What is your workspace like ? I live in a small townhome and share a workspace with my husband and two daughters , ages 10 and 12 . My husband still goes to a physical space each day for work , though not for as many hours each day as before .

Do you go into the lab at all ? I ’ m not there as often as I used to be . I used to just walk into the lab and talk to my research scientists and engineers , see what was happening , and brainstorm right on the spot . That is still happening , but only occasionally .

What does your day look like now ? My job now requires a lot more meetings and discussions . It can start as early as 5:30 a . m ., and if I am working with Asia , it can go as late as 9 p . m . We need to prioritize and make sure we don ’ t burn out .

Are there aspects of remote working you don ’ t like ? Yes . Your home is your office , your kitchen is your office , your office is everywhere . For managers , you have a lot more discussions that need to be scheduled , which before would have been hallway conversations .

Are there upsides to the current work situation ? Definitely . You have fewer boundaries to working with people across the nation and the globe . When the pandemic started , I was working on developing a 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab with researchers , engineers , and businesses in different locations and states . There was a sense that there were fewer limitations for us .

Do you have a favorite part of the workday ? When I finish work and my kids are just two steps away . I turn

around and I can ask them , “ Okay , what problem do you have ? We can solve it together .”

Both of your daughters are interested in science . Do you actively encourage that ? At our dinner table , we always discuss technology and the problems we encounter . My older one is starting to code and she produced her very first game last year . It ’ s interesting to see how much curiosity they have . If you give a little direction to someone , they can accomplish something impressive . — Interviewed by John Newton