For new assistant professor Lauren B. Priddy, helping others solve problems always has been something she enjoys.
The summa cum laude Mississippi State graduate is in her first year with the university’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
In addition to classroom teaching, the Newton native spends her on-campus time conducting bone research. Her primary goal is to help gain a better understanding of bone injuries and diseases to develop better healing therapies.
“I’m hoping that bone research is a new area that the agricultural and biological engineering department can grow into,” she explained.
In an ongoing project, Priddy is collaborating with cross-campus colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine in a study of osteomyelitis, an infection that has spread to bone. This project had a personal appeal since her grandfather once struggled with bone infection of the leg that, happily, responded successfully to treatment.
“This made me passionate about bone research,” Priddy said, adding, “It makes the work so much more meaningful.”
While an MSU student, Priddy was a member of the Bobby and Judy Shackouls Honors College and Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. In addition to serving as a research assistant in her department’s Cardiovascular Tissue Biomechanical Laboratory, she enhanced her studies through participation in Bulldogs for Heart Health, the Synthetic Biology Club and the International Genetically Engineered Machine team.
As if doing all this—and maintaining a perfect 4.0 undergraduate grade-point average—weren’t enough, the multi-tasker also carved out extra time to be an MSU cheerleader.
It was from the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering that she received her 2008 biological engineering bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering two years later. After completing graduate study in Starkville, Priddy moved to Atlanta, where she earned a doctorate in bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Also while in Georgia, Priddy's involvement with BioIgnite, a nonprofit camp that inspires middle school students to increase their interests in biomedical engineering and STEM topics, also invigorated her passion for teaching.
Because returning to MSU always was her goal, Priddy said she is grateful her alma mater could make that dream come true. “I understand the culture and the people, and I wear maroon on Fridays,” she said, with a broad smile. “Basically, I get to work and play in the same place.”
Now learning about the complex land-grant institution from the standpoint of a professional, Priddy said she “really enjoys the collaborative environment among the faculty. It has been a major resource, realizing how much everyone wants to work with each other.”
As was done for her, Priddy also appreciates the opportunity to engage with students through research. Currently, she directs two graduate and seven undergraduate assistants.
“I hope that I’m having a positive impact on the students, and that I am able to mentor them academically and professionally,” Priddy said.
Helping those following in her footsteps “just means more here.”