Khalid Kader
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

Abstract
The typical path for an academic career – PhD, post-doctoral work, a junior faculty position leading to tenure – works well for most. It didn’t for me. Nor did it for many of my colleagues. I propose and hypothesize that scientists and engineers who are encouraged to follow their passions, even (and especially) when they are unorthodox will enhance their job satisfaction, self-confidence, and creativity.

My laboratory’s general research focus was the development of surface modification techniques that would increase the biocompatibility of synthetic biomaterials. Specifically, we developed methodology for the self-assembly of Type IV Collagen on polytetrafluoroethylene and went on to develop a theory as to why many synthetic materials fail biocompatibility. Our group rotated between engineering design and basic science, most notably reactive oxygen species effects on our new biomaterials.

I hope to use my path to illustrate dual careers that have renewed and complemented one another. From a University of Iowa Biomedical Engineering faculty, to commissioning and qualification as a Navy Engineering Duty Officer, to Afghanistan and the US Patent and Trademark Office, I feel that both careers fed each other’s development. What junior faculty member literally places his career in the hands of his students? Where can such delegation and trust skills be better developed than on the streets of Kabul or under the depths in a nuclear submarine?

Bio
Lieutenant Commander Khalid Kader, PhD (right) currently serves as Surge Maintenance Officer-In-Charge and Reserve Liaison Officer at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. He previously served as Deputy Operations and Maintenance for the Afghan National Security Forces, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Dr. Kader completed his doctoral work in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) in 2001. His research interests include fluoropolymer surface modification, extracellular matrix assembly on synthetic surfaces, and reactive oxygen species in host/biomaterial interaction.