DR.

SUE JAMES
Professor and Department Head,
Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University

1. Please describe your field of research. How does your job relate to bioengineering?
I work in the area of biomaterials. These are made by people or by nature. We used these
materials in the body for medical reasons. For example, we make hip and knee parts, heart
valves, and lenses for the eye. We engineer materials that help medicine.

2. What kinds of problems do you work to solve? How do you identify these problems and
how do you go about solving them?

One of the biggest problems we face is getting the body to work with the new materials. For
example, it is hard to find materials that are like blood. This means that anytime we put
something man-made in contact with blood it causes clotting. People who have mechanical heart
parts have to take medicine to make their blood thinner. To solve these problems, we study how
the body interacts with new materials. We want the new materials to look like natural body
parts. Humans have amazing bodies that protect us from things that are not supposed to be there.
We try to trick the body into thinking its not being attacked.

3. Why is your work important to society or to other engineers and scientists?

We try to make human health better. For example, some of the materials invented in my lab are
now used in knee implants around the world. We are teaching others about biomaterials. Science
and engineering work together. We all learn from each others failures and successes.

4. What is your favorite part about what you do?

I really love working with students in my lab, in class, and in the work of the university. Its so
much fun to watch them grow and learn. I feel as much pride as a parent (or even more) when it
comes to my students!

5. What did you have to study to get to where you are?

Before going to college, I studied science and math. I learned to read and write well and solve
problems. I still use my writing skills as much as my engineering skills. In college, I studied
materials science and engineering. I also studied biomedical engineering. In graduate
school, I studied polymers. Polymers are the long molecules that make up plastics and many
natural materials (like wool, cotton). Talking and listening to other people helped me a lot as
well!

6. What messages do you have for 5th graders about how scientists and engineers work
together?
Scientists and engineers work together to solve many problems. Engineers use science. We
work in groups a lot. I work with doctors and veterinarians. I work with chemists and biologists.
I work with sociologists and psychologists. And, of course, I work with engineers.