THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED TO A
SCIENTIFIC CAREER
K. Renee Horton, PhD
Southeastern conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics
1/12 – 1/15/2012
Today I decided to deviate from the paththat society created to herd the masses
of people who believe that normalityis to be a replicated clone of stereotypical
images of acceptable patterns of styleand manner.
I decided to travel to the drummer drumming in my head as I walk down the path that nobody tends and is overgrown
with oddly whimsical daises and junipers.
This is my path, this is my journey,this is my world, welcome to all I see.
Ironically, they are the same things yousee, just from a different vantage point,
just another view.
DEVIATED PATH
As I travel the byways that society hasbarricaded and labeled an alternate routefor self satisfaction, personal growth andsuccess. I travel at my own risk, I knowthere may not be anyone to bail me out
if I wander too fast down this untraveled path.
As my drummer beats, I march and I know otherswill soon follow, because the path is no longeruntraveled, it’s just not an acceptable path by
society to travel.
K. Renee Horton
CHOICES I HAD TO MAKE
Children/FamilyMajor
Grad School
Dissertation AdvisorCollege
CareerCollege
Funding
NewDissertation Advisor
MY PATH IN A NUTSHELL Started college at 16 Got married at 18 Had my 1st son at 19 Had my 2nd son at 21 Divorced my husband after 6 yrs Had my daughter at 27 Went back to college in 2000 Graduated with Bs EE Attended a HBCU for 1.5 yrs Intern at National Renewable Energy Lab
CONT. Moved to Alabama with kids and my
daughters father in 2005 Attended my first IUPAP Women in
Physics conference in 2005 Internship @ Goddard Space Flight
Center 2006/2007 Second IUPAP WIP conference in 2008 Third IUPAP WIP conference in 2011 Started working for NASA in 2010 Graduated in August 5, 2012
RESEARCH ALONG THE WAY
Biomass Research and Development Control Design Engineering
Magnetically Manipulated Quantum Dots (MMQD) Investigation of Magnetic Properties of Annealed
Cobalt Nobel Metal shell Nanoparticles for GMR Sensors
Women Physicist of color achieving at the intersection of race and gender
Synthesis and Characterization of CdSe-Co Core-Shell Quantum Dots and Rods
Anisotropy Graded Media: Extending the superparamagnetic limit (1st Dissertation topic)
Dissertation: Microhardness, Strength and Strain Field Characterization of Self Reacting Friction Stir Weld and Plug Welds of Dissimilar Aluminum Alloys.
WORKING ON MY DISSERTATION Worked at the NASA Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Al from May 2010 to Aug 2011
Worked on the welding process for the external tank of the space shuttle
STS 124 DISCOVERY The flight that
delayed my dissertation and graduation
The flight that my research techniques was used for to validate flight safety
STS 126 ATLANTIS Watching the
very last Space Shuttle flight with my daughter at Marshall with over 200 employees who supported the space shuttle mission
GRADUATION Defense delayed
when one of my best friends and sorority sister died from breast cancer
Graduation delayed because of the tornado that hit 4/27/2011
Listed as the First African American to receive my PhD in Material Science from the University of Alabama
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Lockheed Martin 3rd place Engineering Award NASA Student Poster Symposium 2011
Black Engineer of the Year Award Trailblazer Award 2011 3 Group Achievement NASA Awards (August 2010) NASA Harriet G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship 2008-2011 Goddard Space Flight Center Graduate Student Research
Program (GSRP) Fellowship 2004-2007 Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) Fellowship 2005-
2008 Community Based Partnership Student initiated outreach award
$2000 (2008) National Alumni Fellow University of Alabama 2008-2009 Co-PI NSF grant PHY-0824634 for $138,180.00 2008 Argonne National Laboratory Center for Nanoscale Materials User
Proposal Nominated for the Women of Distinction Career award by the
North Alabama Girl Scout Association Self Published my first Poetry book “Sanctum of my Soul” in May
2010
AFTER GRADUATION Unemployed Moved back with my parents Turned 40 Started Interviewing Finally landed a job with the following
prioritiesLocation Job typePay/benefitsPrestigeAbility to grow with company
MY NEW JOB Samson Rope Technology
The Strongest name in RopeLafayette, La (1 hour from my mother and
Godson and 6 hours from my dad and siblings)
R&D EngineerOnly PhD in the buildingOnly black engineer on staff
• Twisted ropes: • 3, 4, or 6-strands
• Braided: • Single braid • Double braid • Jacketed• 8 or 12 -strands
ROPE CONSTRUCTION: THE BASICS
WHAT I LEARNED DURING THIS PROCESS
How important your network is Make sure you are in constant contact with people
who you feel can advance your career
2 page CV with important items on top half of first sheet
Make contact with a headhunter or someone who used a head hunter if going into industry
Build your academic contacts now as an undergraduate
Stay in contact with your network it doesn’t have to be everyday
CONT. Enjoy your life along the way because there
will be things you have no control over Set your priorities and decide what will
make you happy The two body problem exists even when
both parties are not educated Black relationships can be difficult during
the process Choose your mates and friends with like
priorities, goals and values Have an outlet Don’t change who you are for anyone