Lillie Shelton is a 2021 bachelor’s graduate in materials science and engineering. Read her career update and advice for recent graduates below.
What have you been up to since graduation?
Shortly after graduation, I started working at Merck, a pharmaceutical company. My current role is as a Data Scientist in the Image Data Analytics subgroup, part of Merck’s Data Science and Scientific Informatics team. In this role, I develop deep learning algorithms for analysis of images to advance our research drug development pipeline. In terms of the types of images, my focus thus far has been on histopathology whole slide images and cryo-EM micrographs.
On top of my data science role, at the beginning of this year, I started a lab-based rotation on Merck’s Vaccines – Materials and Biophysical Characterization team. This team is a part of the research division and focuses on the physiochemical and biophysical characterization of our vaccine candidates. Through this rotation, I’ve not only gained better insight into our research data, but I’ve had the ability to build upon my MatSci skills! It’s allowed me to work on the development of polyconjugate, virus like particles, and attenuated live virus vaccines.
How did your experience at Hopkins inspire you to pursue this path?
Through Hopkins, I was introduced to the world of research. This ultimately helped me decide when I joined Merck that the research division was the best fit for my interests. The skills I developed during my time at Hopkins have helped me in both the computational and benchwork research I have done at work. It was also through Hopkins that I was able to engage with novel ways to change and shape the world that we live in. And given Hopkin’s ties to medicine, I was able to see direct applications of this towards healthcare and biotechnology. This was something that really resonated with me, given my own interests in advancing healthcare. So, when I was given an offer at Merck, whose focus is “Inventing for Life”, it seemed like the natural next step in my path.
What do you miss about your time at JHU MatSci?
I miss the community that the department afforded us as undergrads. Given how close-knit the department is, I feel like we were able to build strong bonds with our professors and they really cared about each of our academic journeys. I received so much great advice during my time at Hopkins from my MatSci professors that still influences me today. Also, because our class size was not very large, we were able to build real camaraderie with our MatSci peers. I think back fondly to the time we spent together, working on problem sets, studying for exams, or just hanging out trying each other’s baking/cooking and laughing at each other’s jokes. I’ve developed what feels like lifelong friendships with some of my classmates and I’m so incredibly grateful I was able to build such relationships through having a shared major.
Do you have any advice for 2024 graduates?
It’s okay to not know exactly what you want to do following graduation. It’s okay if your interests change. It’s okay if you want to explore new fields. I really recommend talking to people from all different walks of life. The more people I talk to about their own life journeys, the more I realize no one’s path is linear. My path has already taken a lot of turns that I never would have guessed. I’ve learned so much about myself and it’s also given me more insight into what I want to work towards in the future. Remember to enjoy the journey and that your journey is unique to you.