Swimmer Elaine Hillenmeyer worries about four things while in the water at Case Western Reserve University: making explosive turns, properly pacing her legs, maintaining her breathing pattern and researching bone cell growth.

What?

Hillenmeyer, a biomedical engineering major who has received dean's high honors every semester of her college career, turns in her white lab jacket and microscope for her racing suit and swim cap a little over midway through each day at Case.

So which does she prefer, pool or lab?

"That's a tough one," Hillenmeyer said. "I spend enough time at both places that when I am finished, I like to get away from each one. They're both challenging, but in different ways-mentally challenging in the lab, physically challenging in the pool. One is a good break from the other."

A break is something Hillenmeyer didn't get before starting school this fall. She spent her summer vacation at Purdue University near her hometown of Carmel, Ind., researching bone cell growth. She was testing a new kind of material that could be used for orthopaedic implants.

Her project was part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. In her research she examined bone cell response to various crystal phases (five) of a material called alumina. This material is currently used in orthopaedic implants, primarily as a coating.

"What we were trying to do is see if one type of crystal phase was better for bone cell growth than another, so we could say to an orthopaedic company you should use a certain phase of alumina for your coatings because that's the type the bone cells like best," she said.

What Spartans like best is Hillenmeyer's performance the past two seasons on the Case women's swim team. She earned All-American honors both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Her strokes are the free and fly.

But Hillenmeyer soon will be contributing to a team in the business world instead of one in the pool. She is currently interviewing with companies for a co-op position for the second semester of this year, forfeiting the second half of her junior season and a chance for a third straight All-American swim.

"It's hard to think about the spring and to hear people talk about the conference meet and nationals and know that I am not going to be here," she said.

Hillenmeyer will return for a full season with the Spartans next fall. But for now she is putting personal matters before the pool with the bigger picture in mind.

"As much as I love swimming-and I love it-after college I am not going to swim anymore," Hillenmeyer said. "I had to decide what my priorities were, and I decided that my professional career took priority over my swimming career."

Upon graduation from Case in the spring of 2005, Hillenmeyer plans on pursuing graduate studies, most likely a doctorate in biomedical engineering. Afterward, she said she doesn't know whether she will go into academics or industry. That's what the co-op will help her decide.

Return to the online edition of the 11-13-03 Campus News.