What is a typical day like for you?

I spend a lot of time meeting with students and other professors. Most of this time we spend speaking about science and engineering topics. More often than not, we are all stumped by some concept or observation from the lab. The best moments are when we break through to a new understanding.  These moments are rare though. It takes a lot of patience to do research!

When you were a kid what did you want to be and if it wasn’t a scientist, what was it and why did you change your mind?

I wanted to be a scientist. I ended up an applied scientist and engineer. This was a good fit for me because I like to think about science that might be useful to the world. I also became a teacher. I learned that I liked teaching by be an assistant to my professors when I was in college. 

What did you do to get your current job, what kind of education did you need?

Getting my current job as a professor required that I get a PhD.  During a PhD, a degree that you can pursue after finishing four years of college, you get to do research and teach college students.  These are the two main things that professors do. 

Tell us something fun about yourself? and it doesn’t have to be about science?

I love bicycles: racing on them, touring on them, and just getting around on them.    I think bicycles are one of the best inventions ever, because they are simple, elegant, useful, and fun!