Einstein Questionnaire

David Mooney

 

Please close your eyes for a moment and think about your research project. What do you see at first?
I see a patient in an operating room who is about to receive a new biomaterial implant or injection to help promote regeneration of their bone or muscle.

Please name three things that you spontaneously connect to Albert Einstein!
Curiosity about the world and how it works, his valuation of creativity, and his ability to look beyond science to broader causes in society.

What do you do first thing in the morning when you arrive at your workplace, and why?
Check my email for manuscripts sent by my students; reading their papers and seeing new data is one of the most exciting parts of my work.

What would your research project look like if it was a piece of art?
A bit of a mess, with different components going in different directions as we probe and explore.

What characteristics distinguish researchers from other people?
Ability to tolerate and even embrace failure as a necessary step towards understanding and knowledge.

 

April 2015