Physician-Engineer Trainee Spotlights

Nick Race

Why did you choose to become a physician engineer?

It was a happy accident. I had always viewed college more as the next stepping stone to medical school rather than a major crossroads in my life. I had intended to major in biology or biochemistry and pre-med, taking the classic ‘straight through’ conventional basic science route to medical school. However, I ended up choosing Rose-Hulman as my undergraduate institution where biomedical engineering was offered as a major. It sounded appealing and had broad crossover with pre-med requirements, so I decided to pursue BME. To my surprise, I much preferred my applied BME courses over classic biology and biochemistry. I did not anticipate how much I would love the problem solving aspects and systematic, quantitative approaches of engineering training. After research and development experiences in industry and academia during my undergraduate summers, I was certain I wanted to stay involved in engineering and innovation throughout my career in addition to the medical aspect I had always planned. Physician-engineer training programs like the IU-Purdue MSTP were the perfect fit.

What does being a physician engineer mean to you?

Being a physician engineer, to me, manifests in two major ways. The first is the application of engineering principles and technology to enhance the study of biological systems in the laboratory. This can be through development or new application of technologies, particularly those that incorporate imaging or biosignal processing, to gain new insights that complement classical wet lab techniques. It can also be through computational modeling and systems-based approaches quantitatively assess, describe, and predict the behavior of biological systems.

The second major way is development of new technologies to solve clinical problems. Often, such innovations involve the application of engineering principles to move basic science discoveries from the bench to the bedside. These projects can include, but certainly aren’t limited to: durable medical equipment, imaging platforms, new devices for invasive procedures, wearables for mobile health, new diagnostic assays, novel engineered biomaterials for injection/implantation, and long-term implantable devices.

What is one of your most memorable experiences since you came into the program?

Collectively, I would say my most memorable experiences have been the times I’ve been wrong in the laboratory. The feeling of the ‘a-ha’ moment, especially when it dramatically shifts the lens you were viewing your project through and what you thought was ‘right’, is priceless. Sharing that feeling, and the excitement that accompanies it, with your friends and colleagues makes it even more meaningful and gratifying.

Describe the graduate student community.

My graduate school colleagues are diverse in their backgrounds, interests, and world views. I find the community to be accepting, supportive, and genuinely friendly – filled with fun and interesting individuals. I would say we are like-minded in that we all love science / engineering / medicine and are here to try to solve new and exciting biomedical challenges. However, we are all unique, all different, and share the opportunity to positively shape each other’s lives and our understanding of the world around us.

What do you do for fun outside of the program?

I am an outdoor enthusiast, so try to spend as much time in nature as possible. I hike, kayak, camp, observe wildlife, and search for nice outdoor places to read. Nearly all vacations I spend traveling to do similar activities. I also enjoy playing soccer and badminton, have played in a couple of MSTP student bands, and frequent craft beer/food/wine festivals.

What advice would you give to a prospective student?

Find the right fit for you from a life perspective, not just an academic perspective. Research topics and training opportunities are important factors, without a doubt. However, it’s important to remember you’ll spend nearly a decade of your life training to be a physician engineer, and there will definitely be trying times through that stretch. Access to a support system and outlets for stress relief outside of the classroom will be essential. I give the same advice in choosing a research mentor: find the right fit for you as a person, even if the research topic isn’t exactly what you’re interested in. The skills you learn during the Ph.D. portion will be transferable to other fields.