Why did you pick the branch of science you are in?
I chose to be a physicist because I love delving into the fundamental ways that our world works. In college, I found physics to be a very rewarding and exciting field and loved how its discoveries occur at the frontiers of human knowledge. How could I say no to that?
What are the biggest misperceptions people have about scientists?
The biggest misperceptions people have about scientists are that we always wear lab coats, have wild hair, and are eccentric; this couldn’t be further from the truth. Scientists are ordinary people who have dedicated their lives to learning about (and doing) science.
What’s something you do that reminds you that you are an #ActualLivingScientist?
Hurm… Other than getting requests to be interviewed about being an #actuallivingscientist? I’d say that I’m reminded about being a scientist each time I see a new research article of mine published in a scientific journal. That never gets old.
I am a scientist and I...
...still take out the garbage.
How do you hope your scientific contributions will impact the world?
Generally speaking, my research deals with applying physics concepts, theories, and methods to medicine or healthcare. More specifically, my primary research focus is to develop a new technique to better and more clearly identify how tissues in our bodies are functioning – this is important because it could be used to better identify the causes of certain types of diseases, such as cancer.
How has WPI helped you prepare students to become an #ActualLivingScientist?
This is without a doubt the most important responsibility of a scientist: to educate and prepare students to become the next generation of scientists. To that end, WPI’s focus on project-based learning really helps me give my students both the academic and laboratory skills needed to become successful scientists.
