Meet the Mentor:

Tesha Alston Dampier

3M Senior Quality Engineer, Biopharmaceutical Purification Business

Separation and Purification Sciences Division

As a senior quality engineer at 3M, Tesha is responsible for providing quality assurance, and quality systems and regulatory support for current and new product initiatives. Her current project, focuses on the development of filtration systems designed to simplify biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Fascinated with the body and how blood clotted, Tesha has been interested in biology and science for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she was fortunate to have been exposed to programs designed to inspire and equip youth to pursue a future in science, engineering, or mathematics – this allowed her to nurture her deep love and curiosity for science and math studies at a young age.

Tesha’s passion for science and the importance of STEM careers in solving everyday problems, is further demonstrated by her volunteer efforts to promote science education and diversity in STEM careers within her community.

Tesha graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor of Science in bio medical science and received her Master’s Degree in the field of biological sciences and public health from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Through effective problem solving and opportunity-mining, Tesha Alston Dampier has excelled in various roles—from biochemistry to engineering—over the past 14 years at 3M.

Mentees

2022 Finalist

Harini Venkatesh

The Comptometrist: An Efficient Way to Determine Myopic Power

Harini developed The Comptometrist, a prototype designed to cut down the time needed to determine myopic power in a patient’s eyes.

2021 Finalist

Abhinav Anne

Revolutionary Next Generation Blood Storage Bags

Meet Abhinav. Abhinav developed a way to extend the safety and shelf-life of blood products with Nitric Oxide producing Polyurethane bag.

2020 Finalist

Laasya Acharya

An Approach to Detect Fruit Disease using Images

Meet Laasya. Laasya developed a solution that will allow farmers to easily and effectively detect diseased and unhealthy crops to reduce food waste and loss during the harvesting phase.

2019 Finalist

Faraz Tamboli

TalkMotion: A Talking Device

Meet Faraz. Faraz invented TalkMotion, a talking device for deaf and aphonic children, that turns a sign language gesture into verbal language, or verbal language into sign language gestures.