Keara Saud Greatwood
Biography
Keara Saud Greatwood
Katharine R Boyle
Education
Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering | University of Michigan | Advised by Prof. Michael J. Solomon | 2022
B.S. in Material Science and Engineering | Chemical Engineering minor | North Carolina State University | 2016
Industrial Experience
2025 - present: Technical Service Scientist - Chemical Monomers, Rigid Isocyanates | BASF Corporation
2023 - 2025: Ph.D. Leadership Development Program | BASF Corporation
-Application and Technical Service Scientist | Care Chemicals, Home Care & Industrial & Institutional Cleaning
-Investment Associate | BASF Venture Capital
-Scientist - Dispersions & Resins, Architectural Coatings
-Asphalt Rheologist | Chemical Monomers, Rigid Isocyanates
Summer 2015: R&D Intern | The Hershey Chocolate Company
Overview
How would you describe your typical workday?
As a technical service scientist at BASF, my role involves lab work and application testing, customer visits, support of academic collaborations, and regular communication with internal stakeholders. With respect to lab work, I typically work on “shorter-term” lab projects that are focused on specific customer needs or requests. These projects typically last a couple of weeks to months rather than a couple of years as in our central research group or in graduate school.
How do you use rheology in your day-to day work?
I feel very fortunate to use rheology regularly as rheological measurements are core to regulated asphalt testing. From a long history of asphalt testing, it is commonly understood that the modulus and phase angle of an asphalt binder correlate with its performance, including features like cracking, rutting, and compaction. The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) has defined specific rheological tests to determine an asphalt binder’s performance grade - in other words, to determine what geographic regions and applications an asphalt binder can be used in (all which are regulated by Departments of Transportation). It is also used to determine how an asphalt binder needs to be modified to be usable in a certain geographic location or application.
Though not used as a specific SHRP test, this graph from the Florida Department of Transportation captures approximate thinking of the desired trend of asphalt binder modulus (ideal), as well as that of the unmodified (neat) and modified asphalt binder with respect to temperature; mixing temperatures are typically 100-180℃.
Within this context, I specifically look at new chemistries for asphalt binder modification and improved rheological properties and performance. One exciting aspect of this is exploring how new or different rheological measurements may better capture the effects of these new chemistries and, potentially, better predict asphalt performance in general.
Beyond this, I get to consult with colleagues about rheological challenges in their roles which I also particularly enjoy!
What inspired you to become a scientist and/or pursue a career in your specific field?
I feel fortunate to have been raised by two engineers who fostered a love of math and science in me and my siblings at a young age. As such, and perhaps also because it’s innate to who I am, I have always been fascinated to learn more about how and why things worked. So when I got to choose my major and career, science and engineering seemed obvious. I did have a hard time choosing which field of science, though - ultimately landing on Materials Science and Engineering. I was (and still am) drawn to materials science and engineering because many of the challenges I see in the world often come back to the materials being used. I want to get to the root of problems and looking at materials is a key way to do that. What really decided it for me was when a professor related materials to people - I was hooked. “Materials are just like people - they have memory and act or perform according to that memory” shout out to Prof. Irving at NC State!
When did you decide to pursue a career in industry?
I didn’t decide to pursue a career in industry until my last year in graduate school. I originally was more inclined to pursue the academic career path - wanting to be like the many teachers and professors who have impacted my life. However, as I reflected more on how I wanted and needed to grow most, how I wanted to contribute to the world, and how I needed to recharge after a challenging graduate experience, industry became more intriguing. So I officially began the job search and found amazing value alignment and growth opportunities at BASF which really confirmed my decision to pursue industry after graduate school. Some people know exactly what they want to pursue, but that just wasn’t me. I had plans and ideas, but life had a way of teaching and guiding me (as I think it does for everyone). I believe it’s important to be open and flexible, especially in these dynamic times.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
Though it may seem like a cop-out answer, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the most rewarding part of my career so far has been the people and relationships along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved the science and the opportunities I’ve had at BASF, but the people have, and continue to, transform how I view and experience the world. I’ve been fortunate to learn from four amazing managers at BASF and many more mentors and friends. And the culture is one where I get to pay it forward to others through mentorship of others in the PhD Leadership Development Program and trying to be a good work colleague.
If I had to choose a more technically focused part of my career that has been most rewarding it would be during my time as an investment associate in our venture capital team. Specifically supporting the due diligence of and investment in a battery startup. This was an incredible experience, marrying the technical and commercial in a way I had not seen before and utilizing some of my materials science and engineering background and general network to identify key questions and isolate supporting points for the investment. Shout out to my manager Dr Joshua Speros and the whole BASF Venture Capital team for welcoming and supporting me in this incredible experience!
How has involvement with The Society of Rheology helped shape your career?
The Society of Rheology has been one of the most influential societies in my career and a key source of ideas, troubleshooting, and community. In graduate school, SOR annual meetings provided a community of brilliant (and fun) minds that helped me troubleshoot some of the challenges in my graduate work. The student-industry forum and lunch also exposed me to industrial rheologists that helped me immensely in envisioning and deciding on a career path. Beyond this, the meetings and involvement in the student planning committee of the Student Trivia Night helped form lasting connections and friendships that to this day are supporting me and my career. For example, through BASF’s Leadership Development Program, I’ve done rheology in many different groups on materials that are very different from my graduate school work. Instead of spending months to years trying to get up to speed on the rheology of these different materials, I was able to reach out to people I’d met through SOR for guidance which enabled me to meet company timelines of weeks to months instead - Shout out to Dr Carine Martinez, Dr Jianyu Du, and Dr Parth Kelkar for their conversations and support! I’ve also been able to share my graduate school research experiences with an SOR friend whose postdoctoral work was closely related. SOR is simply a beautiful community that I’m so grateful to have had for my career (and more).
After completing formal education, what is one new skill set that you developed/acquired that has been critical for your career?
One of the key skills I’ve been developing since completing formal education is how to quantify and communicate the impact of my work, specifically as it relates to the company’s priorities and to more commercially-minded colleagues. Though this doesn’t come as naturally to me, the PhD Leadership Development Program and some great mentors have been key in developing this skill. Furthermore, this was critical in landing my current role. I can do great science, but if I can’t communicate it and how it affects the bottom line or how it can help our team succeed, then the science and lessons learned lose their chance to impact others. As one manager put it, “you have to do good work and talk about it”.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
One piece of advice I wish I had received earlier in my career is: conflict isn’t bad, in fact, it is critical for progress. This was shared with me at different points in my career, but the relevance in my career and to me has taken time to sink in. How I would share it now is: you will have differing opinions than others and just because yours is different from others, doesn’t make your opinion wrong. Share it, discuss it, trust your instinct and data but be okay with changing your mind or holding your ground. You will be hired to bring your differing opinions and experiences, not to group-think.
What advice would you give to students considering graduate school?
I have two main pieces of advice for people considering graduate school:
(1) If you are considering graduate school (or really any path), talk to people - as many people as you can. This includes people who have gone to graduate school, people who are in graduate school, and people who decided against graduate school. The more people you talk to, the more full of a picture you get of what it’s actually like and why people have taken that path (or not). Every person has a valuable story and perspective to share, all which will help you determine and envision if it’s right for you. Then talk through the decision with the people who know you best to help you find your blind spots.
(2) Whatever decision you make, write down the reasons why you made it. In choosing any path, you may find yourself questioning why you chose that path later down the line. Coming back to your reasons in these challenging or doubting times can help you persevere. It can also help you determine if a pivot or a change is needed.
Looking towards the future, what are you most excited about in your career and/or science?
Looking towards the future in my career, I’m most excited to gain more experiences that can be useful to other young scientists. Being able to “pay it forward” has always been a key motivator for me, and I don’t think that will stop. In science, I’m very interested to see the continued development of active matter and structural color - two key areas of my research group in graduate school. I experienced many of their challenges in graduate school and have learned of many more that could arise in trying to produce both at scale in industry. No great scientific discovery or implementation came without challenge, so I’m very interested to see if and how the hurdles in those two areas of research will be overcome.
If you could meet and have lunch with one scientist (past or present), who would it be and why?
Though I’ve met and gotten to share a meal with this individual already, my answer remains the same: Randy Ewoldt . I absolutely love the work and outreach that Randy and his group work on. The Rheology Zoo, “How to Avoid Bad Data” chapter, his work on the next rheology text book with Macosko, protorheology, and so much more are all contributing to make rheology more approachable, relatable, and fun! I really appreciate what he’s done and simply would love to continue to learn from him and see what’s next in his work :)
Mentorship
How has mentorship impacted your career?
Mentorship has been one of the most important things in my life and career. In fact, in many ways, I would not be here today if it weren’t for the many mentors who have so generously shared their time and guidance. I love Isaac Newton’s quote about “standing on the shoulders of giants”. We are only capable of the life and science we do today because of the people who’ve come before us. And I believe formal and informal mentorship is one of the key ways we can be lifted onto those shoulders and also lift others onto our shoulders to ultimately progress humanity. Tai Lopez has a great “rule of thirds” that I try to incorporate into my life - that we should spend a third of our career being mentored, a third mentoring others, and a third collaborating with peers. It’s a hard rule to live by, especially at the start of something new, but I think important to consider.
From the mentor perspective, what advice would you give to others serving as mentors?
My advice for a mentor is simple: Communicate. As a mentor, communicate your capabilities, the topics you can and cannot provide guidance on, the time you can offer, and what you expect from the mentee. Some of this can make the mentorship relationship feel “less natural”, but will be critical for avoiding misunderstandings and unsatisfying mentorship relationships. I think mentorship falls short of all that it can be when one side has some kind of expectation that is unvoiced and unmet.
From the mentee perspective, what advice would you give to mentees?
My advice for a mentee is similar to that which I’ve shared for a mentor. As a mentee, first reflect on what it is you are looking for, what gaps you might need help filling, and the frequency you’d like to touch base with the mentor. Then communicate these desires and expectations to a potential mentor in order to reach an agreement. Again, it may seem less “natural”, but will help avoid misunderstandings and unsatisfying mentorship relationships. And as said to my mentors above, I think mentorship fals short of all that it can be when one side has some kind of expectation that is unvoiced and unmet - don’t be afraid to voice your expectations! I will add as a mentee, do not expect to get everything from one mentor. Mentorship can be for career guidance, role modeling, skill development, sponsorship, and so much more. No one person can do it all, and even if they could, I would argue that a diverse set of perspectives is still more valuable.
Collaborations
What challenges and benefits have you seen from collaborations between academia and industry?
One of the great benefits of collaborations between academia and industry is how they can help industry answer questions with cutting edge technology and simultaneously educate and expose students to industry and job paths/opportunities. That said, one of the recurring challenges I’ve seen from collaborations between academia and industry is the differing incentive structures and timelines. I believe that these differing incentive structures and timelines also provide different perspectives that can ultimately help solve some of our most challenging scientific problems, but it can make for some friction.
For hiring managers
When is the optimum time to start looking for jobs during graduate school?
This is a tricky question as I have seen how adviser- and/or climate-depending this answer may be. I might recommend that a graduate student first begin by looking at companies, career areas, or potential environments in which someone with your future skillset may thrive (or where the people in your research group have gone). It takes time to know what various environments, career fields, or corporate structures you, your skillset, and your career aspirations may perform well in, so looking early is key. If and when you have conversations with industry folk, be honest that you are early in your graduate skill journey; I think you will find that many people are eager to simply share their experiences and what got them there. If you only start searching in your final year of graduate school, you will have far less time to make yourself aware of companies and opportunities (and companies will have less time to become aware of you) on top of the fact that you will be finishing up your research and dissertation. As an added bonus, if you do decide to stay in the academic space, it never hurts to have more industry and academic contacts, and that also takes time to build.