This Biophysics Week, we're highlighting some of the outstanding members of our Student Chapter program. Today, we'll hear from Mao Yamane, a 3rd year Biological Sciences major at the Biophysical Society Student Chapter at ETSU.

 

What inspired you to study biophysics?  
As a pre-medicine student, I am fascinated with how the physics correlate with biology to facilitate the overall understanding of our body. This interdisciplinary study also inspires me to evaluate specific techniques for research and clinical investigation.

 

What do you think makes the study of biophysics unique?  
Biophysics is unique because it allows us to analyze the exact intersection of quantitative reasoning and complex living systems. It enables us to apply the rigorous, foundational laws of physics to intricate biological puzzles to solve problems that neither discipline could tackle alone, such as exploring how parasitic infections might interact with metabolic diseases at a molecular level.

 

What skill have you learned in your studies that you find useful in other aspects of your life?  
Skills like quantitative reasoning and the ability to evaluate a problem from various perspectives have provided me useful as I work in student success centers and research labs to promote my overall performance.

 

What is your dream career?  
I plan to become a Physician and support the bridge between producing science and implementing it into clinical settings.

 

What accomplishment are you most proud of?  
I am proud of myself on how well I have adapted to the new knowledge I’ve gained and implemented it to various setting in my career, where I can see the overall positive change it creates.

 

What advice do you have for someone thinking about studying biophysics?  
Don't be intimidated by the intersection of different scientific disciplines! Embrace the challenge of learning both biological mechanisms and physical principles simultaneously. Having that combined perspective gives you an incredibly powerful and versatile toolkit for solving real-world medical and scientific problems.