"To investigate a mystery, a good detective always starts with the questions of 'how' and 'why'? These questions can be applied to microbiology." |
Anisha M. Williams-Campbell, Ph.D. |
Career Title: Research Microbiologist USDA, ARS, ANRI, Food Technology and Safety Laboratory Beltsville, Maryland
Fields of Expertise:
Academic Studies:
Wayne State University
Employment History:
School Bus Driver
Research Assistant, Microbiology "If I hadn't become a scientist, I would have become . . . a basketball player."
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Q: What led you to become a scientist?
A: Science was always a mystery to me. To investigate a mystery, a good detective always starts with the
questions of "how" and "why"? These questions can be applied to microbiology. For instance, "How does E. coli
cause disease?" or "Why was the bacterium able to cause the disease?" The goal of bacteria is to survive by any
means necessary. The goal of the food industry is to try to get rid of harmful pathogens (disease-causing bacteria).
Q: What's the most interesting or exciting project you've worked on?
A: I'm currently working on an exciting project where we're using an explosive to create pressure. My job is to
find out what the pressure does to bacteria in meats, such as ground beef and steak. I am a co-inventor on a pending
patent on the development of this pressure technology.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in science?
A: If you want a career in science, you must be prepared to make sacrifices.
Hypertext updated by dav 2001-FEB-05