Faculty Spotlight: Kinsley Tate
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Learn more about instructor Kinsley Tate, why she loves teaching, Virginia Tech, and advice for students interested in biomedical engineering and BEAM.
Why Virginia Tech? What do you love about VT?
Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means "that I may serve". I love the heart behind this statement and how it reminds us to put others before ourselves. I have seen both the faculty and students put this statement into action during my time at Virginia Tech.
It is truly amazing seeing the level of care Hokies have for each other and the surrounding community. One of the reasons I am excited to be a part of the biomedical engineering undergraduate program at Virginia Tech is we get to embrace "Ut Prosim" through our work to improve healthcare.
What is your favorite thing about being a professor/faculty member?
I love interacting with the students through my classes and also as the faculty advisor for the Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Society student organization. I currently teach cellular engineering courses and find it extremely rewarding to see the students tackle complex experiments in the lab!
What originally got you interested in your teaching/work and/or research?
I was drawn to the biomedical engineering field because of the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world using engineering and medicine.
Throughout my academic career thus far, I have had the opportunity to study the brain using engineered cellular models. It has been rewarding to participate in research related to Autism Spectrum Disorders, Glioblastoma, and Alzheimer's disease.
I am very grateful that I now get to pass along the knowledge I have gained over the years to train the next generation of biomedical engineers. I am so impressed with the students in our department and look forward to seeing them contribute to the biomedical engineering field.
What advice do you have for students looking to join the Biomedical Engineering and/or Engineering Mechanics field?
Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that covers everything from medical device design to tissue engineering. It is important to figure out which part of biomedical engineering you are passionate about. As a student you can do this by participating in opportunities like undergraduate research, internships, and student organizations. Getting involved will help you make connections within the field and learn critical skills.
Visit Kinsley's faculty bio page.