Beyond the Bench

What particular challenges do first-generation college students face, and how can science education impact their experience? Alex Cortez, the Academic Coordinator and Instructor of the Dynamic Genome Program at UC Riverside, discusses his educational journey, the importance of undergraduate research experiences, and advice for other first-generation college students.

Follow Alex on Instagram @ill_profe.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and visiting our website.

What is the psychological toll of COVID-19, and what can we do to support each other during this time? Dr. Erin Berman, a Clinical Psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), discusses how isolation is affecting the mental health of people of all ages and walks of life and what steps we can take to get through this time.

Learn more about the NIMH and get the latest COVID-19 information here.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and Instagram at scicommucr, and visiting our website.

How can underrepresented students in academia best be prepared to succeed in their professional lives? Dr. Gabriella Sanguineti, a Research & Outreach Coordinator and Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at PRISM at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has endless advice from her journey through academia and experience advocating for students! Dr. Sanguineti recognizes the many people who helped her get to her current position, and the general importance of networking and mentorship in one's career path.

Learn more about Dr. Sanguineti and PRISM here.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and Instagram at scicommucr, and visiting our website.

What does a virologist do, and how is the University of California Riverside (UCR) working to keep people safe from COVID-19? Dr. Juliet Morrison, an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at UCR, discusses her research on host responses to viral pathogens, the COVID-19 pandemic, and her journey into virology after she moved from Jamaica to the United States!

Follow Juliet on Twitter @JumoDr.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and Instagram at scicommucr, and visiting our website.

When it comes to dragonfly evolution, are all the questions answered? No! Dr. Jessica L. Ware, an Assistant Curator in Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, discusses her research on the evolution of insects (dragonflies, in particular), her journey of overcoming barriers throughout her education as an African American woman, and the importance of increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and math education for People of Color, young and old.

Follow Jessica on Twitter @JessicaLWareLab and learn more about her work at the American Museum of Natural History.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and Instagram at scicommucr, and visiting our website.

What are heterogeneous catalysts, and how can they help address the world's environmental and energy challenges? Dr. K. Leslie Abdul-Aziz, an Assistant Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of California Riverside, discusses her research on sustainable catalysis and materials, her entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of research groups that have a diversity of backgrounds encompassing unique experiences and identities.

Follow Leslie on Twitter @GAALabatUCR and learn more about her Sustainable Catalysis and Materials Group.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and Instagram at scicommucr, and visiting our website.

How can we fight against citrus greening disease? Dr. Emilyn Matsumura, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, discusses her research on plant and insect viruses and the importance of finding community as an international scholar.

Follow Emilyn on Twitter @MatsumuraEE.

Learn more about the tools used in the battle against huanglongbing, and view research snapshots by former Citrus Series guests by visiting the Science for Citrus Health website and following along on Twitter and Instagram @sci4citrus.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and visiting our website.

How can we use genetic engineering to combat plant disease? Dr. Jim Thomson, a research geneticist at the USDA, explains his research on using genetic engineering to improve citrus greening disease tolerance and the perks of working as a government scientist for the USDA.

Learn more about the tools used in the battle against huanglongbing, and view research snapshots by Jim and other Citrus Series guests, by visiting the Science for Citrus Health website and following along on Twitter and Instagram @sci4citrus.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and visiting our website.

How can engineered genes escape plants? Dr. Norm Ellstrand, a distinguished professor and geneticist at UC Riverside and the director of the California Agriculture and Food Enterprise (CAFE), discusses his career-long fascination in applied plant evolutionary biology, his process for writing popular science, and his love of birding.

Follow Dr. Norm Ellstrand on Twitter @ellstrand and read his book, Sex on the Kitchen Table, to learn more about the romance of plants and our food.

Learn more about how CAFE is improving lives with science while having fun at cafe.ucr.edu and on Twitter @CAFE_UCR.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and visiting our website.

What is huanglongbing, and what are scientists doing to combat it? Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell, a research entomologist at UC Riverside and the director of the Lindcove Research and Extension Center, gives an overview of integrated pest management - how scientists fight pests that threaten our crops - and shares her experience as one of the first women in agricultural entomology.

Follow Beth on Twitter @UCANRBethGC.

Learn more about the tools used in the battle against huanglongbing, and view research snapshots by Beth and other Citrus Series guests by visiting the Science for Citrus Health website and following along on Twitter and Instagram @sci4citrus.

Learn more about the students producing this podcast and their science communication efforts by following us on Twitter @SciCommUCR and visiting our website.