From Concept to Creation: Uncovering the Making of Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments

We can’t wait for you to hear everything Marisa DeCollibus has to say in this episode. Marisa is a PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant in School Psychology at University Park. 

If you’re curious about what it’s like to pursue a PhD and write a dissertation, this episode is chock full of great insights. But just as important, Marisa pulls back the curtain on the attitudes and habits of mind that she practices and in so doing casts a spotlight on the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness in research (not to mention life). 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].  

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We’re so excited for you to meet undergraduates Mary Wilson, Tobey Field, and Ethan Davies in this episode. 

Mary, Tobey, and Ethan sparked an enthusiasm for engineering in us that we didn’t know we had! And we bet they’re going to do the same for you. Their stories about research experiences -- from the Multi-Campus Research Experience for Undergraduates (MC REU) at Penn State to their Engineers Without Borders club project in Uganda -- show us what it means to be a creative and collaborative problem solver and how undergraduate research can have real-world impact.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].  

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In today’s episode, we talk with Chris Millet about his work, his PhD experience, and his passion for staying ahead of the curve.

Chris Millet has been at Penn State University for more than 25 years. From stepping onto campus as an undergraduate to becoming the Senior Director of Learning Design for Penn State World Campus, Chris has earned his degrees and climbed the ranks as a Nittany Lion. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Learning Design and Technology from Penn State’s College of Education, something he considers a natural progression for someone who has been on the cutting edge his whole life. But seriously, how does he manage it all? Join us to talk about his passion for his work and research.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].  

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Meet Dr. Chris Shelton and Remington Orange, virtual reality pioneers at Penn State Behrend! 

Dr. Chris Shelton is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab (VAR Lab) at Penn State Behrend. Remington Orange is a sophomore in the Digital Media, Arts, and Technology program at Penn State Behrend. 

Dive into their (virtual) world with us and learn about mentoring and self-discovery. It may start with VR but this conversation shows what it means to be curious, get immersed, and make an impact. 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].

Show notes:

We’re thrilled to bring you our conversation with educator, researcher, and editor, Ellysa Cahoy.

Ellysa is an Education Librarian and co-director of Reference Services in Penn State University Libraries, based at the University Park campus. Ellysa is also the editor of portal: Libraries and the Academy. 

Ellysa is the research coach you didn’t know you needed. And her stories about her own research and work as an editor are both inspiring and relatable. Join us to hear about important From Concept to Creation themes in Ellysa’s own work: from attitude to serendipity to realization. Get ready -- we know you’re going to love Ellysa as much as we do!

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].

Show notes:

We’re back with another great season of From Concept to Creation: Uncovering the Making of Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments!

In this episode, we kick off season 2 by reflecting on what motivates us to bring you From Concept to Creation. Join us as we share our own origin stories…

Season 2 is chock full of great conversations with Penn State students, faculty, and staff. Don’t miss out on inspiring stories that give us insight into the inner workings and rough edges of their research and inquiry journeys. Learn about the hows and the whys as well as the challenges and accomplishments along the way. Stay tuned for more!

Want to share a story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].

We’re so excited to have Safitaj (Safi) Sindhar and Neila Raveen on the podcast! 

Safi graduated from Penn State Berks in Fall 2022 with a major in Genetics and Developmental Biology and minor in Psychological Science. Neila graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny in Spring 2023 with a major in Biobehavioral Health. 

Safi and Neila have been deeply involved in STEM research experiences throughout their undergraduate careers. We hope you find Safi and Neila's insights on invisible aspects of the research process--from taking first steps to working with a mentor, from overcoming self doubt to clarifying interests and goals--as inspiring as we did. You're gonna love it!

Do you have any stories, comments, or questions about getting started in research? Or suggestions, tips, or insights about building confidence in research? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson and Kate Morgan at [email protected].

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We’re delighted to share our conversation with Austin Murray in this episode. 

Austin graduated from Penn State Altoona in 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology. He now works in the aerospace industry and credits his undergraduate research experiences with helping advance him on his career path.

Austin's stories highlight important From Concept to Creation themes about research that translate across subject areas and that don’t always get the attention they deserve: motivation, relationships with mentors and collaborators, dedication and persistence, and more. Get ready, Austin's enthusiasm for his work is contagious!

Austin would like to share his gratitude for his collaborators and mentors: Thanks to Tyler Smith, Eric Pittman, Dr. Grant Risha, Dr. Jeffrey Moore, and the entire Penn State community.

Do you have pictures or stories about how your research changed from start to finish? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson and Kate Morgan at [email protected].

Show notes:

We're back with another great conversation, this time with Dr. Laura Cruz and Dr. Noel Habashy. 

Dr. Cruz is an Associate Research Professor of Teaching & Learning Scholarship and Fulbright Specialist at Penn State’s University Park campus. Her primary role at Penn State is to support faculty, staff, and students in research on teaching and learning as part of the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Habashy is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of the International Agriculture minor at Penn State’s University Park campus. Before getting his PhD, he worked in the international development and international education arena.

Dr. Cruz and Dr. Habashy's stories about their research partnership showcase key From Concept to Creation themes: the power of serendipity, the value of bringing together collaborators who have different perspectives and complementary skill sets, plus what it's like to enter into new areas of research, even for people with deep research experience. Join us! 

Do you want to share your experience with scholarship of teaching and learning or collaborative research experience with us? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Kate Morgan and Jen Jarson at [email protected].

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We’re thrilled to have Elise Schaffer with us in this episode. 

Elise is the Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility at Lehigh University Art Galleries. She’s also a host of her own podcast, The Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast, which began in March 2021. Elise graduated from Penn State Lehigh Valley in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration. 

Elise’s journey with research at Penn State Lehigh Valley helped her uncover her passions and advance her future. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Elise about her path with inquiry experiences--from the classroom to undergraduate research to her chosen field.

Do you have any stories or comments about your roadblocks, your experiences navigating your path, or discovering your passions? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson and Kate Morgan at [email protected].

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