In the laboratory, she is applying a novel method to find ways to develop adult stem cells into bone cells. She works with an interdisciplinary Rensselaer research team, led by assistant professor of biology and her adviser George Plopper and including faculty and students from the fields of biomedical engineering, biology, mathematical sciences, electrical, computer, and systems engineering, and computer science.

“Amanda is a very bright student who takes initiative as a researcher,” says Plopper. “She identifies what needs to be done and then goes ahead and finds a way to do it. She thrives on the interaction between disciplines and is helping to bridge our lab with other collaborative groups.”

Lund , who was listed as the third author on a peer-reviewed research paper in Biotechnology and Bioengineering last year, feels as though she has gotten a head start on her career. After earning her Ph.D., she’s interested in working in the biotechnology industry. “It’s important to me that my research is more than basic biology, but that it has potential medical applications,” she says. “I feel as though I’ll come out of this academic experience with a practical perspective.”

Lund says she has always been curious about what is happening in the natural world around her.

“I participated in events called ‘invention conventions’ in elementary school and won the state competitions a few times. I still remember the berry bucket I made one year,” she laughs. “It included a funnel so that berries wouldn’t fall out while you were picking fruit.”