Graduate research:

Reptiles and dermal absorption as a route of exposure.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

Initially, I was simply told that a job in the life sciences requires post graduate education. But as I went through graduate school I realized that I really enjoyed teaching and research and I knew I wanted to stay in academia as a career. Getting a PhD was a requirement from a job standpoint but also from a publication standpoint.

 

What are you doing now?

Currently doing postdoctoral research at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (University of Georgia) but I just accepted a tenure track assistant professor position with Queens University of Charlotte.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Absolutely. I have had significant interest in my skillset both in academia and from consulting/industry companies.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

Collaborate more! Collaboration increases potential for publications as well as exposing you to new skills and knowledge.  Not all collaborations will be successful or helpful, but even that experience is important. Collaboration is very common in industry, government, and academia but many graduate students do not take the initiative to establish collaboration on their own.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

I think I miss the freedom to perform whatever research I felt like investigating with a supportive environment (great committee) as well the facilities needed to do my research. Diverse faculty and student interests facilitated collaboration as well.

Graduate research:

The interactive effects of ultraviolet-B radiation and pesticides on amphibians.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

To get an advanced degree as most of jobs in life science requires. I also enjoy the diversity, the freedom, and the fun that I can only get from graduate school.

 

What are you doing now?

I am currently working for industry as a risk assessor at Syngenta Crop Protection.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Yes, all the basics needed for my job are covered by the classes I took at TIEHH, although I feel that an additional course (or even just a journal club) on ecological risk assessment wouldn’t be a bad idea. The one we have now is pretty general.



What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

I wish I would have known that I’d be so old after I finished grad school.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

Helpful faculty (e.g. Jon, Todd), friendly (research) staff (e.g. Mike Wages, Allyson), all kinds of instruments for research and classes (GC, LC, PCR, etc.), student retreat trips, food-related activities (Christmas potluck, chili cook-off), good/bad pranks by various people.

Graduate research:

The moisture vapor transport of fibrous materials

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

1) Type of research the lab was doing at that time (protective clothing,

    nano materials etc.)

2) Availability of funding (assistantship)

3) Low cost of living

 

What are you doing now?

I work for Ahlstrom as a Product Development Engineer developing nonwoven products for various filtration, life science, and medical diagnostics applications.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Yes, I learned a lot about different chemicals and their toxicities.  Also, the curriculum (and research) forced me to use statistics frequently which is helping me at work today.

Developed team building skills, learned about different cultures (countries) and many good lab practices and etiquettes.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

The list goes on, definitely miss my friends that I made during my time there, nice and courteous staff like Kimberly, Stephanie, Ryan Bounds, Lori etc., lunch under the tree outside the building near the parking lot,  TIEHH cookout (Ranch day!).

Graduate research:

The health benefits of green tea polyphenols.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

The major advisor I worked with and the availability of financial support.

 

What are you doing now?

I am an Assistant Professor at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science.  I do research on cancer prevention and treatment, particularly with natural products.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Yes it did.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

I wish I would have known an American friend to practice speaking English with.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

I miss every single one of you and the beautiful location and sky.

Graduate research:

The potential environmental impact of disease vector controls.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

The first reason I wanted to attend graduate school was because I didn’t feel like I learned enough about the environmental sciences in undergrad to attain a job in the environmental field.  Then, the availability of a paid research stipend confirmed that a master’s degree was something I could accomplish, while reducing my student loan burden.

 

What are you doing now?

Environmental consulting.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Yes, the curriculum and process of writing a thesis as a whole most adequately prepared me for my day-to-day job of gathering information from many sources, using existing data, and using scientific literature to make sound, science-based decisions and conclusions.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

I wish I would have known that academic science and the business of science are two completely different topics, as the business of science is driven by regulation and MONEY

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

I miss the collaborative nature of TIEHH.  Students, faculty, and staff were available most any time and happy to assist with coursework, lab work, or experimental issues.

Graduate research:

The toxicity of the explosive metabolite TNX to deer mice.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

My interest in environmental toxicology stemmed from undergraduate summer internships at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).   One particular project focused on monitoring DNA mutation rates of deer mice near radioactive-contaminated sites.  That project stimulated my interest in toxicology and compelled me to pursue graduate education.  My INL mentor, Angela Stormberg, introduced me to Corey Radtke and George Cobb at TIEHH.  After talking with Dr. Cobb about the graduate program and potential projects, TIEHH seemed like a great fit to further my career.

 

What are you doing now?

I am a scientist in the Health Impacts and Exposure Science Group at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).  My research incorporates experimental and computational methodology to investigate biokinetics and resulting biological effects of a variety of chemicals and compounds.  I utilize computational models to extrapolate experimental results from the laboratory in order to predict biological fate and response in the real world.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

After graduating from Texas Tech, I started as a post doc at the PNNL.  My research experience with live animals at TIEHH provided me the skillset that differentiated me from other applicants seeking that position.  Additionally, skills and knowledge acquired at Texas Tech associated with analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, data analysis, and general principles of toxicology have been particularly useful and robust compared to peers in my field.   I believe this is a direct reflection of the quality of curriculum and professors at TIEHH.What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

I wish I would have known that I’d be so old after I finished grad school.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

Euthanasia has nothing to do with children in China (i.e. “youth in Asia”).  However, I eventually picked up that tidbit of information during my first semester…

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

I miss many of the former students, faculty, and staff at TIEHH as well as the overall collegiate atmosphere.  I made a lot of lifelong friends in Lubbock, too many to list, that I still keep in touch with today.  The atmosphere at TIEHH facilitated hard work and focus required for a graduate degree but still allowed for a lot fun at the same time (including Matt tailgating in his Walter Payton jersey).  For me, it was a great place to transition from undergraduate life to that of a young professional.

Graduate research:

Aflatoxins and esophageal cancer

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

As I am from China, attending a graduate school usually means more opportunities for a better job. In addition to that, I was hoping to get a higher degree in the U.S. so that I might come back to China or work in the states.

 

What are you doing now?

Currently I am a research scientist in academia (Indiana University School of Public Health).  My research has been focused on studying the mechanisms of chemical toxicity and the modes of action of chemical carcinogenesis primarily using animals and to assess their relevance to human health risks.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Definitely, the curriculum laid a solid foundation for me for my current position and future jobs.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

Overall I had a very good experience on my first day at TTU; I would have felt even better if somebody had given me a ride to my orientation so I would not have spent more than 2 hours walking.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

The Ping-Pong table that used to sit in the kitchen area of the main building

 

Graduate research:

vapor filtration capacity of non-woven materials.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

The focus & reputation of TIEHH in solving national interest problems and being a department that contributes to the most relevant topics.

 

What are you doing now?

I work for a technology consulting firm, Tekwisen, as a Sr. Data Analytics Consultant.  I am applying and making several presentations on decision making process to various VPs and CEO's of my client companies in following industry domains:

 

1. E&P (Oil & Gas)

2. Semiconductors

3. Environmental

4. Construction Materials

5. Pharmacy Benefit Management (Healthcare - Human Health)

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

Yes.  TIEHH curriculum combined with MIS courses, and previous courses from TAMU-Kingsville. Combination of all three is the key.  It all cross-functionally combines as a very useful tool of experience.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

The positive side and impacts of journal publications - At every stage reminding the committee and advisor to publish the work, in peer reviewed journals.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

TIEHH Annual Events/Banquets and TIEHH’s location (where parking is not a problem like in NYC, Austin, Chicago etc.).

Graduate research:

The interactive effects of ultraviolet-B radiation and pesticides on amphibians.

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

I always wanted to do a PhD. In 1999 I met Mike Hooper and because of him I chose TIEHH.

 

What are you doing now?

I am the Science Officer of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership in South Korea www.eaaflyway.net.  We work on conserving migratory birds and their habitats in 22 countries.

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

I couldn’t find a job with avian ecotoxicology in Australia, so I left toxicology completely and worked only on birds for the last 10 years. By now I forgot pretty much everything I learned.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

“this too shall pass”

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

I miss the people I made friends with.

Graduate research:

Non-target effects of chlorpyrifos to songbirds and amphibians

 

What influenced your decision to attend graduate school?

I wanted to hone my mouth-pipetting skills.

 

What are you doing now?

Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

 

Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?

To some degree, but there was a steep learning curve during my first 4 years as an Assistant Professor.

 

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school at Texas Tech?

That the nearest liquor store was 20 miles away.

 

Besides Matt Young, who or what do you miss most about TIEHH?

Besides the warm hugs from Matt Young?  Playing flag football with the TIEHH GRRRRS.