STEPS4GROWTH(S4G)- Stepping inside the Edward B. Fort
Interdisciplinary Research Center brought back a flood of memories for Shakiri
Marcus. When she first walked through its doors as a freshman in the early
2000s, she was studying Chemical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University. Now, nearly 20 years later, she’s back—this time,
with a new purpose.
That purpose? Participating in the HAMMER Research Experience for Teachers
at North Carolina A&T. After six intensive weeks of exploring engineering
research topics, Shakiri is heading back to her high school classroom with a
wealth of new knowledge and inspiration.
During the program, Shakiri worked alongside Dr. Bhattarai and Dr. Yun, helping
manufacture Hydro-Gel for drug delivery purposes. Her second project focused
on standards and processes that ensure product consistency across multiple
batches.
“The biggest challenge was how fast everything moved, ” she said. “We had to complete five different labs in six weeks, all while developing teaching modules.
Just as you were getting into one lab, it was time to move on to the next. That was probably the hardest part.”
Despite the challenges, Shakiri says the experience not only strengthened her
skills but reignited cherished memories from her time as a student.
“This lab has such a meaningful impact on teachers. For me, it was deeply
nostalgic. This is where I earned my degrees—where I stood in the very lab I
started in,” she shared. “I was part of the first class of bioengineers to come to
graduate school here.”
Now, she’s eager for the school year to begin, ready to share everything she’s
learned with her students.
“Getting to see the different research happening now, the progress, the
innovations—it’s exciting. I can’t wait to bring it all back to my classroom,” she
said.
Walking the halls again brought vivid flashbacks.
“This place looks almost exactly the same. I went around the corner, saw
equipment we used back then, and even some materials in the back room still
had everyone’s names on them. I could point out the machines—it really brought
back a lot of memories,” she said.
After completing the program, Shakiri hopes to pass on not just technical
knowledge, but also a sense of confidence and possibility.
“I make sure all my students know that anything is achievable. People see my
degrees and sometimes say, ‘What are you doing here?’ or ‘That’s intimidating.’
And I always say, ‘Why? You know me.’ Was the process hard? Yes. But it’s achievable. And I remind them of that all the time.
