“The Grand Challenge Scholars program gave me a structure to explore so many other skills that are crucial to successful engineering. Being a Grand Challenge Scholar means that you are an engineer who doesn’t innovate for the sake of innovation. You see your work in ethical, global, economical, and educational contexts which are crucially important for solving these challenges.”
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Theme: Engineering New Medicines
Research Experience
- HERE Intern with Organic and Biological Mass Spectrometry at Oak Ridge National Lab
- Weiskittel worked with Senior Research Assistant Paul Dalhaimer, an associate professor in the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, on Pombe or fission yeast as a model organism for mammalian cells, which were then used to study lipid metabolism, and lipid droplet dynamics.
- She was a team leader for UT’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) Team. The project tackled bioremediation and manufacturing of precursor molecules that are normally created with environmentally harmful methods.
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Philosophy 345: Bioethics
- Psychology 110: General Psychology
Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship 451: New Venture Planning
Global Experiences
- Global Initiatives Trip to Quito, Ecuador
Service Learning
- Teaching Assistant for the Fundamentals of Molecular Biotechnology
- Mentoring high school intern in Dalhaimer Lab
- Research and Instructional Strategies for Engineering Retention (RISER) mentor and participant