As I careened along the course for my first ever practice, I was struck with how unusual it was for me to do something so daring. Usually very cautious, I had only been asked to join Buggy a week prior, and there I was, lying only a few inches off of the ground in a motorless buggy, with my hands in front of me to steer. Peering through the windshield with an assortment of protective gear, I watched the track zoom by at 25 miles per hour. Buggy is a sport unique to Carnegie Mellon University, where students from all majors join to build and compete buggies. Looking back, there are many parallels between my experience with the sport, and the development of my career aspirations.
In a way, buggy was the catalyst for my interest in polymer science. Modern buggies have polyurethane wheels, which drastically reduce friction when heated, as well as polycarbonate windshields for precision molding. I began to notice how important polymers are in everyday life, and how much research went into developing these materials. I want my career to be in a field that impacts the lives of people around me, and I can make a difference through sustainable polymer research. I made the decision to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering so that I can dedicate my career to research. …show more content…
I started off small, assisting with histology procedures until I was familiar enough with the laboratory to take responsibility for the preparation and imaging of olfactory tissue. I began my own project of designing and building an olfactometer. It was surprising not only how much chemical engineering knowledge I was able to apply, but also with how much I was able to learn along the way. I learned how to use circuits and an Arduino Uno to control a series of solenoid valves. There is always so much to learn, and for me, that is what draws me to research above other career
In a way, buggy was the catalyst for my interest in polymer science. Modern buggies have polyurethane wheels, which drastically reduce friction when heated, as well as polycarbonate windshields for precision molding. I began to notice how important polymers are in everyday life, and how much research went into developing these materials. I want my career to be in a field that impacts the lives of people around me, and I can make a difference through sustainable polymer research. I made the decision to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering so that I can dedicate my career to research. …show more content…
I started off small, assisting with histology procedures until I was familiar enough with the laboratory to take responsibility for the preparation and imaging of olfactory tissue. I began my own project of designing and building an olfactometer. It was surprising not only how much chemical engineering knowledge I was able to apply, but also with how much I was able to learn along the way. I learned how to use circuits and an Arduino Uno to control a series of solenoid valves. There is always so much to learn, and for me, that is what draws me to research above other career