Lori Freeman

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 actually have two positions at Micron. I am the Lab Manager of the Analytical Chemistry Lab and the Lab Director of the on-site Health Services Lab. In the Analytical Chemistry Lab, I am responsible for over-seeing the work of the lab, which involves 11 chemists and approximately 3000 samples per month. We support Micron in all aspects, which includes testing of raw materials, qa/qc of the production line (we make computer chips), testing of laundered clean room garments, testing of water and wastewater and also of industrial waste. As Director of the Health Services Lab, I am responsible for the quality control and training of all personnel working in the clinical lab. I am directly responsible for making sure we meet all state and federal regulations which govern us. I will actually do some testing when there is a specimen that is not normal or that may be questionable. I am using my Medical Technology credentials and experience for this job. Now that I'm in more of a manangement position, I spend a lot of time managing personnel, going to meetings and doing paperwork. Once in a while, I actually get to do lab work.
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 when I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to be a Medical Technologist (work in a medical lab). I always enjoyed biology and math and I especially liked doing lab work. We had a career day in high school and I read what a Medical Technologist was. From then on, that's what my goal was. From there, I knew I had to go to college and I had to take alot of science and math courses. So, I concentrated on taking all the science and math courses that I could, which included geometry, calculus, biology and advanced biology, chemistry and physics. By doing that, I was prepared for college. I also made sure I was good at written and oral commumication. Those two things are also important in any field. I took writing and speech classes to prepare for what I would encounter in college and in my profession.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	There are two best things about my job. . . one is managing people and being able to help them up their career ladder. It's very rewarding to see people advance and grow in their job. I've learned that having supportive management is very important and can be very effective in one's career ladder.I enjoy the challenge of managing people and being supportive. The second thing I like about my job is actually working in the lab. I love to do things in the lab and see them work. Chemistry and Biology are fun!
4.	What do you like the least?
	The thing I like the least about the job is the politics. You have to learn to deal with people and the management philosophies of the company. That happens everywhere, so I've learned to deal with it. That doesn't mean I like it!
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?
	Like I said earlier, most of the things I did as "a kid" were done in high school preparing for college. I took all the math and science I could. I realized then I really enjoyed it. If I hadn't liked it then, I still had time to try something else. I also worked at the local hospital. I knew that as a Medical Technologist, I would most likely work in a hospital. I got a job there in high school to find out if I would like working in that environment. I also tried to find other medical related jobs and worked in a pharmacy for a couple of years after school. I tried to learn as much about the medical field that I could with the skills I possessed.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	I had a math teacher in eighth grade who was a great influence on me. She was a woman and she encouraged me because I had a talent for math. I enjoyed itand realized it was something I was good at. At the time I didn't see it, but now that I look back, she made a big difference in the direction I took in life. I realized that as a woman, there wasn't anything I couldn't do. I also had a woman biology teacher and a woman chemistry teacher. Because I had them in my life, I never realized a woman in the sciences was a minority. I didn't realize that until I got out of college. My parents were also very supportive of me and what I wanted to do. It was automatic that I would be going to college after high school. That was just a given in my life. My parents were supportive of helping me financially and they always thought I could do anything I wanted.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	Hmmmmm. . . . my favorite quote. . . . I think it must be: "It's not a mistake unless you didn't learn from it the first time."
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Go for it!!!! Don't be intimidated by the material or being a minority. Women are very good in the sciences and we need more of you out here!!! I would also encourage young women to find a mentor. It's important to have the support and knowledge of someone who is actually doing what you think you might like to do. Talk to them. Ask them questions. Shadow them in their job for a day. Also, remember there are LOTS of different kinds of jobs in science. If you get into one job and don't think you want to stay, look around in the science field and use your previous skills and experiences to find another "science" job. I have a degree in Microbiology and a license to practice as a Medical Technologist. Currently, I am working as a chemist and Medical Technologist. I have also worked as a microbiologist. Get a strong science and math background and make yourself marketable!