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
086: Five Resolutions for Happier, Healthier Scientists
January 16, 2018 03:54 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBTurning over the last page of the calendar seems to naturally invite some reflection on the previous 365 days. When you look back at 2017, what went well? And what do you wish you could change in the coming year? This week, we take the opportunity to reflect back much farther – to our days […] The post 086: Five Resolutions for Happier, Healthier Scientists appeared first on Hello PhD.
085: Scientists in the Newsroom – The AAAS Mass Media Fellowship feat. Rebekah Corlew
December 22, 2017 19:35 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBPick up any newspaper and you’ll find an article summarizing the ‘latest research’ on the health benefits of chocolate, a new treatment for Alzheimers, or the long-term risks of screen time for your toddler. As a scientist, you probably groan before you reach the end of the title: the claims are extreme, the statistics are […] The post 085: Scientists in the Newsroom – The AAAS Mass Media Fellowship feat. Rebekah Corlew appeared first on Hello PhD.
084: The 4 Keys to an Effective Grad School Application
December 11, 2017 03:18 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBIn every episode of Hello PhD, we explore science training and life in the lab. But for every scientist, that saga begins with a grad school application. Whether you’re ready to apply today, or would like to apply to a graduate program ‘some day,’ we share a few tips and tricks that will make the […] The post 084: The 4 Keys to an Effective Grad School Application appeared first on Hello PhD.
083: Preprint First, Peer-Review Later
November 21, 2017 03:07 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBPublishing your research in a peer-reviewed academic journal is an exercise in patience. You write and edit, wait for feedback from your PI, wrangle the figures into some esoteric format, and then submit. That’s when the real patience begins. From submission to publication, the peer review process can take more than a year. Meanwhile, you’re […] The post 083: Preprint First, Peer-Review Later appeared first on Hello PhD.
082: The Science of Comedy with The Peer Revue’s Niki Spahich
November 05, 2017 01:24 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBTwo scientists walk into a bar. One steps on stage and delivers ten minutes of raucously funny stand-up comedy. The other enjoys an evening of laughter as enterprising STEM professionals share their science. Scientists doing stand-up may sound like a joke, but it’s actually the latest innovation in science communication. Weird Al Einstein Begun in […] The post 082: The Science of Comedy with The Peer Revue’s Niki Spahich appeared first on Hello PhD.
081: Data Science Will Accelerate Your Research – with Joel Schwartz, PhD
October 17, 2017 20:09 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBAs a graduate student, Joel Schwartz developed an immunofluorescence assay for neurotransmitter transport. To quantify his results, he needed to circle the cells in each image so the computer could measure the intensity. By the time he graduated, Joel had circled over 10 million individual cells. Over the years, Joel discovered a better way: he […] The post 081: Data Science Will Accelerate Your Research – with Joel Schwartz, PhD appeared first on Hello PhD.
080: Postdoc Straight Talk – Where Are They Now?
September 28, 2017 02:03 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBUncertainty is a defining feature of postdoctoral training: Q: Is a postdoc a student or an employee? (A: Neither. Both?) Q: Should you continue in your PhD research field, or try something new? (A: Yes) Q: How are you supposed to find a job while you’re ALSO doing research and writing papers? (A: Pray that […] The post 080: Postdoc Straight Talk – Where Are They Now? appeared first on Hello PhD.
079: The Insider’s Guide to Industry – with Randall Ribaudo, PhD
September 14, 2017 03:32 - 59 minutes - 41.4 MBIf you’re an academic scientist, applying for an industry job is a bit like traveling to a foreign country. First, there is paperwork. Will they accept your Curriculum Vitae as is, or do you need to crunch it down into a résumé? And how on earth do you get through the screening software that filters […] The post 079: The Insider’s Guide to Industry – with Randall Ribaudo, PhD appeared first on Hello PhD.
078: Knowing When to Leave Academia – Feat. The Recovering Academic Podcast
August 24, 2017 01:02 - 37 minutes - 26 MBMaybe you’re in love with science, but you just can’t imagine your life as a PI. And maybe you’ve had a string of experiments fail and you’re just ready to put the entire ‘lab thing’ behind you. You have a choice – you could leave academia and try to find your way in industry, publishing […] The post 078: Knowing When to Leave Academia – Feat. The Recovering Academic Podcast appeared first on Hello PhD.
077: Google Discovers Five Keys to a Productive Lab
August 11, 2017 01:10 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBGoogle is data-obsessed, so it should come as no surprise that the company sought to apply its analytical expertise inside the organization. In an endeavor dubbed “Project Aristotle,” Google sought to answer a vexing question: What factors are important for a successful, productive team? Their findings may have profound impacts not just at Google, but […] The post 077: Google Discovers Five Keys to a Productive Lab appeared first on Hello PhD.
076: Should I choose a research focus BEFORE I apply?
July 23, 2017 17:41 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBApplying to grad school means making a series of difficult decisions: university location, reputation, lifestyle, and program. But do you need to pick out a specific research topic before filing an application? Is it better to nail down a project and lab before you apply, or is it okay to keep your options open? Listener […] The post 076: Should I choose a research focus BEFORE I apply? appeared first on Hello PhD.
075: When Research Sucks
June 30, 2017 03:38 - 47 minutes - 33 MBIt’s inevitable. At some point in your research career, you’re going to get that sinking feeling. Your experiments will all fail, your PI will get on your case about finishing that paper, and your graduation date will drift maddeningly out of reach. So what can you do when your research starts to drag you down? […] The post 075: When Research Sucks appeared first on Hello PhD.
074: Does Science Have an Income Inequality Problem?
June 14, 2017 03:50 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBOn May 2nd, NIH Director Francis Collins announced a plan to limit the total amount of grant funding awarded to an individual investigator or lab. According to Collins, “the distribution of NIH grant funding is highly skewed, with 10 percent of NIH-funded investigators receiving over 40 percent of NIH funding.” The funding proposal would limit an […] The post 074: Does Science Have an Income Inequality Problem? appeared first on Hello PhD.
073: Stop Telling Me My Project is Going to Fail!
May 26, 2017 02:46 - 31 minutes - 22.1 MBIs your lab is filled with compassionate, positive individuals who offer nurturing support and gentle guidance to help you achieve your full potential as a scientist? We didn’t think so. While you may encounter a handful of Positive Pollyannas throughout your career, you’re also likely to run into a few Negative Nancys. Rather than encouraging you to keep trying […] The post 073: Stop Telling Me My Project is Going to Fail! appeared first on Hello PhD.
072: Voices from the Front Line of the Science March
May 10, 2017 02:40 - 34 minutes - 24.2 MBWe weren’t sure what to expect when scientists planned a protest march on Washington, D.C. and other world capitals. Would this politicize the scientific process? Would enough scientists show up to make an impact? And what should happen after the march to continue the momentum? Ms. Frizzle Supports Science To answer these questions and others, Josh took […] The post 072: Voices from the Front Line of the Science March appeared first on Hello PhD.
071: Practical Advice for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Maureen Gannon
April 20, 2017 04:06 - 44 minutes - 31.1 MBImposter syndrome might make you feel all alone in the world, but ironically, many graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members experience the same feelings of inadequacy. This week on the show, we interview Dr. Maureen Gannon, PhD, about the sources of imposter feelings and the practical steps you can take to work through them. By every […] The post 071: Practical Advice for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Maureen Gannon appeared first on Hello PhD.
070: Imposter Syndrome
April 07, 2017 02:01 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBMeeting a new cohort of graduate students on your first day of class can be intimidating. These are the brightest students from their undergraduate programs. Some of them have years of research experience, first-author publications, and a depth of knowledge that seems encyclopedic. Feeling intimidated by your new colleagues is normal, but some of the people […] The post 070: Imposter Syndrome appeared first on Hello PhD.
069: Five Ways Scientists SHOULD Be Using Twitter
March 24, 2017 01:49 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBTraditionally, spending time on social media was a great way to make your PI angry. Your job is to finish experiments, read papers, and present your work at conferences, not to upvote and share the latest blue-dress illusion. But there are some unexpected benefits to the Twitter network that could help your science and your career. #JustAScienceThing This […] The post 069: Five Ways Scientists SHOULD Be Using Twitter appeared first on Hello PhD.
068: Use Targeted Savings Accounts for Irregular Expenses
March 09, 2017 03:18 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBIf the idea of saving money while in graduate school sounds laughable to you, you’re not alone. Many grad students live month to month on a stipend that places them near the poverty line. After rent, food, and clothing, there’s nothing left to save. But food, clothing and shelter don’t cover all the expenses you’ll face […] The post 068: Use Targeted Savings Accounts for Irregular Expenses appeared first on Hello PhD.
067: Science Magazine Takes a Teeny, Tiny Step Toward Open Access
February 22, 2017 20:08 - 31 minutes - 22.1 MBIf you read the following headline this week, you might have experienced a small thrill: AAAS Forms Partnership to Expand Access to High-Quality Scientific Publishing AAAS, or the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is the organization that publishes the flagship journal Science Magazine and related titles. You might believe from that headline that you could […] The post 067: Science Magazine Takes a Teeny, Tiny Step Toward Open Access appeared first on Hello PhD.
066: Should Scientists March on Washington?
February 09, 2017 03:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBThough techniques and terminology vary from one scientific discipline to another, all scientists are bound together by a set of core principles. We call this the “scientific method,” and the approach is sacrosanct. Observe the world around you, state a hypothesis to explain what you’ve seen, devise an experiment to prove yourself wrong, and report your […] The post 066: Should Scientists March on Washington? appeared first on Hello PhD.
065: Does the GRE Predict Which Students Will Succeed?
January 26, 2017 02:52 - 47 minutes - 33.1 MBThough most of us have never served on a graduate program admissions committee, we can still appreciate the difficulty of their task: Given a stack qualified applicants, choose the few that you believe will succeed. Where do you start? Perhaps you check on each applicant’s GPA, or focus just on the GPA in their science […] The post 065: Does the GRE Predict Which Students Will Succeed? appeared first on Hello PhD.
064: A PhD Internship Will Help You Get a Job
January 10, 2017 17:13 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBYou might think internships are the domain of business students and undergrads. You’re training every day in a lab – why would you need more experiential learning? The short answer is that your laboratory training is a great internship if you want to go on to a faculty position at a major research university. But what […] The post 064: A PhD Internship Will Help You Get a Job appeared first on Hello PhD.
063: PhD Biography – Compton to the Ivy League
December 20, 2016 04:04 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBStatistically speaking, Teresa Ramirez didn’t stand a chance. She was raised in Compton, California, a city south of Los Angeles and the eponymous setting of the N.W.A. album “Straight Outta Compton.” Teresa loved books. She asked questions during class. She put in extra time to help out after school. In a high school where gang violence […] The post 063: PhD Biography – Compton to the Ivy League appeared first on Hello PhD.
062: FLSA and 21st Century Cures are laws that impact the lab
December 06, 2016 03:49 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBThe 2016 presidential election was divisive, dramatic, and distracting. That’s why you probably missed a series of rulings and regulations that could have a profound impact on your research. But fear not, Daniel and Josh are back with news on the recent legislation and how it affects your funding and focus. Fair Labor for Postdocs […] The post 062: FLSA and 21st Century Cures are laws that impact the lab appeared first on Hello PhD.
061: Why We LOVE Grad School
November 21, 2016 21:04 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBThere’s no denying it: science is hard work. After a long week of 3AM time-points, contaminated cell cultures, and the ‘simple PCR’ that failed for the fifth time, you might lose sight of why you got into this business in the first place. But, with Thanksgiving on the horizon, we decided to pause and consider all of […] The post 061: Why We LOVE Grad School appeared first on Hello PhD.
060: The Right (And Wrong) Ways to Contact Potential Postdoc Advisors
November 07, 2016 04:27 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBDear Dr. Scientist, I’m writing to tell you how much I admire your work in the field of science that you study. Your lab has done some tremendous work researching very important topics of significance. I just loved your latest research article and I’m sure it made your university or institution proud! In any case, […] The post 060: The Right (And Wrong) Ways to Contact Potential Postdoc Advisors appeared first on Hello PhD.
059: Simple Tricks for Time Management – The Focus Funnel
October 19, 2016 04:47 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBIn some jobs, one day at the office looks a lot like the next. You could look through your calendar and optimize your meeting schedule and to-do list without much thought. But working in a lab is different: your projects are in constant flux, experiments lead to other experiments, and you need to balance bench […] The post 059: Simple Tricks for Time Management – The Focus Funnel appeared first on Hello PhD.
058: How to Be Truly Unhappy in Grad School
October 03, 2016 21:28 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBOn those days when you manage to take a break from bench-work and call home, you will almost certainly get ‘The Question:’ “So, how is your research going?” If you’re new to grad school, you might make the mistake of telling your parent or loved one exactly how your research is going. “Well, I was up […] The post 058: How to Be Truly Unhappy in Grad School appeared first on Hello PhD.
057: “I’m a scientist. And I’m blind.”
September 20, 2016 02:58 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBWhen we imagine what life is like for people who are blind, our first reaction might be paralysis. We consider just how difficult our lives would be without sight; preparing breakfast, dressing for work, and navigating from home to the lab sound like insurmountable obstacles. And if those trivial tasks seem daunting, consider your work day. Could you […] The post 057: “I’m a scientist. And I’m blind.” appeared first on Hello PhD.
056: Team Up for Speedier Science – #modernPhD Part 3
September 05, 2016 18:31 - 36 minutes - 25.3 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 – #modernPhD Part 3 appeared first on Hello PhD.
055: Four Ideas to Modernize Mentorship – #modernPhD Part 2
August 23, 2016 00:55 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBToday, a graduate student will make a terrible mistake. He’ll blindly commit to a long-term relationship that will make him miserable. He’ll be too shy to ask his partner the painfully awkward questions that could predict their ultimate failure as a team. Does this person have time for me? Is she enthusiastic about helping me succeed? Do […] The post 055: Four Ideas to Modernize Mentorship – #modernPhD Part 2 appeared first on Hello PhD.
054: The 5 year PhD – #modernPhD Part 1
August 08, 2016 16:38 - 31 minutes - 22 MBScientific training has its roots in the ancient world. From Aristotle’s natural philosophy to the modern biomedical research lab, science training has relied heavily on an apprenticeship model. Senior scientists take promising young students into their labs and train them, hands-on, in the practical activities of research. The assumption has always been that the aspiring […] The post 054: The 5 year PhD – #modernPhD Part 1 appeared first on Hello PhD.
053: Why more testing from Theranos won’t prevent cancer
July 25, 2016 14:50 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBIt’s a compelling promise: take a few drops of blood, and tell the patient what hidden diseases are lurking in his body. If only we could have an early warning system for cancer, Alzheimer’s, or myriad other diseases, then we could treat them before they took hold. This is the narrative of Theranos, a company that […] The post 053: Why more testing from Theranos won’t prevent cancer appeared first on Hello PhD.
052: Hello PhD Year in Review
July 11, 2016 03:10 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBIt’s official: the Hello PhD podcast is one year old! In honor of our birthday, we’re taking a look back at our favorite episodes and moments from the first year of the show. Stay with us… Cheers, Mate! We start the celebration with the Alpine Beer Company Hoppy Birthday Session […] The post 052: Hello PhD Year in Review appeared first on Hello PhD.
051: Should I change labs or quit grad school?
July 04, 2016 02:26 - 34 minutes - 24.2 MBJessica was finishing her third year of grad school when she finally decided she had had enough. Funding had gotten tighter, and her PI had basically checked out. Many of her lab-mates saw the writing on the wall, and left their projects behind to find other work. With no support from her advisor or peers, she […] The post 051: Should I change labs or quit grad school? appeared first on Hello PhD.
050: Lab Fail – Radioactive Tritium Spill
June 26, 2016 21:28 - 19 minutes - 13.9 MBWe’ve all had bad days in the lab: you throw out the supernatant you were supposed to save, or contaminate all the cells in tissue culture. It hurts, but the next day, you can start over and try again. Today on the show, we hear the true story of a woman who dropped a tube and splashed […] The post 050: Lab Fail – Radioactive Tritium Spill appeared first on Hello PhD.
049: My advisor is moving, but I don’t want to go.
June 20, 2016 02:20 - 21 minutes - 15 MBAs a second-year grad student, Craig was making progress on an exciting project in a new lab. Then, one morning, the PI called Craig into his office. “I got a really generous offer to move the lab to Sweden. Do you want to come with me?” Should I stay or should I go? You might think of […] The post 049: My advisor is moving, but I don’t want to go. appeared first on Hello PhD.
048: Where the (Wild) Postdocs Are
June 13, 2016 03:24 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBShhhh! There he is. Behind that rack of Eppendorf tubes…. The elusive ‘Postdoctoral Fellow’ in his native habitat! If we’re quiet, we may be able to observe him as he completes an experiment, writes a few paragraphs in a grant proposal, and nurtures his young (i.e. graduate students.) Postdocs are difficult to study in the wild, […] The post 048: Where the (Wild) Postdocs Are appeared first on Hello PhD.
047: How many postdocs are there? The answer may surprise you!
June 06, 2016 02:17 - 23 minutes - 16.6 MBIt sounds like a simple question: how many postdocs are there in the United States? Maybe you want to know because you ARE a postdoc and you’re thinking about what kind of competition you’ll face for a faculty position. Maybe you’re a program manager at the NIH, and you’d like to direct extra funding toward […] The post 047: How many postdocs are there? The answer may surprise you! appeared first on Hello PhD.
046: Do I need a PhD to advance in my industry job?
May 30, 2016 02:48 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBYou’ve worked hard in your biopharma job, and you really love the position. The team is passionate and dynamic, the product is starting to make an impact in the market, and you begin to imagine your long-term relationship with the company. But there’s one problem: it seems like no one with a Bachelor’s Degree can move […] The post 046: Do I need a PhD to advance in my industry job? appeared first on Hello PhD.
045: Finally, some good news for postdoc salary!
May 24, 2016 11:11 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBPostdocs are some of the most productive scientists on the planet, but you wouldn’t know it if you looked at a pay stub. For years now, postdoc salaries have remained stagnant in the low $40,000s, causing many young scientists to find other careers in other industries. But a recently announced bill from the Department of […] The post 045: Finally, some good news for postdoc salary! appeared first on Hello PhD.
044: 5 Myths About University Teaching Jobs That YOU Probably Believe
May 16, 2016 01:17 - 29 minutes - 20.8 MBWe know that stepping from academia to industry is met with scorn for the person ‘selling out’ and leaving the university, but there’s a subtler form of bias against those scientists who actually like to teach. The moment you consider applying for a university teaching position, your advisors and peers will come out of the woodwork to […] The post 044: 5 Myths About University Teaching Jobs That YOU Probably Believe appeared first on Hello PhD.
043: A Scientific Approach to Teaching Science
May 09, 2016 01:18 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBEvery day in a research lab is spent forming hypotheses, designing experiments, and examining data. So it might surprise you to know that the scientific method is only rarely applied in the classroom. Wouldn’t it be transformative if the methods that professors use to teach science were tested and proven to be effective? Well, you’re in […] The post 043: A Scientific Approach to Teaching Science appeared first on Hello PhD.
042: I’m a Fifth Year, and I’m Stuck in a Rut
May 01, 2016 19:22 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBThe good news is that your research project has gone well over the last few years, and you got your paper published. The bad news is that you published everything in that one paper, and you’re out of ideas. And you’re five years into the program. And your PI doesn’t want to help you anymore. How, […] The post 042: I’m a Fifth Year, and I’m Stuck in a Rut appeared first on Hello PhD.
004: Why we podcast (R)
April 25, 2016 00:43 - 27 minutes - 19.1 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 004: Why we podcast (R) appeared first on Hello PhD.
041: Make a Difference in Your Lab with Peer Support
April 18, 2016 01:07 - 34 minutes - 24 MBSpoiler Alert: Working in a lab is tough. Yes, there’s the academic challenge, but it can also be an emotional roller-coaster when experiments fail, colleagues conflict, and you push yourself past the normal limits. When someone in your lab has a bad day, does it sound like this? Grad Student: (despondent sigh) “I can’t believe […] The post 041: Make a Difference in Your Lab with Peer Support appeared first on Hello PhD.
040: Three Keys to Success in Grad School
April 11, 2016 01:02 - 24 minutes - 17 MBKenny Gibbs is a scientist who studies other scientists. After earning his PhD in Immunology from Stanford, he turned his attention to the broader topic of scientific careers and how PhDs choose and evolve in their work. Through surveys and interviews with postdocs and research scientists, Dr. Gibbs explores issues like career-interest formation and postdoc development. […] The post 040: Three Keys to Success in Grad School appeared first on Hello PhD.
039: Two simple steps to better research mentors
April 04, 2016 02:02 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBSometimes, we use the words ‘research advisor’ and ‘research mentor’ interchangeably, but be careful – they’re not the same thing. When you join the lab of a research faculty member in your second year of grad school, you’ve chosen a research advisor. Whether that person turns out to be a ‘mentor’ remains to be seen. […] The post 039: Two simple steps to better research mentors appeared first on Hello PhD.
038: Why aren’t bad research advisors held accountable?
March 28, 2016 01:32 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBYou’ve either heard the stories, or worse, you’ve lived them. They’re stories of the research advisors who scream at their students in front of the whole department. The PIs who put two or three postdocs on the same project, expecting only one to succeed. The ‘mentor’ who makes you feel like you’re not even qualified […] The post 038: Why aren’t bad research advisors held accountable? appeared first on Hello PhD.