Gaelen Clayton has dedicated a significant portion of her four years at WashU pondering objectives — establishing them academically and achieving them as a midfielder for the women’s soccer squad, which recently clinched the Division III national title.
During her journey as a mechanical engineering student and researcher at the McKelvey School of Engineering, alongside her experiences on the Francis Olympic Field pitch, Clayton has discovered the essence of being a self-initiator and relishes aiding younger students in doing the same.
Clayton on the importance of collaboration
‘Collaborating within a team is a tremendous advantage, not solely in athletics, but in engineering as well. A team either flourishes or falters collectively. It’s essential to adopt a team-oriented mindset and prioritize the success of the collective over individual gains. Being part of a team has imparted valuable lessons about setting objectives. This past year, our team aimed for the national championship. Our coach (Jim Conlon) consistently emphasizes a 12-month strategy. If we desire this outcome a year from now, how do we plan to achieve it, and what does each month entail?’
Clayton has recently been honored as the recipient of a postdoctoral scholarship from the NCAA in recognition of her scholastic and athletic accomplishments, as well as the leadership she exhibited throughout her tenure on the soccer team.
This summer, Clayton will engage in research and development at Stryker Medical Devices, concentrating on products utilized in acute medical care. Afterward, she plans to return to WashU to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Here, Clayton shares her enthusiasm for creating new technologies and her achievements on the field.
What did you enjoy about your recent role as a fellow at the WashU Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology?
We collaborated with a group of neurosurgeons and personnel in the mechanical engineering department at WashU to conceive a new system. We were provided with a succinct summary of a concept for a drug delivery mechanism and had to connect with the lab we intended to partner with. It was truly driven by our initiative. By the end of the summer, we developed a physical prototype that incorporated mechanical and electrical elements. Additionally, we conducted research with models to test our hypothesis to ensure functionality. That was an incredibly exciting experience, and I feel it perfectly aligned with my ambitions — designing innovative solutions at the convergence of neuroscience and mechanical engineering.
What thrills you about crafting medical devices?
I am eager to create and innovate new technologies that fuse mechanical engineering with biology. One of my previous internships was in the human systems department at Vast, which is exploring the intersection between aerospace and human factors. Medical devices sit at the crossroads of mechanical engineering and human needs. I have always been fascinated by how technical expertise can be applied to biological systems.
As a senior on the soccer team, what does leadership signify for you?
I aimed to ensure that the incoming freshmen felt at ease about wanting to participate and knew they could make mistakes and recover from them. There is a delicate balance between accountability and encouragement. Certainly, you should strive to give your all and perform at your optimal level; however, you should also feel empowered to experiment and try new things, even if they do not succeed. This year has been particularly enjoyable for me because some of our freshmen are studying engineering. I even had the chance to give one of them an old textbook of mine!
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