Erika Moore Taylor facts for kids
Erika Moore Taylor is a super smart scientist and engineer who helps people. She's a biomedical engineer, which means she uses engineering ideas to solve problems in medicine and biology. She's also a professor, teaching students at the University of Florida. Forbes magazine even named her one of their "30 Under 30" honorees, which is a big deal for young leaders! She also started a scholarship program to help other students.
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Erika's Journey to Science
Erika Moore Taylor has always been interested in science and helping others. She started her amazing journey by studying biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. This was back in 2013, when she earned her first degree.
After that, she continued her studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. In 2018, she earned her PhD, which is the highest degree you can get in a field. Her PhD was also in biomedical engineering.
Erika then went back to Johns Hopkins University for a special research position until 2020. Today, she works as an assistant professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She teaches and does important research in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
What Erika Studies
Erika's special area of study is using biomaterials to change how the body's immune response works. Biomaterials are special materials that can be used inside the body, like in medical devices or implants.
Her goal is to find new ways to help people, especially those with autoimmune disorders like lupus. In lupus, the body's immune system accidentally attacks its own healthy tissues. Erika's research aims to find solutions to make people with these conditions feel better.
Amazing Achievements and Awards
Erika Moore Taylor has received many special recognitions and awards for her hard work and intelligence. Here are some of them:
Special Recognitions
- 2017 Duke University Board of Trustees - Graduate Young Trustee: This means she was chosen to help make important decisions for Duke University as a student representative.
- 2017 MIT Rising Stars in Biomedical Engineering and Science: This honor means she was recognized as one of the brightest young minds in her field by a very famous university, MIT.
- 2018 Duke University Department of Biomedical Engineering - BME Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation: This award was for her excellent PhD research paper.
- 2021 Duke University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM) Research Summit - Keynote Speaker: She was asked to give an important speech at a big research meeting, showing she's a leader in her field.
Scholarships and Fellowships
Erika has also won many scholarships and fellowships. These are special awards of money that help students pay for their education and research.
- 2009 Johns Hopkins University - Hodson-Gilliam Success Scholar
- 2012 U.N.C.F./Merck Science Initiative - U.N.C.F./Merck Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- 2013 Ford Foundation Fellowship
- 2013 The Graduate School of Duke University - Dean's Graduate Fellowship
- 2013 The Graduate School of Duke University - James B. Duke Fellowship
- 2013 National Science Foundation - NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at UF - Rhines Rising Star Larry Hench Professorship
Societies and Groups
Erika is also a member of special groups that recognize smart engineers.
- Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society: This is a very old and respected honor society for engineering students and professionals who have achieved great things.
