Janet Teng Sets Out to Revolutionize Clean-Energy Tech

Earlier this year, PCC chemical engineering major Janet Teng was awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and named a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer semifinalist for 2022.

Now, she has transferred to MIT with the hopes of one day becoming a leader in clean energy technology.

Congratulations on receiving the Goldwater Scholarship and being named a semifinalist for the Cooke Scholarship. What an achievement! 

Thank you! I still can’t believe I was chosen. Being a semifinalist for the Cooke Scholarship is such an honor. And the Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious STEM launcher for undergraduates who are going into research. My research professor at PCC, Dr. Ashcroft, encouraged all his students to apply. I started preparing my materials while I was doing an internship at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory last year, and I submitted everything in January 2022.

What’s the award for a Goldwater Scholar?

Goldwater Scholars are entitled to funding in both their junior and senior years, up to a maximum of $7,500 each year or $15,000 total.

Well, much deserved. Have you always been academically motivated?

I would definitely say so. I’m not really a first-generation student. On my dad’s side, all the men are engineers and doctors. But all the women in the family have been discouraged from getting their education. My mom is the first one to go to college in her family, so growing up, she always encouraged me to get my degree. She’s been a huge influence on me.

Was your interest always in chemical engineering or did that come up along the way?

Even though the sciences have never ceased to fascinate me, being an actual scientist felt out of reach. I originally planned to attend community college and get my gen-eds out of the way. But then I gained a foundational understanding of the subjects and opportunities relevant to my interests and was encouraged to pursue the sciences as a career.

And that happened at PCC?

Yes! PCC has really good science programs and amazing professors. When I first enrolled, I was looking at biomedical engineering because I was interested in both robotics and the medical field. Eventually, I found myself doing more research, and so fields like chemical engineering became more attractive to me. PCC has it all, and I got involved with different research projects, which helped shape my interests even more.

You mentioned Dr. Ashcroft earlier. How did he help you with your research at PCC?

Right, Dr. Jared Ashcroft is an Assistant Professor in the Natural Sciences. He was my chemistry professor and in October 2020 I joined his research group that was creating gold-silver nanoparticles as a potential cancer treatment method. I was able to work with other students and learn about the research process. It really shaped my teamwork and communication skills, along with giving me the opportunity to present my work at research conferences. Then Dr. Ashcroft ended up encouraging me to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship, which changed everything for me.

You were a speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Armen Sarafian Building. It must feel good to know PCC is getting updated facilities for the Health & Natural Sciences. 

Oh, absolutely! PCC has offered me so many wonderful opportunities to pursue my passion for the sciences, and I hope those who come after me find the same opportunities—and more—with the new building. It’s great that the College is creating a new space out of an old space for its science programs.

Why do you think the sciences are so important at community colleges?

They’re important because they allow students to explore their academic interests in STEM and provide support for pursuing higher education. For students who are transferring to a four-year university, having access to those courses beforehand gives them a leg up. It’s difficult for community college students to participate in research compared to those at a four-year university. By having those science programs at PCC, students are exposed to potential careers they might not have considered before and further grow their interests in STEM. 

I know for me, the faculty and facilities at PCC have instilled the love I have for research and the pursuit of science. While I hope to continue my undergraduate research at MIT and beyond, my experiences gained at PCC will stick with me forever.

What’s next for Janet? 

Well, right now I’m at MIT, continuing my studies in chemical engineering. But I hope that in 10 years I’ll be done with my Ph.D. My goal is to go into material science, specifically energy applications to help create new materials for clean energy technology. It’s really important right now when you think about things like climate change. We need to come up with new, sustainable ways of an industry that are less harmful to the environment.