I've launched my book! Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research. Available in print and eBook (release date 6/1/26) and audiobook (available immediately) from all major distributors. Here it is on Amazon and Spotify (free with paid Spotify).

In the last 10 years, I've posted many of my thoughts about getting into grad school. Here is the current state of my "wisdom," such as it is, now as department chair of chemical and sustainability engineering at the University of Rochester. Lessons learned from getting into Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Berkeley, Scripps, and Columbia, and now having reviewed thousands of applications at large public and small private R1 institutions, and having had more than 20 undergraduate lab members get into "top-5" graduate programs.

Excerpt and commentary from my forthcoming book, Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research. Please subscribe for updates and more nuggets from the book!

I've been absent for a while because I wrote a book! I have permission to read the prologue. It's a memoir and scientific advocacy book about how research works, under the hood, and who actually does the work. Please subscribe for updates!

In this thorough conversation, I tell interviewer Andrew Akbashev everything I know about graduate admissions. My credentials are graduate admissions chair, associate dean for students, department chair, advisor to many successful applicants, and applicant myself. Please check out his YouTube channel here for a trove of information for young researchers, and PLEASE subscribe to his channel. This is better than payment to us content creators: http://www.youtube.com/@andrew_akbashev

Cheers,

Darren

Since arriving in my role at the University of Rochester, I've developed a great collaboration with Jeff Koslofsky, Senior Marketing Strategist at the U Rochester Medical Center. Here, he asked me about my own particular brand of scientific communication, which eschews production flourishes in favor of honesty. (At least that's what I tell myself. It could also be because I don't have the skills or budget to make things more polished ; ) Please check out Jeff's other content here: exclusive content: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffKoslofskyUR Medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@URMedicineThe Next Step Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7byv4p78X1wB5JQHQTfyQ6?si=9e6ba3c2a5b84273

I sat down with Brian H. Davison, PhD, Chief Scientist of Systems Biology & Biotechnology in the Biosciences Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Bioenergy Innovation. Brian is a graduate of the University of Rochester and Caltech and candidate for President of the American Institute for Chemical Engineering (AIChE). Brian discusses his career trajectory from bench scientist to Chief Scientist, science communication, skills needed for effective leadership, discovery and commercialization, and his long history of leadership in AIChE and what he would aim to accomplish as President.

My down-the-hall colleague Marc Porosoff and I sit down to discuss the public perception of scientific research done in universities and its value to society.

Want more of Marc? He is the co-host of PodCAT, available on your favorite podcast apphttps://open.spotify.com/show/0tzTnMlZNcgBQfVUbvgchA

I was invited by the School of Medicine and Dentistry to participate in a panel discussion on Health and Wellness for Graduate Students. The panel was organized by Jeff Koslofsky, who has a large catalogue of excellent resources for graduate students in the sciences, engineering, and medicine.Original postings here so you can subscribe/follow: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7305217005781929984/comments/https://youtu.be/0CeioQJJ7fg?si=gY0LmhYd_TcMOQoshttps://www.linkedin.com/school/urochester-schoolofmedicine/

The story behind my trip to Washington DC in 2019 to get an award from the White House (PECASE, class of 2017). Intersection of science, politics, and personal beliefs. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.