Archives for Podcast

The Postdoc Academy, with Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson – Ep #62

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Graduating with a PhD is an unbelievable accomplishment. It is the culmination of many years of sweat, tears, hard work, and dedication. And for many who have finally received their PhD diploma, the next step is to get into a Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The transition can be difficult, so where can postdocs turn to in order for them to transition smoothly from graduate school to their next big adventure? The Postdoc Academy is designed just for that. 

Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson is Assistant Provost, Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs at the Boston University School of Medicine where she provides services and programming for all postdoctoral scholars at Boston University.


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Innovation and the Value of Connection with Dr. Christie Canaria – Ep #61

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Research and technology create immense value for the world through the results of their hard work. Important innovation and discovery are done in labs around the world, but there is another equally important landscape for businesses and startups who are working in innovative technologies, and that is the connection between people. 

Dr. Christie Canaria is a Program Director in the Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) Development Center at the National Cancer Institute. She provides programmatic support to small businesses applying to the SBIR and STTR programs and has areas of expertise in biological imaging, biosensors, and nanotechnology. 


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Effective Communication with Terre Nicholson – Ep #60

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Working as a geotechnical engineer, or any technical field, requires a highly-trained skillset. Years of education and training are needed to prepare for a career in the STEM fields. However, the high-quality institutions that educate students in those fields are not always as focused on teaching them other skills that are beneficial in the workplace. There are ways to learn these skills, however, as this week’s guest knows well.

Terre Nicholson is Principal Consultant at HD Geo, a consulting firm in New Zealand specializing in geotechnical engineering, contaminated land, and observation. Terre has more than 30 years of experience in project and environmental management.


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Credibility and Authenticity in Online Health Influencers with Dr. Amelia Burke-Garcia- Ep #59

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Dr. Amelia Burke-Garcia is the Director of the Digital Strategy & Outreach Program Area within the Public Health Division at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is also the author of her first book titled Influencing Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Online Influencers, which is an analysis and how-to manual on the evolution and power of online health influencers.

Dr. Burke-Garcia is also Director of the Digital Strategy and Outreach Program of the Public Health Division at NORC University of Chicago. Prior to her time at the University of Chicago, Dr. Burke-Garcia served as the director for the Center for Digital Strategy and Research at Westat,


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The Importance of Connection in Storytelling with Jack Dannibale – Ep #58

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The power of storytelling is evident in so many parts of our society. The movie and television industries are bigger than ever and growing more so each year. Storytelling is now and has been used effectively in the realm of politics for a long time. So what about science? Are there lessons to be learned from storytellers by scientists who wish to communicate their work more effectively to the public at large?

Jack Dannibale is the Founder and President at Massimo Inc. Jack and his team create compelling media campaigns with notable leaders such as President Barack Obama,


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An Exploration of Storytelling, with Erik Clausen- Ep #57

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Telling stories is a part of human history. Storytelling is one of those human elements that transcend culture and geography and time. Whether it be through theater, television, cinema, the written word, or even the oral traditions of the past, the communication of values, morals, and entertainment have been used throughout the ages. 

Erik Clausen is a marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of international experience building brands and telling stories. For the past nine years, he’s led cglife, an integrated marketing and communications agency operating at the intersection of life science and healthcare.


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The Importance of Research in Healthcare with Dr. Richard Larson – Ep #56

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Research is a critical component to continuing advances in technology and treatments in healthcare. A focused research mission is what leads to those improvements, and the ability for researchers to secure funding and operate efficiently goes a long way towards achieving that goal. So where is the best place to put resources into research and development?

This week’s guest believes that research is best done hand-in-hand with academic institutions, and has a career of success to back it up.

Dr. Richard Larson is an entrepreneur and an academic leader. He serves as Executive Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center,


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Demystifying Stem Cells, with Dr. Geoff Hunt – Ep #55

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The topic of stem cells can elicit a variety of responses from controversy to indifference. These widely misunderstood cells are usually thought to be the product of infants or something taken from the fetuses. The fact is that these amazing cells are a part of all of us, and could possibly lead to great advances in medicine. 

If they are misunderstood, what are the best ways to educate the public on the benefits and uses of stem cells? That is a question that this week’s guest wants to answer.

Dr. Geoff Hunt is the Director at LabX which is presented by the National Academy of Sciences.


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The Acidification of the Arctic with Dr. Jeremy Mathis – Ep #54

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The Arctic has experienced a dynamic change in the last couple of decades. Ice is disappearing at alarming rates, and the ocean is developing harmful acidification. With all of these ongoing environmental problems, what are some of the upcoming issues and difficulties that the planet and our society will experience? What can we do to mitigate or reverse the damage being done to our oceans?

Dr. Jeremy Mathis is the director of the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology at the National Academy of Sciences. He is also an adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University. Dr.


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Bridging the Gap Between Science and Policy, with Dr. Mike Holland – Ep #53

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Dr. Mike Holland is the Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Research Strategies at the University of Pittsburgh, which supports cross-disciplinary research and coordinates the University’s response to research policy opportunities. He is also responsible for creating major research initiatives and maintaining the University research funding. 

Dr. Holland has previous experience in government including a position as the senior advisor and Staff Director at the Office of the Undersecretary for Science at the United States Department of Energy.

Policymaking is one of the key ways that scientific research and discovery finds its way into the public sphere.


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