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Eleanor Quirk | Student Spotlight

Eleanor Quirk

Eleanor Quirk

PhD Candidate
Chemical Engineering
Mai Lab

"My thoughts about plastics began near age ten
I knew plastic pollution was bad even then
So I learned what I could and I spoke to my peers
To share the “Three Rs”* with all who would hear

From that moment on, I knew that I’d try
To reduce pollution, and by and by
To make a new plastic that wouldn’t harm Earth
So we could live well and show this planet its worth

Then I was lucky at age seventeen
To work in a lab with researchers keen
Who showed me how polymers can fix cracked teeth
Though material constraints lurked just underneath

Throughout that experience we worked to decide
How to build our material with little downside
And from this experience I learned just how neat
It is to build knowledge - what a grand feat!

In college I still wanted time in a lab
So I looked for positions for an undergrad
I ended up joining a biochem group
They taught me so much (I was out of the loop!)

The research I did in that lab was quite cool
I watched proteins adsorb onto metals and duel
But plastics were missing from these research goals!
Without polymers there, my research hopes had some holes

Applying to grad school was scary and hard
But I knew that more education was my card
To working with plastics and hopefully then
To building a plastic to reduce pollution

Now I am here, my research is my dream
I’m working on polymers with a great team
To develop a material that turns solid with light
And turns back to liquid when conditions are right

With our material we hope to decrease
Pollution that spiked with 3D printing’s increase
And on the way we are sure we will find
Cool polymer physics to probe and unwind!

My ten-year-old self would be happy to know
That her dream of making better plastics will grow
I’m excited to keep learning more while I’m here
And making the path to green plastics more clear

Within the department I help where I can
I am GSAC’s** president this year again
I’m excited to TA*** a class come this fall
And hope to help our grad recruits make their call

Outside the department I do other things too
I teach dance and write music for people like you!
I also support the CAs**** who provide
Cool events to enjoy on the residential side

There’s one other thing that I haven’t said yet
And that’s that I have the most wonderful cat!
I’m a cat parent, as proud as can be
You want pictures of cats? I’ll share happily!

I hope that you have a most beautiful day
And that things go well in every which way
Thank you for reading, I know this was long
And thank you for being part of my life’s song :)"

*”Three Rs” - The Three Rs of waste reduction: reduce, reuse, recycle
**GSAC - Graduate Student Action Committee for Stanford’s Chemical Engineering department
***TA - Teaching Assistant
****CA - Community Associate

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