We’re excited to welcome Kassidy White to the Induron team! Kassidy graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Chemistry. During college, Kassidy worked for a non-profit organization as a Lab Analyst, which gave her experience tackling tasks like what she will do here at Induron.
As our newest chemist, Kassidy will assist with the formulation, development and lab work needed for industrial coatings projects. She will also be testing, gathering, analyzing and recording data of various coatings projects. To learn a little more about Kassidy, check out this Q&A.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?
A: I have learned so much in such little time working at Induron. I came into this job with little background in polymer chemistry, but Mike Kang has been wonderful with teaching me the basics and necessities for my position. Last week, I observed in the plant, which has been amazing because I’ve been able to see the big picture of how everything comes together within the production of coatings.
Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job?
A: Strengthening my background in polymer chemistry and getting in a normal routine after starting out somewhere new.
Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?
A: I’m constantly getting to learn new things! With research and development, you really must be able to brainstorm and explore all options, which I enjoy.
Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.
A: My entire senior year of college I worked as a research assistant for my former Biochemistry professor. We tackled a project that he wanted to continue from when he was in grad school, which consisted of passaging cells every week then taking specific pharmaceuticals and exposing cells to the drugs to watch their cell-signaling receptors. I’m proud of this project because I stepped out of my chemistry comfort zone and got to learn a lot more about biochemistry and how to use different biology equipment that I had never been exposed to before.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: The best advice I’ve ever gotten was probably from my Physical Chemistry professor. He said to never allow myself to get complacent in life and always keep expanding my knowledge, regardless of what I’m doing.
Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?
A: If I could have dinner with anyone it would have to be Bill Nye. He influenced my love for science at a young age with ‘Bill Nye the Science Guy, ‘and he continues to impact the science community to this day. I think it would be awesome to be able to ask him all my random science questions over dinner!
Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?
A: I can’t just pick one person, so I would say that both of my parents have had the biggest influence on my life. They both were always so encouraging and helpful in my academic career and pushed me to do my best.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” -Albert Einstein
Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.
A: I was born and raised in Killen, Alabama, which is just about two hours from Birmingham. My dad grew up in Greenhill, and my mom grew up in Elgin. I have a younger sister who is 16 years old. My family has two small dogs, but at my apartment I have a red-eared slider turtle that I got when I was in 8th grade and a bearded dragon that I got at the beginning of this year. While both of my own pets live in tanks, I dream of the day where I have a house with land so that I can get a husky!
Q: Where is your favorite place to be?
A: Anywhere where there is live music! I enjoy many different genres of music and I love to support smaller, local artists.
Q: If you could have another job for a day, what would it be?
A: Working as a cosmetic chemist with either makeup or skincare products.