Rock Your Research with Chris Jones
29 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 8 years ago - ★★★★★ - 59 ratingsRock Your Research is a podcast created for you, the graduate student. If you are looking for inspiration, community, and advice on your PhD journey, then we have you covered. Each episode brings you an amazing academic or nonacademic, who shares their graduate school story. They talk about their biggest struggles and worst and best moments as graduate students. They also talk about their current career and the path they took to get there. The MINDFUL MINUTES ends the show with awesome resources that they use to stay productive and motivated. So join us on this journey and prepare to rock your research!
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Episodes
028: Ivan struggled with focusing on a research area but found his research at the intersection of his two areas of passion biology and astronomy and landed an amazing postdoc at NASA.
February 09, 2016 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBIvan struggled with focusing on a research area but found his research at the intersection of his two areas of passion biology and astronomy and landed an amazing postdoc at NASA. Ivan is a postdoctoral fellow at the NASA Ames Research Center. His research is related to the evolution of radiation resistance in organisms. To learn more about Ivan and his research visit his NASA profile page. Biggest Struggle Focusing on one area of interest. Worst Moment Not having a good relationship wi...
027: Richard was persistent in finishing his PhD and obtaining a tenure track research professor position!
February 02, 2016 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBRichard was persistent in finishing his PhD and obtaining a tenure track research professor position! Dr. Richard Prather is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland in the Departmet of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology. To learn more about Richard and his research visit his website. Biggest Struggle Figuring out what he wanted to do after finishing his PhD. Worst Moment The time period during his fourth year where his research wasn't going as fast as he hoped. ...
026: Denise struggled with self confidence but landed her perfect job as a researcher at the US Geological Survey.
January 26, 2016 08:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBDenise struggled with self confidence but landed her perfect job as a researcher at the US Geological Survey. Denise is a geomicrobiologist at the USGS! Her research focuses on how microorganisms impact their environment and biogeochemical cycles and how the environment impacts microorganisms. To learn more about Denise you can visit her USGS profile page. Biggest Struggle She struggled with having confidence in herself. Worst Moment When she was in the process of switching between lab...
025: Leah overcame failing her first oral proposal defense to find work she loves at NEON
January 19, 2016 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBLeah is the supervising scientist of education and public engagement at NEON. Her research involves remote sensing and data informatics. To learn more about Leah take a look at her profile on the neon website Biggest Struggle She struggled with time management and work life balance because she worked full time during graduate school. Worst Moment She failed her initial dissertation proposal defense. Best Moment Her defense. Mindful Minutes Segment Habit: Scheduling and time manageme...
024: Jennifer overcame her nervous voice during presentation to land an amazing job co-managing multiple programs at the National Science Foundation.
January 12, 2016 08:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBJennifer overcame her nervous voice during presentation to land an amazing job co-managing multiple programs at the National Science Foundation. Jennifer is the co-manager of the National Science Foundation's Petrology and Geochemistry Program and she co-manages the GeoPRISMS Program. Biggest Struggle She has a wobbly uncertain voice when she gives a presentation. Worst Moment She failed her first round of written exams. Best Moment Having a friend using a separate method actually end...
023: Vivian overcame her struggles with work life balance to choose a career that brought her closer to her family and the lifestyle she wanted to live while still pursuing her passion for science.
January 05, 2016 08:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBVivian overcame her struggles with work life balance to choose a career that brought her closer to her family and the lifestyle she wanted to live while still pursuing her passion for science. Vivian is a freelance writer and contractor for the National Cancer Institute's Office of Communications. She is part of a team in charge of maintaining, writing, and editing the NCI Cancer Currents Blog. To learn more about Vivian check out her website. Biggest Struggle Managing work life balance a...
022: Justin struggles with perfectionism but doesn't let that stop him from doing work he loves and that matters.
December 29, 2015 08:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBJustin struggles with perfectionism but doesn't let that stop him from doing work he loves and that matters. He made connections that helped him land the position he wanted in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Justin is a research geophysicist and deputy chief of the USGS Induced Seismicity Project. His current research is focused on human induced earth quakes. To learn more about Justin and his work at the USGS check out his webpage. Biggest Struggle Perfectionism, always needing to do ...
021: Valerie overcame her struggles with imposter syndrome and procrastination to go on to become an international speaker and author.
December 22, 2015 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBValerie is internationally known speaker and expert on imposter syndrome. She has written multiple books on impostor syndrome and finding work you love. She is also the founder of changingcourse.com an online resource for people who want to make a living doing what they love. To learn more about Valerie visit her website. Valerie overcame her struggles with imposter syndrome and procrastination to go on to become an international speaker and author. Listen to her journey. Biggest Struggle ...
020: Ed realized that his research didn't lend itself to large grants that are required to be hired at an R1 university. He used this to his advantage to learn what it took to become a consultant for higher education.
December 15, 2015 08:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBEd realized that his research didn't lend itself to large grants that are required to be hired at an R1 university. He used this to his advantage to learn what it took to become a consultant for higher education. Ed is a senior director with the Education Advisory Board and serves as their leading expert in student success and retention. To learn more about ED and the Education Advisory Board check out their website. Biggest Struggle Comparing himself to peers that went into careers after...
019: Emily overcame doubts about her ability to be a scientist to ultimately be an amazing science communicator using her skills and passion to the fullest.
December 08, 2015 08:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBEmily overcame doubts about her ability to be a scientist to ultimately be an amazing science communicator using her skills and passion to the fullest. Listen to her talk about her grad school experience and life as a freelance science communicator and educator. Dr. Emily Grossman is a science communicator and teacher. She works with students and organizations to get and keep students interested in science, especially girls. This passion stems from her personal experiences and stories. You ...
018: Juan overcame isolation as a graduate student to ultimately build a fantastic network of friends and become the chair of his department at the University of Florida
December 01, 2015 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBJuan struggled with being the only African American PhD student but used this to build a network and expand his way of thinking by interacting with people from many other backgrounds. He credits this with improving the way that he thinks and works. Juan is the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and Chair of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida where he leads the Human-Experience Research Lab. Biggest Struggle Isolation, he...
017: David overcame a difficult candidacy exam to land an amazing position as an assistant research professor
November 24, 2015 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBDavid overcame a sub-par performance during his candidacy exam to go on to not only overcome the weakness seen during the exam but to land an amazing assistant research professor position. David is an Assistant Research Professor at Auburn University. His research focuses on how humans affect wildlife populations and habitats. He is passionate about educating the public about wildlife ecology and conservation. To learn even more about David and his research visit the about page of his blog...
016: Jia overcame losing a field seasons worth of data to finish her dissertation and ultimately land her dream job
November 17, 2015 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBJia is an assistant professor in the Ecology department and Montana State University. Her research focuses on plant ecophysiology. To learn more about her and her research check out her lab website, which is amazing and well worth checking out both in terms of interesting research and visually appealing design. Listen to her graduate school story that led her to a tenure track professor position. Biggest Struggle Knowing what is enough to finish. You want a study that tells a great story b...
015: Sydney overcame lack of motivation and follow through to become the arctic policy lead for the US Department of State
November 10, 2015 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBSydney overcame lack of motivation and follow through to become the arctic policy lead for the US Department of State. Listen to her describe methods that helped her finish her PhD and land a career she loves. Sydney is a foreign affairs officer at the US Department of State and a AAAS Fellow. She handles the arctic energy portfolio within the department. Biggest Struggle Follow through after becoming ABD. Worst Moment Giving a less than stellar group meeting presentation and having a f...
014: Raul Pacheco-Vega combined his passion for education and research to land a job that allowed him to live close to his family and friends
November 03, 2015 07:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBRaul Pacheco-Vega combined his passion for education and research to land a job that allowed him to live close to his family and friends. He shares his experience and advice for students on how to find work that you enjoy. Raul is an assistant professor in the Public Administration Division of the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, CIDE, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. His primary research interest is in understanding the factors that contribute to cooperation in natural resource governa...
013: Jessica Ball defeated her imposter syndrome to land the prestigious postdoc she wanted.
October 27, 2015 06:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBJessica struggled with overcame imposter syndrom to get land a prestigious postdoc at the USGS. Listen to how she did it and her method for managing work life balance. Jessica is a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey, researching stratovolcano hydrorothermal systems and how they affect volcano stability. She received her PhD in Geology from the University of Buffalo. Learn more about Jessica on her blog. Biggest Struggle Impostor syndrome. Worst Moment Having a...
012: Kaitlyn Bunker landed her dream NGO position at Rocky Mountain Institute immediately after graduate school.
October 20, 2015 06:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBKaitlyn landed her dream NGO job at RMI immediately after graduate school. She made connections within the Association of Women Engineers and made herself a more well rounded candidate by getting involved in Science Communication. Kaityln is an associate scientist at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). She has her PhD in electrical engineering from Michigan Technical University. Her research within RMI focuses on electrical micro grids in the Caribbean. Biggest Struggle Being in charge of...
011: Katie Mack pursues her academic career and a passion for science communication.
October 13, 2015 06:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIn addition to being a stellar (pun intended) astrophysicist, Katie Mack is a popular science communicator and writer. Listen to Katie's worst and best moments as a graduate student, and her advice for current graduate students. Katie is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne in the Astrophysics Group. She has an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award to fund her research. She is active in online science communication and science outreach. Visit rockyourresearch.com for...
010: From Ecology to Silicon Valley--Ted Hart found work he loved in industry
October 06, 2015 07:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBTed leveraged his knowledge of computer programming and data management, gained while an ecology grad student, to become a data scientist. Listen to Ted's journey from ecology to Silicon Valley! Ted is a data scientist at a large company in Silicon Valley (he is not officially allowed to disclose what company he works for). He has a PhD in environmental biology from the University of Vermont. He has worked as a staff scientist at the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) prior to ...
009: Hannah Gaines Day overcomes lack of motivation to finish her PhD
September 29, 2015 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBHannah struggled with motivation while finishing her dissertation, but she developed techniques to complete her PhD. Listen to her share her grad school story and how she became a postdoc. Hannah is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin Madison. She has a PhD in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Her focus is on how landscape structure and management practices affect local native bees. To learn more about Hannah visit her about page. Biggest Struggle...
008: Amanda Grusz shares her transition from grad school to the Smithsonian Museum
September 22, 2015 07:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBThis interview is full of great advice! Amanda attributes her success to the positive relationships she developed during graduate school and outreach experiences. Listen to her share her graduate school experiences and how she became a postdoc at the Smithsonian Institute. Amanda is a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Her research focuses on the evolutionary biology of ferns. Particularly exploring the patterns and processes that have given rise to...
007: Impostor syndrome didn't stop Kevin Gannon from landing a tenure track position after grad school
September 15, 2015 07:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBA self proclaimed geek for history, pedagogy and technology, Kevin (a.k.a. "The Tattooed Professor") thrives on experimentation and breaking free from convention. Listen to Kevin share his struggles with impostor syndrome, how his first tenure track position wasn't what he was expecting, and his current advice for job seekers on the academic market. Kevin is an associate professor of history and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Grand View University in D...
006: Nick Wigginton, editor at Science, shares his tips for publishing in top journals
September 08, 2015 07:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBNick struggled with the challenges of doing an interdisciplinary PhD, but it ultimately made him well prepared to be a journal editor. Listen to Nick discuss his experiences as a graduate student, how he landed his position as a senior editor at Science Magazine, and his advice for publishing in top journals like Science. Nick is a senior editor at Science. He received his PhD from Virginia Tech. Nick was a postdoc at EPFL in Switzerland prior to taking his position at Science in 2009. He ...
005: Oliver Meyers rocked a job, his family, AND his PhD as a graduate student
September 01, 2015 07:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBWith young children and a job during graduate school, work life balance was a challenge, to say the least. But Oliver managed to not only finish his dissertation, but to feel like a peer to his professors during his defense. Listen to Oliver share his best and worst grad school moments, and how he ultimately became an associate professor at Clemson University. Oliver is an associate professor at Clemson University in the Mechanical Engineering department. His research focuses on the char...
004: PhD Life Coach? Jen Polk helps grad students launch meaningful careers.
August 25, 2015 07:00 - 35 minutes - 33 MBA PhD Life Coach? Jen never imagined a career as a life coach. But after her own challenges in graduate school, she realized that her passions and talents would best be used as an academic, life, and career coach for graduate students and PhDs. Now, Jen has launched her own business where she helps PhD students and recent PhDs identify their own passions and launch meaningful careers. Listen to her interview to hear about her experience in graduate school, how she decided to become a PhD Li...
003: John Bohannon travels the world as a writer for Science Magazine after graduate school
August 18, 2015 00:47 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBJohn always knew that he wanted to be a writer, but his journey from grad student to contributing correspondent for Science wasn’t always clear. Now, John has spent half of his adult life traveling or living abroad, writing about science stories around the world. Hear him describe his rough start to graduate school, how he graduated, and how he made the career transition to journalist. Dr. John Bohannon is a Science contributing correspondent and writes for Wired and other magazines. His s...
002: Work life balance is key to success according to Melissa Wilson Sayres
August 18, 2015 00:47 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBMelissa discusses her personal challenges with impostor syndrome and finding balance in her life. Melissa realized that graduate school is her life… meaning there are no set hours, and it can be easy to neglect your personal life. She says that you have to make the time to enjoy your friends and family. And that work life balance will lead to being more successful in your science. Dr. Melissa Wilson Sayres is an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences and The Biodesign Instit...
001: Maggie Sugg landed her dream job during the last year of her PhD.
August 18, 2015 00:46 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBMaggie struggled with uncertainty about her future career while she was a graduate student. But her fears disappeared during her last year of graduate school when she landed her dream job--assistant professor at Appalachian State University. Listen to Maggie's story to hear about her best and worst moments in graduate school, and how she went on to the career of her dreams. Maggie is an assistant professor at Appalachian State University. She received her PhD from UNC Chapel Hill in Geogra...
000: Chris Jones introduces this motivational podcast for graduate students trying to succeed in grad school
August 07, 2015 18:25 - 4 minutes - 4.25 MBRock Your Research is a podcast created for you, the graduate student. If you are looking for inspiration, community, and advice then we have you covered. Each episode brings you an amazing PhD, who shares their journey. They talk about their biggest struggles and worst and best moments as graduate students. They also talk about their current career and the path they took to get there. The MINDFUL MINUTES ends the show with awesome resources that the researcher uses to stay productive and mo...