Double Shelix
48 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Conversations and real talk on women in STEM, the grad school grind, and inclusive science.
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Episodes
Episode 48: First Year of Postdoc with Dr. Kayla Wolf
May 29, 2024 00:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBHow can you use the first year of your postdoctoral research position to set yourself up for long-term success? How do you decide if a postdoc is even right for you? In this episode, Sally and Kayla dive into reasons to do (or not to do) a postdoc, how to find a position, and how to get started. Kayla shares her personal experience and what she wishes all new postdocs would know.
Episode 47: Writing Your First Paper
September 21, 2023 00:00 - 44 minutes - 29.5 MBIf you or someone you're mentoring is new to writing peer reviewed papers, this episode is for you! Kayla and Sally break down the logistics to get you from blank page to final proofs. We discuss planning out your figures, managing your references, crafting an intro, choosing a journal, navigating coauthor drama, and more. What should you do if your PI is (really) slow to read your drafts? What actually is a good paper? (Spoiler alert: the conclusions match the data) What's the dea...
Episode 46: Who can afford to stay in science? With Dr. Erika Moore
September 07, 2023 00:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBAfter completing her undergraduate degree, Dr. Moore found herself burdened by substantial student debt, prompting her to address the critical issue of financial sustainability in academia. Through her own journey, she has developed an educational program aimed at empowering students with essential financial literacy skills. Dr. Moore candidly shares her personal experiences while discussing the barriers that student debt presents to budding scientists. Moore Wealth https://www.mo...
Episode 45: NSF Graduate Fellowship 101
August 25, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19 MBIt’s all of our tips for applying to the NSF graduate research fellowship! The National Science Foundation GRFP can fund 3 years of your PhD, and there’s a hidden curriculum for crafting a winning application. Sally and Kayla share their tips for how to prep your application to frame your Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit in the best possible light.
Episode 44: Personal Statements 101
August 11, 2023 00:00 - 43 minutes - 29.5 MBA well-crafted personal statement can make the difference between aspiration and reality. But what information should you include? What does "personal" really mean? In this episode Kayla and Sally dive into the hidden curriculum of personal statements to empower you when drafting your applications to graduate school, medical school, PhD programs, fellowships, and other exciting opportunities. Writing tips book: Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers by Mimi Zeiger Let...
Episode 43: Anti CV: embracing failures to drive future wins
July 28, 2023 00:00 - 51 minutes - 34.3 MBYou won’t get everything you apply for - and that’s ok! In this episode Kayla and Sally dive into some of their biggest fails, rejections, and misses. We go through what we learned and how you can learn from our failures. Kayla shares hard-earned lessons from her (innumerable) application journeys as well as how to create a Rejection Ritual to quickly move on to the next opportunity. If LinkedIn is our professional highlight reel, this episode is the bloopers!
Episode 42: Patient Stakeholders in Biomedical Research, with Kevin Fowler
July 14, 2023 00:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBJoin Sally and Kayla as they explore the role of patient advocacy in biomedical research with Kevin Fowler, consultant and owner of "The Voice of the Patient." Kevin shares insights on what patients want to know and how you can get involved in patient advocacy to drive meaningful change in healthcare related research. Kevin Fowler on Twitter: @gratefull080504 Celeste Castillo Lee (with internal links to her work) https://www.rsnhope.org/loris-lines/remembering-celeste-castillo-...
Episode 41: Restructuring academic traineeship, with Dr. Shirley Malcom
June 30, 2023 00:00 - 50 minutes - 27.2 MBRenowned public servant Dr. Shirley Malcom joins Kayla and Sally to discuss the challenges facing graduate students and postdocs during traineeship. We discuss structural barriers keeping trainees in underpaid roles and keeping out those who cannot afford to stay in such roles. Importantly, we consider how universities and funding agencies can perpetuate (or can act to stop!) toxic training environments. How can students and postdocs thrive in a system that's not designed for them? ...
Episode 40: Post PhD Paths: Evidence-Based Equity with Dr. Chrissy Stachl
March 01, 2023 00:00 - 54 minutes - 34.3 MBWhen Dr. Chrissy Stachl realized that her department's culture needed an overhaul, she turned the challenge into her thesis and a consulting career. Using an evidenced-based approach, Chrissy now helps universities and businesses find and implement pragmatic solutions to improve equity and inclusion. Chrissy shares her experiences in developing survey and analysis methods, publishing her findings, and starting her business. She also shares tips for building an inclusive departm...
Episode 39: Post PhD Paths: Sally’s Industry Job Hunt
November 19, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBPreparing to apply for industry jobs but have no idea what to expect? In this episode, Sally shares her personal experience and practical advice about finding a job in industry such as how to ace a phone screen and what even is a “hiring manager.” She spent 8 pandemic months looking for her first post-PhD role so you don’t have to! In addition to going deep into her biggest job hunt heartbreaks, Sally reads some poetry she wrote about her job hunt journey - enjoy!
Episode 38: Post-PhD Paths: Technical Consulting with Dr. Jessica Vargas
June 17, 2022 00:00 - 46 minutes - 38.1 MBPlenty of PhDs go into consulting after graduation, but what do consultants actually do? Dr. Jessica Vargas from Exponent joins Kayla and Sally to discuss her journey from chemistry PhD to technical consultant. We chat about her grad school exit strategy and her transition from individual contributor to manager. We also address the most pressing questions such as... how many hours do consultants really work? We are stoked to share Jess’s story with you all, and her team is hiring - ...
Episode 37: Post-PhD Paths: Applying to Academia and Industry with Dr. Serah Kang
April 29, 2022 00:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBSally and Kayla welcome Dr. Serah Kang to discuss her experience applying for academic postdoc positions and industry roles. After completing her PhD, Serah spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Gladstone Institute and now is a senior scientist at Genetech. Serah also discusses how her applications and job decisions were impacted by transhood and how employers can attract and support trans scientists. This is the first in a new series about finding your path after getting ...
Episode 36: Parental Leave and Returning to Work
January 11, 2022 00:00 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBCaring for a new baby is a full-time job - and then some! In this episode, Sally and Kayla share their experience with parental leave and returning to work after the birth of their kiddos. This is a followup to our “Pregnancy in Graduate School” episode and is a must-listen for anyone thinking about becoming a parent or anyone wanting to be a better colleague or supervisor to (potential) new parents. We also discuss how institutional parental leave policies can support parents in ST...
Episode 35: Pregnancy in Grad School
September 15, 2021 00:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBIs grad school the “right time” to have a baby? What is it like to be pregnant while working in a lab? How should you interact with your pregnant colleagues? In this episode, Sally and Kayla share their experiences and discuss what institutions can do to support pregnant students and student parents.
Episode 34: Surviving "The Slump"
June 08, 2021 00:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBAh, the slump - that mid-PhD abyss when goals are ambiguous, motivation is waning, and stress is overwhelming. Dr. Emily Lingeman joins Sally and Kayla to discuss her own PhD slump and how she got back on track. Dr. Lingerman also shares strategies to destress and know when "just exercise!" won't be enough. Don’t fear - the slump is normal and you can get through it!
Episode 33: To PhD or not to PhD with Dr. Raj Kumar
May 06, 2021 00:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBAre you considering a PhD, but not sure if it's right for you? Or, are you deep into a PhD and trying to remember why you started in the first place? In this episode, Sally and Kayla interview Dr. Raj Kumar about the ins and outs of graduate school with a focus on PhDs in STEM. Topics include the differences between PhD and Masters degrees, how much graduate school costs, and reasons to (or not to) get a PhD. Raj is a recent PhD graduate turned Lecturer at Stanford University in the ...
Episode 32: Counting the Women in STEM with Claudine Schmuck, Gender Scan
March 11, 2021 00:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBHow many women are working in STEM careers? What are the major hurdles to achieving gender equality? Claudine Schmuck founded Gender Scan to find out. While the project originates in France, Gender Scan is expanding to collect data from across the globe. In today’s episode, Kayla and Sally discuss the launch of the 2021 Gender Scan survey and how data collection is critical to supporting women in STEM. Show notes: Gender Scan Survey (scroll down and look left for the survey link) ht...
Episode 31: PhD Reflections: Hindsight is 2020
December 31, 2020 00:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBSally and Kayla GRADUATED! What were some highs and lows of graduate school? What did they wish they had known sooner? In this episode, Sally and Kayla reflect on their experiences while pursuing a PhD as well as share exciting updates for the next season of Double Shelix.
Episode 30: "What Ph.D. negotiations taught me about landing a job in Industry" with Fatoumata Fall
December 05, 2020 00:00 - 56 minutes - 52 MBAre you a recent or soon-to-be graduate stressed about recruiting and how you will find your first "real" job? In this episode, Kayla and Sally talk to Entrepreneur, Career Agent, and Advocate - Fatoumata Fall (Fatu) - about how graduating PhDs can optimize their job search experience. Fatu is a co-founder of Ralph, a company specializing in tech industry negotiations. They have supported over 130 STEM Ph. D.s in their negotiations, as well as their career decision-making and trans...
Prep your research pitch - skill share!
September 05, 2020 00:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBWhat do you study? Whether it's to a leading faculty in your field or to your aunt's best friend, you have probably been asked to explain your research many, many times. How can you make your answer count without reciting an entire review paper? Sally and Kayla discuss how to craft an effective research “pitch" and then test their skills in real time. Spoiler alert: practice matters.
Leaving a bad project - skill share!
May 01, 2020 00:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBSometimes bad projects happen to good people. Kayla and Sally discuss how to identify if your project may be in trouble, talk about these challenges with team members, and say good riddance to a bad project. We also talk about letting go of a good projects that come to an untimely conclusion due to circumstances outside your control - lost funding, changing priorities, or, you know, a global pandemic.
Letters of recommendation - skill share!
April 17, 2020 00:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBRequesting, writing, and stressing about letters of recommendation? Been there! Kayla and Sally cover all these letter of rec worries and more! We get into the weeds like what to do when a recommender asks you to "write the first draft for me" and how many "friendly reminder" emails are too many. Finally, we walk you through writing your first letter of rec about a trainee. It's the first of our Skill Share series - hope you enjoy!
Extracurricular Activities in Graduate School
February 24, 2020 00:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MBHow involved should graduate students be in activities outside of lab? Sally and Kayla discuss how to strategically choose personally- and professionally-fulfilling extracurriculars while still budgeting time for life.
Science Policy - From Tax Dollars to Kimwipes
October 24, 2019 00:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBScience policy panelists Andrew Bremer, Stephanie Mack, and Kathy Shield join Sally and Kayla again to discuss how scientific research is funded with a focus on the process of allocating and distributing government funding. The panelists also share how graduate students can be involved in this process and impact research funding for years to come. Links: Journal Science Policy and Governance http://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/ National Science Policy Network https://scipolnetwor...
Dr. Maria Artunduaga on Entrepreneurship, Resilience, and Reinventing Your Dreams
August 13, 2019 00:00 - 55 minutes - 41.7 MBWhen her first career dreams were absolutely dashed, Dr. Maria Artunduaga reinvented herself, founded a company, and learned to thrive.Trained as a physician in her home country, Colombia, Maria dreamed of coming to the US to become a pediatric plastic surgeon and hustled to make it happen. When blatant discrimination and subsequent litigation forced her out of medicine forever, she felt stuck. Eventually, she trained and studied to become an engineer and entrepreneur. She founded Re...
Skydeck: Startup University with Caroline Winnett
April 29, 2019 00:00 - 32 minutes - 74.6 MBSkydeck, UC Berkeley’s startup accelerator program, has created a new model for funding education. They provide resources and funding to help university-affiliated founders go from idea to startup, and profits from Skydeck’s venture fund go directly back to the University. Double Shelix is delighted to welcome Caroline Winnett, Skydeck’s Executive Director, to discuss her path from concert violinist to MBA grad to startup gamechanger. We also discuss some of Silicon Valley’s systemic...
Science Policy - Getting Involved!
April 16, 2019 00:00 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBScience policy has created some of the biggest research initiatives of our lifetimes, like the Human Genome Project, the Cancer Moonshot, and even the Original Moonshot. It also dictates more mundane (but vital) aspects of scientists' lives like grant funding, and how graduate students' tuition stipends are taxed. Science policy panelists Andrew Bremer, Stephanie Mack, and Kathy Shield join Sally and Kayla to discuss their work bringing a grad student science policy group to UC Berke...
First year as faculty - with Helen Zha, PhD
October 22, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBYou’ve secured a coveted faculty position - now what? Double Shelix welcomes Helen Zha, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. Helen started as a faculty in January 2018, and on this episode, we discuss her experiences on the faculty job market and how we can learn from her mistakes - and her successes! Helen shares the triumphs and challenges she has faced in the first year of running a brand new research group, and the best advi...
Bringing lab skills to industry roles and crushing it with Heidi Norton, scientist at Biomeme
October 08, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 25.9 MBHeidi Norton joins Double Shelix to discuss her transition from graduate school to living her best life as a senior molecular biologist at Biomeme, a biotech startup in Philadelphia. She shares her tips for using enthusiasm as a networking tool, and how students and early career professionals can identify their strengths and demonstrate them to potential employers. Heidi shares some of the awesome science she does Biomeme, creating hand-held PCR machines to find endangered species, d...
Summer internships + rotation projects: Leveraging short-term experiences for your future career success!
August 26, 2018 00:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBHow can you make the most of a short research or work experience? Sally and Kayla give their tips for how to succeed in a summer internship or research rotation, including how to manage day-to-day responsibilities, demonstrate your curiosity and eagerness, and finish strong to leave a great impression. We give the inside scoop on asking for letters of recommendation and navigating tough conversations about authorship and publication goals. Also, what to do when you end up in a truly ...
You do Belong in Science-stravaganza!
May 09, 2018 00:00 - 55 minutes - 41.4 MBWe wrap up the You do Belong in Science series with listener stories and lessons learned from this series. Listeners write in with stories about the importance of professors' LGBTQ allyship and dealing with chronic illness in graduate school. We reveal who does not belong in science (spoiler alert/content advisory, it's sexual harassers). We also welcome allyship correspondent Jon Muncie to discuss actions everyone can take to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the workplac...
You do Belong #5 - Triumphs and challenges in international research with Dr. Suhair Sunoqrot
May 02, 2018 00:00 - 45 minutes - 30.6 MBProfessor Suhair Sunoqrot joins Sally and Kayla to discuss her experiences running her research lab at Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan and what she wishes international colleagues understood about the research climate in Jordan. Also on this episode, a listener is having a hard time fitting in while researching in another country, and we discuss Suhair's experience finding belonging in research labs in the US and Europe. Suhair successfully balances her nanoparticle and drug delive...
Illuminating the pathways to graduate school - with Christina Fuentes and Shaheen Jeeawoody
April 26, 2018 00:00 - 55 minutes - 34.6 MBA STEM graduate degree can be a gateway to an amazing career, but many undergraduate students are unaware that these opportunities exist or how to navigate the grad school admission process. Guests Christina Fuentes and Shaheen Jeeawoody join Sally and Kayla to discuss strategies for enabling students to learn about and successfully apply to graduate school. Shaheen and Christina are both leaders in Graduate Pathways to STEM, a grad student-run organization that brings students from ...
You do Belong #3 - Helping students learn how to learn, with Sherri Messersmith
April 17, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBMany students arrive in college under-prepared for success, and professors have the responsibility - and opportunity - to help them gain skills to enable their success and find belonging in STEM. However, few professors are trained to help students develop these skills, so our guest, Sherri Messersmith, incorporates them into her series of developmental math textbooks! On this episode, Sherri shares her journey in math, from besting elementary school bullies on every math test, to hi...
You Do Belong #2: Youth Development through STEM Outreach with Noni Williams
April 11, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 33.8 MBThe real value of STEM outreach is the positive youth development and mentorship that students receive. Being inspired to pursue a STEM career? That's just a welcome bonus, says our guest, math graduate student and data scientist Noni Williams. Noni joins Kayla and Sally to discuss effective strategies for STEM and professional development outreach to kids and teens and her extensive experience leading initiatives from robotics and digital art festivals to AP Computer Science and sla...
You do Belong in Science #1 - Finding Belonging with Dr. Tamara Alliston
April 03, 2018 00:00 - 44 minutes - 27.2 MBWe kick off our You do Belong in Science series with Dr. Tamara Alliston, PhD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF. Tamara discusses her journey into science and academia, and how she found belonging through peer mentorship, despite imposter syndrome. As a mentor, Tamara works to help mentees "stay connected to what gives them joy," and we also discuss what brings Tamara joy - musculoskeletal biology and surfing with her family! Tamara stresses the importance of STEM outreach to...
Wellness in graduate school with Meagan Ita and Michael Magaraci
March 12, 2018 00:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MBGoing in, graduate students expect they'll have to work hard, but most students are unprepared for the mental anguish that grad school can induce - especially when experiments aren't going well, or when we compare to themselves to others' successes. Penn Bioengineering PhD students Meagan Ita and Michael Magaraci join Sally and Kayla to discuss wellness in graduate school. Meagan and Mike discuss the importance of taking charge of your own wellness, and what departments can do to sup...
Technical communication and hot retail trends, with Zoe Leavitt
March 05, 2018 00:00 - 50 minutes - 21.2 MBZoe Leavitt, senior consumer product and retail analyst at CB Insights, joins Sally and Kayla to discuss what's hot at the intersection of tech and retail. She truly has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends - and the data to back that up! We also talk about her experiences working for Bank of China in Shanghai, and communicating technical content to lay audiences - like on Good Morning America! We also calls BS on VCs being "afraid to meet solo with women founders" in the pos...
Women's health in your 20s (and beyond!) with Dr. Katie Norton
February 26, 2018 00:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBDr. Kathleen Norton, obstetrician/gynecologist extraordinaire, joins Kayla and Sally to tell us what grad students need to know about women's health! She dispels contraceptive myths and gets real about HPV vaccines, Pap smears, and mammograms. Dr. Norton (Sally's mom, y'all) also discusses her work in hospitals in Kenya, early-career struggles, timing family and career, and dealing with difficult people in the workplace. There's something for everyone in this episode, even (especiall...
Next-level mentorship for mentors and mentees with Julea Vlassakis
January 05, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 33.1 MBJulea Vlassakis, mentorship expert and Bioengineering PhD Candidate, joins Kayla and Sally to talk mentoring in academia and beyond. Lean how to establish productive mentor/mentee relationships and cultivate the next generation of scientists - yourself included! Beginning mentees and seasoned mentors alike will learn something new from Julea's wisdom. Discover strategies for breaking out of the cycle of mediocre mentorship, how to deal with underperforming mentees, tips for cultivati...
Double Shelix E008: Teaching for active learning with Dr. LeAnn Dourte!
December 05, 2017 00:00 - 45 minutes - 31.6 MBAward-winning engineering lecturer Dr. LeAnn Dourte joins Kayla and Sally to discuss active learning in engineering classrooms. LeAnn is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and has pioneered their biomechanics curricula - students build robo-arms to move PlayDough? Yes please! She shares her tips for setting classroom expectations in undergraduate vs. graduate courses, and doing academic research about engineering education! We als...
Double Shelix E007: Millie Dresselhaus + Listener-inspired Magic!
September 18, 2017 00:00 - 33 minutes - 32.5 MBWe're back for Season 2, and this episode is inspired by what our listeners want to hear! Kayla and Sally are huge fans of listener-recommended science crush, the late MIT Prof. Millie Dresselhaus: Queen of Carbon Science, tireless advocate for women in STEM, and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science in Engineering. A recent GE commercial asks, "What if we treated female scientists like they were stars? What if Millie Dresselhaus was as famous ...
Double Shelix E006: Molly Sheehan // Running for a seat at the (political) table
April 28, 2017 00:00 - 59 minutes - 111 MBMegan interviews Molly Sheehan, a bioengineering post-doc who is running for US Congress in 2018. Molly grew up in Pennsylvania, studied biology at Haverford College, and received her PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania. She is now a post-doc in bioengineering developing new molecular imaging techniques. Today, we talk about what is motivating her to run for Congress, the issues she is most passionate about, and how she is getting her camp...
Double Shelix E005: Emotional (dis)engagement with your work // CZ Biohub
April 06, 2017 00:00 - 37 minutes - 37.3 MBHow do you balance the fact that your happiness shouldn't be totally dependent on the outcome of your research with the fact that of course it is? Kayla and Sally tackle this listener question, and things get real. Conclusion: getting great results feels great, but if this is your only source of warm fuzzies, you're in trouble. But good friends and experience will get you through (probably). Also, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is applying major Silicon Valley thinking - and money - to s...
Double Shelix E004: Qualifying Exams // Conferences
March 30, 2017 00:00 - 46 minutes - 45.7 MBQualifying exams: who doesn't love months of preparation for a 3 hour oral exam that (potentially) covers everything you've ever learned? Sally and Kayla try to find the bright side, and are moderately successful, but quals are still rough you guys. They also argue that departments where passing quals is defined as being in the top X percentile really should reconsider, and set their students up for success! Also in this episode, conferences are exhausting, but Kayla has some strateg...
Double Shelix E003: Battling imposter syndrome // Writing is part of science
March 23, 2017 21:26 - 1 hour - 110 MBImposter syndrome sucks, especially when it keeps you from doing your best work. In this episode, Kayla and Sally discuss their own experiences overcoming three types of imposter syndrome: feeling like you were invited by mistake, comparing yourself to a superstar, and realizing that everyone else's research is WAY cooler than yours. In Better Talk Next Time, a man says he would have won a major fellowship if he was a woman - greaaat. Finally, if you want money to be at the lab bench...
Double Shelix E002: Igniting an Interest in STEM
July 27, 2016 00:00 - 27 minutes - 50.9 MBMegan interviews scientist and entrepreneur, Katy Lassahn. Katy is a co-founder of BioIgnite, a non-profit focused on bringing STEM research and discovery to young students. Megan and Katy chat about BioIgnite's experience with the NSF Innovation Corps for Learning grant, building a business, and STEM education in the US. And, listen for a sneak peek into BioIgnite's summer camps! Find us and share your thoughts! Twitter - @doubleshelixpod Instagram - @doubleshelixpodcast Email - do...
Double Shelix E001: Find and Succeed in Your Next First Job
May 15, 2016 00:00 - 55 minutes - 128 MBWhat was your first job? The first thing you were paid to do? Your first position in your field? Kayla and Sally discuss first jobs and how to find your next first job. We argue that it’s silly that in academia your “first job” isn’t until you’re a tenure-track faculty, and that this undermines the hard work of students and trainees. Also on this episode, Kayla shares an Oh Shoot moment from the lab bench, and things get v. real in our Better Talk Next time segment. Finally, we learn...