PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE

Though James garnered several awards for academic achievement and tried to build supportive networks, she also faced obstacles as she began to proceed through her PhD program. After switching gears and seeking out a new dissertation advisor, James admits that the path through her PhD program was not all smooth sailing, but she knew that leaders and peers at the Jonsson School were there to support her. This made all the difference, she said.

James began working with Dr. Shashank Sirsi, an associate professor of bioengineering who focuses on ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. James also gained in-depth experience with clinical trial management, particularly the administration of noninvasive ultrasound contrast agents for SHAPE imaging.

“Her exemplary research and presentation skills were consistently a cut above her peers,” Sirsi said. “Her steadfast dedication is commendable. In Dominique’s PhD journey, first as her thesis committee member, then as her primary advisor, I witnessed her unique knack for research. She focused on the development of ultrasound contrast agents for pressure estimation in tumors to enhance targeted drug delivery — a niche that demands exceptional expertise and innovation.”

As James mastered technical research skills, she continued to keep her focus on the impact of the research when she worked with patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“Some patients may not be able to participate,” James said, noting that working directly with patients helped her to see firsthand where an idea that seemed like it could work in the lab was not possible for real-life patients.

James also benefited from faculty who had previously worked extensively in industry and provided a unique perspective. The most recent paper from James was chosen for an oral presentation and was a finalist for top student paper at the International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity.

“Dominique James demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship and perseverance in the recent completion of her PhD in biomedical engineering,” said Katherine Brown PhD’21, associate professor of instruction who also worked in industry for more than 25 years. “She did not allow any obstacles to impede her research in the use of ultrasound and phase-changing microbubbles to sense intratumoral pressure. The application of her work is promising in improving the understanding of disease states and the effectiveness of chemotherapy.”

TRAILBLAZER FOR THE FUTURE

At her doctoral hooding ceremony, James celebrated with school leaders including Prasad, Sirsi and Brown. Immediately following the ceremonies, James’ first goal was to take a much-deserved break. She was on a challenging path throughout her college years, and she needed some time to reflect.

“I want to live in the moment and enjoy that I finally made it,” James said about completing her doctoral degree. “Nobody can take away my education — I am a doctor now.”

James also needed time to consider her next move. Which company or which path would make the most sense?

“I was go-go-going for so long, always doing something related to school or working that after I finished grad school, that was the end of that,” James said. “People were asking me about my five-year goal and what I want to do next. I thought I needed to sit back and see the best way to impact people in the real world.”

Several months later, James found her next step. Through networking and informational interviews, she zeroed in on a career that seems perfect for her — working in patent law. She will begin her career as a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

“When I was taking this break, I discovered that I enjoy a lot of writing,” James said.“ I have the skill set for this, and I like the details. I was accepted into a program that helps women in patent law, so I’m exploring different career paths there.”

Patent examiners are typically highly skilled scientists and other professionals who work with entrepreneurs. James may need some additional legal training in the future, but she said she is most interested in starting with the work as a patent examiner.

While establishing her new career is her priority for now, James also said that she is interested in staying involved with nonprofit outreach programs or forming a nonprofit organization, depending upon program availability, particularly for students like her from Title I schools.

“I’m grateful to have been able to come back to my home city and do this,” said James who connected with her seventh-grade science teacher while volunteering at UT Dallas. “It’s been a journey, but overall, it’s a surreal feeling.”

She also takes pride in her legacy of building community.

“I think we helped make a lot of changes happen in the department for the better,” James reflected. “When I speak to other students of color, they’ve been having great experiences. I wanted to create a more close-knit community, and now the students know each other better. All of that happened during my time at UT Dallas.”