Beyond BAFF

Katrin Õunap is a leading Estonian clinical geneticist specializing in rare diseases and
metabolic disorders.

In this episode Katrin delves into her journey into genetics, starting with her early career and unexpected shift into genetics after Estonia's independence from the Soviet Union. She recounts her pivotal role in introducing newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) in Estonia, emphasizing the collaboration and learning experiences that shaped her path.

The discussion covers Katrin's research in Estonia and abroad, including her significant work in the U.S. with the Center of Mendelian Genomics at Harvard University, aiming to solve unsolved genetic disease cases.

Today Katrin is a professor in Clinical Genetics at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, at the University of Tartu. She is also the Head of the Department of Clinical Genetics, at Tartu University Hospital. 

At the podcast we talk about:

• Navigating the complex world of rare diseases
• The definition of a “rare disease”?
• The importance of international cooperation?
• How did Katrin evolve from a pediatrician to a researcher and a genetics specialist?
• What lies ahead for Katrin regarding future projects and European collaborations?
• How did phenylketonuria research got it’s start in Estonia thanks to Katrin?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

This episode features two guests in the field of in the field of forensic psychology and
violence prevention in the Baltic States.

PhD Zuzana Vasiliauskaite, is from Lithuania. She is an international expert on combating violence against women, a researcher, and a forensic and trauma psychologist.

PhD Kristjan Kask is an Estonian whose reasearh is about issues in investigative
interviewing of victims/witnesses as well as eyewitness identification.

They discuss their backgrounds, expertise in combating violence against women,
investigative interviewing, and the impact of programs like the Baltic American Freedom Foundation on their careers.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• Their personal journeys to forensic psychology and investigative Interviewing
• Collaboration with law enforcement in their field?
• Legal Measures in the Baltics for protection of victims?
• Why they appreciate their international experience so much?
• What they value most about their BAFF experience?

Links mentioned in the episode:
Kristjan Kask’s book: https://argokirjastus.ee/toode/tuttav-voi-tundmatu/

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Paula is a Latvian researcher who focuses on education innovation. Her passion lies in exploring new ideas and sharing them with others. She loves creating and executing new projects and initiatives.

She spent a year in BAFF in Boston at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Where
she was a researcher in the “Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL)” to research
innovation diffusion and change management in higher education.

Today she is a Director at Education Innovation Lab at Riga Business School.

At the podcast we talk about:

• How can one bring innovation to education, without being a teacher?
• Differences between student life in the US and Latvia.
• Co-operation between Riga University and MIT?
• How the commitment of people in the MIT community inspired Paula
• Creating boot camps in Africa

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Mārcis Auziņš is a Latvian physicist, professor at the University of Latvia, and Head of the Department of Experimental Physics and the Laser Center.

He works in the field of quantum physics and is the author of more than a hundred scientific articles published in the world's leading physics journals and several hundred conference reports. During his career, he lived and worked in different countries – China and Taiwan, the United States, Canada, England, Israel and Germany.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• How did school olympiads lead him to his path in physics?
• How is the skill to write grant applications connected with being successful in science?
• Working with European Space Agency, NATO and European Defence Force.
• What helps him to meditate daily for 5000+ days in a row?
• Who tends to use the phrase: “merging properties”?
• What is he excited about for the future of physics?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Povilas Simonis is a Lithuanian researcher with extensive experience in biophysics, the design of experimental procedures, analytical techniques, and the interpretation of data. He has experience working on multidisciplinary projects and with international collaborators, as well as conducting experiments. 

Povilas participated in the BAFF Research scholar program in 2023, doing research titled Polymerization of Nucleic Acids and Emerge of Protocells under Prebiotic Conditions. He is currently a scientist at the Center of Physical Sciences and Technology in Lithuania and was the guest of the Beyond BAFF podcast.

His research during the BAFF program is titled: Polymerization of nucleic acids and emergence of protocells under prebiotic conditions. 
In the podcast, hear about:

• How reading a book 10 years ago made him shift his research fields
• What were some of his research findings from working with vulcanic springs?
• Winning the “Dance your PhD competition”
• The future of his field
• How traveling can be something you never knew you needed

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Linda Lancere is a Latvian researcher, who consults on rehabilitation technology development. 

In 2019 Linda attended BAFF’s Research Scholarship Program in University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, working on her postdoctoral research project, with the title:  Whole-body rehabilitation for lower extremity amputees by means of extended reality and advanced wearables. 

Her BAFF project was an essential component of a 3-year postdoctoral research aimed to increase the quality of life following lower extremity amputation, expedite rehabilitation reintegration process, decrease unemployment due to physical restrictions by means of technological advances and medical know-how. 

In the podcast, we talk about:  

• Can you become a researcher after switching fields multiple times?
• How could the feedback from deep muscles help with physical therapy and exercising?
• Volunteering mindset in the US?
• Different developments in the field of virtual and mixed reality today?
• Ways that researchers and business people can find a common vocabulary?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Vaidas Petrulis is an architecture and heritage specialist with a PhD in Art History. He is also a senior research fellow at Kaunas University of Technology in the Institute of Architecture and Construction.

Last year, in 2023 he spent 6 months in Chicago, Illinois, doing research on the topic: Modernism and National Identity: Lithuanian Architects as (World War Two) WWII Refugees in US.

At the podcast we talk about:

• What makes Lithuanian architecture different?
• Specific examples of buildings in Chicago, that are using Lithuanian architecture.
• How he got an invitation to Jonas Molokas’s home archive?
• What does he wish to see happen regarding architecture in the future?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Get ready to dive into the world of animation and cinematography with the talented Tomas Mitkus. This Lithuanian creative is no average artist - with a background in both animation and research, Tomas has some fascinating insights to share. In 2011, he participated in BAFF’s Professional Internship Program with Schell Games in Austin, Texas. Tomas is passionate about all formats and genres of cinematography, and with a focus on visual pre-production and pre-visualization, he is a master at storyboarding and concept design. Today he is a lecturer at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and the founder and Art director at Studio Mitkus. In this episode he shares:

• How a lack of job opportunities got him into doing research.
• What is different about doing research in Lithuania from other countries?
• How different can research approaches be between practitioners and “outsiders”?
• What’s the deal with guns in Texas?
• His vision of the potential of adult animation and the social taboos surrounding it.

You won’t want to miss this so join us for another journey Beyond BAFF from animation artist to researcher and lecturer.

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

This episode is for all foodies and science enthusiasts. Our guest is Kristine Majore, a Latvian Ph.D. researcher from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Kristine's research is all about the dairy industry and ways to manage waste while creating new products.  She conducted her BAFF internship at California Polytech University and is now a Senior Analyst at the Latvian Environment, Geology, and Meteorology Center. In this episode we discuss:

• The fascinating world of food science and how little it has to do with the kitchen.
• The ins and outs of shelf-stable milk and milk powder.
• The latest and most popular trends in the field of food science.
• And the surprising twist when Kristine’s roommate turned out to be a professor at the same university.

We all know the food we eat can have a major impact on the environment. Join us for another journey Beyond BAFF to learn more about food science and how researchers like Kristine are revolutionizing the industry.

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Episode 6 is for all you startup and entrepreneurship enthusiasts! Our guest is BAFF Alumnus Kalev Kaarna – a scientist turned entrepreneur from Estonia. Kalev participated in the BAFF Research Sholar program in 2015 when he spent a year at Arizona State University, researching how to enhance the impact of entrepreneurship programs and courses in universities. But that was only the beginning. Kalev immersed himself fully into business, entrepreneurship, and startup field and is now an investor and start-up coach at Superangel, an early stage Venture Capital Fund. How very suiting, as Kalev titles himself a superfan of all tech startup founders. In this episode we discuss:

• How he got into science and how he decided to leave it behind?
• Why can’t we afford Estonian entrepreneurs to burn out?
• What does the Estonian giving-back mentality mean?
• What is the most frequently asked question that Kalev gets about venture capital?
• What is the power law in startup investing?

 So, if you're curious about the world of entrepreneurship and want to hear some valuable insights from a seasoned pro, tune in to this journey Beyond BAFF!

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org