Dr. Julie Carrier, professor of biological engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2000, following her time at the University of Saskatchewan.
Education
Carrier earned a bachelor’s of science in agricultural engineering; a master’s of science and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from McGill University in Quebec, Canada.
“I was interested in systems, and I liked the thoroughness of engineering,” she said.
Like many students, Carrier explored a few areas of study before settling on the best fit. She began as an engineering major, switched to landscape architecture, but returned to engineering swiftly, valuing the black-and-white results, the concrete data of it.
No matter what, “I made sure always to do the best at whatever I was doing,” she said, to ensure that she would have more opportunities.
Carrier pursued research interests in biochemistry, a great background for biological engineering.
“In the early 1980s, it was really novel to double engineering with biochemistry work…but I enjoyed it, so I did it.”
It wasn’t until later that she came to the world of biological engineering, when doing doctoral work on fermentation and plant tissue culture while interfacing with biologists and engineers.
A Transformation
The dynamic of earning an engineering education significantly improved since Carrier’s college years in the early 80s. That female students were a rarity of engineering programs was a gross understatement. In a 180 member class, Carrier was one of only two female students.
“It was a different time for women engineers back then. It was not a traditional path for a woman’s education,” she said.
As the campus coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers, Carrier has had the privilege of creating a comfortable learning atmosphere, which has brought many women into successful careers.
“It’s important for girls to be in this field of sustainability and engineering. They have a lot to contribute and it’s a great job for a female,” she said.
Sustainability research has expanded significantly giving her a unique perspective, having seen earlier proposed solutions to environmental conflicts.
“One of my professors said the solution to pollution is dilution. Just add more water to it, and the pollution will go away,” she said, in a manner of disbelief.
“Now, we have more (environmental) problems than ever. There are many more people on earth, so there is a tighter use of land, a competition for resources, globalization, and we have to make the most out of what we have. These are complex problems.”
Problems, she says, that biological engineers are working to find solutions for.
Influential engineer
Carrier was strongly influenced by her grandpa. “He was a mechanical engineer at a textile mill,” she said. “He designed a lot and impacted the company so much at that when he retired, they had to hire three engineers to replace him.”
In addition to being an exemplar engineer, Carrier’s grandfather “made me pass my dynamics course,” she said, chuckling.
University of Arkansas experience
Carrier, like Marty Matlock, Lalit Verma and Scott Osborn who followed later, came to the University of Arkansas upon the promise of a true biological engineering program, which was under the supervision of Dr. Carl Griffis and Dr. Walker at the time.
After the hurdle of moving a family of five from Canada to America, Carrier became a valued researcher and integral part of the innovative biological engineering department.
Research
Carrier works with Charles “Chuck” West, professor of environmental sciences and Ed Clausen, professor of chemical engineering.
“In our labs, we take plants and release their sugars, which are then used to produce biofuels and other bioproducts,” she said. “We try to release the sugars as delicately as possible so that inhibitors to other steps of the process are not created.”
Off the Clock
When Carrier is not working at the biological and agricultural labs, teaching, or advising students, she likes to walk her dogs, spend time with her family and go skiing as often as possible.
“I love to spend time with my family,” she said. “I also love to ski. I grew up in Canada and was a ski racer from the age of 12-19. I ski as often as I can, which is difficult to do when you’re living in Arkansas.”
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