Science is hard work, but making it through a PhD program and into a rewarding career can seem downright impossible. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone shared the secrets for success at every stage? Admissions, rotations, classes, quals, research, dissertations, job-hunting – avoid the pitfalls and get back to doing what you love. It's like getting a PhD in getting a PhD!
202. Academia Has a Postdoc Problem
A few generations ago, you could probably graduate from a PhD program and immediately land yourself a junior faculty position at a nearby university. But as grad school enrollment grew, a new quasi-professional job-description emerged in the nebulous middle ground between student and professor. Lacking a better name, we just called them ‘postdocs’. It was […]
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12/1/2023 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 34 seconds
201. Society for Neuroscience 2023 – LIVE!
Josh and Dan traveled to Washington DC for the Society for Neuroscience Conference 2023. We chatted with students, postdocs, and faculty about everything from grad school applications to industry jobs to work-life-balance. And we recorded this special update from the hall of posters and vendors. Here are a few photos from our vantage point at […]
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11/15/2023 • 0
200. Want a Degree Without Quitting Your Job? An Online PhD Might Be the Solution.
Karla already has a successful career. After completing her training, she’s worked as a pelvic-floor physical therapist for over ten years! Her patients love her, and she loves serving them. But no matter how skilled she becomes at her craft, there’s still a limit to how many people she can help. A PT, working in […]
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10/31/2023 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 9 seconds
100. The One Where We Celebrate (R)
Graduate training has many milestones, but a few stand stronger in memory due to their importance. You may remember the day you passed your comprehensive exams, officially becoming a ‘PhD Candidate.’ Or maybe you’ll remember the day you saw a paper you co-authored published in your favorite journal. And of course, every PhD remembers their […]
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10/11/2023 • 50 minutes, 24 seconds
199. Mailbag: Is a Master’s enough, or do I need a PhD?
This week, we answer a listener’s question about whether he should pursue schooling beyond a Master’s degree. Plus – once your formal education is complete, how can you continue to focus on learning? What steps should we take to become life-long learners? Adam writes: I have been given an exciting opportunity to continue my education […]
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9/25/2023 • 30 minutes, 53 seconds
198. Just The Abstract: Is the GRE Really Optional?
Just The Abstract is a new series where we explore a topic in a short, focused episode that’s easy to share. This week, we find out why most science PhD programs stopped requiring the GRE, and whether they’ll demote your application if you fail to provide a score. We take our inspiration this week from […]
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9/6/2023 • 28 minutes, 27 seconds
114. Grad School Should Have a Time Limit (R)
Here’s a controversial idea: what if graduate school finished on a predictable schedule the way (checks notes) every other academic training program does! Since kindergarten, your education has had fixed milestones. You knew it would take 12 years to graduate from high school, 4 for college, and 2 for a Master’s or an Associate’s Degree. […]
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8/17/2023 • 49 minutes, 44 seconds
197. Mailbag: What If I Have “Bad Lab Hands?”
This week, we’re opening the mailbag once again to answer YOUR burning questions! Change of Plans We start with Allen, who was awarded a grant based on a research proposal he submitted BEFORE joining the lab. When he finished the summer rotation, it didn’t turn out the way he expected. I have now been asked […]
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8/3/2023 • 35 minutes, 29 seconds
196. YOU Can Win A Poster Competition w/ Dr. Zen Faulkes
Wherever scientists gather, there is sure to be a poster session. You may see them at major scientific symposia, as well as your university’s departmental retreat. To keep things interesting, a lot of conference organizers will host a poster competition. Entrants will have a chance to present their poster to a judge, who will score […]
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7/18/2023 • 57 minutes, 25 seconds
195. Five Myths of Scientific Poster Design w/ Dr. Zen Faulkes
The scientific poster is an academic oddity. Where else do thousands of people gather around hundreds of large-format printouts to talk about esoteric subjects!? Posters might be the most common form of scientific communication on the planet. In your career, you will probably present more posters than talks or journal articles. And nearly anyone can […]
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7/3/2023 • 56 minutes, 28 seconds
194. Mailbag: Do I Have to Do Animal Research?
It’s no secret that biomedical research relies heavily on animal models. Our mammalian cousins share so many common genes and pathways that we can often make breakthrough advances in human medicine through the use of animal proxies. But animal research is neither easy nor fun. Experiments are expensive, time consuming, and it’s often dirty, smelly […]
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6/16/2023 • 45 minutes, 22 seconds
122. Tenure Tracker – The Life Non-Linear with Dr. Jimena Giudice (R)
Dr. Jimena Giudice has all the traits of a promising new faculty member. Through her training and early career, she has earned more than a dozen grants and awards. She’s co-authored two dozen papers. And she has trained students and postdocs, gaining a reputation as a highly effective mentor. You’d expect that Dr. Giudice’s undeniable […]
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6/1/2023 • 58 minutes, 58 seconds
193. Listener Mailbag – Undergrad Research and Choosing a Master’s Program
This week, we open the mailbag to answer listener questions about getting extra research experience as an undergrad, and making a difficult choice between Master’s programs. Stay with us! Could Great be Perfect? Our first letter comes from Owen. He’s a freshman who found a research lab he loves, and is doing some amazing work. […]
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5/18/2023 • 28 minutes, 22 seconds
192. Careers In Focus: Medical Writer
When you think about your day, which events and activities feel the most fulfilling? Which tasks do you tolerate, but would rather avoid? Maybe your experiments feel like a drag, but you get a lot of satisfaction out of crafting an abstract for your latest research article. Or perhaps you love training new students in […]
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5/2/2023 • 38 minutes, 8 seconds
191. The Tough Times are Worth It w/ Dr. Emma Hinkle
A few months ago, Emma Hinkle was organizing her lab notebooks as she prepared to start a career. She had completed her graduate training, earned a PhD, and had a job lined up that started on Monday. In those few moments of quiet between her years of graduate school and the career to come, she […]
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4/19/2023 • 44 minutes, 59 seconds
190. Mailbag: Can I blend art with science?
It’s time to open the listener mailbag to answer your question about the human side of science, and life in the lab! This week: the importance of lunch, blending art with science, and the dream of a lab-based sitcom. We didn’t have to dig very deep into to the mailbag this week because we heard […]
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3/31/2023 • 35 minutes, 26 seconds
129. Grad School Rejection: Why it Happens and How to Get Accepted (R)
I 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 […]
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3/19/2023 • 57 minutes, 31 seconds
189. Crafting an Unforgettable Job Talk w/ Dr. Andres De Los Reyes
Think about your favorite action movie that kept you on the edge your seat. Did it look certain that the hero would fall, only to emerge at the very last moment to save the day? Now picture a great movie trilogy or TV series. Did each episode introduce a dangerous cliffhanger at the end, enticing […]
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3/1/2023 • 1 hour, 56 seconds
188. Grad School Time Management According to ChatGPT
We get asked all the time about strategies for more effective time management during graduate school. Not surprisingly, some of our most popular past episodes deal with time management. While we have covered a lot of ground over the years on this evergreen topic, there’s a new expert on the scene who seems to know […]
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2/16/2023 • 40 minutes, 36 seconds
187. Pro-Tips For Creating a Scientific Poster
Scientific conferences are a great way to meet other scientists and share your research. Perhaps your advisor got lucky and was invited to give a talk. If your research doesn’t get time on stage, how can you make connections and tell others about your project? The poster session is your ticket to fame and glory. […]
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2/1/2023 • 38 minutes, 17 seconds
186. Scientists Share Their Goals and Strategies for Attending a Scientific Conference
Since the pandemic, we can honestly say that Josh and Dan “don’t get out much.” But we broke out of that rut to attend the annual conference for the American Society for Cell Biology – Cell Bio 2022 meeting in Washington, DC. A scientific conference is a unique experience AND opportunity. Thousands of academics, researchers, […]
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1/18/2023 • 36 minutes, 7 seconds
071. Practical Advice for Overcoming Impostor Syndrome w/ Dr. Maureen Gannon (R)
Impostor 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 impostor feelings and the practical steps you can take to work through them. By […]
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1/1/2023 • 46 minutes, 27 seconds
070. Impostor Syndrome (R)
Meeting 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 […]
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12/23/2022 • 47 minutes, 12 seconds
185. I got accepted! Now how do I choose a PhD program?
We often talk about the myriad factors you should consider when choosing a PhD program. Location. Research. Stipend. Work culture. Livability. Peers. Prestige. The list of things to remember seems endless. But way back in pre-history, we were just humble undergrads ourselves, feeling our way around and trying to make life-changing decisions with very little […]
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11/30/2022 • 34 minutes, 59 seconds
184. White House Rules for Open Access w/ Heather Joseph
The COVID-19 pandemic changed nearly every aspect of our lives. Schools and businesses shut down. Hospitals filled up. And many of us spent months alone or in familial ‘pods.’ But this dark period of global history had some bright spots, and many of them appeared in the scientific community. Rapid at-home testing became ubiquitous. mRNA […]
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11/17/2022 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 3 seconds
103. Laboratory of Horrors! (R)
“Hey, I won’t be able to make it over for movies tonight. I’ve got to finish these timepoints… Yeah, I know it’s the third time this week, but I promise I’ll leave a early tomorrow… Okay, sorry. Goodnight.” Gary ends the phone call and sighs. This is not the first time he’s had to cancel […]
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11/1/2022 • 41 minutes, 41 seconds
183. Mailbag: Finding Balance, Master’s En Route, et al!
This week, we open the mailbag to answer your questions! We hear from a new grad student who has some old responsibilities, and learn about how to earn your Master’s degree while enrolled in a PhD program! Under My Umbrella (ella ella) Our first email comes from Cindy, who wants some clarification on a previous […]
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10/19/2022 • 31 minutes, 9 seconds
182. How to Choose A Rotation Lab and Advisor
Lab rotations are a pretty sweet deal – you get the chance to work in a lab for a few weeks to see how it fits. Do you like the people? The project? The advisor? If not, try another lab and see if that one is a better fit. But at the end of 3-4 […]
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9/30/2022 • 54 minutes, 7 seconds
181. Build Skills Before Grad School with a Postbac
A lot of aspiring trainees are ‘taking a gap year’ before applying to graduate school. Typically, they use that time to build skills and make connections that will bolster their applications. This postbaccalaureate, or ‘postbac’, experience can vary pretty widely – from a course-heavy Master’s degree to a research-focused industry internship. There are also a […]
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9/19/2022 • 58 minutes
180. Becoming an Educator w/ Dr. Alaina Talboy
You’re in graduate school, so you’re probably pretty smart. You’ve learned a lot of material over the years, and managed to apply that knowledge in tests, papers, and projects. But ‘knowing a lot’ doesn’t mean you’re ready to teach others. Becoming an educator takes time, dedication and attention. This week, we talk with Dr. Alaina […]
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9/1/2022 • 47 minutes, 26 seconds
119. Ten Tips to Crush Your First Semester (R)
It’s that time of year again – summer days are growing shorter, your friends are trying to fit in one last trip to the beach, and the backpack aisle at Target is about to be cleared out to make way for the Halloween costumes. Yes, it’s back-to-school time. From toddlers to teenagers, this time of […]
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8/20/2022 • 47 minutes, 38 seconds
179. Teaching Opportunities for Grad Students w/ Dr. Alaina Talboy
We’ve all met them – the unsung heroes of your Intro To (Biology, Psychology, History, etc.) class. Sure, they don’t give the lectures, but that’s about the only responsibility they dodge. Instead, they’re leading lab sessions, holding office hours, proctoring exams, and grading papers. They’re the Teaching Assistants, or TAs, and they’re a critical part […]
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8/1/2022 • 1 hour, 45 seconds
178. I Didn’t Even Know “Research” Was a Thing!
For some students, graduate schools is a foregone conclusion. Perhaps they’ve wanted to ‘be a scientist’ since they were nine, and along the way, they learned that a PhD is a stepping stone on that path. Or perhaps they knew their career prospects with a Bachelor’s degree were thin, so they new an advanced degree […]
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7/18/2022 • 50 minutes, 1 second
177. Mailbag: Is Academia Lonely? And, Lab Tech vs. Med Tech
You send questions to podcast@hellophd.com, and we answer them on the show! Is research always this lonely? This week, we hear from “Foobar”, a computer science PhD student in Germany, who is wondering whether academia is always as lonely as she is feeling right now. She writes: Just like every other student, I had to […]
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7/2/2022 • 35 minutes, 33 seconds
176. Stop Calling Yourself a ‘Grad Student’ w/ Dr. Alaina Talboy
Titles are a part of our identity. If you meet a school teacher, computer programmer, or rocket scientist, you will instantly form an impression of what kind of person they are without any additional information. The bias we impose upon hearing a title can be good or bad, of course. But we all invariably take […]
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6/17/2022 • 1 hour, 8 seconds
175. Four Research Traps (And How to Avoid Them)
The day-to-day reality of many graduate programs is that you’ll spend most of your time doing research. Even if you don’t end up working in a lab or doing experiments forever in your career (and most people don’t!), being able complete experiments is going to help you efficiently progress through your program and eventually GRADUATE. […]
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6/1/2022 • 43 minutes, 18 seconds
116. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Summer Students (R)
Ten weeks is not a long time. It feels even shorter when you’re tossed into the deep-end of a top-tier research lab. If you’re spending your summer as a Research Assistant between semesters, or you’ve graduated and want to get some summer experience before grad school, we have ideas to help you hit the ground […]
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5/19/2022 • 48 minutes, 46 seconds
174. I Have a Degree – Why Can’t I Find a Job?
Andrew felt like he was on top of the world when he finished his Master’s degree in History. He had excellent grades, experience teaching, and a willingness to explore new fields. But as he submitted resumes and job applications, he noticed a pattern. Either he didn’t hear back from the employer, or they turned him […]
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5/1/2022 • 58 minutes, 41 seconds
173. Mailbag: I Have a Master’s Degree – Now I Want a PhD
There are many paths to a PhD. In the humanities, it’s common to earn a Master’s degree first (or so we’re told…) In the biomedical sciences, students regularly skip the Master’s degree entirely, enrolling in a PhD program that includes coursework. This week, we hear from two aspiring scientists who used the Master’s degree as […]
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4/20/2022 • 39 minutes, 19 seconds
172. Research Software Engineer
If you work in a lab, you’re collecting data. And as the volume of data increases, many researchers find they can’t process or analyze that data in a spreadsheet or stats program anymore. Instead, they’re writing code in Python, R, or C++ to do that processing for them. But this creates a new challenge: what […]
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4/1/2022 • 50 minutes, 29 seconds
171. The Life and Times of a Humanities PhD Candidate
Sometimes, your humble HelloPhD hosts forget how narrow our experience has been in graduate education. We’re both biomedical PhDs, and while we trained in different departments, there was a significant amount of overlap. For us, a PhD meant classes, comprehensive exams, rotations, lab meetings, experiments, seminars, and so on. While those experiences were common across […]
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3/16/2022 • 55 minutes, 36 seconds
144. Finding a Career that Fits with Marlys Hanson (R)
Sarah 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 […]
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3/1/2022 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 47 seconds
170. Mailbag: Should I Quit Grad School?
If you’re a grad student who hasn’t thought about leaving your PhD program at least once, you might not have a pulse. When experiments fail, grants are rejected, or you get reprimanded by the PI, it’s often comforting to remember that all of this suffering is self-imposed and you could simply leave the University and […]
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2/16/2022 • 33 minutes
169. Change Your Plans, Not Your Goals
Even as a child, Alexandra wanted to study space. She had a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Cambridge University, so she seemed like the perfect candidate to for a PhD program. But after graduation, she didn’t feel ready. She’d need a Master’s degree first, but money was tight and her student visa had run out. […]
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2/1/2022 • 1 hour, 16 seconds
168. Academic Twitter: Step-By-Step
It’s no secret that a lot of scientific conversation happens on Twitter. It’s a great place to share your research, keep up with trends, and connect with collaborators. But many grad students and postdocs have questions. Is it okay to promote my own work? Can I just retweet other scientists, or do I have to […]
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1/17/2022 • 37 minutes, 2 seconds
086. Five Resolutions for Happier, Healthier Scientists (R)
Turning over the last page of the calendar seems to naturally invite some reflection on the previous 365 days. When you look back at 2021, 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 […]
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1/1/2022 • 42 minutes, 37 seconds
167. Mailbag – Am I Ready For Grad School?
This week, we dive head-first into the mailbag to answer listener questions about grad school readiness, teaching experience, and more! Just Finished! Our first missive comes from Kaylee, who recently graduated! I just wanted to send an email to thank you for all of the hard work you have put into creating Hello PhD over […]
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12/16/2021 • 38 minutes, 54 seconds
075. When Research Sucks (R)
It’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? […]
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12/1/2021 • 50 minutes, 8 seconds
166. Want to Improve Research Careers? Scientists Have 5,434 Suggestions.
The CACTUS Global Mental Health Survey asked valuable questions about stress, performance, and career goals for scientists. The data revealed plenty of room for improvement, as researchers struggle with harassment, work-life balance, and limited pay. But the study’s authors also asked more open-ended questions: Do you have any suggestions for organizations within academia or other […]
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11/18/2021 • 53 minutes, 5 seconds
165: A Survey Asked Researchers About Their Mental Health. Here’s What They Said.
Most 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 […]
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11/1/2021 • 58 minutes, 11 seconds
164. The Essential Guide to Grad School Applications
Do 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 […]
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10/17/2021 • 26 minutes, 1 second
163. The 3 T’s of Successful Field Research
The 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 […]
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10/1/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 24 seconds
056. Team Up for Speedier Science (R)
When 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 […]
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9/17/2021 • 38 minutes, 6 seconds
162. Get More Done with LabScrum w/ Dr. Lisa May
It’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 […]
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9/1/2021 • 57 minutes, 6 seconds
161. Career Development is NOT a Waste of Time. We Have Proof.
All 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 […]
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8/17/2021 • 41 minutes, 25 seconds
160. Mailbag – Finding A Postdoc Overseas, Lab Equipment at Home, et al!
You 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 […]
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8/1/2021 • 34 minutes, 14 seconds
159. Cultivating Resilience w/ Adina Glickman
Imagine 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 […]
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7/16/2021 • 49 minutes, 7 seconds
027. The Road More Traveled: Stepping Off of the Tenure Track (R)
In 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 […]
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6/30/2021 • 40 minutes, 17 seconds
158. Five Strategies for Defeating Distractions
It’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 […]
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6/16/2021 • 43 minutes, 36 seconds
157. The Three Mentors You Need
Most 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 […]
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5/31/2021 • 41 minutes, 33 seconds
156. How to Identify and Avoid Predatory Journals
It 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 […]
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5/16/2021 • 59 minutes, 14 seconds
155. How to Plan A Seminar or Scientific Event
At 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 […]
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4/30/2021 • 38 minutes, 57 seconds
154. How to Plan Your PhD w/ Hugh Kearns
A 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 […]
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4/17/2021 • 51 minutes, 55 seconds
153. Where Do PhDs Work? The Answer Shouldn’t Surprise You.
If 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 […]
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3/30/2021 • 43 minutes, 31 seconds
152. How Do I Explain the Bad Grades On My Transcript?
It’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 […]
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3/17/2021 • 37 minutes, 41 seconds
151. Avoid These Phrases in Your Peer Review
The 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 […]
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3/1/2021 • 25 minutes, 58 seconds
150. Rediscover Your Scientific Passion
Nadia 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. […]
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2/16/2021 • 51 minutes, 15 seconds
149. Yes, Grad Students, You DO Have Transferable Skills
If 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 […]
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1/31/2021 • 50 minutes, 12 seconds
148. Listener Mailbag: Contacting Prospective PIs, Supporting Friends, et al!
Happy 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 […]
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1/16/2021 • 39 minutes, 55 seconds
147. 2020: A Year in Review
It’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 […]
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12/31/2020 • 42 minutes, 9 seconds
029. Tenure Tracker: Choose a Mentor, Not a Lab w/ Natasha Snider, PhD (R)
Choosing 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 […]
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12/16/2020 • 42 minutes, 7 seconds
146. Ace Your Virtual Graduate School Interview w/ Dr. Beth Bowman
The 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 […]
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11/29/2020 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 52 seconds
145. Ten Tips from Hindsight: A PhD’s guide to a PhD
How 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 […]
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11/17/2020 • 35 minutes, 58 seconds
144. Finding a Career that Fits with Marlys Hanson
Sarah 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 […]
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10/31/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 42 seconds
143. Mailbag: Clinical Experience, Fighting Impostor Syndrome, et al!
This 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.” […]
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10/16/2020 • 38 minutes, 46 seconds
142. Advancing Racial Equity in Science w/ Dr. Kenneth Gibbs
When 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 […]
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9/30/2020 • 57 minutes, 40 seconds
141. Why We (Still) Podcast
What 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 […]
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9/17/2020 • 47 minutes, 47 seconds
140. Mailbag: Do I need more experience? Biology vs. biomedical. Et al!
You 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 […]
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8/31/2020 • 35 minutes, 33 seconds
139. Back to School During a Pandemic
In 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 […]
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8/18/2020 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 54 seconds
138. Listener Mail: Changing Fields, Comprehensive Exams, et al!
The 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 […]
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7/29/2020 • 43 minutes, 41 seconds
137. Tools for Finding a Research Mentor
There 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 […]
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7/11/2020 • 51 minutes, 39 seconds
136. Rebuilding an Inclusive Academia with Dr. Ashalla Freeman
As 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 […]
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6/30/2020 • 51 minutes, 41 seconds
135. The Science Training Toolbox with Dr. Andres De Los Reyes. Plus, Antiracism for Academia
Have 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, […]
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6/12/2020 • 57 minutes, 56 seconds
134. Lessons from the Quarantine
COVID-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 […]
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5/30/2020 • 55 minutes, 40 seconds
133. Galileo and the Science Deniers – with Dr. Mario Livio
Four 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 […]
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5/14/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 49 seconds
132. Make a Plan to Repay Your Student Loan
First, 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 […]
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4/29/2020 • 42 minutes, 29 seconds
131. How to Host a Dissertation Defense On Zoom
It’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 […]
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4/15/2020 • 46 minutes, 40 seconds
130. Coronavirus, and Life Outside the Lab
It 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 […]
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3/31/2020 • 51 minutes, 49 seconds
123. Anatomy of a Micropublication feat. Nate Jacobs of Flashpub
In a world where it’s “Publish or Perish,” you’d expect “publish” to be the more favorable option. But, if you’ve ever spent a year or more performing experiments, crafting figures, writing a manuscript, finding a friendly editor and arguing with reviewers, that “perish” option might just sound pretty sweet right about now…. It’s no secret […]
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11/15/2019 • 56 minutes, 11 seconds
102. HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement (R)
Please recount your life story, all of your future plans, and why this graduate program is uniquely suited to fulfill those dreams. Limit your answer to 140 characters. Okay, okay, the typical “Personal Statement” prompt on your grad school application is probably not that outrageous, but they CAN feel both cryptic and overwhelming. Here’s a […]
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10/30/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 42 seconds
122. Tenure Tracker – The Life Non-Linear with Dr. Jimena Giudice
Dr. Jimena Giudice has all the traits of a promising new faculty member. Through her training and early career, she has earned more than a dozen grants and awards. She’s co-authored two dozen papers. And she has trained students and postdocs, gaining a reputation as a highly effective mentor. You’d expect that Dr. Giudice’s undeniable […]
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10/11/2019 • 57 minutes, 53 seconds
121. A Teenager Goes to Grad School feat. Julia Nepper, PhD
You’ve gotten this far, which means you have probably read the episode title by now. And that means you have questions. So… many… questions…. Let’s answer a few of them right up front. First, if you want to enter graduate school at age seventeen, you should probably start college around age eleven. That’s what this […]
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9/24/2019 • 41 minutes, 5 seconds
120. Advancing Open Science with Dr. Jon Tennant
As a researcher, you may brag about the open, collegial way that scientists share their findings in lab meetings, poster sessions, and journal articles. But if you dig beneath the surface, you’ll find a darker tendency built into our habits and institutions that actually cover up a lot of what we learn. For example, you […]
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9/7/2019 • 57 minutes, 35 seconds
119. Ten Tips to Crush Your First Semester
It’s that time of year again – summer days are growing shorter, your friends are trying to fit in one last trip to the beach, and the backpack aisle at Target is about to be cleared out to make way for the Halloween costumes. Yes, it’s back-to-school time. From toddlers to teenagers, this time of […]
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8/27/2019 • 46 minutes, 45 seconds
118. Find a Better Mentor with GradPI
Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a crystal ball that could reveal your grad-school future? You might look forward to see if that next experiment will work out, or if your research will eventually make the cover of Nature. What you should do with the power of foresight is to take a deep look […]
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8/10/2019 • 44 minutes, 9 seconds
059: Simple Tricks for Time Management – The Focus Funnel (R)
In 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 […]
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7/22/2019 • 39 minutes, 28 seconds
117: Bridging The Gap as a Medical Science Liaison
For most graduate students, the list of potential careers runs something like this: Research Faculty Teaching Faculty Industry Researcher Science Writer …. ummmm… But the truth is that there are other, less talked-about careers that can be a perfect fit for scientists who may love learning but not working at the bench. Raison d’Liaison Listener […]
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7/5/2019 • 51 minutes, 9 seconds
116: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Summer Students
Ten weeks is not a long time. It feels even shorter when you’re tossed into the deep-end of a top-tier research lab. If you’re spending your summer as a Research Assistant between semesters, or you’ve graduated and want to get some summer experience before grad school, we have ideas to help you hit the ground […]
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6/18/2019 • 47 minutes, 40 seconds
115: PhDown Under – 4 Ways a PhD is Better in Australia
It’s no secret that post-secondary education is a rough road to walk. Graduate students rack up debt for the privilege of working long hours for an unpredictable number of years with very little faculty support. Well, that might be true in much of the Northern hemisphere, but in a land where mammals lay eggs and […]
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6/3/2019 • 55 minutes, 35 seconds
114: Grad School Should Have a Time Limit
Here’s a controversial idea: what if graduate school finished on a predictable schedule the way (checks notes) every other academic training program does! Since kindergarten, your education has had fixed milestones. You knew it would take 12 years to graduate from high school, 4 for college, and 2 for a masters or an associates degree. […]
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5/17/2019 • 49 minutes, 6 seconds
113: All Work and Some Play – Isaac Childres on Following Your Passion After a PhD
Sometimes, a graduate school education follows the strait and narrow path through dissertation, postdoc, and faculty position. And sometimes, it sprouts wings and takes you somewhere else entirely. That was the experience for Isaac Childress. Isaac began his career as a physics PhD studying high-energy particles. But “Plan A” didn’t turn out exactly as he […]
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5/1/2019 • 48 minutes, 4 seconds
112: Listener Mailbag – Leaving Home, Avoiding the GRE, Finding Collaborators, et al!
It’s that time again… Let’s open the mailbag and see what you, our listeners and friends, have sent in! You asked for it… We start out with a couple of questions from David, who is considering going back to grad school for computational biology after a successful career as a software developer. He wants to […]
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4/16/2019 • 37 minutes, 33 seconds
111: Empowering the Impossible with Citizen Science
It looks like a cross between an anteater and a hedgehog, but don’t let that description fool you into believing it’s easy to spot an echidna in the wild. These denizens of the Down Under know how to hide. “They’re really understudied in Australia because they’re hard to find in the wild,” says Tahlia Perry, […]
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4/1/2019 • 49 minutes, 36 seconds
033: It’s Tax Season – Here’s What You Need to Know (R)
You might believe that because you’re in grad school and receiving a research stipend, you don’t really need to worry about paying an income tax. You don’t have a ‘real job’ and no one asked you to fill out any paperwork so you’re off the hook, right? Wrong. Utterly, expensively, illegally wrong. The Tax Man Cometh […]
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3/13/2019 • 38 minutes, 55 seconds
110: The Secret Life of Pets (in Grad School)
After a tough day of negative results and an ornery PI, it can be nice to come home to someone who thinks you’re amazing, loves you unconditionally, and wants nothing more than to cuddle with you on the couch. Of course, we’re talking about pets; dogs, cats, gerbils, rabbits, birds, horses and, I’m told, snakes […]
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2/25/2019 • 55 minutes, 8 seconds
109: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Understanding Your Offer Letter with Dr. Emily Roberts
It’s been an exhausting journey, but you’re nearing the end. You slogged through reams of application forms, personal statements, and letters of reference. You gave up every weekend for two months, traveling to interview at different schools. But the blessed day has finally arrived when your inbox ‘dings’ with the sound of a grad school […]
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2/5/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 26 seconds
108: My Green Lab with Allison Paradise
It’s Monday morning and you arrive in lab a little late. No worries, you drop your tissue culture media into the warming bath, turn on the hood, and head down the hall while things ‘warm up.’ Next stop is the -80 freezer. You dig through the drifting piles of frost and snow, around the boxes […]
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1/22/2019 • 55 minutes, 48 seconds
107: Industry Insights – Career Evolution at 23andMe
When you’re a graduate student, your conception of ‘industry’ has a lot in common with your understanding of a black-hole. First, you’ve been told it’s a scary and unpredictable place. (“Did you know they can just change your project or fire you at will?”) Second, it’s a one-way trip. (“Once you step off the tenure […]
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1/7/2019 • 54 minutes, 32 seconds
106: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Acing Your Interview with Dr. Beth Bowman
See 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 […]
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12/17/2018 • 1 hour, 11 minutes
105: Listener Mailbag – Grad School Readiness, Paper Critiques, and More!
Well, you’ve done it again… Our inboxes are full-to-bursting and it’s time to answer your questions in this week’s episode. We start with some feedback on episode 098: I’m in Grad School and I’m Pregnant! How to Have Kids AND a Career in Science. Listener Sara shares her experience of being pregnant while working with some dangerous […]
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12/2/2018 • 40 minutes, 3 seconds
104: How to Give a Perfect Poster Presentation
It’s a tragic fact: many jaw-dropping, eye-opening, and heart-pounding research results never makes an impact on the scientific community. And it’s partly your fault. By “your,” of course, I mean all of us. Because when we waste the opportunity to share our results in their best light at a scientific conference or poster session, our […]
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11/15/2018 • 59 minutes, 30 seconds
103: Laboratory of Horrors!
Life in grad school may not have many horror-movie freak-outs, but there are plenty of harrowing and traumatic experiences to thrill even the most stoic scientist. In celebration of Halloween, we asked our listeners about their lab and grad school horror stories!
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10/29/2018 • 41 minutes
102: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Crafting the Perfect Personal Statement with Dr. Brian Rybarczyk
Please recount your life story, all of your future plans, and why this graduate program is uniquely suited to fulfill those dreams. Limit your answer to 140 characters. Okay, okay, the typical “Personal Statement” prompt on your grad school application is probably not that outrageous, but they CAN feel both cryptic and overwhelming. Here’s a […]
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10/11/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 5 seconds
101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman
You’ve studied hard, gotten good grades, and spent the last two years working in research labs on campus. You’re feeling ready for that next, inevitable step: applying to graduate school. In a perfect world, the next step would be easy. You’d simply fill out an application, and submit it to every Genetics or Microbiology department […]
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9/26/2018 • 58 minutes, 46 seconds
100: The One Where We Celebrate
It's important to recognize each major milestone in grad school and beyond. That's why we've invited a few friends to help us celebrate our 100th episode!
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9/7/2018 • 49 minutes, 10 seconds
099: Skype a Scientist with Sarah McAnulty
“I was observing that there was this growing mistrust in science, and I couldn’t really understand why. I think that people just don’t trust scientists anymore, or at least not as much as they used to.” As a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, Sarah McAnulty was struck by the anti-science and pseudoscience she […]
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8/24/2018 • 46 minutes, 49 seconds
098: I’m in Grad School and I’m Pregnant! How to Have Kids AND a Career in Science
It’s no secret that graduate school and postdoctoral training are some of the most intellectually and emotionally challenging periods you will face in your career. Experiments fail, grant deadlines loom, and PIs push you to work long hours to publish or perish. That’s why many trainees wait to start a family. Time is precious, and […]
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8/9/2018 • 45 minutes, 2 seconds
097: Conference Like the Pros – How to Plan, Network, and Win
Sure, scientific conferences are not a competitive sport, but the sheer volume of information, introductions, and events can leave you feeling like you just lost a round of rugby. This week, we share some sage advice for making your next conference the best one yet. Listener Matthew writes: I have a topic that I think […]
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7/26/2018 • 47 minutes, 57 seconds
096: Listener Mailbag – Program Prestige, Changing Careers, and More!
The best thing about the Hello PhD podcast is our amazing audience of grad students, postdocs, and career scientists. We get emails, tweets, and website comments full of thoughtful questions and insightful observations. And though we try to read and respond to each message, not every question makes it into the show. Sometimes, we can […]
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7/11/2018 • 35 minutes, 1 second
095: Should I Finish My PhD Remotely?
A PhD takes years to complete, so it’s no surprise that your situation may change during that time. Your PI may move to a different University, your spouse may take a job in another town, or you may need to move back home to care for ailing parents. In these situations, you’re forced to make […]
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6/27/2018 • 48 minutes, 21 seconds
094: Do Grades Matter in Grad School?
We got an email from a first-year student who seems to love everything about grad school… except the tests. He’s wondering: Do grades matter? Dear Josh and Daniel, I am a first year chemical engineering PhD student and am currently working through a class-filled semester. For two of my classes, my midterm grades were much less […]
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6/12/2018 • 39 minutes, 18 seconds
093: The Grad School Mental Health Crisis, and What You Can Do About It
Susanna was experiencing insomnia that began to interfere with her work and life. She visited the campus health clinic, and they referred her to mental health resources on campus. There, the doctor recommended medication for depression and anxiety, and therapy to work through the issues that were interfering with her sleep. “We’re actually really worried […]
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5/23/2018 • 49 minutes, 28 seconds
092: Making Time for Science Communication with Mónica Feliú-Mójer
“Things are not progressing as they should. You’re having a hard time focusing on the research, and we know that you don’t want to be in academia anyway. Do you want to quit?” The question landed like a punch, and Mónica’s committee meeting took a turn she hadn’t expected. She was in the fourth year […]
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5/9/2018 • 51 minutes, 40 seconds
091: Cross-Train for the Faculty Track with the Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowship
Think about your training as a grad student and postdoc – you spend countless hours at the bench, running experiments and reading papers to finish your personal research project. Now think about your PI or faculty advisor. Does she spend time at the bench? Or are you more likely to find her in her office, […]
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4/18/2018 • 41 minutes, 12 seconds
011: The 8.5 Fixes That Will Save Biomedical Science (R)
Josh and Daniel are on the road this week, so we decided to bring you some goodies from the archive. An 8-ish step plan to save science! Biomedical science is broken. Funding is unpredictable, training programs drag on indefinitely, and some of our best scientists are drawn to careers outside of the university or drowned in paperwork if […]
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4/3/2018 • 41 minutes, 12 seconds
090: Maybe Grant Funding Feels Random and Subjective Because It Is
Have you ever submitted a grant, only to have it rejected? You respond to the reviewers’ comments, addressing weaknesses and tweaking the protocol to honor their suggestions. Then, when you resubmit, the proposal is rejected again. This new group of reviewers suggest changes to the protocol. And guess what, their suggestions sound a lot like […]
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3/19/2018 • 45 minutes, 24 seconds
089: The Grad Student’s Guide to Investing for Retirement
On a graduate student’s stipend, it’s hard to imagine having enough money left over to afford a dinner out, let alone enough to invest for retirement. But if you can scrape together a few dollars each month, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow that investment. As a grad student, time is on your side. Compound Interest […]
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2/28/2018 • 48 minutes, 57 seconds
088: 15 Transferable Skills PhDs Can Use In Any Career
But I have no skills! At least no skills employers would be interested in! As a career counselor, Melanie Sinche heard grad students and postdocs voice this concern nearly every day. She looked at these talented scholars and saw the ability to think critically, analyze data, and solve problems. To her eye, these were transferable […]
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2/14/2018 • 43 minutes, 14 seconds
087: How Do I Choose a PhD Program?
Some decisions in life are simple (“Yes, I want cheese on that burger!”) and some are difficult (“Do I want to spend the rest of my life with this person?”). On that spectrum, choosing a University graduate program sits closer to marriage than it does to your lunch options. First, grad school takes a long […]
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2/2/2018 • 52 minutes, 49 seconds
086: Five Resolutions for Happier, Healthier Scientists
Turning 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 […]
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1/16/2018 • 41 minutes, 6 seconds
085: Scientists in the Newsroom – The AAAS Mass Media Fellowship feat. Rebekah Corlew
Pick 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 […]
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12/22/2017 • 44 minutes, 32 seconds
084: The 4 Keys to an Effective Grad School Application
In 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 […]
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12/11/2017 • 52 minutes, 39 seconds
083: Preprint First, Peer-Review Later
Publishing 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 […]
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11/21/2017 • 52 minutes, 35 seconds
082: The Science of Comedy with The Peer Revue’s Niki Spahich
Two 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 […]
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11/5/2017 • 44 minutes, 32 seconds
081: Data Science Will Accelerate Your Research – with Joel Schwartz, PhD
As 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 […]
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10/17/2017 • 57 minutes, 15 seconds
080: Postdoc Straight Talk – Where Are They Now?
Uncertainty 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 […]
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9/28/2017 • 55 minutes, 31 seconds
079: The Insider’s Guide to Industry – with Randall Ribaudo, PhD
If 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 […]
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9/14/2017 • 59 minutes, 57 seconds
078: Knowing When to Leave Academia – Feat. The Recovering Academic Podcast
Maybe 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 […]
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8/24/2017 • 37 minutes, 36 seconds
077: Google Discovers Five Keys to a Productive Lab
Google 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 […]
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8/11/2017 • 56 minutes, 12 seconds
076: Should I choose a research focus BEFORE I apply?
Applying 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 […]
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7/23/2017 • 43 minutes, 33 seconds
075: When Research Sucks
It’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? […]
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6/30/2017 • 47 minutes, 43 seconds
074: Does Science Have an Income Inequality Problem?
On 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 […]
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6/14/2017 • 31 minutes, 34 seconds
073: Stop Telling Me My Project is Going to Fail!
Is 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 […]
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5/26/2017 • 31 minutes, 54 seconds
072: Voices from the Front Line of the Science March
We 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 […]
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5/10/2017 • 34 minutes, 58 seconds
071: Practical Advice for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Maureen Gannon
Imposter 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 […]
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4/20/2017 • 44 minutes, 54 seconds
070: Imposter Syndrome
Meeting 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 […]
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4/7/2017 • 45 minutes, 3 seconds
069: Five Ways Scientists SHOULD Be Using Twitter
Traditionally, 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 […]
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3/24/2017 • 46 minutes, 26 seconds
068: Use Targeted Savings Accounts for Irregular Expenses
If 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 […]
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3/9/2017 • 46 minutes, 33 seconds
067: Science Magazine Takes a Teeny, Tiny Step Toward Open Access
If 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 […]
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2/22/2017 • 31 minutes, 50 seconds
066: Should Scientists March on Washington?
Though 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 […]
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2/9/2017 • 43 minutes, 10 seconds
065: Does the GRE Predict Which Students Will Succeed?
Though 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 […]
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1/26/2017 • 47 minutes, 53 seconds
064: A PhD Internship Will Help You Get a Job
You 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 […]
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1/10/2017 • 41 minutes, 1 second
063: PhD Biography – Compton to the Ivy League
Statistically 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 […]
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12/20/2016 • 43 minutes, 34 seconds
062: FLSA and 21st Century Cures are laws that impact the lab
The 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 […]
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12/6/2016 • 42 minutes, 10 seconds
061: Why We LOVE Grad School
There’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 […]
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11/21/2016 • 31 minutes, 24 seconds
060: The Right (And Wrong) Ways to Contact Potential Postdoc Advisors
Dear 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, […]
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11/7/2016 • 37 minutes, 15 seconds
059: Simple Tricks for Time Management – The Focus Funnel
In 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 […]
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10/19/2016 • 38 minutes, 40 seconds
058: How to Be Truly Unhappy in Grad School
On 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 […]
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10/3/2016 • 35 minutes, 13 seconds
057: “I’m a scientist. And I’m blind.”
When 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 […]
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9/20/2016 • 45 minutes, 34 seconds
056: Team Up for Speedier Science – #modernPhD Part 3
When 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 […]
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9/5/2016 • 36 minutes, 34 seconds
055: Four Ideas to Modernize Mentorship – #modernPhD Part 2
Today, 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 […]
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8/23/2016 • 38 minutes, 39 seconds
054: The 5 year PhD – #modernPhD Part 1
Scientific 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 […]
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8/8/2016 • 31 minutes, 46 seconds
053: Why more testing from Theranos won’t prevent cancer
It’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 […]
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7/25/2016 • 29 minutes, 30 seconds
052: Hello PhD Year in Review
It’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 […]
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7/11/2016 • 26 minutes, 35 seconds
051: Should I change labs or quit grad school?
Jessica 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 […]
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7/4/2016 • 34 minutes, 58 seconds
050: Lab Fail – Radioactive Tritium Spill
We’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 […]
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6/26/2016 • 19 minutes, 57 seconds
049: My advisor is moving, but I don’t want to go.
As 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 […]
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6/20/2016 • 21 minutes, 34 seconds
048: Where the (Wild) Postdocs Are
Shhhh! 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, […]
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6/13/2016 • 32 minutes, 7 seconds
047: How many postdocs are there? The answer may surprise you!
It 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 […]
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6/6/2016 • 23 minutes, 47 seconds
046: Do I need a PhD to advance in my industry job?
You’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 […]
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5/30/2016 • 23 minutes, 21 seconds
045: Finally, some good news for postdoc salary!
Postdocs 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 […]
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5/24/2016 • 26 minutes, 9 seconds
044: 5 Myths About University Teaching Jobs That YOU Probably Believe
We 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 […]
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5/16/2016 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
043: A Scientific Approach to Teaching Science
Every 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 […]
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5/9/2016 • 32 minutes, 32 seconds
042: I’m a Fifth Year, and I’m Stuck in a Rut
The 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, […]
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5/1/2016 • 24 minutes, 45 seconds
004: Why we podcast (R)
What 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 […]
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4/25/2016 • 27 minutes, 27 seconds
041: Make a Difference in Your Lab with Peer Support
Spoiler 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 […]
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4/18/2016 • 34 minutes, 40 seconds
040: Three Keys to Success in Grad School
Kenny 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. […]
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4/11/2016 • 24 minutes, 28 seconds
039: Two simple steps to better research mentors
Sometimes, 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. […]
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4/4/2016 • 34 minutes, 26 seconds
038: Why aren’t bad research advisors held accountable?
You’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 […]
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3/28/2016 • 23 minutes, 26 seconds
037: Consulting Jobs for PhDs
Management consulting is an exciting field, but actually getting a consulting job at one of the top firms can be extremely difficult. Some people argue that you’ll have an easier time getting into Harvard than landing a spot at McKinsey… We talked to a postdoc-turned-consultant about how she left the bench and got a job in […]
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3/20/2016 • 26 minutes, 12 seconds
036: What Do Consultants DO, Exactly?
If you’ve worked at the bench for awhile, your only reference to the world of consulting is probably the two Bobs in the movie “Office Space.” They’re the hatchet men who swoop into a company, fire a bunch of people, and fly back home. But is that an accurate picture of consulting work, or a just bit […]
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3/14/2016 • 30 minutes, 3 seconds
035: Making Time for Outreach
Do you like to share your passion for science with others? Do you mentor undergrads or visit your local middle school to do scientific demonstrations? If so, stop it. Your PI is going to hate you. Is It Safe to Go Outside? Okay, so that’s not exactly true, but it can feel risky to explore […]
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3/6/2016 • 18 minutes, 33 seconds
034: Sci-Hub and the Publication Pirates
Research budgets are tight, and many universities are canceling subscriptions to costly online science journals and publications. But papers are the currency of science, and it’s impossible to stay at the top of your field when you can’t find out what your field is doing. One solution sails between the rock and the hard-place, as scientists and trainees […]
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2/28/2016 • 21 minutes, 59 seconds
033: It’s Tax Season – Here’s What You Need to Know
You might believe that because you’re in grad school and receiving a research stipend, you don’t really need to worry about paying an income tax. You don’t have a ‘real job’ and no one asked you to fill out any paperwork so you’re off the hook, right? Wrong. Utterly, expensively, illegally wrong. The Tax Man Cometh […]
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2/21/2016 • 38 minutes, 13 seconds
032: Help! I Hate Reading Papers!
Reading papers is part of the job, but keeping up with the literature can feel overwhelming sometimes. If you’re developing a sense of dread for that stack of papers on your desk, it’s time to learn some shortcuts that will get you up to speed. Paper Pushers This week, we answer a listener question about keeping up […]
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2/15/2016 • 28 minutes, 45 seconds
031: Making PowerPoint Presentations That Don’t Suck
Great science speaks for itself, right? So the next time you need to give a lab meeting or seminar, just drop a couple of figures into the prettiest PowerPoint template you can find. Make sure to take detailed bulleted notes so you won’t forget anything! And if you’re feeling cheeky, add one of those cool boomerang animations […]
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2/8/2016 • 43 minutes, 13 seconds
030: Baby carrots, prime numbers, and invisible planets
If you are a scientist, then I know a little something about your personality. Almost by definition, you are curious about the world. And I’ll bet that extends beyond your particular laboratory or field of research. If there’s something intriguing and knowable, you want to know it. Well, we are scientists too, and sometimes we […]
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2/1/2016 • 28 minutes, 12 seconds
029: Tenure Tracker – Choose a Mentor, Not a Lab
Choosing 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 […]
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1/24/2016 • 41 minutes, 52 seconds
028: Making Time for Kids When Everyone Else Stays Late
If you have kids, you’ve experienced “the time shift.” Where you used to have hobbies, you now have a drive to soccer practice. Where you used to have dinner out, you now have dinner, dishes, bath-time, stories, and bedtime, IN. And where you used to stay late in the lab to finish an experiment, you now […]
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1/17/2016 • 30 minutes, 40 seconds
027. The Road More Traveled: Stepping Off of the Tenure Track
In 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 […]
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1/10/2016 • 38 minutes, 51 seconds
026: Career Advice from A Successful Scientist
When you’re worried about today’s experiments and tomorrow’s time points, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really important for your career and your life. Why not start the New Year with a new perspective? Looking Back and Moving Forward In this episode, we consider the advice of Robert J. Sternberg, PhD, a self-described geezer and […]
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1/4/2016 • 27 minutes, 27 seconds
025: Experiments and Exercise: 10 Creative Ways Scientists Stay Fit
You’re busy. Experiments, lab meeting, journal club, classes – you barely have time to sleep, let alone make it to the gym to exercise. We’ll tell you about 10 creative ways other grad students and postdocs stay physically fit, and how it’s boosting their productivity and self-confidence. You don’t have time NOT to exercise The […]
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12/20/2015 • 38 minutes, 45 seconds
024: Leave with a Master’s, and your sanity
Stephanie dreamed of becoming a scientist when she was a girl. She managed to maintain excellent grades while working in research labs throughout her college career. With her flawless CV, it came as no surprise when she was accepted into a top-tier pharmacology PhD program. Four years later, Stephanie walked into her PI’s office to tell him […]
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12/13/2015 • 32 minutes, 45 seconds
023: Seriously, can we ditch the GRE already?
A driving test shows that you’re ready for your license. A pregnancy test shows that you’ve got a baby on the way. So what does the GRE show? More often than not, it shows whether you’re a man or a woman, and the color of your skin. You can’t spell “regret” without GRE Identifying which students are ready for graduate […]
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12/7/2015 • 32 minutes, 30 seconds
022: Science Overseas: Life as an International Student
Think about your first few months of graduate school. You moved into a new apartment in a new town, you met hundreds of other students and scientists, and you had to pick a rotation lab and classes for your first semester. It’s an unbelievably stressful time for most students. Now imagine doing all of that […]
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11/30/2015 • 30 minutes, 43 seconds
021: The 4 simple tips that will make your writing stand out
Even if you’re not working on a paper or grant proposal today, you’ll probably communicate about science. You’ll send an email to a colleague, chat with your PI, or present a paper at lab meeting. In every case, you’re trying to convey an idea or change someone’s mind, and that’s why it’s so important to […]
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11/23/2015 • 32 minutes, 14 seconds
020: Do I really need to do a postdoc?
As you near the end of your graduate school training, you will feel defeated, worn out, and ready to take a nice, peaceful job at that bookstore down the street. But if your career goals include leaving the bookstore and returning to lab, you’re probably considering postdoctoral training. Question is: do you really need to […]
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11/15/2015 • 31 minutes, 14 seconds
019: How to Avoid a Toxic Lab
The research is cutting-edge. The publications are top-tier. Funding is abundant. But this lab has a toxic secret that will make your life a living hell. Hidden in Plain Sight This week, we answered a question from a first-year grad student who found himself in a lab that felt more like the gladiator’s arena […]
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11/8/2015 • 27 minutes, 48 seconds
018: How NOT to choose a career you’ll love
If you wake up every morning excited to go to work, you’re ‘in-the-zone’ all day, and you come home refreshed and excited to start a new day, please stop reading now. Everyone else, join me in paragraph two. A story for the rest of us Oh good, they’re gone. It’s hard enough to work at a job […]
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11/1/2015 • 39 minutes, 50 seconds
017: Does science have a gender bias? It depends on who you ask.
Shocking Fact No. 1: If you put a woman’s name and a man’s name on the exact same job application for lab manager, the woman is described as less competent and will be offered less money. Shocking fact No. 2: If you show the results of that experiment to faculty members in scientific fields, the men are less […]
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10/26/2015 • 32 minutes, 7 seconds
016: Working Hard, or Hardly Working? How lab culture affects your productivity.
During his first week as a postdoc, James was excited. He stayed late to set up cultures and read a stack of papers. The second week, he was surprised to notice he was the last one in the lab at 6PM – in his undergrad lab, you could expect to see people working past 10. […]
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10/18/2015 • 33 minutes, 50 seconds
015: Simple Tricks for Time Management: The Pomodoro Technique
Scientists aren’t like other workers. There’s no 9 to 5 time clock with lunch and two fifteen minute breaks. When you’re running an experiment, you have to make a plan days in advance, juggle each step and incubation period, and stay nights and weekends to hit your time points. That’s hard enough without the constant ping, […]
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10/11/2015 • 31 minutes, 49 seconds
014: Postdoc Straight Talk Part 2: PostTalk
The moment you finish grad school, a weight is lifted from your shoulders. You’re free to follow your scientific passion and publish your discoveries in top-tier journals. But don’t get TOO comfortable, because we’ve already started the countdown on your temporary position… Last week, we asked postdocs what they loved and hated about their jobs. This […]
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10/5/2015 • 43 minutes, 41 seconds
013: Postdoc Straight Talk
If you met him on the street, you’d never suspect that mild-mannered Clark Kent was actually the indomitable Superman. And there’s a chance that you’re ignoring the real superheroes walking around your lab every day. They’ve escaped from graduate school Krypton and are flourishing under the yellow sun of independent research. They’re postdocs, and churning […]
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9/28/2015 • 33 minutes, 34 seconds
012: How to help veterans succeed in science, and why it’s important to all of us.
If you believe the newspaper headlines, you’ll be ready to dismiss Jake as another statistic. After all, the odds of a soldier returning from war and getting an undergrad degree are not good, which makes his dream of earning a PhD sound like a pipe-dream. But don’t believe everything you read in the papers. The […]
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9/20/2015 • 32 minutes, 48 seconds
011: The 8.5 fixes that will save biomedical science
Biomedical science is broken. Funding is unpredictable, training programs drag on indefinitely, and some of our best scientists are drawn to careers outside of the university or drowned in paperwork if they stay. Can anything be done to support research staff and boost lab productivity? Saving Science These topics are regularly debated in the literature, but a recent meta-analysis […]
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9/14/2015 • 41 minutes, 12 seconds
010: Are you too old to go back to school?
Congratulations! You just decided that you want to be a scientist, and spend your career doing research in a biomedical lab. That would be great news, except that you’re past thirty and you have no training. As the excitement fades and reality hits, you ask: “Am I too old to go back to school?” You’re never […]
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9/7/2015 • 30 minutes, 10 seconds
009: Research and Prelims and Quals, Oh My!
It’s year two, and you’re just hitting your stride in the lab. You’ve finally got classes behind you, so now it’s time to drop the books and make some magic at the bench, right! Nope, now it’s time for prelims! Will Work for Fish That perennial favorite of graduate training rears its ugly head in this week’s […]
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8/30/2015 • 32 minutes, 31 seconds
008: Fight for Your Right to #GradInsurance
Imagine waking up on a Friday morning, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down to check your email. What’s this? A note from your employer stating that your healthcare coverage will expire in 13 hours and it’s up to you to find insurance. Have a great day! Hope you weren’t feeling pregnant! #Mizzou #GradInsurance That scenario played […]
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8/23/2015 • 30 minutes, 17 seconds
007: From Quiet Lab to Super-Fab!
Some labs feel like a party – there’s music playing, post-docs chatting, and grad students running from bench to bench setting up experiments. But what if you land in a spot that feels more like a morgue than a living laboratory? Co-workers keep their eyes on their benches, every ear is covered by headphones, and […]
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8/16/2015 • 34 minutes, 50 seconds
006: Haters Gonna Hate; Dealing with Critics
It has happened to all of us: you finish a solid day of work at the bench, and as you head out the door to your well-earned R&R, the PI catches you and lays on a speech about how you need to spend more time in lab. Everyone’s a critic In one instant, all that […]
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8/9/2015 • 37 minutes, 48 seconds
005: Perfecting Peer Review
Scientists are supposed to be objective, so why is it easier to publish your paper when you’re in a big-name lab? Why do women and minorities get harsher feedback from reviewers than white men? And more importantly, what can be done to make the process fair? When Peer Review Attacks In this episode, we uncover […]
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8/2/2015 • 36 minutes, 26 seconds
004: Why we podcast
What 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 […]
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7/27/2015 • 27 minutes, 27 seconds
003: Should I take a new job or stay where I am?
You may like your job, your boss, and your co-workers, but what happens if a “Dream Job” lands in your lap? Should you leave the safety of your current gig to take a risk on something new? What if it’s outside of the “norm” or in a slightly different field? The answer is rarely simple, […]
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7/20/2015 • 27 minutes, 48 seconds
002: Post-doc salary, absent PIs, and the secret of landing industry jobs
The Obama administration has proposed some new rules that would give overtime pay to salaried workers making less than $50,400 per year. Who cares? Many post-docs who make the NIH recommended $42,840 seem to care! In this episode, we explore whether the new rules would apply to post-docs, and how post-doc salary has stagnated over the last […]
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7/13/2015 • 33 minutes, 58 seconds
001: Tim Hunt, Lab Rotations, and Teaching vs. Tenure
In this episode: Tim Hunt incited a firestorm on Twitter last month for making sexist comments about women in lab, and he eventually lost his job over the incident. We marvel at the intersection between science and social media, and examine the notion of sexism and bias for scientists committed to discovering truth. We answer questions […]
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