Women in Science - Online Interviews

Julie Wintker

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.

The overall responsibility or job function of our Buckman Laboratories, Inc. quality control is to ensure that our manufactured products meet their marketing specifications. In order to this our inspectors and chemists sample and analyze raw materials and our finished products. My educational background is chemistry; however,as a manager of the laboratory my main responsibilities are indirectly analytical with major emphasis on traditional business aspects of the laboratory.

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 originally majored in French in college and in my junior year changed majors to physical science and continued in biochemistry in graduate courses.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

I enjoy the combination of working with people, teaching and chemistry.

4. What do you like the least?

What I enjoy the least is the 24-hour, 7-day a week schedule and responsibility for the laboratory.

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?

As a child I was academically oriented and followed a traditional science and math curriculum. I really enjoyed the Nancy Drew series of mysteries as a girl and today still enjoy the mysteries. The unknown and clues and logic seem to be a thread common to my girlhood reading and science and chemistry.

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

My father was practiced and and always stressed "earning a living for myself" or personal career and financial independence. My mother emphasized that I could be and do whatever I wanted to do If I just set my mind to accomplish the goal. My older brother actually "insisted" that I follow a math and science career and was also a significant influence. My major professor in biochemistry, Dr. Donald R. Bradley, was my significant influence throughout undergraduate and graduate school.

7. What is your favorite quote?

None in particular.

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

My advice for young women is to take as many math and science courses or opportunities available in school and to enjoy and perform well in them. Also be well rounded which includes the arts, athletics, volunteerism, etc.

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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.
	The overall responsibility or job function of our Buckman Laboratories, Inc. quality control is to ensure that our manufactured products meet their marketing specifications. In order to this our inspectors and chemists sample and analyze raw materials and our finished products. My educational background is chemistry; however,as a manager of the laboratory my main responsibilities are indirectly analytical with major emphasis on traditional business aspects of the laboratory.
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 originally majored in French in college and in my junior year changed majors to physical science and continued in biochemistry in graduate courses.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	I enjoy the combination of working with people, teaching and chemistry.
4.	What do you like the least?
	What I enjoy the least is the 24-hour, 7-day a week schedule and responsibility for the laboratory.
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?
	As a child I was academically oriented and followed a traditional science and math curriculum. I really enjoyed the Nancy Drew series of mysteries as a girl and today still enjoy the mysteries. The unknown and clues and logic seem to be a thread common to my girlhood reading and science and chemistry.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	My father was practiced and and always stressed "earning a living for myself" or personal career and financial independence. My mother emphasized that I could be and do whatever I wanted to do If I just set my mind to accomplish the goal. My older brother actually "insisted" that I follow a math and science career and was also a significant influence. My major professor in biochemistry, Dr. Donald R. Bradley, was my significant influence throughout undergraduate and graduate school.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	None in particular.
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	My advice for young women is to take as many math and science courses or opportunities available in school and to enjoy and perform well in them. Also be well rounded which includes the arts, athletics, volunteerism, etc.