Women in Science - Online Interviews

Dr. Diane E. Albert

Diane E. Albert

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

I am a Metallurgical Engineer/Materials Scientist. I work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico. My speciality is fundamental and applied research in the area of mechanical behaviors of metals. I use testing materials to deform pieces of metal that are of interest to me. I then look at the deformed microstructures using electron microscopes, like the Scanning Electron Microscope(used to look at surfaces of materials), the Transmission Electron Microscope(used to look at interiors of materials), and the High Resolution Electron Microscope(1.5 million times magnifying power-it can image atoms!). On a day -to day basis, I prepare specimens for microscopic analysis, work on the microscope, do a lot of reading and literature searches in the library, and work with technicians and other scientists planning research projects. I talk to my colleagues and try to come up with new and interesting ideas for research, and write proposals to get funding for my research.

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

I decided on my career as a Metallurgical Engineer when I was at The Ohio State University. I knew that I was good in math and science, and wanted to study engineering. OSU has a Department of Metallurgical Engineering, and it looked interesting. I decided to take an introductory metallurgy class just to satisfy my own curiosity. I liked the course, the department, and the professors so much that I got a Bachelor's degree there, and continued with the Master's degree and a PhD at Carnegie Melon University a few years later.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is that I learn so much about the world around me every single day.

4. What do you like the least?

The worst thing is trying to find the money to continue my research.

5. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

I studied and did my homework and tried to get good grades. I have always loved to read and always like math. I read a lot of science fiction when I was in junior high school, but read mostly classic literature in high school, not because I had to, but because I liked to. My favorite authors are Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, Jane Austin, and George Elliot..I believe that reading good literature has helped me to be a better writer, with a good vocabulary.

6. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

No, not this field, although my parents always encouraged me to do well in school and choose any career that I felt would make me happy.

7. What is your favorite quote?

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

8. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

Pursue a career in science because YOU like it, not because others have told you it's a good career. On the other hand, don't be afraid to pursue science if that's what you like , just because others have told you not to do it. Study hard and have fun learning.

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1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	I am a Metallurgical Engineer/Materials Scientist. I work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico. My speciality is fundamental and applied research in the area of mechanical behaviors of metals. I use testing materials to deform pieces of metal that are of interest to me. I then look at the deformed microstructures using electron microscopes, like the Scanning Electron Microscope(used to look at surfaces of materials), the Transmission Electron Microscope(used to look at interiors of materials), and the High Resolution Electron Microscope(1.5 million times magnifying power-it can image atoms!). On a day -to day basis, I prepare specimens for microscopic analysis, work on the microscope, do a lot of reading and literature searches in the library, and work with technicians and other scientists planning research projects. I talk to my colleagues and try to come up with new and interesting ideas for research, and write proposals to get funding for my research.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	I decided on my career as a Metallurgical Engineer when I was at The Ohio State University. I knew that I was good in math and science, and wanted to study engineering. OSU has a Department of Metallurgical Engineering, and it looked interesting. I decided to take an introductory metallurgy class just to satisfy my own curiosity. I liked the course, the department, and the professors so much that I got a Bachelor's degree there, and continued with the Master's degree and a PhD at Carnegie Melon University a few years later.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	The best thing about my job is that I learn so much about the world around me every single day.
4.	What do you like the least?
	The worst thing is trying to find the money to continue my research.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	I studied and did my homework and tried to get good grades. I have always loved to read and always like math. I read a lot of science fiction when I was in junior high school, but read mostly classic literature in high school, not because I had to, but because I liked to. My favorite authors are Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, Jane Austin, and George Elliot..I believe that reading good literature has helped me to be a better writer, with a good vocabulary.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	No, not this field, although my parents always encouraged me to do well in school and choose any career that I felt would make me happy.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Pursue a career in science because YOU like it, not because others have told you it's a good career. On the other hand, don't be afraid to pursue science if that's what you like , just because others have told you not to do it. Study hard and have fun learning.