I'm consistently motivated by knowing that my research has the potential to better people's lives.”
Rebecca Keate (she/her)
PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
Rebecca Keate is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Engineering program in the McCormick School of Engineering. Her current research focuses on understanding the potential of conducting polymers to facilitate bone tissue repair and regeneration. During her free time, Rebecca enjoys volunteering for the Science Club, an after-school program for middle-school-aged students.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
I study how electronic environments can affect biological processes, specifically related to healing. Our approach to accomplish this is by designing new biomaterials that are better suited to interface with our bodies.
Tell us what inspired your research and/or work.
When I was in my first year of undergrad, I was taking an introduction to electricity and magnetism, and I almost failed the first exam. I started going to my professor's office hours for extra help, and he was one of the most patient and enthusiastic instructors I had ever met. By the end of the semester, I actually really enjoyed the subject, and he encouraged me to explore biophysics labs on campus. I've been really interested in how the physical world influences biological processes ever since.
What do you find both rewarding and challenging about your research and/or work?
The multidisciplinary nature of the research I do is the most challenging aspect of my day-to-day work. For example, my research requires that I understand a myriad of concepts in electronic devices and electrochemistry in the context of biological cascades involved in regeneration. Considering these two otherwise disparate fields for designing totally new materials is critical for accomplishing these very challenging goals. It truly is rewarding though because I do always learn something new every day and have had opportunities to work with so many people with expertise outside of my own that helped me to grow.
Why Northwestern?
One of the biggest reasons I chose Northwestern was because of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering (CARE), which was launched by my advisor Guillermo Ameer. Universities all over the country perform regenerative engineering research, but the center at Northwestern is unique in that they are setting up pathways to make sure the work we do has an opportunity to reach the clinic. I thought this was really important since ultimately, we would like our research to translate into a viable product.
What inspires you?
I'm consistently motivated by knowing that my research has the potential to better people's lives. I believe that the use of electronic materials could revolutionize our approach to regenerative engineering and dramatically enhance the human experience. We still have a lot of learning to do before we get there, but it is really exciting to know that I am playing a part towards understanding something that has the potential to be such a powerful tool for improving human health.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
A piece of advice I received myself that has stuck with me is "Whatever you do, do it well." It's really important to put your best foot forward at all times, especially when you do research and don't necessarily see progress every day. There have been several instances where I put in extra work to learn another technique or collect extra data, and although I might not immediately see the short term gains, in the long term, I've become a better person and scientist because of it.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I volunteer with an organization called Science Club, which is an after-school program that runs science experiments with middle-school-aged students. I noticed a lot of the programs we were running were biology or chemistry based, with very little discussion on physics concepts. I designed a new activity that introduced static electricity along with concepts like charge and electrons. It was really rewarding to watch the students participate and enjoy the lesson that I designed, and it was also a great learning experience for me.
Published: August 9, 2022
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