at the Southwest National Primate Research Center, I have the privilege to work with laboratory animal models of infectious diseases in a research setting. This opportunity has been the most rewarding experience of my professional career. Looking back at the path that landed me in San Antonio, Tx, I will be eternally grateful for the academic mentors that provided career-defining experiences.
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Resources in Biomedical Research

4/6/2021

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U.S. News and World Report Best Biomedical Engineering Programs:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/biomedical-rankings
 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/biomedical-engineers.htm
 
US Dept of Health and Human Services biomedical resources for parents and teachers:
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/parents-teachers-resources
 
US Dept of Health and Human Services biomedical resources for students:
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/students-resources
 
California Biomedical Research Association:
https://ca-biomed.org/
 
New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research:
https://njabr.org/
 
North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research:
https://www.ncabr.org/
 
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research:
https://www.nwabr.org/
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