Professional Preface logo This story appears in The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society's student newsletter Professional Preface, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 1.

Talking with Julia Weertman

Walter P. Murphy professor at Northwestern University

Q: Who inspired you to become an engineer?
A: When I was a child, my parents took me to airports because they saw I had mechanical abilities. They didn't have a technical background, but they had a quiet expectation. That meant everything, and that inspired me.

Q: What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
A: My first job was a physicist at the Naval Research Lab. I learned a lot about ferromagnetic spin wave resonance, hands-on experimental work, and the value of working with top-notch people.

Q: A recent study by the National Research Council suggests that there is a perception that working conditions for women engineers are less favorable in industry. Do you hold the same view?
A: No, I haven't because I have been lucky enough to work with great people. Top-notch people don't resent you.

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: The accomplishments of my graduate students.

Q: What is your advice for women engineers who are entering the workforce?
A: Get along with your merits, not your gender.


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