Dr. Catharine C. Fay

The most exciting thing about my job is that I get to do lots of different things. I get to design the materials (I choose the "ingredients" that will produce the best properties for the application). I test the materials. I assist in their potential application. I may work with a company who puts the material in a device or I may get to put a material on an experiment tray that flies on the Space Shuttle so I can determine if it would be durable in space. I also get to write up my scientific results and submit them to a technical journal. I am a published author in such journals as Journal of Applied Polymer Science, High Performance Polymers, and the Journal of Plastic Film and Sheeting. I also get to present research to the community. I was a little nervous at my first presentation, probably because there was about 300-400 people listening but after the first few slides, I enjoyed it. People in the audience respected my efforts and were interested in my research and that was really important. I also have some US Patents for novel polyimide fibers, films and extruded parts.

I liked chemistry in high school and decided to pursue it in college (B.S. Chemistry from Virginia Tech.) My first job as a chemist enabled me to develop materials for aerospace and space applications. I evaluated new materials for electrical wire insulation on aircraft, developed new resins for structural composites, and fabricated polymers for microelectronics applications. Since I really enjoyed my job, I thought graduate school courses in polymer chemistry would help me do my job better. I took classes while working full time - it was tough and I didn't have a lot of free time but it was worth it. I received two graduate degrees, a M.S. and Ph.D. Degree (from the College of William and Mary) in Applied Science-Polymer Chemistry and Composite Materials.

I don't think I had a childhood interest in being "Ms. Wizard" but I certainly like it now. I particularly like the expression I see on children's faces when I can mix materials together and make them glow in the dark or when I make liquids change colors every 5 seconds from green to red and back again, like the traffic light. "Slime" has always been a favorite as well, especially with a little bit of green food coloring added. "Slime" is a polymer but it does not have utility on airplanes or space vehicles so I only make it for Engineers Week.

Chemistry is all around us and I think that's why I like science. It's in the food we eat. Fresh fruits and vegetables year round, packaging that stops spoilage, and super productive farms are all the result of food chemistry. It's in the clothes we wear, fire-resistant suits, bright colors, protection from the heat and cold, adsorbent diapers, space suits, and bullet proof fabrics. Sport equipment-athletic shoes, basketballs, tennis rackets, sailboats, skis, helmets, and goggles are all triumphs of modern chemistry. The medicine we take such as aspirin, insulin, penicillin, and vaccines that have eliminated childhood diseases such as polio and small pox are made using chemistry. Protecting our planet, developing cleaner and more efficient sources of energy, and inventing new processes for recycling are made possible through chemistry.

Good at math and science? I was good in math and science because I studied and tried to learn it rather than memorize it. I was not very good at memorization anyway. Do not be discouraged if you are not good at math and science now. If you work hard, you can become good at it. Keep in mind, too, there are many different math (algebra, geometry, calculus...) and science (biology, chemistry, physics...) subjects. You may excel at some and not at others. You may even excel in some but don't particularly enjoy them or get excited about learning them. Keep trying!

Some of the things I enjoy doing outside of work include mountain biking, hiking, swimming, volleyball, water skiing, and cooking. I mountain bike more than the other activities mentioned but I enjoy almost any activity outdoors.