My Path to Chemical Engineering
by Abigail G.
As a high school student, you’re at a crossroads, making decisions that can quickly shape your future. Around my junior year of high school, I clearly knew that I loved chemistry and biology, and I was also pretty good at math. But when it came to choosing a college major, I was a bit lost. I thought I wanted to study chemistry until a suggestion from my dad, a civil engineer, led me to consider chemical engineering. But what exactly was chemical engineering?
I had a common misconception that chemical engineering was just an extension of chemistry. However, I’ve realized it’s so much more. In high school, we don’t often get exposed to the real essence of engineering disciplines. To unravel this mystery, I dove into my own research and discovered that chemical engineering operates on a larger scale, affecting broader societal aspects and inventing new innovations. It encompasses reactors, transport phenomena, fluid mechanics, and much more.
A pivotal moment for me was my participation in the Society of Women Engineers High School Day at the University of Pennsylvania. Here, I explored different engineering fields through hands-on workshops. This experience opened my eyes to biological engineering, a field that focuses not just on understanding mechanisms and fundamentals, but on creating novel solutions for society, especially in advancing healthcare solutions. I was also empowered to see so many strong and smart women in a field typically dominated by men.
Thus, I embarked on this journey, starting with an undergraduate degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) at Princeton, followed by a PhD in Chemical Engineering at Stanford, specializing in drug delivery. Choosing engineering as a starting point in college was strategic for me. It’s easier to begin in engineering and switch later, if needed, than to switch into engineering. Many of the requirements for CBE at Princeton already encompassed requirements for other majors in the sciences.
By pursuing engineering, I discovered diverse and enriching career paths. An engineering background instills a level of trust in your technical skills, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed. For example, I performed research on growing organic semiconductor materials for energy applications. I spent a summer designing polymers for 3D printing. I also had the opportunity to do an internship formulating plant-based meat products at Impossible Foods.
Today, as a woman engineer working at Genentech in preclinical drug development, I’m part of a team developing biologic drugs for life-saving therapies. My journey from a high school student fascinated by chemistry and biology to an engineer shaping healthcare solutions shows the power of exploring and embracing your interests.
So, for all the high schoolers out there, delve into your passions, explore beyond your school curriculum, and don’t be afraid to step into a field that might seem unfamiliar. Your winding path might just lead to a rewarding career that aligns perfectly with your interests and strengths.