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Profile DR. MICHAEL ANDERSON

This special section profiles former MORE participants who have excelled in their fields. We hope that the profiles will give students an idea of the types of careers available with science degrees and the paths others have taken to achieve those careers.

Anderson currently works in the Center for Hearing and Balance at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research entails foreground and background sound discrimination at two levels of the auditory brainstem. He describes this research as "studying the ability to hear someone talking (foreground) in a cafeteria full of noise (background)." His project is a segment of a larger international study that focuses on foreground and background sounds in the cochlear nucleus, inferior colliculus, thalamus, and auditory cortex in the brain.

Electric Trains and Toy Race Cars Spark Interest in Science
BY JILLIENE MITCHELL, NIGMS

"When we were little, my mother would buy my older brothers and me electric train and racing car sets for Christmas," said Dr. Michael Anderson, a postdoctoral fellow at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD.

"So, I wanted to be either a train engineer or a tractor-trailer driver when I grew up," he added.

Anderson, with the encouragement of one of his brothers and his interest in toy trains and race cars in mind, decided to go to vocational-technical high school and major in automotive mechanics. There, he excelled academically and was encouraged by a guidance counselor to go on to college. He landed in the pre-engineering program in the physics department at Delaware State University.

"On my first visit to the department, I met the chairperson, Dr. Eshan Helmy. On that first day, Dr. Helmy looked me in the eyes and told me that I would do well in college," explained Anderson.

Under the guidance of Helmy and her sister, Dr. Fatma Helmy (the MARC program director at the university), Anderson became a MARC scholar. As required by the MARC program, Anderson participated in two summer internships. The first was in astrophysics at the University of California, Berkeley, and the second was in nuclear physics at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Anderson recalled being inspired at a MARC seminar he attended at Delaware State University--so much so that the presentation the speaker made influenced his decision to pursue a research career. Born deaf in one ear, Anderson decided to focus his studies on hearing research.

Anderson went on to graduate from Delaware State University with a triple major in physics, math, and physics with an engineering emphasis. He continued his education in the sciences in a joint program at Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where he earned a master's degree, and at the latter school, where he earned a Ph.D. Both degrees were in biomedical engineering.

Anderson says that most of his scientific opportunities and academic experiences were made possible by the MARC program.

"Not only did the MARC program provide me with financial support, it also helped me to establish my goals early in my academic career," he said.

"The thing I enjoy most about science is the freedom to explore things that are of interest to me."

"The MARC program allowed me to attend seminars and participate in internships, giving me exposure to various types of research. In addition, the program gave me the opportunity to meet leading scientists and helped me to decide the area of research I would focus on."

Anderson credits his interest in science not only to his professors and others in his field, but to his family members as well. In his early years, he wanted to follow in his brothers' footsteps and go to vocational-technical high school. As he matured, his role models changed from his older brothers to his Aunt Janet, at that time the only member of his family to earn a Ph.D.

"My Aunt Janet has always been an inspiration to me, so when the idea of becoming a researcher was presented to me by Dr. Eshan Helmy and Dr. Fatma Helmy, I knew that such an accomplishment would put me in the company of some great people," he said.

As a result of his experiences, Anderson is able to offer advice to students pursuing scientific careers.

"Get good mentors and advisors who have your best interest at heart and try to exceed their advice," he said.

"Although at times it may seem like your trusted advisors are leading you down the most difficult path, you must keep in mind that a career in the sciences will be most rewarding when you have worked hard to obtain your results."

If you know an outstanding former MARC, MBRS, or Bridges participant who has excelled professionally and you would like to nominate that person as a future Update profile subject, please let us know. Your suggestions are always welcome.