Hello PhD
238 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 145 ratingsA podcast for scientists, and the people who love them.
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Episodes
165: A Survey Asked Researchers About Their Mental Health. Here’s What They Said.
November 01, 2021 01:04 - 58 minutes - 40 MBMost academics are overwhelmed, even the ones who are successful in terms of being productive researchers, busy teachers and efficient administrators. But, they seem like the norm and everyone who struggles is not, and this needs to be disrupted and changed. Research fellow/post-doctoral researcher, Africa. I’m worried about sexism in academia in general and this […] The post 165: A Survey Asked Researchers About Their Mental Health. Here’s What They Said. appeared first on Hello PhD.
164. The Essential Guide to Grad School Applications
October 17, 2021 02:32 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBDo you hear it? It’s the sound of hopeful scientists frantically typing out their grad school applications! They’re pondering the best format for a CV, scouring University websites to learn more about each graduate program, and begging their research advisors to PLEASE make the time to write that letter of recommendation! The silence you hear […] The post 164. The Essential Guide to Grad School Applications appeared first on Hello PhD.
163. The 3 T’s of Successful Field Research
October 01, 2021 03:04 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBThe only thing harder than hiking for three hours into a remote boreal forest is realizing you forgot your sample kit back in the lab. For many researchers, running out of a reagent means walking down the hall to borrow more from a neighboring lab, but field researchers don’t have that luxury. They may be […] The post 163. The 3 T’s of Successful Field Research appeared first on Hello PhD.
056. Team Up for Speedier Science (R)
September 17, 2021 02:52 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBWhen we think of scientists, we often think of the lone researcher plodding away at the bench late into the night. We imagine Alexander Fleming scrutinizing his penicillium molds or Einstein pondering the latest equation he’s written on the chalk board. We go a step further when training new scientists: we ask them to complete an […] The post 056. Team Up for Speedier Science (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
162. Get More Done with LabScrum w/ Dr. Lisa May
September 01, 2021 03:00 - 57 minutes - 39.2 MBIt’s 8PM on a Wednesday night, and you’re sitting in a quiet lab all alone. It’s your turn to present during lab meeting on Friday, and that familiar sense of panic starts to set in. What HAVE you been doing with your time? You flip back through the lab notebook and remember how you spent […] The post 162. Get More Done with LabScrum w/ Dr. Lisa May appeared first on Hello PhD.
161. Career Development is NOT a Waste of Time. We Have Proof.
August 17, 2021 02:12 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBAll those feelings of excitement and possibility screech to a halt when you walk back into the lab to see your PI glaring over her reading glasses. She looks at her watch. “Hey, good to see you. So glad you could join us,” she drips with sarcasm. After missing a beat, you rally. “Yeah, sorry […] The post 161. Career Development is NOT a Waste of Time. We Have Proof. appeared first on Hello PhD.
160. Mailbag – Finding A Postdoc Overseas, Lab Equipment at Home, et al!
August 01, 2021 01:41 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBYou know it. You love it. It’s mailbag time! We answer real listener questions, plus a few questions no one is asking! Make it Meaningful The first question comes from Lexi, who is trying to choose between a PhD program that is ‘pure fun’, and one that will have broader impacts: I will be applying […] The post 160. Mailbag – Finding A Postdoc Overseas, Lab Equipment at Home, et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.
159. Cultivating Resilience w/ Adina Glickman
July 16, 2021 02:35 - 49 minutes - 33.7 MBImagine a tennis ball dropped on cement – it immediately bounces back to your hand. Now imagine dropping that same ball on a sandy beach. The bounce of a tennis ball on pavement is a form of resilience, but it’s important to note that resilience is not just an inherent property of the ball. Context […] The post 159. Cultivating Resilience w/ Adina Glickman appeared first on Hello PhD.
027. The Road More Traveled: Stepping Off of the Tenure Track (R)
June 30, 2021 15:43 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBIn 2011, a whopping 36,000 science and technology grad students earned their PhDs. That same year, about 3,000 faculty positions were created. So why did you feel like a failure when you decided to step off the tenure track? Taking the high road Scientists aren’t always as rational as we seem. A rational person would […] The post 027. The Road More Traveled: Stepping Off of the Tenure Track (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
158. Five Strategies for Defeating Distractions
June 16, 2021 02:51 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBIt’s Friday morning, and you promised your PI a draft of your paper before the weekend. The trouble is, you lost a lot of time this week to distractions. Monday you had lab meeting and a few other planning sessions. Tuesday you worked from home but got sucked into cleaning the kitchen and folding laundry […] The post 158. Five Strategies for Defeating Distractions appeared first on Hello PhD.
157. The Three Mentors You Need
May 31, 2021 03:25 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBMost graduate students look on their research advisors as a mentor – hoping for guidance on science, career, and life in general. But even a superstar PI can’t provide that kind of comprehensive mentorship for all students all the time, and those stellar advisors are rare indeed. That’s why EVERY student needs to think about […] The post 157. The Three Mentors You Need appeared first on Hello PhD.
156. How to Identify and Avoid Predatory Journals
May 16, 2021 16:24 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBIt starts innocently enough with an email. This mail is with reference of your article published in the Journal of Cell Science, which is of good quality and making a good impact in the research field. In which you provided this email address to contact you. We would be glad if you submit your manuscript […] The post 156. How to Identify and Avoid Predatory Journals appeared first on Hello PhD.
155. How to Plan A Seminar or Scientific Event
April 30, 2021 02:25 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBAt some point in your graduate training, you’ll want to host an event. For many students, that will mean inviting a speaker for a special seminar. For others, it might be an outreach event or a departmental retreat. But no matter the purpose, you’ll probably feel a little lost as you try to nail down […] The post 155. How to Plan A Seminar or Scientific Event appeared first on Hello PhD.
154. How to Plan Your PhD w/ Hugh Kearns
April 17, 2021 04:31 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBA PhD Plan sounds like an oxymoron, but charting a path to graduation is one of the most important things you can do as a graduate student. This week, we talk with Hugh Kearns of Thinkwell about why PhD planning is so challenging for students, and learn about some tools that can keep your research […] The post 154. How to Plan Your PhD w/ Hugh Kearns appeared first on Hello PhD.
153. Where Do PhDs Work? The Answer Shouldn’t Surprise You.
March 30, 2021 02:51 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBIf you went to graduate school before the turn of the millennium, you probable expected to (eventually) land in a tenure-track position at a University. You may have known a few peers who got teaching gigs, or *gasp* went into ‘industry positions’, but the expectation was to follow in your mentor’s footsteps. Today, lots of […] The post 153. Where Do PhDs Work? The Answer Shouldn’t Surprise You. appeared first on Hello PhD.
152. How Do I Explain the Bad Grades On My Transcript?
March 17, 2021 01:55 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBIt’s time to open the mailbag once again to answer YOUR questions. First, we read a couple of emails from listeners who have put Hello PhD advice to work in their training, and they’re already starting to see the benefits. Nadia writes: Thank you so much for your podcast. I discovered Hello PhD at the […] The post 152. How Do I Explain the Bad Grades On My Transcript? appeared first on Hello PhD.
151. Avoid These Phrases in Your Peer Review
March 01, 2021 01:57 - 25 minutes - 18 MBThe Peer Review villain, alternatively known as ‘Reviewer 2’ or ‘Reviewer 3’, has gained meme status. This is the person who takes your submitted journal article, drenches it in red ink, shreds it, burns it, and feeds the ashes to feral pigs. And unfortunately, it has happened to all of us. There always seems to […] The post 151. Avoid These Phrases in Your Peer Review appeared first on Hello PhD.
150. Rediscover Your Scientific Passion
February 16, 2021 03:32 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MBNadia wanted to help patients. She had considered going to medical school, but found biomedical research to be an exciting opportunity to develop new knowledge and therapies. After graduate school, she continued her training as a postdoc. She was on the faculty-track, making plans for her project and her next career advancement. Then, COVID hit. […] The post 150. Rediscover Your Scientific Passion appeared first on Hello PhD.
149. Yes, Grad Students, You DO Have Transferable Skills
January 31, 2021 02:53 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBIf you’re a graduate student thinking about a career that lies off the tenure track, you’re probably vaguely nervous that your skills at the bench won’t take you very far in the business world. Career experts always ask you to highlight your ‘transferable skills,’ but what does that actually mean? Is it true that you’re […] The post 149. Yes, Grad Students, You DO Have Transferable Skills appeared first on Hello PhD.
148. Listener Mailbag: Contacting Prospective PIs, Supporting Friends, et al!
January 16, 2021 19:11 - 39 minutes - 27.6 MBHappy New Year to all our Hello PhD listeners! 2021 has already been… a lot. But we’re here to help. This week, we open the mailbag to answer your questions about graduate training and life in the lab. You Asked for It! Our first note came from Vibhatha, who found that a Science Writing Checklist […] The post 148. Listener Mailbag: Contacting Prospective PIs, Supporting Friends, et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.
147. 2020: A Year in Review
December 31, 2020 05:06 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBIt’s no stretch to say that 2020 was a hard year for almost everyone. It was marked by a global pandemic, social upheaval, and loss. The word ‘unprecedented’ lost all meaning around March, and we navigated uncharted waters for the remainder of the year. 2020 was rough, but now that it’s over, it’s time to […] The post 147. 2020: A Year in Review appeared first on Hello PhD.
029. Tenure Tracker: Choose a Mentor, Not a Lab w/ Natasha Snider, PhD (R)
December 16, 2020 04:19 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBChoosing a lab for your graduate or postdoc research is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Most people read papers and abstracts to find the coolest science. Or they favor the big labs with lots of people and solid funding. But those features can distract you from the real secret of scientific success. Your Mentor Matters This […] The post 029. Tenure Tracker: Choose a Mentor, Not a Lab w/ Natasha Snider, PhD (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
146. Ace Your Virtual Graduate School Interview w/ Dr. Beth Bowman
November 29, 2020 04:38 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBThe letters of recommendation have been submitted, and review committees have assembled. But while this graduate school application season may seem familiar, the next steps will be wildly different from past years. How will Universities conduct graduate school interviews during a pandemic? And what can applicants do to prepare for these unprecedented times? Virtual Interview […] The post 146. Ace Your Virtual Graduate School Interview w/ Dr. Beth Bowman appeared first on Hello PhD.
145. Ten Tips from Hindsight: A PhD’s guide to a PhD
November 17, 2020 03:30 - 35 minutes - 24.9 MBHow many times have you said “I wish I had known!” or “Why didn’t they teach us this in school?” If you’re a graduate student, you’ve probably said it a lot. For some reason, from the moment you write your first application to the moment you get your hood and mortarboard, you’ll be re-learning what […] The post 145. Ten Tips from Hindsight: A PhD’s guide to a PhD appeared first on Hello PhD.
144. Finding a Career that Fits with Marlys Hanson
October 31, 2020 17:32 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBSarah had achieved her dream. With a PhD in Physics, she had accepted a new position as a Theoretical Physicist. But as the months wore on, she started to feel overwhelmed and depressed. She’d done well in school and enjoyed her classes – why couldn’t she focus on her work? Sean graduated with honors from […] The post 144. Finding a Career that Fits with Marlys Hanson appeared first on Hello PhD.
143. Mailbag: Clinical Experience, Fighting Impostor Syndrome, et al!
October 16, 2020 02:09 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week, we dig into the mailbag to answer your questions! What’s in a Name? We start with an email from Tegner about what happens when your department changes its name before you even begin your trainining: I have recently been admitted and have accepted admission to a PhD program in “Immunology and Infectious Disease.” […] The post 143. Mailbag: Clinical Experience, Fighting Impostor Syndrome, et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.
142. Advancing Racial Equity in Science w/ Dr. Kenneth Gibbs
September 30, 2020 16:24 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBWhen Dr. Kenneth Gibbs talks about diversity and inclusion in the sciences, it’s not just a cause célèbre. It’s personal. “For those of you who don’t know me, I am a Black man. A descendent from enslaved Africans here in America, so my family has been here for hundreds of years. That’s part of my […] The post 142. Advancing Racial Equity in Science w/ Dr. Kenneth Gibbs appeared first on Hello PhD.
141. Why We (Still) Podcast
September 17, 2020 01:09 - 47 minutes - 33 MBWhat makes two PhDs who escaped from grad school years ago want to revisit all the highs and lows of their training? Short answer: Beer! But the long answer: Grad school is no cakewalk – classes are challenging, experiments fail, and sometimes, PIs seem like they’re from another planet. We made it through one day at […] The post 141. Why We (Still) Podcast appeared first on Hello PhD.
140. Mailbag: Do I need more experience? Biology vs. biomedical. Et al!
August 31, 2020 19:43 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBYou keep sending questions, we keep answering them! Take My Advice In our last mailbag episode, we noted that ‘comprehensive exams’ or ‘prelims’ varied not only by University but even department to department in one school. We asked you for your experience, and wanted to share just one of those repsonses: My department (Computer Science […] The post 140. Mailbag: Do I need more experience? Biology vs. biomedical. Et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.
139. Back to School During a Pandemic
August 18, 2020 00:49 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBIn March 2020, the world shut down. International borders were sealed. Businesses shuttered. Schools locked their doors and students were sent home to learn ‘remotely.’ At the same time, many universities and research labs also closed down for the summer of COVID-19. While a few labs remained open as essential research continued, many scientists froze […] The post 139. Back to School During a Pandemic appeared first on Hello PhD.
138. Listener Mail: Changing Fields, Comprehensive Exams, et al!
July 29, 2020 02:26 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBThe mailbag is overflowing, and it’s time to answer YOUR questions. First up is Leslie, whose summer internship was cancelled by COVID. Now it’s not clear whether a fall application to grad school will be successful. Dear Josh and Dan, I am an undergrad at a small liberal arts college looking to apply to biomedical […] The post 138. Listener Mail: Changing Fields, Comprehensive Exams, et al! appeared first on Hello PhD.
137. Tools for Finding a Research Mentor
July 11, 2020 03:37 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBThere are two conflicting truths for many early-career graduate students: The mentor you choose is vitally important, and can impact your ability to complete a PhD and your career trajectory years into the future. Many students choose a mentor based on feelings, hunches, and hearsay. Truth 1 should be self-evident by now. A mentor trains […] The post 137. Tools for Finding a Research Mentor appeared first on Hello PhD.
136. Rebuilding an Inclusive Academia with Dr. Ashalla Freeman
June 30, 2020 03:43 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBAs protesters march in the streets, you’ll hear calls to “Defund” or “Disband the Police.” These advocates argue that tweaks and training programs will never be enough to meaningfully alter the course of modern police departments, some of which can trace their origins to slave patrols in the South. You simply can’t get there, from […] The post 136. Rebuilding an Inclusive Academia with Dr. Ashalla Freeman appeared first on Hello PhD.
135. The Science Training Toolbox with Dr. Andres De Los Reyes. Plus, Antiracism for Academia
June 12, 2020 13:02 - 57 minutes - 40 MBHave you ever lamented the fact that there isn’t some kind of instruction book to help you navigate your scientific training? Wouldn’t it be nice if someone explained how to choose a mentor, or what it means to give a ‘job talk?’ And is there any advice for how to deal with that negative peer-reviewer, […] The post 135. The Science Training Toolbox with Dr. Andres De Los Reyes. Plus, Antiracism for Academia appeared first on Hello PhD.
134. Lessons from the Quarantine
May 30, 2020 01:41 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBCOVID-19 is a wildfire burning its way around the planet. Its impacts are devastating to nearly every aspect of our modern lives: loved ones lost, economies destroyed, and plans put on hold indefinitely. But like a fire, it’s also shedding light, illuminating the hidden corners of our society and our routines that we may not […] The post 134. Lessons from the Quarantine appeared first on Hello PhD.
133. Galileo and the Science Deniers – with Dr. Mario Livio
May 14, 2020 04:09 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBFour hundred years ago, Galileo Galilei knelt before a group of Cardinals of the Catholic Church and was forced to recant his heretical belief that the Earth revolves around the sun. “This must have been horrific for him,” says Dr. Mario Livio, author of a new biography titled Galileo and the Science Deniers. “To basically […] The post 133. Galileo and the Science Deniers – with Dr. Mario Livio appeared first on Hello PhD.
132. Make a Plan to Repay Your Student Loan
April 29, 2020 21:39 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBFirst, the good news: you’re not alone! About 1/3 of adults under age 30 carry some level of student loan debt. Unfortunately, if you’re earning a post-graduate degree, you may owe nearly twice as much as your friends who stopped with a Bachelor’s degree. This week on the show, we take a 360º look at […] The post 132. Make a Plan to Repay Your Student Loan appeared first on Hello PhD.
131. How to Host a Dissertation Defense On Zoom
April 15, 2020 16:36 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBIt’s finally here! The day you’ve been preparing for for the last five years! Your experiments are finished, papers published, and your dissertation has been typed, referenced, printed, and distributed. Now, it’s time to stand proudly before your committee and a room full of peers to defend your work and be dubbed a Doctor of […] The post 131. How to Host a Dissertation Defense On Zoom appeared first on Hello PhD.
130. Coronavirus, and Life Outside the Lab
March 31, 2020 02:57 - 51 minutes - 35.8 MBIt has quickly become a new way of life – working from home, avoiding restaurants and gyms, and ‘social distancing’ from coworkers, friends, and even family. The upending of normal routines happened so quickly, and the days have become so blurred together, that it’s hard to keep track of just how long we’ve been confined […] The post 130. Coronavirus, and Life Outside the Lab appeared first on Hello PhD.
129. Grad School Rejection: Why it Happens and How to Get Accepted
March 13, 2020 04:03 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBI feel a little disheartened because I’ve been rejected from many of the places I applied to and haven’t heard back from a number of others. Is it worth it to hold out hope for the ones that haven’t sent out updates? I have been rejected from 5 schools and am expecting 3 more rejections […] The post 129. Grad School Rejection: Why it Happens and How to Get Accepted appeared first on Hello PhD.
128. Field Work: Science in the Great Outdoors
February 26, 2020 13:51 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBIt’s 6 AM and you wake up as the crickets grow quiet and dawn illuminates your tent. After cooking breakfast over a campfire, you load a backpack and hike seven miles into a canyon. That’s when the science begins… Camp, Sample… When people think of science, they often conjure images of lab coats, chalk boards, […] The post 128. Field Work: Science in the Great Outdoors appeared first on Hello PhD.
127 | Listener Mailbag: How Do You Stay Motivated in Grad School?
February 11, 2020 03:51 - 38 minutes - 26.9 MBIt’s a well worn analogy, but an apt one: grad school is a mental and emotional marathon, not a sprint. This week, we answer listener mail from ‘runners’ at different stages of the race! This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Susanna Harris of PhDBalance.com. You can listen to the first episode here: […] The post 127 | Listener Mailbag: How Do You Stay Motivated in Grad School? appeared first on Hello PhD.
127. Listener Mailbag: How Do You Stay Motivated in Grad School?
February 11, 2020 03:51 - 38 minutes - 26.9 MBIt’s a well worn analogy, but an apt one: grad school is a mental and emotional marathon, not a sprint. This week, we answer listener mail from ‘runners’ at different stages of the race! This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Susanna Harris of PhDBalance.com. You can listen to the first episode here: […] The post 127. Listener Mailbag: How Do You Stay Motivated in Grad School? appeared first on Hello PhD.
126: Listener Mailbag – Ghost PIs, Dress Codes, and Mental Health with Susanna Harris
January 24, 2020 03:27 - 34 minutes - 24.2 MBIt’s that time again – the virtual mail bag is overflowing, so we invited Susanna Harris of PhDBalance.com to help us answer YOUR emails, Tweets, and messages. Bringing the Heat We start with a few burning questions about applications and interviews. The first question comes from a listener who was promised a strong letter of […] The post 126: Listener Mailbag – Ghost PIs, Dress Codes, and Mental Health with Susanna Harris appeared first on Hello PhD.
126. Listener Mailbag – Ghost PIs, Dress Codes, and Mental Health with Susanna Harris
January 24, 2020 03:27 - 34 minutes - 24.2 MBIt’s that time again – the virtual mail bag is overflowing, so we invited Susanna Harris of PhDBalance.com to help us answer YOUR emails, Tweets, and messages. Bringing the Heat We start with a few burning questions about applications and interviews. The first question comes from a listener who was promised a strong letter of […] The post 126. Listener Mailbag – Ghost PIs, Dress Codes, and Mental Health with Susanna Harris appeared first on Hello PhD.
106. HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman (R)
January 05, 2020 01:48 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBSee our previous episodes in this series: 101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman 102: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement with Dr. Brian Rybarczyk With most jobs, you’ll need to submit a polished resume along with a […] The post 106. HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
106: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman (R)
January 05, 2020 01:48 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBSee our previous episodes in this series: 101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman 102: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement with Dr. Brian Rybarczyk With most jobs, you’ll need to submit a polished resume along with a […] The post 106: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
124: Demystifying the Research Institute
December 16, 2019 02:43 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBMost PhD students attend traditional academic institutions of higher educations. It’s the world of classes, campuses, and mortarboards you probably think of when you think about a University. But there’s a less-traveled path to a PhD that may actually hold some benefits for certain students, including those coming back to school after working for awhile, […] The post 124: Demystifying the Research Institute appeared first on Hello PhD.
125: Demystifying the Research Institute
December 16, 2019 02:43 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBMost PhD students attend traditional academic institutions of higher educations. It’s the world of classes, campuses, and mortarboards you probably think of when you think about a University. But there’s a less-traveled path to a PhD that may actually hold some benefits for certain students, including those coming back to school after working for awhile, […] The post 125: Demystifying the Research Institute appeared first on Hello PhD.
125. Demystifying the Research Institute
December 16, 2019 02:43 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBMost PhD students attend traditional academic institutions of higher educations. It’s the world of classes, campuses, and mortarboards you probably think of when you think about a University. But there’s a less-traveled path to a PhD that may actually hold some benefits for certain students, including those coming back to school after working for awhile, […] The post 125. Demystifying the Research Institute appeared first on Hello PhD.