Sarah Crowsey
University of Southern Mississippi
What drew you to study coatings or materials science specifically?
I was drawn to materials science, and specifically polymer science, because I love solving problems and these fields produce innovative solutions to some very real issues. You have a lot of room to explore, whether your interests lie in more fundamental research or in application-driven research.
Have you met people in the industry who’ve influenced or encouraged your path?
Absolutely. Just about every professor I took classes from at William Carey mentored me in some way, especially Mary Mackey, my advisor. She was instrumental in encouraging me to apply to the University of Southern Mississippi’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program a few years ago and that opened doors to a number of other fantastic opportunities. Heather Broadhead was my mentor in the REU program and allowed me to keep working on my summer project in her lab, where she helped me complete an undergraduate honor’s thesis.
Are there specific roles or companies you hope to work for after graduation?
I am interested in working in industry though I haven’t set my heart on any specific companies or roles yet. I would love to work on biomedical-related research projects, or on agriculture-related ones.
How do you see your generation shaping the future of the coatings industry?
My generation is approaching the materials science field and industry with a “big picture” approach. So many of my colleagues feel strongly about conservation, recycling, and minimizing environmental harm and that informs how they approach their research, what considerations they have when they plan projects, and how they interact with other researchers and the field as a whole. I could see that approach shaping the future of this industry into one that considers all possible outcomes before acting.
What advice would you give a high school or first-year college student curious about this field?
Reach out—to graduate students, to professors, to lab technicians—just reach out and ask your questions. You’ll find that the majority of people in the field are willing to answer any questions you have, and you can form connections that help you on the rest of your journey! Getting involved with labs in this space can be helpful too, whether that’s through undergraduate research at your own university, field trips to a lab with your high school class, or by exploring REU opportunities.
Sarah Crowsey is a graduate student in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi She joined the Clemons lab and is eager to work on projects that explore solutions to multidisciplinary problems across a variety of fields, including materials science and biomedical science.