Three alumni. Three career paths. One school. So much success.
When you hear the name the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, you may wonder what careers graduates pursue.
The possibilities are endless.
Effat Zeidan Hatoum ’16 Ph.D. landed in academia. Beth Williard ’23 M.S. works as a chemist. And Naga Kollu ’20 Ph.D. leads pharmaceutical development. Their stories exemplify the diversity of careers a JSNN degree helps graduates achieve.
Finding Home at JSNN
Greensboro was Zeidan Hatoum’s first stop when she arrived in the United States from Lebanon. She was only 20 years old, and it was her first time away from home, in a different country. She came to the states specifically for the JSNN program, with interest in a doctoral degree in nanoscience.
Originally a chemistry pre-med major in undergrad, Zeidan Hatoum started conducting research on nanoparticles her senior year and never looked back.
“I loved the research, and a professor told me about a ‘neat project’ in North Carolina, only for nanoscience and nanotechnology,” says Zeidan Hatoum. “I joined as soon as I graduated.”
Zeidan appreciated that JSNN hosted so many students from different nationalities; she had Persian, Sri Lankan and native N.C. friends. She boasts about the support she received, from administration to her clinic to her mentor.
“My mentor pushed me and would not let me give up,” says Zeidan Hatoum. “I still talk with her today.”
Her JSNN research focused on developing ultrasensitive nano-diagnostic tools, with the intent of developing a machine doctors could use to drain bodily fluids for early disease detection.
Following graduation, Zeidan Hatoum sought opportunities in academia.
“I wanted to be able to communicate my science and interact with others,” Zeidan Hatoum explains. She is currently an associate professor of biology at Cal Baptist University and owner of EZH, a consulting business for online course design.
She credits her experience at JSNN with shaping who she is and how she teaches.
Seeking New Discoveries
Williard’s pursuit of her JSNN degree did not come without its challenges. She earned her master’s in nanoscience during a global pandemic while working a full-time job, but with the support of her professors, employer, family, and friends, she persevered.
And now, as a formulation chemist at Syngenta Crop Protection, she develops insecticide products for crops such as corn and potatoes, and finds herself applying concepts learned at JSNN in many aspects of the job.
“JSNN taught me to be open-minded in order to reframe the way I look at a challenge in front of me,” Williard says. “When experiments yield unexpected results, I now see this as an opportunity which could lead to a new discovery, thus progressing science.” Williard’s favorite course was Daniel Herr’s experiment design course, from which she uses concepts on a regular basis at Syngenta.
The chemist brought another JSNN tradition with her to her company: the annual international potluck. JSNN’s diverse body of students would bring foods from their cultures to share at the event.
“This was a fun way to learn about my classmates and try unique foods,” Williard says. “I’ve carried this tradition to my current company.”
Williard found JSNN to be a win-win for her education and for her career.
“The program is unique because it is academically rigorous, but also has courses relevant to industry and manufacturing, so its students are prepared for whichever career direction they pursue,” she says.
A JSNN Foundation
Kollu is an innovator in drug product development, and the foundation he received during his doctoral program in nanoscience helped him develop into the scientist he is today.
It is the “unique mix of curiosity, collaboration, hands-on discovery” and the “collaborative spirit” Kollu found at JSNN that he remembers fondly now.
“I spent countless hours working with advanced electron microscopes, often losing track of time while exploring the nanoscale world,” Kollu says. “Those moments – seeing the structures I designed come to life at such a detailed level –º were both thrilling and humbling.”
While at JSNN, Kollu sought to integrate nanotechnology and microbiology in designing innovative surface treatments in hopes of offering an alternative to conventional antibiotics.
As a senior scientist in pharmaceutical microbiology with AbbVie, his JSNN experience informs his work.
“This research laid a critical foundation for my current work in pharmaceutical drug development, especially in toxin, oncology, and eye-care areas,” explains Kollu.
This scientist saw JSNN as a place where people from different disciplines came together to solve big problems. This insight influences how he approaches innovation and teamwork at AbbVie.
As a result, Kollu encourages JSNN students “to fully embrace the interdisciplinary nature of the environment as the most exciting breakthroughs happen at the intersection of fields.”
Written by Amy Burtch, AMBCopy
Photography provided by Effat Zeidan, Beth Williard, and Naga Kollu
