Behind the Test Tube: Q&A
Katie Knowles—Associate Professor of Chemistry
Where is home/Where did you grow up?
Right here in Rochester, NY! More specifically, out on the west side in the Churchville-Chili School district (pronounced chai-lye)
Why did you choose chemistry as a career?
I love the combination of analytical/quantitative thinking and hands-on experimentation.
Proudest accomplishment while at the University of Rochester?
Mentoring students to help them achieve their goals, such as getting into their first-choice graduate program, completing their PhD, or landing a dream job. I really value my role in helping students learn and grow.
What do you like to do when not in the department?
Read novels, cook, play with my kids, train to run my first half marathon with Ellen Matson!
A Rochester must?
Berry picking in the summer and apple-picking in the fall. There are SO many varieties of apples available at local farms and they are all delicious!
Feast/meal of the times? Details, please!
Our family's Christmas and/or Easter dinner: glazed ham, JC Olsen's spinach pie, and cheesecake for dessert! (vanilla for Easter and chocolate capuccino caramel for Christmas)
An inspiring book/movie /show? We are really curious as to why!
This may sound cliché, but I have a soft spot for Grey's Anatomy (specifically the first 10-12 seasons). The show premiered when I was a freshman in college and I found the characters' growth and career progressions inspiring. They made mistakes but learned from them and gradually gained more responsibility as their skills developed. It also re-affirmed my decision to pursue grad school instead of med school—doing research is stressful enough without having someone's life in your hands!
A holiday that rocks? Care to tell us why?
I've always loved the end of the year holiday season with all the lights, decorations, seasonal foods, and family time.
Care to share about a special tradition in your family/town/country?
Every Christmas Eve growing up (and, to be honest, even after I was technically "grown"), my dad read us the poem "The Night Before Christmas" before we went to bed. This year, in addition to "The Night Before Christmas", we also read "The Nightmare Before Christmas" to my kids on Christmas Eve. It was so fun—I think a new tradition has been born!
Fun fact or quote:
I am an alum of the University of Rochester—chemistry and math double major, Class of 2008!
Ask me about…
National Chemistry Week Outreach!
The goal of this initiative is to highlight the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives in the Department of Chemistry and help our community develop stronger connections and synergies. You can think of these spotlights as the beginning of a conversation that we very much hope you will continue in the corridors of Hutch and beyond.
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