Katherine Eltz is a second-year PhD student in the lab of Virginie Papadopoulou, an associate professor with joint appointments at the UNC Department of Radiology and the UNC-NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.
In the lab, Eltz uses ultrasound technology to study bubble dynamics in the circulatory system during decompression sickness, also known as the bends - a condition caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the body due to rapid pressure changes in air or water.
Q: What were your interests when young, and how did you get into biomedical science?
A: When I was younger, I knew I wanted to do something related to marine biology or marine science. Some of my earliest memories involve catching water bugs or minnows with my parents and siblings. When I was about 8, I received a children's microscope which made me even more enthusiastic about science.
The first time I ever heard about biomedical engineering was at a marine biology summer camp, and I was fascinated by how interdisciplinary this field was. As I entered college, I held onto this fascination and decided to major in biomedical engineering and minor in marine science in hopes to be able to combine these two interests.
Q: Why did you choose UNC and the lab you are in?
A: My interest in marine science and biomedical engineering led me to discover the work of my current principal investigator, Dr. Virginie Papadopoulou. She does work related to extreme environment physiology and decompression sickness in scuba divers. This area of research was the perfect way to merge my two interests, and as a sophomore, I joined her lab. Papadopoulou took the time to get to know me and my interests and provide me with opportunities to grow as a researcher while completing work that was fulfilling and fit my very niche interests.
When the time came for me to decide what I wanted to do after earning my undergraduate degree, there was no question that I wanted to stay with Dr. Papadopoulou and continue to research decompression sickness physiology in humans and marine animals. I am very thankful for the supportive environment she has fostered for all the members of her lab, and continuing work in her lab was a no-brainer for me!
Q: What are you working on right now?
A sea turtle getting an ultrasound. Credit: Katherine Eltz
A: Right now, I am finalizing my first paper, titled "Analysis of gas evolution in the heart, liver and kidney of turtles presenting with gas embolic pathology based on ultrasonography." For this project, I had the opportunity to collaborate with veterinarians/researchers Dr. Andreas Fahlman, Dr. Daniel Garcia, and Dr. Jose-Luis Crespo, who work at Oceanogràfic, a sea turtle and marine animal conservation center and aquarium in Valencia, Spain.
At this facility, veterinarians help rehabilitate sea turtles that have been accidentally caught in fishing nets. When these turtles get caught in fishing nets, their normal diving activities are interrupted, and the sea turtles become afflicted with gas bubbles that flow through their vessels and organs, which can cause severe neurological symptoms and death. This is similar to "the bends" in human divers. These collaborators graciously included me in their work by passing off the data they collect as part of veterinary care to me for analysis and image processing.
I am currently planning my next large project, which will include joint experiments with the Multiphase Dynamics Group at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. I was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship to support this visit, and I am excited to spend six months in my host laboratory in Greece. We will be combining my lab's specialty in ultrasound with their lab's specialty in electrical impedance to optimize detection methods of decompression bubbles for scuba divers and astronauts. My travel experiences have been a key part of my development as a scientist and a person so far, and I look forward to my Fulbright experience as a way to further this development.
Q: What inspires you the most about working in your field?
Eltz outside of Panama City, Florida, as part of an advanced dive training scholarship she received from the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
A: It is hard to narrow down what inspires me to just one thing. I am surrounded by amazing mentors, inspiring researchers, and talented scuba divers. However, I think the one thing that all these people have in common is passion. Many people I have spoken to started their work in this field because of their interest in scuba diving and desire to make it safer. This genuine personal interest in the research topic leads to inspiring and innovative research that I love learning about at yearly conferences.
My mentors in this field seem to be driven by a similar kind of passion, and I feel the effect of this every day. Because of my mentors and their mentors before them, I have been given opportunities to apply for many life-changing programs, including scuba diving training grants, study abroad trips, and now, a Fulbright scholarship. I hope to one day be able to act as an important mentor to other young scientists and continue to foster growth in the field of extreme environment physiology.
Q: What are your goals after earning your PhD?
A: I plan to continue with postdoctoral research. I will choose a related area of study to become a more well-rounded researcher. Following my postdoc, I plan to get a professorship in academia and eventually have students of my own to mentor as they complete research that interests them.
I will continue to develop skills to effectively work with diverse groups of people, which I will continue to do throughout the rest of my career in academia. I look forward to becoming an expert in the field of extreme environmental physiology and work to make all activities that involve changes in pressure, whether it is under the sea or in outer space, safer for humans (and turtles!).
