Edna S. Kaneshiro
Distinguished Research Professor
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
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 Ph.D.,
Syracuse University |
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Edna S. Kaneshiro is
a Distinguished Research Professor at the
University of Cincinnati in Ohio. |
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"Become
more sensitive and aware of what's around you." |
What
fields of biology do you work in?
Kaneshiro:
Microbiology, biochemistry, cell physiology.
Q:
When did you know you wanted to become a Biologist?
Kaneshiro:
After my MS studies in science education focusing
in geology, and teaching general science in a high school.
Q:
What was your college experience like?
Kaneshiro:
Undergraduate through completion of the Ph.D. was
wonderful with great mentors and student colleagues. We worked hard and
played hard and were optimistic of the future.
Q:
Did you incorporate work experiences while you were an undergrad?
Kaneshiro:
Yes, that was the key to becoming interested in
biology since I worked as an undergraduate student technician in a
zoology research laboratory and the faculty and graduate students in the
department became my personal friends.
Q:
How did you get your first job?
Kaneshiro:
Applied for the position.
Q:
What's the most rewarding thing about being a Biologist?
Kaneshiro:
Learning and contributing to new information, and
to work on understanding dynamic processes from things happening on the
biochemical and cellular level to the environment.
Q:
Is there an example you can provide that shows how something you've
worked on has positively impacted the world?
Kaneshiro:
Contributions to what is currently known about the
biochemical nature of the lipids of some microbial organisms that would
otherwise not be known. I have worked on bringing together scientists
from around the world by organizing meetings and by being active in
several professional societies having served in a variety of leadership
positions.
Q:
Do you spend a fair amount of time traveling?
Kaneshiro:
Mainly to scientific meetings.
Q:
Do you have a mentor? Or did you in your college years?
Kaneshiro:
I had several mentors during and after my college
years.
Q:
Do you find yourself working more in a team situation, or more alone?
Kaneshiro:
Both, but mainly with students within my group on
a day-to-day basis.
Q:
Do you find you are able to balance work with social/family life while
working in your current job?
Kaneshiro:
Yes.
Q:
If you had to do it all over again, would you still become a Biologist?
Kaneshiro:
Yes.
Q:
Did you think that school prepared you for the way the work gets done in
the real world?
Kaneshiro:
Yes.
Q:
Where do you see jobs for Biologists in the future? What should students
be doing to prepare themselves to take on those roles?
Kaneshiro:
There are many alternative jobs biologists can
fill especially if they did well academically in a solid liberal arts
program. There are many sub-disciplines in biology so first get broad
exposures to them before specializing and take advantage of situations
that allow for 'hands-on' experience.
Q:
What other advice do you have for precollege students?
Kaneshiro:
Become more sensitive and aware of what's around
you - there's some pretty fascinating stuff surrounding your daily life
if you just observe and think about it. Of course, do your best in your
coursework aiming for the very top - even if you don't make it to the
very top, you will probably achieve higher than if you aim low.
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