STEM Tea

In this episode of STEM Tea, host AJ Hinton is joined by Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist and the Director of Diversity in Graduate Medical Education at the University of Arizona College of Medicine (AZ, USA). After becoming a doctor in Panama and relocating to the USA to focus on research, Ricardo discovered a passion for health equity and decided to focus on helping underserved communities.Here, Ricardo discusses his journey into medicine and academia, the network of mentors he built along the way and how to increase minority representation in medical school. Ricardo also explains the concept of health disparities and talks about some of the projects he’s involved in, including collecting data for neglected transgender populations and addressing vaccination disparities in minority communities. Contents:·        Introductions: 00:00­–01:10·        Ricardo’s journey into medicine and academia: 01:10–04:20·        Focusing on health equity: 04:20–05:49·        Defining health disparities and providing interventions for communities: 05:49–10:32·        Ricardo’s role models and mentors: 10:32–15:50·        Getting money for interventions: 15:50–20:17·        Affirmative action and getting minorities into medical school: 20:17–24:08·        Medical school application tips: 24:08–30:56·        Choosing the right medical school: 30:56–34:14·        Gathering health data for transgender populations: 34:14–37:25·        Ricardo’s work on adrenal glands: 37:25–39:42·        Disparities and vaccination uptake: 39:42–42:39·        Discrimination in healthcare for LGBTQIA+ individuals: 42:39–47:00·        Balancing work and life: 47:00–48:50·        Picking and prioritizing opportunities: 48:50–52:48·        The importance of empathy: 52:48–54:20·        Finding career development opportunities: 54:20–56:53·        What are you drinking? 56:53–59:57

In this episode of STEM Tea, host AJ Hinton is joined by Annet Kirabo, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University (TN, USA). Annet research focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying activation of the immune system in response to hypertensive stimuli including excess dietary salt, sympathetic nerve outflow and oxidative stress, and how this impacts cardiovascular disease.Here, Annet discusses how her experiences growing up influence her work, how she sets up and maintains international collaborations and the importance of looking at someone’s potential rather than their track record. AJ and Annet also talk about how they both foster a growth mindset, competing with themselves rather than their peers. ContentsIntroductions: 00:00–01:40Annet’s background and what inspired her to research cardiovascular disease: 01:40–03:45Annet’s research on inflammation and how it impacts cardiovascular disease: 03:45–06:15Picking and maintaining international collaborations: 06:15–10:55Looking at what people can do, rather than what they have done: 10:55–13:00Assessing the impact of collaborations: 13:00–17:10Communicating research to affected communities: 17:10–18:10Choosing mentors and taking opportunities: 18:10–27:05Being inclusive when choosing a mentor: 27:05–28:45Important lessons: teamwork, inclusivity and a growth mindset: 28:45–32:15Look to others for inspiration, not comparisons: 32:15–35:25Identifying pitfalls: 35:25–38:50Finding fun in everything: 38:50–43:00What’s the tea? 43:00–44:53

Host AJ Hinton is joined by Brian Aguado, an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at UC San Diego (CA, USA). Brian’s lab investigates sex differences in cardiovascular disease, using biomaterial and tissue engineering techniques to dissect the mechanisms that underly these sex differences. He is also the co-founder of LatinXinBME, a virtual community where LatinX individuals in biomedical engineering can connect. In this episode of the STEM Tea podcast, Brian shares the experiences that brought him to a career in research, the importance of authenticity in a leadership position and the goals he has for resolving the sex disparities observed in past and current research. Contents Introductions 00:00–02:03What made you fall in love with science and pursue a career in bioengineering? 02:03 –05:12Tell us more about your research examining sex-specific cardiovascular differences 05:12–10:28What role have your lived experiences played in your science? 10:28 –12:07What are your greatest scientific accomplishments to date? 12:07–15:37Read Brian’s paper here: Genes that escape x chromosome inactivation modulate sex differences in valve myofibroblastsHow have you utilized your leadership skills to diversify science? 15:37–20:02What goals are you currently working towards? 20:02–23:24Can you tell us more about LatinXinBME? 23:24–27:49How do you choose who to collaborate with, and how do you think creatively in your research? 27:49–31:12How are we going to continue our DEI work in science? 31:12–33:54How does your lab foster diversity and inclusivity? 33:54–36:45What are you sipping on? Plus, social media! 36:45–39:16Outro 39:16–39:36

In this episode of the STEM Tea Podcast, AJ speaks with Kaye Thomas (University of Rochester, NY, USA) and Feather Ives (University of California, Berkley, CA, USA) about the career paths that led them to their respective microscopy cores. Feather and Kaye detail the value that cores can impart on your career and how they can be critical sources of hands-on, practical learning. Discover the work of communities such as PAIR-UP and BioImaging North America – operating to improve DEAI in the microscopy space – and how scholarships such as the Meyerhoff Scholars Program can impact a career.Feather and Kaye talk candidly about the importance of maintaining DEAI support through to adulthood, getting comfortable with talking about race in public and professional contexts and the peace that can be found in the reading and writing of romance novels… Contents:Introduction: 00:00–01:00Introducing Kaye Thomas and Feather Ives: 01:00–02:40Feather’s career path: 02:40–05:50Kaye’s career path: 05:50–10:15The impact of mentoring on both Feather (10:15–12:30) and Kaye’s careers (12:30–16:10)How cores can be a source of kindness and real learning for early career researchers: 16:10–19:50Introducing Pair-Up and BINA: 19:50–25:00DEAI committees and programs at Rochester: 25:00–27:00Grassroots community DEAI work and the importance of maintaining support through to adulthood: 27:00–29:00Getting comfortable with talking about race in public spaces: 29:00–31:00Addressing the pressures of Black excellence and explaining the pressure to be perfect: 31:00–34:00Fun activities to stay grounded and make the most of family life: 34:00–39:00Career development, next steps and microscopy courses: 39:00–44:15 

In this episode, host AJ Hinton is joined by Jenny Schafer – Managing Director of the Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR) Core and a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (both Vanderbilt University, GA, USA) – and Evan Krystofiak – Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Krystofiak is also responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of CISR’s electron microscopy division.   Schafer and Krystofiak discuss their career paths, from their undergraduate degrees to where they are now, highlighting the twists and turns that scientific careers can take. Beyond work at the core, the two share how they like to spend their free time (raising chickens and tap dancing make an unlikely appearance…). ContentsIntroductions 00:00–01:03What have your career paths looked like up to this point and what brought you both to this work? 01:03–07:47What about your career excites you? 07:47–12:46What lessons have you [Evan] learned from helping others on their scientific path? 12:46–14:04 Have you [Evan] done any leadership or management training to help you mentor others? 14:04–14:55What lessons have you [Jenny] learned from helping others on their scientific path and how have you found mentoring individuals in your department? 14:55–18:08What achievements do you celebrate as a unit at the core and what personal successes have you had in your career? 18:08–20:37What personal qualities are beneficial for working successfully in science? And how would you re-evaluate an experiment if there are issues? 20:37–25:14How do you resolve conflict in the core? 25:14–28:24What do you do with your free time? 28:24–30:50How do you balance work and life? 30:50–34:15Ways to get in touch with Jenny and Evan and the importance of networking 34:15–35:40Outro 35:40–36:18

In this episode of the STEM Tea podcast, AJ delves into the world of exercise science with Estevao Scudese, a Research Associate at the Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) investigating the intersection between molecular biology and exercise, where he also works as a physical trainer and coach. Estevao discusses his path into the physical sciences and the current research landscape and outlook for this rapidly expanding field, detailing the biggest risks and key motivating moments throughout his career, before revealing the parallels between coaching and mentoring, and how he encourages people to take small steps at the beginning of their fitness journey. We also get a fascinating insight into the impact of space travel on muscle tissue and the “balloon and anchor” people that Estevao surrounds himself with to stay motivated.   Contents: ·        Introduction: 00:00-02:00·        Estevao’s background and route into a career in physical sciences: 02:00-05:00·        What is on the horizon for scientific research into and our approach to physical activity: 05:00-06:40·        Estevao’s greatest career achievements so far and what is next: 06:40-08:30·        Estevao’s current approach to research: 08:30-09:50·        The biggest risks in his career and what are you most proud of? 09:50-12:00·        Achieving work life balance: 12:00-13:20·        Setting someone up on the path to fitness and the impacts on health: 13:20-17:40·        Techniques to help address stress with exercise: 17:40-19:00·        Molecular impacts of exercise: 19:00-20:15·        Impacts of poor diet and low exercise levels on health: 20:15-22:15·        Small steps to start a fitness journey and the challenges they may face: 22:15-25:10·        Challenge for Estevao’s own exercise routine and staying motivated: 24:40-26:25·        Key moments of serendipity in Estevao’s career: 26:25-27:30·        The intersection of stress and acute health: 27:30-28:30·        Coaching as mentoring and building leadership skills and setting goals: 28:30-31:40·        Spending time outside of work and most motivating memories: 31:40-36:00·        Personal goals for growth: 36:00-39:00·        The current state of research infrastructure in Brazil: 39:00-41:40·        Key research fields of Brazil: 41:40-43:30·        Trust in science in Brazil: 43:30-45:15·        Muscle development in space: 45:15-47:15·        Outro: 47:15-48:45

In this episode, host AJ Hinton is joined by Alissa Armstrong, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina (SC, USA). Armstrong uses the model organism Drosophila melanogaster – the fruit fly – to research how multiple organs communicate information about nutrition to one another. Armstrong is a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Science Diversity Leadership (SDL) grantee, awarded for her study of inter-organ communication with adipose tissue and her long-standing commitment to mentoring and outreach activities since graduate school. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of Black and Brown students has been at the forefront of her science journey, and she is now participating in two programs: South Carolina – Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (SC-ADAR) and Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). Here, she discusses her research, how she encourages a healthy working environment in her lab and how her mentoring work and mentoring practices help encourage diversity in ContentsIntroductions 00:00–02:07Could you tell us a bit more about your research focus? 02:07–03:23How did you secure a CZI SDL grant? 03:23–07:38What drives you to support and mentor students? And what should students look for in a mentor? 07:38–09:28How do you collaborate with students and mentees to get them excited about science, and how do you foster their growth and leadership within science? 09:28–12:00How do you encourage creative thinking in the workplace? And how does the sense of ‘belonging’ translate to an academic environment? 12:00–14:34What are your greatest mentoring accomplishments? 14:34–16:26When you were growing up, did people ever discourage you, and if so, how did you overcome that? 16:26–17:49What are some of your greatest science accomplishments? 17:49–18:51How can mentoring in science be improved? 18:51–20:08How does diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) fit into science spaces? 20:08–22:10What motivates you and your lab to do great science? 22:10–25:22How did you acquire the skills to be both a professional and personal support to your mentees? 25:22–27:55How do you and your lab set boundaries for productivity to ensure that you’re not over-working? 27:55–30:36What do you see your lab focusing on in the future? 30:36–31:56 Where do you think DEI will go in science and mentoring in the future? 31:56–32:30Do you have any open postdoc or graduate positions at the moment? 32:30–34:02What’s the tea? 34:02–35:11Outro 35:11–35:36

In this episode of the STEM Tea podcast, AJ Hinton discusses a career in academic publishing with Alexander Hutchison, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cellular Physiology (NJ, USA). Following a PhD in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at the University of Houston (TX, USA) and working in academia for several years, Alexander changed career to working in scientific publishing and has also written a number of books.Contents:Introduction 00:00 – 03:15What is the difference between the Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief of a journal? 03:15 – 06:03Take us through the day-to-day of an Editor-in-Chief. 06:03 – 09:55When commissioning for a special issue, how do you ensure its novel? 09:55 – 14:18How do you move the science forward to contribute to the larger community and not just the journal? 14:18 – 21:06How do you work with authors to cultivate high-quality and impactful research? And how do you make time to continue your own learning? 22:33 – 26:40What gaps do you see in the education system? 26:40 – 36:43How can scientists improve their science communication to those without an extensive science background? 36:46 – 40:29Tell us about the books that you’ve authored. 40:29 – 46:03How do you stay active? 50:36 – 51:30Outro 51:30 – 52:02

Michelle Juarez is the Diversity Outreach Coordinator at Stony Brook University (NY, USA) and joins AJ Hinton on this episode of the STEM Tea podcast to discuss science communication, promoting biological education within communities and Frontiers for Young Minds, an open-access academic journal that publishes articles edited by kids for kids.Contents:o  Introduction 00:00 – 01:03o  What has been your journey to the DNA Learning Center? 01:03 – 02:11o  How are you communicating science to the wider community? 02:11 – 03:55o  What are some key areas that could inspire and motivate students to be the best scientists? 03:55 – 06:48o  Do you work with translations at Frontiers for Young Minds? 06:48 – 08:12o  What drove you to become a mentor? 08:12 – 10:36o  What are some accomplishments in your career that made you interested in science communication and mentoring? 10:36 – 13:00o  Who inspires you? 13:00 – 14:26o  Have you had any experiences where you needed to fail in order to succeed? 14:26 – 17:52o  Could you discuss the importance of high-quality science being communicated to students? 17:52 – 20:11o  What qualities do you have that have made you successful in your career thus far? 20:11 – 22:20o  The importance of collaboration 22:20 – 25:27o  What advice do you wish someone had given you earlier in your career 25:27 – 29:11o  How can people learn about other career development opportunities outside of the lab? 29:11 – 32:32o  How were you able to cultivate the leadership skills that you needed for your career in research administration? 32:32 – 36:23o  Outro 36:23 – 38:15