Rebecca (Becky) Reals

Where did you complete your undergraduate degree?
Northeastern University in Boston, MA

Please provide your lab and description of research
I work in Spencer Lake’s lab, where we study the structure and mechanics of musculoskeletal soft tissues like tendons and ligaments. For my project, I use a model of elbow dislocation to develop better physical therapy techniques and identify potential drug targets to prevent stiffness and fibrosis from occurring after elbow injuries.

What played into your decision to get a graduate engineering degree?
I chose to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering because I wanted to gain more knowledge in the field, learn new experimental techniques, and contribute to research that would improve people's lives. A PhD would allow me to dedicate my attention to a specific problem for several years, such that I could develop a deep understanding of that topic and significantly advance scientific research in that area.

Why did you pick WashU?
I chose to attend WashU for several reasons (in no particular order). The first reason was the Olin Fellowship (recently renamed Olin-Chancellor's Fellowship) I was awarded, which pays part of my stipend and hosts events that allow me to connect with graduate students in other programs/departments that I would not have met otherwise. The second reason was the close proximity of the medical school, because collaborations with clinicians are a very important part of biomedical engineering research due to the clinicians' direct contact with patients and knowledge of current treatment methods. Finally, the third reason was that WashU has a rigorous, prestigious biomedical engineering program while still maintaining a friendly, collaborative environment where students and faculty are happy to help each other succeed.

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis?
St. Louis is a very inexpensive place to live, so the PhD student stipend goes a long way! After paying for bills like rent and groceries, I still have plenty of money left over to travel, eat at restaurants, attend concerts, see musicals, and go dancing, kayaking, mini golfing, etc. There are also lots of free things- the zoo, science center, art museum, and history museum are all free!

What advice would you give to a new student?
Take advantage of the rotation program by rotating in multiple different labs and keep an open mind even if you think you already know which lab you want to join. Even if you end up going back to your first lab afterwards, rotating in another lab is still a valuable experience because it allows you to meet new people, learn new techniques, and experience a different lab culture and mentorship style. It may even pave the way for future collaborations between the two labs!

What campus activities or groups would you recommend to a new student?
The Association of Graduate Engineering Students holds frequent events like coffee hours during the day, happy hours in the evenings, and seasonal activities like pumpkin picking or ice skating. For biomedical engineers, BME Doctoral Council holds happy hours as well and also has a Mentorship Program and plans a yearly department retreat.

What are your plans for the future?
I hope to stay in academia after graduation to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and eventually become a professor with my own research lab.