Chantel Briana Campbell says she was drawn to engineering and biomaterials science because it allows her use creativity, science and the application of technology to address real-world challenges.
Chantel Briana Campbell has always disliked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
For Campbell, born in Jamaica and spent her childhood in Toronto’s Rexdale neighborhood, the question was too limiting – she never had one answer.
“Lineage” illustration by Chantel Briana Campbell / University of Toronto
“I knew that I wanted to be a fine artist and medical scientist,” says Campbell, a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto. “Additionally, the fields of psychology and linguistics have always intrigued me. Growing up, I was also passionate about building things and creating atypical structures.”
Her undergraduate research pursuits highlighted her diverse interests – she completed four independent thesis projects focused on addiction psychology, contemporary fine arts, multiethnolect enregisterment and neurolinguistic development.
“My next step needed to be something multifaceted. I eventually realized that engineering was the ideal path for me. Its interdisciplinary nature encompasses creativity, science and the application of technology to address real-world challenges,” she says.
Chantel Briana Campbell, a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, says she wanted to be both a fine artist and a medical scientist. Image courtesy of Chantel Briana Campbell
“This resonates deeply for me because I’ve always been able to view challenges from multiple perspectives and as opportunities for growth and innovation.”
Campbell pursues fine art outside academia – specifically painting, sculpture and installation. She says that being a practicing artist and engineer simultaneously is a challenge she finds deeply rewarding.
Campbell is one of three 2023 recipients of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships, along with fellow graduate students Raylene Mitchell and LaShawn Murray. Fellows receive financial support, mentorship, training and networking opportunities to reduce the systemic barriers for their entry into academia.
Biotechnology research in a lab, working with biomaterials – illustrative photo. Image credit: CDC via Unsplash
Since pivoting to biomedical engineering for her graduate studies, Campbell has worked under the supervision of Axel Guenther, a mechanical and industrial engineering professor with a cross-appointment at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering.
“My [master’s degree] research was focused on engineering angle-ply and cross-ply collagen multilamellar composite biomaterials,” Campbell says.
“These multilayered tissues, found throughout one’s body, are essential for vital physiological functions in the cardiovascular, visual and musculoskeletal systems.”
Campbell’s PhD research continues her work with collagenous multilayered biomaterials and their atypical structures.
“I can make multilayered tissues with layers as strong as standard plastic wrap and thinner than a human hair,” she says.
“If we continue on this trajectory, this technology could have applications in the cardiovascular system as vascular wall grafts, in the visual system as potential corneal stroma implants and as grafting for various tissues in the musculoskeletal system.”
While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, Campbell says she is acutely aware that people from certain groups, such as Black and Indigenous populations, are at a higher risk of succumbing to disease complications and death.
“Yet these groups are overwhelmingly absent from research development and implementation stages across institutions,” Campbell says.
This reality has further motivated her to progress in her field of biomaterials and explore her potential for engineering human tissues to repair damaged organ systems through the use of those biomaterials.
“When I decided to pursue graduate studies, I knew I needed to work with someone who wasn’t afraid to think outside the box – someone who would be OK with switching to a triangle or trapezoid,” Campbell says. “And that is Professor Guenther. He has always supported my optimism.
“Also, working at the Guenther Lab allows me to be immersed in both biomedical and mechanical engineering on a daily basis, which has been an unparalleled experience for me.”
Campbell says she especially honored to be a recipient of the IBET fellowship and sees the support as a reminder that she is not alone in her journey.
“I appreciate that U of T is trying to support Black and Indigenous scientists. This supportive community of scholars and researchers has nurtured my passion for engineering and provided me with invaluable mentorship and guidance,” she says.
“I hope to one day use my knowledge and expertise to make a valuable contribution to society and give back to my community.”
Source: University of Toronto