Welcome to “13 Questions,” where we invite a guest each week to answer 13 questions on a range of topics in order to get to know them better. Today’s guest is Materials Science Ph.D. candidate Emily Beeman.
Originally from the Bay Area, California, Emily went to undergrad at the University of California, Davis, and studied Materials Science and Engineering. After she completed her degree, she worked for a few years at the Marvell Nanofabrication Laboratory at UC Berkeley as a Process Engineer. While there, she focused on process development, training, and troubleshooting for photolithography equipment.
A fan of nature, you can regularly find Emily biking or hiking the trails around Philadelphia. Lately after work she’s been offering her time watching Abbott Elementary and listening to music by Domi & JD Beck and Goose.
- Your name?
My name is Emily, most people call me Emily though I do respond to nicknames like Em.
- What is your field of study?
I’m studying Materials Science and Engineering
- What is your favorite color?
Green!
- Do you intend to launch your career in academia or industry?
I am planning to go into industry.
- What animal do you most identify with? Why?
A Kestrel, which is a small hawk-like bird. I admire it for being small yet mighty.
- What individual or moment has had the greatest impact on your life?
While lots of my teachers and professors had very positive influences on my life, I believe my father has had the greatest impact. He used to give me the “extended version” of the science lessons in middle school because I was never satisfied with the surface level answers from the teachers.
- You’re craft crashes/capsizes and you’re stuck on an island with five items of your choice.
A pocketknife – gotta survive!
A picture of my family – sentimental things are important too
A sketchbook and pencil – endless entertainment until you run out of pages
A jar of Nutella – you know they won’t have dessert on the island, plus that stuff probably lasts forever
Sunglasses – what can I say, I’m a practical person
- Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d like to be able to easily learn new languages.
- Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“That’s wild” when describing something merely mildly shocking
- What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I’m not sure this an achievement, but I am proud of the reputation I built at the job I worked before coming to graduate school. My coworkers all wished me the best when I left and told me I would be greatly missed. I know some of the resources I developed are still in use there, and I’m happy they continue to help people with their processes.
- If you were given two options: The gift of $1,000,000, or the opportunity to go back in time to relive your life, knowing what you know now, which option would you take?
$1,000,000 please! no regrets.
- Lunch with three people living or dead?
My grandma Alene, who I never got to meet.
Frida Kahlo, because she was an incredible artist and had a very interesting life.
David Attenborough, partly for nostalgia, partly because I want to hear more on his views of the current state of the world
- What is your motto?
Focus on your abilities.