More and more women are studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs in college. Read about one of our nanoscale engineering students, Eve.
Name: Eve Borden
Year: Junior
Major: Nanoscale Engineering
Why were/are you interested in pursuing a degree in the nano sciences?
I’m interested in pursuing a degree in nanoscale engineering because it is at the forefront of research in every field. No matter what concentration I choose to follow I will have a background in the cutting edge technology of the industry.
Why did you ultimately decide SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) was the right college for you?
I knew I wanted to study engineering in college but wasn’t set on a particular concentration. Studying nanoscale engineering at CNSE has given me the opportunity to explore a variety of aspects of engineering and really narrow down what I’m interested in. I have been exposed to both industry and academia research and therefore have established a good sense of the direction in which I would like my education to proceed.
What research have you been involved in as a student at CNSE?
I started independent research after my freshmen year at CNSE. I have been working in a biology/chemistry lab for about two years now on a variety of interconnected projects. My main focus overall has been on different components of potential biosensors: first on using molecularly imprinted polymers to detect certain molecules and now on using gold nano particles as a sensing material.
Do you have a particular research interest? Why?
I would say I am most interested in biomedical research. This is mostly due to the fact that the solutions to these types of problems have very real and obvious applications.
Describe the uniqueness of a CNSE education.
A CNSE education gives you a lot of options of what you want to concentrate on and study during your four years. You have the opportunity to interact with industry partners and begin independent research that interests you early in your academic career. You also become close with a lot of your classmates and professors due to the small class sizes and variety of group projects and assignments.
What are you career goals?
After graduation I plan to pursue a career in industry as an engineer and hopefully gain additional experience working more on the business side of engineering and science.
Describe what it feels like to be a female studying and ultimately working in a predominantly male field.
Although I am definitely outnumbered in my class and in this field in general, I can’t say I notice this as much as you would think. I don’t feel I am treated any differently and if anything I think it 
sometimes gives me an advantage. For example, a PowerPoint presentation with a more creative, ‘feminine touch’ often stands out among the masses of cookie cutter PowerPoint designs of the rest of the class. This kind of environment teaches you how to work alongside a variety of people and it really comes down to just being confident in your own abilities and using your own strengths no matter who you are.