Email: memeyerand@wisc.edu
Tell us about your role and the work you do at UW–Madison.
As a faculty member in the departments of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering I enjoy teaching students at all levels, from first year undergraduates to senior graduate students. I especially enjoy teaching in the undergraduate design sequence in the biomedical engineering department. My research is in the area of medical imaging, specifically the development and application of new Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods to map and model human brain connectivity. My lab then applies those methods to help understand a variety of different neurological diseases including epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and brain tumors.
As an associate dean in the Graduate School, I am involved in leading the admissions team and academic affairs as well as research mentor training for faculty so that they can improve their mentoring of graduate students and postdocs.
What are your experiences with and philosophy about mentoring?
Mentoring graduate students is by far the most rewarding aspect of my role as a faculty member. I take a broad approach to mentorship that includes not only guidance within our discipline but also support for career development, networking, communication skills, and helping students grow into effective mentors themselves.
Please share something important, interesting, or fun about yourself.
One fun and meaningful aspect of my life is that I served in the U.S. Coast Guard, an experience that shaped my values around service, resilience, and teamwork. I’m also a proud parent of two young adult children—one of whom is currently a student at UW–Madison. It’s been a joy to see the university from his perspective and share in his experiences. Outside of work, I love being outdoors and take every opportunity to get outside year-round, whether it’s cross-country skiing, ice fishing, kayaking, swimming, or hiking. Nature has always been a grounding and energizing part of my life.
What do you enjoy most about facilitating Delta Research Mentor Learning Communities for graduate students and postdocs?
I’ve been facilitating the Research Mentor Training curriculum for over 10 years, and it’s truly one of my favorite parts of my work. Every time I lead a session, I learn something new about mentoring from the participants—it’s a continual learning experience for me and I love that.