Career Conversations: Q & A With Biomedical Engineer Elizabeth Wayne

Courtesy of Dr. Elizabeth Wayne. “It’s so fun to try to make meaning from a confusing experimental result and talk to other scientists who are excited by the same questions you are,” says Elizabeth Wayne, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We talked to Dr. Wayne about her career trajectory, research on immune cells, and belief that scientists can change the world. Q: How did you first become interested in science? A: I was introduced to atoms during 6th grade science class. The idea that we’re all made up of tiny particles didn’t seem possible to me, so it sparked my interest. I did a science-fair project about atoms, but I found that my school textbooks just didn’t have enough information. I started going to the library and reading to learn more. I found out that atomic physics played a big part in World War II, and that’s when I started thinking about becoming a scientist, because I believed—and still do—that scientists can make a mark on history. Q: What did your educational and career path look like? A: I loved learning about atoms so much as a child that I had a dream of one day being a physicist. However, my school didn’t offer any of the physics or advanced math courses that I needed, so I applied and was accepted to the Mississippi School for Math and Science, a public boarding school in Columbus, Mississippi. I then e...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Being a Scientist Cellular Imaging Profiles Source Type: blogs