D.C. High Schooler Shadows NIH Engineers in Lab
Photo: Rea Ravin
In observance of National Engineers Week, Feb. 19-25, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering intramural researchers provided a District of Columbia high school student with a unique professional shadow day experience.
Ahmed Elvis is in the 11th grade at Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering (ACE) High School and participates in the Academy of Engineering program there. His professional shadowing opportunity on Feb. 17 was arranged with Dr. Hank Eden, deputy scientific director, NIBIB, who provided Elvis with an overview of biomedical imaging and bioengineering, and with Dr. Nicole Morgan, NIBIB staff scientist and chief of the microfabrication and microfluidics unit, trans-NIH shared resource on biomedical engineering and physical science, who introduced Elvis to activities in the unit’s lab.
This is the third year that Phelps has held an Engineering Shadow Day for students to observe engineers at work. It is the second year that Eden and Morgan have participated as mentors. Phelps provides students preparing to pursue a career in an engineering field with access to intellectually challenging studies in engineering, mathematics, science and technology. An integral goal included in the ACE mission is to encourage more women and underrepresented minorities to pursue STEM fields.