VOLUME 13, NO. 2     NOVEMBER 2000

Sister act is tough to follow

Rebecca, left, and Rachel Kupcinskas with their pets.

By Chris Sinacola

Editor's note: Rebecca Kupcinskas received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from WPI in 1995, 1997 and 2000, respectively. Her sister Rachel earned a B.S. in biology in 1997 and graduated with a D.V.M. from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine -- one day after Rebecca received her doctorate in May. This article and photograph are reprinted with permission of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Millbury -- When Rebecca A. Kupcinskas went to the WPI bookstore this spring to pick up her graduation gear, the manager came rushing over.

"No, the bachelor's is the black tassel!' he said," Ms. Kupcinskas recalled. "There were only 12 doctorates, just two women, and I was the only one in the group under 30."

Ms. Kupcinskas, 26, was indeed entitled to the gold tassel of those receiving a Ph.D. at WPI's graduation exercises on May 20. In her case, the doctorate in electrical engineering caps a brilliant academic resume that includes class valedictorian at Millbury High School in 1992, attendance at the Massachusetts Academy of Mathematics and Science at WPI, and both a bachelor of science degree and a master's degree in electrical engineering from WPI.

The next day, the Kupcinskas clan headed out to North Grafton, where Rebecca's 24-year-old sister, Rachel L. Kupcinskas, became Dr. Kupcinskas in ceremonies at the Tufts New England School of Veterinary Medicine. In Rachel's case, the doctor of veterinary medicine degree concludes an equally brilliant career -- class valedictorian at Millbury High School in 1994, attendance at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, and four years at Tufts as the youngest member of her class.

The sisters' achievements continue their family's long tradition of academic excellence, particularly in the fields of math and science. Their mother, Patricia L. Kupcinskas, was valedictorian at Millbury High School in 1963, and now teaches mathematics at Shrewsbury High School. Their aunt, Pamela Graves, teaches chemistry at Millbury. And Rebecca received her 1995 undergraduate degree exactly a century after her great-grandfather, H. True Van Ostrand, received his as a member of the Class of 1895.

Early signs

Rebecca's career in engineering began early, about the time she took all the stickers off a Rubik's Cube, rearranged them, and brought the toy downstairs to show the rest of the family how she had "solved" the puzzle.

"I've always been much better at taking things apart than putting them together," she said. Rebecca's strong interest in biology merged with studies in chemistry at WPI, under the tutelage of Robert Peura, professor of biomedical engineering. In the past four years, she has completed her master's and doctoral degrees while working part time at VivaScan Inc., where she helped develop an instrument intended to monitor the efficiency of dialysis for kidney patients. Last year, she traveled to Venice, Italy, as an advisor to four WPI students who developed a radio frequency identification system to help the city cope with boat traffic along its famous canals.

Rebecca lives in Allston and has just accepted a job as a software engineer with TeraDyne Inc., based in Boston. Although her training prepared her well for a career in pure research, she prefers a setting where she can see her ideas made into products.

"I like to see something get out the door," she added.

Rachel admits that her path was shaped, at least in part, by her older sister, who advised her while still at Millbury High School to enroll at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, a state-funded high school at WPI. Rachel completed her senior year there, taking college-level courses while maintaining her athletic and social activities in Millbury, earning letters in soccer, winter track, and spring track, and graduating with her class.

Rachel went on to earn a biology degree from WPI and began attending Tufts at age 20, where she studied equine lung function with Dr. Andrew Hoffmann, associate professor in large animal medicine. Although she has always loved horses, and rode competitively when younger, Rachel will begin her professional career at the Franklin Veterinary Clinic, a small-animal practice, with three other doctors.

"I feel like I'll get more client interaction there," she said. "You can't be a veterinarian and just love animals; you have to love people, too."

Rachel also has a strong interest in acupuncture, has seen it used effectively in animals, and hopes eventually to work that into her practice.

And how do these highly motivated and competitive sisters get along?

"There's some competitive nature, of course," said Rebecca. "But I always feel like we've supported each other. And we're very different people."

Rebecca, for example, has the musical talent. Rachel prefers Shakespeare, writing, drawing and painting. Rachel joined the swim team and earned a letter, but freely admits that Rebecca made her do it and is much better at it. For a while, when they were both attending WPI, they shared an apartment -- and lived to tell about it.

But as with most sisters, it's the things they have in common that matter most. There are the little things, such as pet cats Meaghean and Moira, and their adorable female ferret, Hercules. And the things that will carry them through their careers -- each is now a doctor in her own way.