Archives for Podcast

Creating Community-Based Learning Opportunities, with Gia Grier McGinnis – Ep #24

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What would it look like for colleges and universities to invest in and begin creating community-based learning opportunities? Academics isolated in their “ivory tower” may be a stereotype, but, a lack of connection to communities outside of academia is a real dynamic that exists. Here to provide insight and expertise into the high-quality work of community-based learning is Johns Hopkins’ Gia Grier McGinnis.

Gia has over fifteen years of broad-ranging experience in program management and community outreach. Her academic and professional careers have developed her research and communication skills to a very high level – she can connect and collaborate with pretty much anyone,


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Exploring the Role of Storytelling in Science, with Sara ElShafie – Ep #23

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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Storytelling in science?” Does it conjure images of scientists gathered around a campfire taking turns telling stories? Probably not, but the role of storytelling in science is a relevant topic to explore. Bringing her passion for both the entertainment sector and science, Sara ElShafie joins the podcast to talk about storytelling in science.

Sara works at the intersection of art and science, with one foot in academia/museums and the other in the entertainment industry. She is interested in all aspects of public engagement with science, especially through the museum and online platforms.


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How to Communicate Your Scientific Work to Non-Experts, with Dr. Ross Beattie – Ep #22

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If you had to present your scientific work to a room full of non-experts, what would be your approach? Have you been in that scenario before? What strategies have you used to convey your data and findings to the uninitiated? Here to provide some excellent advice on this topic is Dr. Ross Beattie. 

After his presentation to DisrupTECH in July 2018, Ross was selected to participate in the Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program. Before his selection, Ross worked to gain support for the Emerging Leaders in Science and Society (ELISS) program among graduate students across the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.


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Creating Pathways for Diverse Jobs for PhDs and Postdocs, with Dr. David Fruman and Dr. Harinder Singh – Ep #21

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In the early 2010s, there were a number of reports from different national organizations that highlighted the need to broaden training for PhDs and postdocs. Grad students and trainees needed to be prepared for a wider spectrum of careers beyond academia. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) responded to this need by funding 17 programs around the country to test approaches for tackling this challenge. How did their efforts pay off? Was the return worth the investment of those funds? Here to talk about their NIH funded program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) is Dr. David Fruman and Dr.


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How the Landscape is Changing for Postdocs, with Dr. Chris Smith – Ep #20

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What recent changes have altered the landscape for postdocs? Are there more opportunities out there or fewer? What are universities and professional associations doing to help postdocs navigate these changes? Dr. Chris Smith joins the podcast to shed light on this critical topic.

Chris’s work focuses on training a scientific and biomedical workforce that is flexible and well-prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st Century. He has over ten years of experience conducting neuroscience research investigating the role of dopamine in reward, valuation, and decision making processes in the human brain.

Chris currently serves as the Postdoctoral Affairs Program Manager at North Carolina State University.


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Valuing the Role of Introverts in the Workplace, with Dr. Jennifer B. Kahnweiler – Ep #19

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Does your organization value the role of their introverts in the workplace? Are you an introvert who has struggled to find your voice? Do you want to help your workplace become more equitable for introverts? Here to help us understand introverts and how we can best empower them is Dr. Jennifer Kahnweiler.

Jennifer is an author and global speaker hailed as a “champion for introverts.” Her bestselling books, “The Introverted Leader,” “Quiet Influence,” and “The Genius of Opposites” have been translated into sixteen languages and help introverts throughout the world expand their leadership capacity.

Jennifer has been invited to deliver keynote speeches and seminars in Australia,


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Why Enthusiasm and Storytelling are Crucial in Postdoc Research, with Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson – Ep #18

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What would you say are the most important aspects of postdoc research? Would the learning environment or the availability of mentors rank high on your list? What about the role of passion and enthusiasm for your field of study? Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson joins Mark in this episode of When Science Speaks to highlight the role of enthusiasm and storytelling in postdoc research.

Sarah is the Assistant Provost of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs at Boston University. She is responsible for providing services and programming for all postdoc scholars at Boston University, as well as supporting the development of University policies related to postdoc scholarships.


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Making a Difference in Your Career, with Christine Cruzvergara – Ep #17

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Have you ever felt stuck in your career? Did you ever face a moment where you wish you had some degree of insight that could help you move forward? What if there were a way to navigate your career path and ultimately locate that perfect fit where you could make a difference? Christine Cruzvergara joins Mark in this episode to talk about her work helping students and professionals find the right fit in their career.

Christine currently serves as the VP of Higher Education and Student Success at Handshake.


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Professional Networking and Re-evaluating Your Definition of Success, with Dr. Christine Ponder – Ep #16

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Do you ever find yourself so caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of your research that you don’t know how to take advantage of professional networking opportunities? When was the last time you ventured out of your daily work routine and explored new professional development opportunities that piqued your interest? On this episode of When Science Speaks, you’ll hear from Dr. Christine Ponder as she touches on the need for professional networking and evaluating your definition of success.

Dr. Ponder is the Director for Postdoctoral Affairs at the Washington Square campus of New York University (NYU). She established the program in 2011 and has since been part of two large projects in postdoc career development,


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Grand Challenges and Setting Ambitious Goals, with Michelle Popowitz – Ep #15

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With the start of a new year, many Americans commit to resolutions and ambitious goals they hope to accomplish throughout the year’s end.

Many organizations have ambitious goals as well, but all too often they fail to make these goals specific and connected to a deadline. UCLA’s creation of so-called “Grand Challenges” is a bold departure from such fuzzy, timid-by-comparison initiatives. UCLA’s Grand Challenges are inspiring endeavours to solve the most difficult societal problems by a fixed date by harnessing the University’s deep, diverse resources across disciplines. Leading UCLA’s Grand Challenge program is Michelle Popowitz. 

Michelle is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Co-Founder of UCLA Grand Challenges.


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