Alumni and Friends

Laura earned her BS in Chemistry from the University of Costa Rica in 1991 and her PhD in Chemistry from Michigan Technological University in 1995. She was awarded a 3-year NIH grant to conduct research at Carnegie Mellon University. Next, she dedicated 9 years studying the biology of Zaire Ebola virus infection. From 1999 to 2003, she worked at the NIH, studying possible therapies for Ebola virus infection. In 2003, . . .

Lina Tormen Taskovich ’52 studied chemistry and chemical engineering at Michigan Tech almost thirty years before Sally Heidtke, and she has some words of wisdom for women students too: "Study a field you like—you have to spend all your life working in it. And go for the top degree in the field of your choice. Also, do not go for the most lucrative job, but for the job you would love to do." When Taskovich . . .

After graduating from Michigan Tech in 1966 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry, Robert Nelson started a distinguished business career working for several chemical companies. He also did graduate work at Wayne State University. In 1974 he began selling stock plastic shapes and finished goods for an industrial plastics distributor. Abbot Plastics, of which he is half-owner, co-founder, and current President, was started . . .