BIO
Born in 1948 in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Ting-Tai Helen Weng has built a highly successful life in the US, both in terms of her career in scientific research, and in terms of her loving family and hobbies. Although she grew up during a time when women were routinely denied equal education, Weng’s parents were adamant that she and her sister receive the best opportunities. As a result, Weng graduated from the National Taiwan University in 1970, and decided to move to the US to pursue higher education. She attended Vanderbilt University for her master’s in chemistry followed by a research assistant position, and then attended the University of Houston for her PhD. After earning her PhD, she spent many years as a senior research scientist at the Pennzoil oil company. Unlike in Nashville, Weng was able to work with other Asian American researchers in Houston, and also joined various community organizations such as the Institute of Chinese Culture and the Texas Buddhist Association — she grew up practicing Buddhism, and even met her husband at a temple! Now retired, Weng has published a book in November 2022 about her immigration and experiences in Houston, and before the pandemic, found ample time to explore her two great passions: photography and traveling. In this interview, with the help of a photo slideshow, Weng describes her path from Taipei to Nashville to Houston, recounts fond memories with her husband and two children (both of which are now doctors), and shows her beautiful photography from all around the world.