Her Royal Science

In this episode, we speak with Olivia Ghosh-Swaby, a Neuroscience PhD Candidate who uses translational methods to study neuroplasticity at Western University in London, Ontario. We speak about how she fell in love with neuroscience, her research, her recently awarded Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, and her podcast, Brain Matter Chatter, a recently-founded forum 'to raise awareness about issues surrounding mental health in academia’. We also discuss some of the systemic inequities that impact the success of minoritised people in STEM and the enormous power disparities between early career researchers and senior decision makers in academia.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/25-squid-game

In this episode, we speak with Dr Sharla White, Vice-President of Research and Development at ClearLight Bio, an early-stage start-up that specializes in 3D tissue clearing and immunohistochemistry. We begin our laughter-filled conversation by diving into the first moments of her childhood when she, encouraged by her parents, realized how much she loved the puzzle-like nature of science and scientific experiments. We then discuss her academic trajectory, starting at Washington University in St Louis for her Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering, then onto the University of Illinois at Chicago for her PhD in Pharmacognosy, after which she completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. We also explore the differences between working in academia and in industry, and touch upon the lessons Dr White learned along her journey that she is now passing onto her children.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/24-the-circle-of-life

In this episode, we speak with Hajer Nakua, a PhD candidate in Neuroscience who uses magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the relationships between brain organisation and mental health at the University of Toronto. As part of her recently awarded Fulbright Scholarship, Hajer is currently pursuing a research exchange at Stanford University while she continues to grow her far-reaching platform as a science communicator. We discuss how she—inspired by SciComm phenom Samantha Yammine (a.k.a. Science Sam)—began using social media to reach a global audience of English and Arabic-speaking individuals. We also explore the challenges of a healthy work-life balance as she works towards completing her degree during the COVID pandemic, and discuss the added nuance of being a visibly Muslim woman in neuroscience.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/23-fulfillment

In this episode, we speak with Dr Joël Babdor, UCSF postdoctoral researcher studying the interactions between the human immune system and the microbiome. We talk about his journey from Paris-Est Créteil University, where he did his undergraduate degree, to the University of California, San Francisco, completing his Master's and PhD at Pierre and Marie Curie University and Paris University along the way. We also discuss Black In Immuno, an initiative he co-founded in 2020, which is due to have their second annual week-long celebration of Black immunologists from November 14th to the 20th.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/22-il-etait-une-fois

In this episode, we speak with Dr Theanne Griffith, UC Davis assistant professor and author of 'The Magnificent Makers' series. We talk about her journey from undergrad to assistant professorship, starting from Smith College, where she completed her BA in Neuroscience and Spanish, and onto Northwestern University, where she completed her PhD in Neuroscience. We then discuss her ongoing research on the neurobiology of thermosensation and delve into the origin story of 'The Magnificent Makers', also discussing the importance of representation of Black and Brown individuals in STEM-themed media.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/21-the-magnificent-dr-griffith

In this special Black In Neuro Week 2021 episode, we celebrate intersecting identities in the BIN community, speaking to Shanice Bailey, Mani-Jade Garcia, and D Young. We discuss our #BINtersections and what the Black In Neuro organisation has meant to us over the past year. We also talk about where we feel safest, what our hopes are for the future of academia, and the life lessons we are currently learning.

Production credit: Danielle Nadin, Black In Neuro

Music credit: De-Shaine Murray, Black In Neuro

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/bintersections

In this episode, we speak with Dr Elissia Franklin, analytical chemist and host of 'The Research Her' podcast. We talk about her journey from the Southside of Chicago to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for her Bachelor's in Chemistry, then to Purdue University for her PhD in Analytical Chemistry. We also discuss her exciting new research, which looks at how chemicals in the environment impact health by assessing one's exposome. Finally, we delve into the science communication endeavours that she is extremely passionate about, including 'The Research Her' and 'STEMNoire', a research conference and wellness retreat for women of the African diaspora in STEM.

Episode transcript available here: https://www.herroyalscience.com/post/20-authenticity

In this episode, we speak with neuroscientist Dr Nour Al-muhtasib, postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, for Brain Awareness Week 2021. We talk about the nuances of being a first-generation graduate student, the electrophysiological research that she’s about to begin in her new lab, and what it was like starting a postdoc just as the COVID pandemic began. Stay tuned until the very end of our conversation when Dr Al-muhtasib shares some of her favourite facts about the brain.

Episode transcript available here: www.herroyalscience.com/post/19-brain-awareness-week

In this episode, we play {THE AND} with special guest and collaborator Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa, co-host of the LuNa Corner podcast, co-founder of Visibility STEM Africa, and PhD student at the University of Luxembourg studying Parkinson's disease in brain organoids. Through {THE AND}, we explore self-image, past loves, and pet peeves. Permission to play {THE AND} card game was obtained directly from The Skin Deep.

Episode transcript available here: www.herroyalscience.com/post/18-the-royal-we

In this episode, we speak with Dr Stella Safo, a Harvard-educated physician and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. We talk about the pervasive effects of racial and ethnic inequities in healthcare, and specifically, the way the COVID pandemic shone a light on the deep-seated racial inequities within American society. Importantly, we touch upon the true meaning of allyship, and the ways in which people in power need to use their voices to effect substantial and long-lasting social change.

Episode transcript available here: www.herroyalscience.com/post/17-equity