Let your interests guide you | A fulfilling academic career with Dr. Mark Blumberg

Mark S. Blumberg, PhD, is a professor, neuroscientist, researcher, and author who specializes in the fields of developmental psychobiology and behavioral neuroscience. He is currently the department chair in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa. In addition to writing academic research articles, Blumberg has served as the editor-in-chief of Behavioral Neuroscience and authored several books, including Freaks of Nature: What Anomalies Tell Us About Development and Evolution. His research also appeared on a 2020 episode of the Netflix series, Babies. Research in the Blumberg lab at U-Iowa focuses on sleep: its development, neural control, and functional significance. Read more about Mark's research here.

Topics in this episode:

Mark’s research on: Why do we sleep so much when we’re young?Researching niche/obscure constructs and why that’s important to MarkThe uncertainty of sciencePlanning for the future versus following present interests and passionsNon-permanence of seemingly permanent decisions, like pursuing a PhDHow Mark got to love what he doesHorrible mentor experiencesHow to properly read a CV to assess mentor fitFinding funding for obscure research interestsPros and cons to an academic careerHard and soft salary academic positionsBeing a psychology department chairDeveloping a mentorship philosophyWhat Mark looks for in a student on his labWhat makes Mark a successful leaderWhat skill does Mark want his undergrads to leave college with?Advice for college students on getting research experienceGetting into grad school

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Music by: Adam Fine