Dr. Boltcreed's Marathon and the Passion in her Pursuits
Dr. Emily Boltcreed hails from England where she spent most of her younger years as an avid writer and poet. Three generations of men in her family are engineers. At the same time, her mother actively incorporated engineering fundamentals into her creative pursuits (such as textiles, quilling, papercrafts, and other skills that are often discredited for their association with women’s “busy work”). Her family motto was, “Don’t buy that, build/make it yourself!” Emily’s early exposure to the versatility of science etched a hopeful blueprint for the possibilities that lay before her.
In school, she gravitated toward her physics teacher who was such a force of nature to inspire Emily to pursue a Bachelor’s in Physics. Her studies eventually led her to focus on biomedical physics, such as medical and MRI images. From there, she found herself tiptoeing the fine line between biology and physics, a place where she could sift through and understand the building blocks of life itself.
She attended Northeastern, where she met our very own Lori Lennon. While at the university, she completed a co-op at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, which introduced her to the field of neuroscience. She also worked in a lab on campus that studied the peripheral nervous system. She found her fuel through connecting with and educating others meaningfully. Emily would spend free time outside of her studies teaching science, sex-ed, and embodying empowerment to young girls in public schools. She would also make time to write for the school science magazine and participate in multiple student body activities.
Eventually, she took a break from studying to be a public school teacher for two years. With Teach for America, she was sent to South Dakota during the height of the Standing Rock Movement. Emily witnessed the atrocities of racism and poor legislation that breeds poverty and distress within communities. Though she found joy in connecting with her students, she was torn by the shocking circumstances that they faced outside of the classroom. She knew she had to use her abilities and connections to contribute to the greater good.
Dr. Boltcreed at her hooding ceremony.Emily has since returned to the classroom herself, continuing to get both her Master’s degree and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. Today, as a postdoctoral researcher, her main focus has been on developmental neuroscience in lab mice.
One aspect of her work aims to quantify how aggression appears in the brains of female mice throughout their estrus or menstrual cycles. Her team maps out the chemical interactions throughout the cycle, creating a better picture of reality from the female perspective. Though the team is focused on mice, many of us know these little creatures often pave the way for pivotal advancements in human nature.
Studying at Columbia’s NY State Psychiatric Institute in Manhattan has allowed Emily to be deeply immersed in a conglomerate of influential and high-powered global health institutions. While expanding on her innate passion for wellness through science, she is forging inspiring and lasting connections that nurture her scientific prowess. Emily gracefully combines the eloquence of her writing and the curiosity of her scientific mind to understand and illustrate the inner workings of life as we know it.
When she isn’t focused on changing the world one study at a time, Emily finds peace as a marathon runner! You can track her progress here, thanks to her tech-savvy husband. She also continues to write for several publications and mentor students through various programs in New York such as Big Brother, Big Sister, ReadAhead and the New York Academy of Science's Afterschool Science Mentoring Program. Quality time with her spouse, extended family, fellow scientists, and friends also offers refuge and nourishment. Emily is especially moved by the pivotal women scientists she’s encountered and befriended such as Abigail Koppes, Vikki Hazelwood, and Giulia Zanni, among many others. As she continues to define her beautifully kaleidoscopic life, Dr. Boltcreed makes sure to bring all of the communities she loves with her.
