This Is What Science Looks Like at NC State: Golsa Naderi

Editor’s note: This post comes from Golsa Naderi, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State. The post is part of an ongoing series that we hope will highlight the diversity of researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The series is inspired by the This Is What A Scientist Looks Like site.

I am a materials science Ph.D. student. Materials science is my field of interest because it combines science, engineering and art – it’s such a diverse, amazing major.

I enjoy correlating the lessons that I’ve learned from materials science to real life. Here is an example: some defects are detrimental to a material’s properties, but many are good, and in fact useful for most applications – without defects you can’t form a useful metal, everything is brittle. That tells me not to be a perfectionist; let yourself have some defects.

During my Ph.D., I have been working on the processing, microstructures and properties relationships of high temperature superconductors.

I’m in love with high temperature superconductors because they are extraordinary challenging. I love taking on challenges because it makes me feel like I’m doing something productive and useful.

Aside from research I am blessed to have my best friend, my husband, Ali (with me in the picture on the right) studying in the same department. Sometimes I think we are like electron pairs in superconductors, moving forward without resistivity because we are coupled, we support each other.

I am from Iran, holding a single visa entry, not having the chance of visiting home for a LONG time, but thanks to technology, I still see my family through Skype and they send me positive energy and support every time I share my everyday life stories with them.

Without my amazing friends, my life wouldn’t be as fun as it is today. They are a beautiful portion of my life.