People Behind the Science Podcast

By Dr. Marie McNeelyScience

People Behind the Science Podcast episodes

October 19 887: Dr. Jessica Tracy: Examining Emotions and How They Affect Our Actions
Dr. Jessica Tracy is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Emotion and Self Laboratory at the University of British Columbia. In addition, she is a University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business Distinguished Scholar and author of the book Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. Jess received her B.A. in psychology From Amherst College, and she was awarded her M.A. and PhD in social-personality psychology from the University of California, Davis. After a brief postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis, Jess joined the faculty at the University of British Columbia in 2006. Jess is a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. She has also been the recipient of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Salary Award, the University of British Columbia Killam Research Prize, the Outstanding Early Career Award from the International Society for Self and Identity, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Career Salary Award. In our interview, Jess shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:34)
In her free time, Jess enjoys being outdoors in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of her favorite outdoor activities are hiking, running, visiting the beach, and skiing.
The Scientific Side (3:15)
Jess conducts research in the field of social and personality psychology. Her lab focuses on better understanding the self-conscious emotions we feel when we are evaluating ourselves. Some examples of self-conscious emotions are pride and shame.
A Dose of Motivation (4:33)
When you see the demon, put your head in the mouth of the demon.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (12:18)
Initially, Jess was interested in English, writing, reading, and political science. She planned to attend law school after college and become a lawyer. However, her first psychology course in college piqued her interest in science. The class had over 200 students enrolled, and the content was all lecture-based, but she was fascinated by the topics they covered. In her junior year, Jess took a course on personality, and learning about the theories of key people in the field of psychology had a big impact on her. Through these courses, Jess discovered that she could build her career studying theories about the mind and how it shapes our conscious and unconscious behavior.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (22:02)
Jess has overcome a variety of challenges in her career, including getting a faculty position, being awarded tenure, and getting her research papers published. In terms of research papers, nearly all of Jess’s best papers that she has been most proud of were initially rejected. Every rejection feels like a huge failure, but there is often a way to turn it around. By talking to editors, doing new experiments, collecting additional data, performing new analyses, revising, re-submitting, and sometimes sending the paper to a different journal, Jess has been able to ultimately get these papers accepted.
A Shining Success! (25:13)
An interesting research project begun by one of Jess’s former students was completed last year. The study examined whether the feeling of disgust evoked by morally wrong behavior involves physiological sensations like nausea, or whether it is more a way for people to describe that morally wrong behavior makes them angry or upset. This is a difficult question to study, but the student designed an experiment using ginger root to inhibit nausea in some participants. Participants either took a pill with ginger root or a placebo pill, and then they reported their level of disgust for a series of morally questionable scenarios. Participants who took the ginger root pill found the scenarios less morally wrong, but only for scenarios that were not very clearly morally wrong. For the gray area scenarios, those who had nausea inhibited with ginger root rated the scenarios as less wrong. This suggested that when participants couldn’t make a clear cognitive judgement, they may take into account their physiological sensations in judging disgust. However, when Jess’s group replicated the study, the results were not as clear cut. Journal editors considering their paper were concerned about whether the findings were consistent enough. Jess and her team decided to do one last replication with a major study, a huge sample size, and pre-registered predictions. With these data in hand, they were able to resubmit the paper and get it accepted. It took a lot of work, but they discovered something new about how moral psychology and emotions work.
Book Recommendations (8:06)
Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success by Jessica Tracy, The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
Most Treasured Travel (30:09)
During graduate school, Jess traveled with her advisor to Burkina Faso in West Africa to determine whether a facial expression of pride was universally recognizable as pride to people outside of the U.S. who do not interact with Western culture. They traveled to a small tribal village where residents lived in mud huts and there was no electricity or running water. About 40 villagers participated in their study, many traveling 5-10 km by foot to get to the research site. Jess and her advisor had hired people from the community to read the script and ask participants questions because the participants weren’t able to read. Her advisor’s partner translated their English script to French, and then the community members had to translate from French to the two local dialects that don’t have a written language. On the day of the study, there was little Jess could do to help, but it was amazing to watch the study unfold. Remarkably, the expression was recognized as pride by the people in this community.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (35:03)
Jess’s lab has adopted the tradition of holding lab meetings every other week. These meetings have a serious side where they discuss research, give presentations, and provide feedback, but they are also fun as well. In addition, Jess and another lab director host a joint holiday party each year that includes an intense dessert competition. Members from both labs try to make the best desserts, and there is a judging process to choose a winner. Beyond all the tasty desserts they get to sample, Jess and her fellow lab director bring other food to make it a fun and festive event.
Advice For Us All (39:24)
You should try to finish every paper and project that you start. There may be a few exceptions where you should cut your losses and move on, but it is generally a good strategy. For faculty members who have been granted tenure, try to think about more than just publishing research papers. Now that some of the pressure to publish is lightened, you can take time to think about what really excites you, potentially explore a slightly different field, and try to answer bigger, broader questions.
Guest Bio
Jess is a social-personality psychologist, which means she studies why people behave the way they do in social situations, and why people are different from one another. Her primary area of expertise is in emotion science, and she has focused most extensively on understanding the causes, consequences, and evolutionary functions of the “self-conscious emotions” of pride and shame. These are the emotions we feel when we think about who we are and who we want to be, and whether we are living up to our standards for ourselves; they are very dependent on our sense of self, our identity. Jess’s work thus explores the nature of self and its evolution, and how humans came to experience this small set of emotions as a way of helping us regulate some of our most important social behavior. When she’s not busy in the lab, Jess loves hiking, skiing, and beer-tasting with her partner Kristin, also a social psychologist, and her 10-year-old daughter, Harper, in their beautiful home city of Vancouver, B.C. (Harper skips the beer tasting).

*This episode was originally released on September 9, 2019.
The post 887: Dr. Jessica Tracy: Examining Emotions and How They Affect Our Actions appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
43 min
October 12 886: Dr. Franklin West: Developing Stem Cell and Extracellular Vesicle Therapies to Treat Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury
Dr. Franklin West is an Associate Professor in the Regenerative Biosciences Center at the University of Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Morehouse College and was awarded his Ph.D. in stem cell biology from the University of Georgia. Franklin then worked as an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Georgia for a few years before joining the faculty there in 2010. He received the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science’s Young Alumni Award in 2019 and recently received the University of Georgia Alumni Award “40 Under 40” distinction. Franklin was also named an “Emerging Scholar” in 2012 by Diverse Magazine and among the “Top 40 Under 40: Georgia’s Best and Brightest” by Georgia Trend Magazine. In our interview, Franklin will share more about his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:26)
Traveling is a passion for Franklin. Though he had to cancel his trip to Seoul, South Korea planned for this summer, he is looking forward to his next big travel adventure. In the meantime, Franklin has been having fun taking care of his garden at home.
The Scientific Side (3:51)
In the lab, Franklin and his team are developing and testing stem cell therapies to treat stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). They use induced pluripotent stem cells, which are cells that can be reprogrammed to develop into any kind of cell in the body.
A Dose of Motivation (6:04)
Franklin gets motivated by reflecting on the number of people who are affected by stroke and TBI. These conditions greatly impact them and the people in their lives, and Franklin is eager to contribute to developing better treatments.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (10:44)
Growing up in a military family, Franklin moved every few years to different places across the U.S., Italy, and Japan. As a result, he was exposed to a wide variety of different environments and wildlife. Franklin remembers his dad helping him build his first net to collect bugs, and they developed a sizable collection of different insects over the years. Based on his initial interest in nature, he was drawn to biology and ecology in school. Franklin’s family always had pets in the house as well, and this fueled his interest in becoming a veterinarian. He pursued opportunities to shadow veterinarians and work at veterinary offices after school and over the summer in high school. During college, Franklin participated in different programs and internships, and through these projects, he was able to travel to Kenya to research baboons and study snails at the Shoals Marine Laboratory in Maine. Working in the field and doing research firsthand got Franklin excited about science, and he decided to pursue an academic research career.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (24:31)
Getting used to failing has been one of the biggest challenges for Franklin. Many people who pursue science careers have worked hard and been successful throughout their school years. When you’re so used to success, it can be difficult to cope with failure, and scientists fail most of the time. Franklin runs a lot of experiments, and the majority of them don’t work out. There are also many failures when it comes to teaching and writing grants. After a while, you learn to accept failure, and this is something that Franklin works through with each of his students. Having a good support system and talking to others have been key for getting through tough times.
A Shining Success! (27:38)
In addition to celebrating the big wins, Franklin makes sure to celebrate all the small successes in his lab. Recently, he was working with his team and an expert collaborator to develop a new animal model to study alcohol use disorder. They spent an entire year and three pilot studies trying to get the animals to consume alcohol, and it just wasn’t working. Ultimately, they were successful when they tried the same protocols with older animals. Currently, they are working on a project trying to add a fluorescent label to the neural stem cells they are studying to make them easier to find in the brain. They have tried a lot of different approaches, but they haven’t been able to get the neural stem cells to express the genes for the fluorescent protein. Franklin is looking forward to solving this challenge and celebrating with a lab lunch or ice cream outing.
Book Recommendations (31:07)
A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R. R. Martin
Most Treasured Travel (31:59)
Visiting Kenya as an undergraduate student to study yellow baboons was a remarkable experience. While observing the baboons in their natural environment, Franklin was also able to see a lot of other amazing wildlife. He also had a chance to meet local Maasai people and learn about their culture. More recently, Franklin visited the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, India to collaborate with colleagues and teach a workshop on growing induced pluripotent stem cells. Talking to the students was phenomenal because they were so excited about science and the work they were doing. While in Karnal, Franklin also enjoyed exploring the city, visiting the Taj Mahal and other attractions, meeting people, and sampling excellent food. It was a transformative travel experience.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (34:45)
Franklin’s lab established a tradition called the West Lab Day of Fun where the group gets together outside the lab for some quality time doing fun activities. Most recently they all went kayaking together, and it was a great way to unwind after working long hours in the lab.
Advice For Us All (37:24)
The value of hard work cannot be understated. There are a lot of good ideas out there, but hard work and dedication really make things happen.
Guest Bio
Franklin’s research focuses on the development of stem cell therapies and extracellular vesicles for the treatment of stroke and traumatic brain injury. Both of these neural injuries have a great therapeutic need due to the large population of people affected and there being limited or no FDA approved treatments. One of the parts that he most enjoys about being an academic researcher is working with graduate students. He truly enjoys helping them learn about the scientific process and the enthusiasm and energy that they bring to every research study. Outside of the laboratory, Franklin enjoys traveling, gardening, and reef aquariums. Each year he tries to travel to a different country and has lived (Italy, Okinawa) and visited (Kenya, India) places all over the world. The pandemic has stopped him from traveling this year, but his garden and reef aquariums are looking better than ever. He has also brought on a new assistant gardener (his daughter), that has truly enjoyed growing flowers and learning about garden critters (ladybugs to frogs) this year.

*This episode was originally published on August 31, 2020.
The post 886: Dr. Franklin West: Developing Stem Cell and Extracellular Vesicle Therapies to Treat Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
39 min
October 05 885: Dr. Meenal Datta: Studying How Physical Forces Shape Cancer, Immunity, and Disease
Dr. Meenal Datta is the Jane DeFlorio Collegiate Professor and associate professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, where she directs the Tumor Immune Microenvironment & Mechanics (TIME) Lab. She received her BS in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her PhD in chemical and biological engineering from Tufts University. She completed her predoctoral and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital under Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, before joining the faculty at Notre Dame in fall 2021. She has been recognized with numerous honors and awards including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Biomedical Engineering Society’s Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award, the Air Force Young Investigator Program Award, the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Young Innovator Award, a Rising Star award from the American Society for Mechanical Engineers and a Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for early stage investigators from the National Institutes of Health. In this interview, she shares more about her life, career, and research.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:57)
Outside of science, Meenal enjoys taking walks around the beautiful campuses near Notre Dame while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. A recreational rower since high school, she also rows a few times a week with the South Bend Community Rowing Club. When the Midwest weather keeps her indoors, she enjoys reading, cooking, and unwinding with sci-fi or true crime.
The Scientific Side (6:00)
Her research focuses on the physics of cancer. She examines how the mechanical forces generated as solid tumors grow can influence disease progression, treatment resistance, and the ability of immune cells to fight cancer. Her lab studies how these forces affect both cancer and immune cells within and around tumors. More recently, her team has expanded this work to explore larger physical forces, including gravity, and how they can be harnessed to study cancer and develop new treatments.
A Dose of Motivation (8:44)
“Ad astra per aspera.” (“To the stars through difficulties.”)
What Got You Hooked on Science? (9:50)
Growing up in an academic family, Meenal was exposed early to both education and engineering, but it was her undergraduate research experience at UMass Amherst that showed her she could combine her interests in engineering, medicine, and the human body. Working on a bioengineering project that involved packaging cells to transplant as a potential treatment for diabetes got her excited about doing research. Based on this, she decided to pursue graduate school and a research career instead of medical school.
After struggling to find the right research lab and being encouraged to consider leaving with a master’s degree, a chance connection with Dr. Rakesh Jain changed the direction of Meenal’s career. Beginning with a small math-based project and eventually progressing through her PhD and postdoctoral training, his mentorship helped build her confidence as a researcher. In her work with Rakesh, she used innovative bioengineering approaches to develop treatments for tuberculosis. As she was preparing to launch her own independent research lab, Meenal wanted to return to her engineering roots, so she developed a research program focused on the physics of cancer and the immune system.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (33:00)
One of the biggest challenges in Meenal’s career came during her first years of graduate school, when she questioned whether she belonged in research at all. However, even now as a faculty member, she still experiences failures. Meenal and her lab were excited to launch their first experiment into space. This project examined the effects of microgravity on cancer using brain tumor organoids. After a lot of preparation and work designing a setup small enough to fit in their allotted compartment at the International Space Station, everything seemed to be coming together. The launch went well, and they eagerly awaited the return of their samples.
When the samples came back, the lab was disappointed to see that organoid after organoid had not survived. However, the few that were embedded in a brain-like hydrogel survived. Sending a few samples with this hydrogel structural support was something Meenal had convinced the group to do, and it paid off. Discovering that this physical support was necessary changed how they designed future experiments. For their next space experiment, they used the hydrogels for all of their patient-derived brain tumor organoids, and about 80% of them survived. This was a big success, and it has paved the way for further research in this area.
A Shining Success! (37:55)
For Meenal, scientific success comes in many forms. Seeing a student generate promising new data and watching an experiment launch into space aboard a rocket are some of the many successes that Meenal celebrates. One thing Meenal is particularly excited about is that two lab members were participating in a parabolic flight in Switzerland with tumor organoids. They planned to compare how the brief periods of weightlessness experienced during the flight affected these tumor organoids and how this differed from their experiments in the lab and aboard the International Space Station.
The successes of her trainees are also particularly meaningful. Meenal was proud to have her first PhD student graduate a few months ago. The student’s dissertation work connected cancer, physics, and the immune system, and she was involved in the lab’s early work on how different gravity environments can affect tumors.
Book Recommendations (4:30)
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green
Most Treasured Travel (40:18)
Some of Meenal’s most memorable travel experiences have come through Notre Dame’s research and education partnerships in Ireland. She has particularly enjoyed building collaborations with cancer researchers at the University of Galway. There, she is working with researchers using complementary physics- and mechanics-based approaches to better understand cancer.
Trips to Ireland have also given her opportunities to explore the country, including the Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, and Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, where Notre Dame hosts research and educational programs. Her experiences at Kylemore Abbey have been among the highlights of her career so far.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (43:26)
Meenal’s lab has developed plenty of traditions and inside jokes, from naming a cryogenic tank in the lab “Mr. Frosty” to having fun with questionable stock photos of scientists pretending to do research. The bad stock photos have become a recurring part of the lab’s undergraduate research symposium, where students often include the same kinds of silly images in their presentations. They’ve even begun to Photoshop themselves into the photos, which is also hilarious. These lighthearted moments are part of the welcoming and inclusive lab culture Meenal has developed. She especially wants undergraduates to feel like they can contribute meaningfully to the team’s scientific mission.
Advice For Us All (47:48)
Dream big, take risks, and don’t be afraid of failure. Scientific careers rarely follow a straight path, and being open to reinvention can lead to unexpected opportunities. In Meenal’s career, moving from chemical engineering into mechanics, physics, and space-based research required taking chances and embracing unfamiliar areas. Believing in yourself, staying open to new ideas, and being willing to take big leaps can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities in science.
Guest Bio
Meenal has built an internationally recognized research program at the intersection of cancer, immunology, mechanobiology, and space biomedicine. Her lab is particularly interested in understanding how physical forces and mechanical environments influence cells and tissues in health and disease. Much of her work focuses on cancer, including glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and on the interactions between tumor cells and the immune system. Her group develops advanced three-dimensional tissue and organoid models to study these questions and to explore new approaches for testing potential therapies.
More recently, Meenal has also been extending this work beyond Earth. Her team studies how the unusual environment of space, particularly microgravity, can be used both to better understand human biology and disease and as a new platform for biomedical research and drug development. This has included sending patient-derived cancer organoids to the International Space Station, and her work has been featured by ABC, NBC, PBS, NPR, and other national media outlets. Outside of the lab, Meenal enjoys rowing, reading, traveling, socializing, and all things sci-fi. She is also an enthusiastic advocate for making science and engineering accessible to students and for encouraging young scientists to pursue unconventional paths and interdisciplinary questions. Much of what she enjoys about her own career comes from being able to move between fields, learn from people with very different expertise, and work on scientific problems that she never would have imagined studying when she first became an engineer.
Support for this episode of People Behind the Science was provided by Innovative Research, Inc.
The post 885: Dr. Meenal Datta: Studying How Physical Forces Shape Cancer, Immunity, and Disease appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
51 min
September 28 884: Dr. Saad Bhamla: Investigating the Physics of Ultra-Fast Movements in Animals and Developing Low-Cost Scientific Tools
Dr. Saad Bhamla is Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. Afterwards, he conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University and was awarded a Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioengineering. In addition, Saad has been awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a Beazley Design Award, Medgadget’s Best Medical Technology Award, an award from The Index Project (formerly INDEX: Design to Improve Life), an Innovation in MedTech Award from the American India Foundation and Stanford University, the Centennial Teaching Award from Stanford University, and The Milton van Dyke Award from the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics. Saad has also been named an Accel Innovation Scholar and a National Geographic Explorer. In our interview, Saad shares more about his life and research.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:40)
In his free time, Saad loves to go running. Whether he is training for his next marathon or just taking his dogs out for some exercise, running has been a great way for him to think through problems and brainstorm new ideas.
The Scientific Side (4:33)
Research in Saad’s lab spans two different focus areas. Some of his projects are dedicated to developing very low-cost scientific tools and medical devices in order to make these items more accessible and affordable worldwide. One example of his work in this area is development of a $1 centrifuge that can be used to help diagnose diseases like anemia and malaria. Another area of research examines questions in biology and organismal physics. In this area, he is investigating how animals are able to move very rapidly, as well as how organisms can form aggregates that can sense their environment and share information. Through his research, he is using his expertise in engineering to solve problems to help society.
A Dose of Motivation (6:48)
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” by Albert Einstein
“I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.” by Mohammed Ali
What Got You Hooked on Science? (10:38)
As an undergraduate student, Saad applied for a competitive fellowship to work over the summer at a national lab in India. Though he was excited to be selected for the opportunity, Saad initially had some reservations when he discovered that the project would require him to step outside of the computational biophysics that he was familiar with to do experimental work. They were working with a bread company to more systematically characterize dough and determine how dough characteristics impacted the end products. It was fascinating for Saad to work on a real-world problem, and he enjoyed the freedom that his mentor gave him in the lab. In order to have unfettered access to the instruments in the lab, Saad flipped his schedule so he worked through the night and slept during the day. It was exciting to check in with his mentor each evening and update him each morning on the progress he had made. This experience showed Saad how much fun research could be, and he determined that this was the direction he would like to take his career.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (19:29)
One of the projects Saad is working on in the lab involves studying worms. These worms form aggregates or “blobs” by interweaving and tangling together. Once aggregated, the worms can move together to change shape, flow like a liquid, climb steps, and solve simple mazes. Saad is interested in understanding how information is shared throughout the aggregate to produce collective behavior. This is an exciting project, but the worm blobs are a challenging system to work with. It has been difficult to attract people who want to work on this system and aren’t squeamish about handling the worms. Saad’s work on extreme accelerations in slingshot spiders in the Amazon Rainforest involved similar challenges. He hired a postdoc to work on this project, and it wasn’t until they arrived in Lima, Peru that he learned that the postdoc was actually afraid of spiders. In both cases, the people in Saad’s lab have overcome their aversion to these organisms, and the projects have yielded fascinating findings.
A Shining Success! (23:32)
Getting a paper published is a long process, and Saad and his lab have developed a tradition of celebrating every little step along the way, including the initial submission, receipt of reviews, manuscript acceptance, and publication. Saad was particularly excited recently to celebrate the publication of their work on acceleration in slingshot spiders. This was the first organism he began studying when he started his faculty position, and he was determined to do this project regardless of whether he could secure funding for it. The project was somewhat risky, and there was some pressure on him to wait until he had funding or until he had tenure. However, Saad decided not to put it off for later. His determination paid off, and they made some interesting discoveries about the spiders and the three-dimensional triangular webs that they use to launch themselves at their prey.
Book Recommendations (27:34)
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Most Treasured Travel (29:01)
Though he will never forget the time he spent in the rainforests of Madagascar and the Amazon, one of Saad’s most memorable trips was to Egypt. Around the time Saad got married, he had an opportunity to apply to attend a National Academy of Engineers Frontiers conference that was to be held in Egypt. He knew that his wife had grown up watching documentaries on Egypt and that it was her childhood dream to one day visit the country. It was so rewarding for Saad to be able to take her with him when he went to the conference. The conference was amazing, and Saad forged valuable collaborations with other scientists while there. In talking to other researchers from across North Africa, he also got a better understanding of the environments in which people worked and the kinds of challenges they faced doing their science and outreach. While Saad was engaged in conference activities, his wife had a wonderful time exploring the pyramids and seeing the sights she had wanted to see for so long.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (33:23)
Saad has developed a tradition called “Super Happy Fun Time” in his lab. The lab is home to a diverse group of people, and regular lab meetings have been a great opportunity to bring everyone together. They start each meeting off by talking about science and getting updates from lab members, but the second part of the lab meeting is dedicated to doing something that isn’t science-related. They take turns coming up with an activity that may involve lab members answering questions to get to know each other better, playing games, doing puzzles, or other activities. Through these activities and sharing stories, they have found commonalities that bring them together. Sometimes the scientific updates are laden with negative findings or problems with experiments, so Super Happy Fun Time is also a great way to end lab meetings on a positive note.
Advice For Us All (38:59)
Try to be the best version of yourself. Do things that you care deeply about, and surround yourself with people whom you respect, admire, and know will support you.
Guest Bio
Through his research Saad investigates fundamental and applied questions in science by developing new experimental tools and techniques at the intersection of soft matter, organismic physics, and global health. One research area in his lab explores the physics of ultra-fast movements across different species. In particular, the physical biology of ultra-fast movements at a single-cell level are poorly understood. What is the fastest motion a single cell can achieve? How do single-cell organisms amplify power and survive repeated high accelerations? Saad and his team are examining these fundamental questions in different unicellular and multicellular organisms to discover the principles of extreme motility at cellular scales. Another research area is focused understanding how the fundamental principles of biological soft matter and complex fluids allow us to perform dynamic processes. These range from the self-assembly of proteins to the stretching of a spider web. Saad’s lab studies a variety of different kinds of biological soft matter, including the tears from our eyes and foams created by insects in an effort to connect microscale structures (lipids, proteins) to their consequences for macro scale biological function (contact lens-eye interaction, microbiome health). This research has important applications for human health for diagnostics, monitoring, implants, and biomedical devices. A third research focus in the lab is frugal science and global health. Saad is interested in designing and building tools that are scientifically rigorous, but cost just a few cents. He and his group are working to find innovative solutions for global challenges in science education, agriculture, and healthcare. Outside of the lab, Saad loves to go hiking with his family and two dogs (Ollie and Bella).

*This episode was originally released on September 28, 2020.
The post 884: Dr. Saad Bhamla: Investigating the Physics of Ultra-Fast Movements in Animals and Developing Low-Cost Scientific Tools appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
43 min
September 21 883: Dr. Verónica Pérez Rodríguez: Unearthing Clues to Reveal How People Lived in Early Mesoamerican Cities
Dr. Verónica Pérez Rodríguez is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY). She earned a B.A. in Anthropology as well as a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Texas at El Paso. Verónica then attended graduate school at the University of Georgia where she was awarded her Ph.D. in Ecological and Environmental Anthropology. She served on the faculty at Northern Arizona University before joining the faculty at the University at Albany, SUNY in 2013. In our interview, Verónica shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:08)
When she’s not working, Verónica loves relaxing at home, watching movies, and hiking with her children and husband. She also loves running outdoors, knitting, and reading fiction books in her free time.
The Scientific Side (3:37)
Verónica is an archaeologist and anthropologist who is interested in studying people and life in cities over time. Through her work, she examines how people lived many years ago, what brought them to cities, what made them stay, what were the tradeoffs, and what were the environmental impacts. Her work focuses on the highlands of the Mixteca Alta in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. This region was a cradle of urbanism, innovation, and complex societies as early as 300 BC.
A Dose of Motivation (5:24)
Her children have been very motivating and inspiring. Seeing their curiosity when she brings them to work with her in the field is amazing. Verónica has also drawn great inspiration from, and developed strong friendships with, people in the communities in which she works. As a person who was born and raised in Mexico, it is rewarding for Verónica to be able to help teach people more about their history and culture prior to European contact.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (9:28)
Visiting archaeological sites was a formative part of Verónica’s childhood. Her grandfather was a worker at a field site led by a famous female archaeologist. However, Verónica’s family was not pleased when she announced her interest in becoming an archaeologist, because they associated the career with hard labor outdoors. Verónica remembers writing papers about the ancient Phoenicias and their civilization as early as elementary school. At the time, Verónica was reluctant to study Mesoamerican archaeology because she wanted to explore other areas. However, she had a great opportunity to do field work as an undergraduate student in Oaxaca, Mexico, and she fell in love with the place and its history. While working at this field site, Verónica met the scientist who would later become her graduate school advisor, and she continues to study this region in her lab today.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (22:08)
During graduate school, Verónica worked in a community in Mexico doing excavations for her dissertation research. Verónica was a young woman who was fairly tall with relatively light hair, so she didn’t match what many people in the community expected an archaeologist or a Mexican person to look like. At first, her project was progressing well. However, after few months, she ran into a major obstacle. Some members of the community were worried that she was exploiting the town, and they demanded that she surrender all of the artifacts she had collected. Verónica tried to explain that she had a permit to do her research, these artifacts were under her care by federal law, and she could not surrender them. Fortunately people in the community who knew Verónica came to her aid. It took a series of negotiations, trips to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and explanations from a fellow researcher to resolve the situation. This was scary because it was her first independent research project, and she really struggled to convince people that she was there to conduct authorized research. In the end, she was invited to continue her work there.
More recently, Verónica encountered a situation where a senior researcher in her field tried to block her from receiving a grant to study pottery in an area called Cerro Jazmin in the highland region of Oaxaca, Mexico. The senior researcher had worked there decades ago and felt Verónica was encroaching on his research. Navigating some of the social and political aspects of academia can be frustrating, but Verónica was persistent, and she was ultimately successful in getting funding to work on this project.
A Shining Success! (28:41)
Her research project on pottery in Cerro Jazmin has been very rewarding. As part of the project, they conducted interviews with people who live in the area. Verónica’s team was the first to systematically record with video how to make traditional pottery with the local clay. They ended up putting together a documentary about the local pottery and its history, and it was incredible to return to the community to share the finished film with the community members, including local children. Since the documentary showing, there has been renewed interest in pottery making in the community. As part of this project, Verónica’s team recorded where the clays came from, conducted chemical analysis, and mapped the clay sources. They discovered that Cerro Jazmin has been home to a community of pottery makers for centuries, if not longer, further increasing the perceived value of the craft.
Book Recommendations (2:37)
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Most Treasured Travel (32:13)
A former student from Verónica’s lab is from Japan, and he currently works as an archaeologist on the Island of Kikaijima. A few years ago, the World Archaeological Congress was held in Kyoto, and Verónica had a wonderful time catching up with her former student and talking about their common interests in archaeology. The conference was phenomenal, and it provided great opportunities to talk to scholars from all over the world. Verónica is also a baseball fan, and she’ll never forget the experience of going to a baseball game in Japan during the trip.
Another memorable travel experience was visiting Paris to serve as a member of a student’s doctoral thesis committee. When the student was planning their defense, Verónica was worried because the proposed date coincided with the date she was expecting to give birth to her second child. Verónica convinced the student to postpone the defense for about six weeks so she could participate. As the big day approached, Veronica, her husband, and their four year old and six week old children boarded a flight to Paris. They attended the defense together, and it was great to be there in person to celebrate all of the student’s hard work and accomplishments. It was also nice for Verónica to give her children a chance to see the world and to show people that you can have a family and still be a productive researcher.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (35:53)
Archaeology is a field-based science, and this means that archaeologists spend a lot of time living and working together in the field. Sometimes after a long, cold day working in the rain and mud, it’s really nice to come back to the field house and relax with colleagues over a pot of hot coffee. Verónica has enjoyed bringing her children on field expeditions, and for many of her colleagues, these trips are their first experiences living with children. While it is impossible to completely childproof a field house and lab, she appreciates their efforts to make activities kid-friendly and keep sharp tools and artifacts out of reach. It has also become a tradition for Verónica’s field groups to come together on Sundays for pit-roasted barbacoa and to celebrate the end of each field season with a party.
Advice For Us All (41:31)
Sometimes it really pays to be an optimist. Everyone has doubts, but don’t let them stop you. Keep moving forward. Also, it doesn’t matter what you choose to do in life, just make sure you try to do it well. In addition, remember that science is more than people wearing lab coats working in labs. People from many different backgrounds, fields of study, cultures, parts of the world, and time periods have been generating new knowledge and contributing to science.
Guest Bio
Verónica’s research focuses on understanding different ways that humans have experimented with urban living. Through the powerful lens of archaeology, she does this by looking at examples of ancient urbanism, especially in the Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Her work seeks to learn about the impact that urban living had on urban dwellers and the environment. Her research is informed by her training as an ecological and environmental anthropologist. Also, she tries to integrate into her research the interests and concerns of the people and local communities in which her field research takes place. It is striking how populous early cities developed and thrived in a highland region like the Mixteca where current socioeconomic conditions push young people into out-migration. She hopes that her research can ultimately contribute answers to questions regarding how we can make life in cities more sustainable and just for all.
When not at working on her research and teaching, Verónica likes to spend time with her immediate and extended family, traveling to Mexico to be with her extended family whenever possible. She also enjoys just being with her kids and husband, reading, hiking, cooking, and watching movies about whatever they are into at the moment. When she can get some “mommy alone time”, she enjoys running, hitting the yoga mat, knitting, and reading, mostly fiction (from Elena Poniatowska to Pilar Quintana, some children’s fiction from Laura Gallego García or Jaume Copons, and she is currently reading about Alexander von Humboldt’s travels and writings).

*This episode was originally released on April 13, 2020.
The post 883: Dr. Verónica Pérez Rodríguez: Unearthing Clues to Reveal How People Lived in Early Mesoamerican Cities appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
45 min
September 14 882: Dr. Erica Walker: Examining How Environmental Exposures Shape Children’s Health
Dr. Erica Walker is the RGSS Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. She received her bachelor’s degree in math and economics from Simmons University, her master’s degree in environmental economics/urban planning from Tufts University, and her ScD degree in environmental health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Afterwards, Erica conducted postdoctoral research at UConn Health and the Boston University School of Public Health before joining the faculty at Brown University. In this interview, she shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:09)
To stay healthy and relieve stress, Erica loves going on long runs. She also likes to spend her free time making pottery and ceramics, including plates, mugs, cups, and bowls. Her latest goal is to make a ceramic lamp.
The Scientific Side (3:47)
Erica is an environmental epidemiologist and exposure scientist. Through her work, she aims to identify and solve problems that matter for communities that are often overlooked, particularly in her home state of Mississippi.
A Dose of Motivation (4:54)
“Then the knowing comes: I can open
to another life that’s wide and timeless.”
— From “I Love the Dark Hours of My Being” by Rainer Maria Rilke
What Got You Hooked on Science? (8:49)
Erica never expected to become a scientist. Growing up in a household of conspiracy theorists taught her to question everything. But when she left home, she initially planned to pursue a career as an artist, furniture maker, or book binder. Her plans changed when she became frustrated with extremely noisy neighbors, and began systematically collecting data to address the problem. A friend suggested that she channel this energy into public health, and Erica soon realized that noise was not just a problem in her apartment. Communities around the country were dealing with noise from airports, highways, trains, and other environmental sources. She became fascinated by the opportunity to study these issues and help others. Erica ultimately decided to apply to PhD programs, and she continued to follow “the path of least resistance” as she progressed through her training to a faculty role.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (23:28)
One of Erica’s most memorable failures came during graduate school when she failed her doctoral comprehensive exam. This experience forced her to set aside her ego and honestly reflect on how she could improve. It taught her the importance of self-reflection, accountability, and recognizing that failure does not mean the end of the road. These are now lessons she shares with her students.
More recently, Erica faced a difficult situation that involved ending a collaboration with a community partner. Though the ensuing investigation found she was in the right, it still affected her professional reputation. The experience reinforced her commitment to doing what she believes is right, even when it comes at a personal or professional cost. It also showed her how difficult it can be to rebuild trust once it has been damaged. Erica sees this lesson as relevant not only to her own career, but also to the broader challenges facing public health, academia, and science.
A Shining Success! (31:50)
One of Erica’s most meaningful successes has been the opportunity to return to her home state of Mississippi and contribute through research focused on children’s health and environmental exposures. She is especially proud that one of her studies is now in its fourth year, despite funding challenges and other setbacks along the way. Many children growing up in Mississippi today do not have access to the same opportunities she had. Through therapy, Erica has worked to channel her feelings of guilt about this into research that serves the communities that shaped her. More broadly, she hopes her work can demonstrate the value of public health research that is responsive to community needs, focused on meaningful real-world problems, and capable of helping rebuild trust between scientists and the public.
Book Recommendations (37:51)
The Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Twins series by Francine Pascal, and the River Heights series by Carolyn Keene.
Most Treasured Travel (39:46)
Erica is not a fan of going to conferences. However, attending conferences has provided her with opportunities to explore places she might not have otherwise visited. Innsbruck, Austria, has emerged as one of her favorite places. She loves its clean air, peaceful soundscape, good food, reliable public transportation, and pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly design. Being in this city really emphasized for her that good urban planning and infrastructure can really impact quality of life.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (44:10)
Scientists aren’t always methodical, polished people who consistently make the right decisions. On one of her research trips to Mississippi, Erica and her colleagues had to stop to use the restroom. They had a choice between a casino and a rest stop, and Erica chose the casino, hoping for cleaner facilities. It only hit her as they were walking out of the casino that the optics of them being there during a work trip were probably not ideal. These kinds of situations are a good reminder that scientists are human too. They make mistakes, experience imposter syndrome, get tired, fail, and sometimes don’t make the best choices.
Advice For Us All (51:08)
Don’t become complacent. And embrace being wrong, making mistakes, and changing your mind as new evidence emerges. Science is always evolving, and all of these things are part of learning and discovery.
Guest Bio
Erica’s research focuses primarily on understanding how environmental exposures shape human health, with an emphasis on air, noise, water, and soil quality. Her expertise spans multiple disciplines, blending epidemiology, environmental science, and community-engaged research. Guided by a firm belief in community-initiated work, her approach prioritizes building lasting infrastructure and leaving every community better off than when she arrived. Driven in equal measure by deep curiosity and survivor’s guilt, much of her current work investigates the health impacts of multi-pollutant exposures on children living in her home state of Mississippi. Beyond her academic research, Erica has a mixed bag of creative interests, including a humbling struggle with pottery (Disclaimer: she makes no claims to mastery at the wheel, though she thoroughly enjoys the process!). She also harbors a strong disdain for emails that start with “hope you are doing well.”
The post 882: Dr. Erica Walker: Examining How Environmental Exposures Shape Children’s Health appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
54 min
September 07 881: Dr. Christopher Cederroth: Dedicated to Discovering the Causes and Treatments for Hearing Deficits
Dr. Chris Cederroth is an Assistant Professor within the laboratory of Experimental Audiology working on tinnitus within the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. He received his PhD from the University of Geneva, Switzerland for which he was awarded the Denber-Pinard Prize from the University of Geneva. During that time, he also contributed to the launch of the start-up company Amazentis S.A. Before joining the faculty at the Karonlinska Institute, Chris was awarded a Swiss National Foundation Advanced Fellowship for his postdoctoral work conducted at Rockefeller University, as well as the Wenner Gren Foundation and Nicholson Postdoctoral Fellowship to support his research efforts at the Karolinska Institute. Chris is here with us today to talk a little about his research and tell us all about his journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:13)
Chris has three children who are 3, 5, and 7 years old. When he’s not at work, Chris enjoys visiting museums and spending time outdoors with his family.
The Scientific Side (3:40)
Research in Chris’s lab focuses on hearing loss and tinnitus, which is the perception of ringing in the ears. Over 300 million people in the world have hearing problems, and Chris is dedicated to understanding the causes and developing treatments.
A Dose of Motivation (7:10)
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
What Got You Hooked on Science? (11:56)
As a teenager, Chris remembers watching documentaries on the adventures of Jacques Cousteau, and these got him excited about marine life. In particular, Chris was fascinated by marine mammals. He got involved with the Swiss Cetacean Society to teach people about marine mammals and disseminate the Society’s mission. After a while, Chris began to feel like he wasn’t able to make the kind of impact he wanted, so he decided to explore his curiosity for research. Before landing a job in a lab, Chris had worked different odd jobs as a security agent, limousine driver, house keeper, and restaurant employee.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (26:09)
Chris was excited to transfer one of his postdoctoral projects to the Karolinska institute for his new position. This meant coordinating the transport of research animals from New York to Sweden. Just when he thought he had everything set, Chris received a call that the animals couldn’t be sent due to a potential fur mite infection in the New York facility. They were able to come up with a solution by cryo-preserving embryos, but this was expensive and time-consuming. In the meantime, Chris was moving his family to a different country and was unable to run experiments to respond to reviewer comments on a manuscript he had submitted, leading to rejection of the paper. Finally when everything made it to Stockholm, the facility he was supposed to use moved to a new building, and it was nine months before he could get started running experiments again.
A Shining Success! (32:00)
Tinnitus is a challenging disease to understand because there are various different causes, as well as different ways it manifests (unilateral, bilateral, continuous, intermittent, etc.). For years, researchers in the field believed there were no genetic components, but Chris conducted a study in twins that demonstrated otherwise. They discovered that unilateral tinnitus occurs mostly due to environmental causes, but in bilateral tinnitus, particularly in young women, there appears to be a strong genetic impact.
Book Recommendations (38:03)
The Macchiarini Case Reports from The Karolinska Institute
Most Treasured Travel (43:10)
Chris had a wonderful time in Santiago de Compostela when he went in 2002 for a scientific exchange program. The people were nice, the food was excellent, and there were beautiful beaches. Despite the plentiful rain, Chris enjoyed was able to see many of the sites there, including the richly historic old town.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (45:36)
When Chris was at the University of Geneva, he frequently attended the PhD defenses of other students and the subsequent cocktail parties with food, drinks, and networking. The catering staff let them take leftovers home after the party, and on one occasion, Chris left with a pack of mozzarella cheese. He stopped by the lab to finish a few things, and forgot to grab his cheese off the shelf on the way out. Returning to the lab days later, Chris discovered a pungent surprise that no one in the lab (or surrounding labs) would ever forget.
Advice For Us All (50:46)
Find something you are excited about, and do your best at it. When you find what you are passionate about, never let it go no matter what challenges arise. At some point in your life, you should push yourself to your limit. If you’ve never tested yourself, you don’t know how strong you can be.
Guest Bio
Chris’s ultimate research goal is the prevention and cure of hearing loss and tinnitus. For this purpose, his group has established collaborations with industry to facilitate the translation of their findings into cures. The laboratory focuses on 1) the molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic uncoupling in the ear, 2) the mechanisms that govern homeostatic plasticity in the brain during tinnitus, 3) the causative relationship between peripheral damage and phantom sound generation. They have a dual approach using animal models of hearing loss and tinnitus to decipher the signaling pathways disrupted in the ear and/or in the brain but also using genetics in multi-case families with history of tinnitus, aiming to identify and validate new targets for drug development. To address this challenge, Chris and his colleagues use a battery of techniques including behavior (gap-detection and prepulse inhibition), manganese enhanced MRI, auditory electrophysiology, molecular biology, synaptic histology, cell culture, cytometry, apoptotic assays, mouse genetics, human genetics and epidemiology. In order to assess drug efficacy in humans, they have developed a new technology for the objective measure of tinnitus and are initiating its testing now. They are also actively involved in a worldwide effort to provide international guidelines for clinical trials in tinnitus. In addition, Chris is working with Frontiers, a premier open-access publisher, on a research topic that is bringing together top tinnitus researchers from all over the world to better understand heterogeneity in tinnitus.

*This episode was originally released on September 19, 2016.
The post 881: Dr. Christopher Cederroth: Dedicated to Discovering the Causes and Treatments for Hearing Deficits appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
56 min
August 31 880: Dr. Lauren Ponisio: Working to Preserve and Restore Populations of Bees and Other Pollinators
Dr. Lauren Ponisio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Oregon. She received her B.S. degree in biology with honors in ecology and evolution, as well as her M.S. degree in biology, from Stanford University. Lauren was awarded her Ph.D. from the Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. She conducted postdoctoral research at UC, Berkeley afterwards, and she served on the faculty University of California, Riverside before recently accepting her current position at the University of Oregon. Lauren received graduate fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, as well as a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Berkeley Institute for Data Science. She was also named among the Global Food Initiative’s “30 Under 30” in Food Systems in 2016. In our interview, Lauren shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:25)
When she’s not working, you can often find Lauren in her garden. She has been an avid gardener since childhood, and she currently has a thriving garden with lots of vegetables and plants to attract bees and other pollinators.
The Scientific Side (4:01)
The United States is home to thousands of different species of native bees that are important for agriculture and natural ecosystems. Lauren’s research revolves around preserving and restoring bee populations in agricultural areas and other natural habitats. She is interested in understanding the distribution and health of different populations of native bees.
A Dose of Motivation (5:44)
Lauren is motivated by her passion for biodiversity and living creatures. She is fascinated by agriculture, the natural world, and the amazing diversity of species on our planet.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (6:41)
Agriculture is very important in Buenos Aires, Argentina where Lauren’s mother originally lived. She helped Lauren cultivate an appreciation of the importance of agriculture. Also, growing up in Fresno, California, Lauren was surrounded by agriculture, and she realized that some agricultural practices may harm human health and biodiversity. Lauren decided she wanted to work to improve agriculture, and bees are a key component. However, she didn’t know what career could help her achieve this dream. It wasn’t until college that Lauren realized that she could make a career out of being a professor and doing research. During her freshman year, Lauren took a seminar course with a renowned conservation biologist. She approached the professor later to ask if she could work with him to do research on pollinators. The professor told her that he didn’t have time to mentor her, but he introduced her to a graduate student in his lab who turned out to be a fantastic mentor. Partway through her undergraduate studies, Lauren changed her major from pre-med to focus on ecology and evolution. She didn’t tell her parents because they had really wanted her to become a medical doctor. However, Lauren found that she was most excited about her ecology classes and doing field research. This got her started on the path to an academic research career.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (20:48)
Field work is full of challenges and unexpected setbacks. One of Lauren’s most difficult field work experiences occurred in Yosemite National Park. Their study on the effects of fires on pollinators required them to backpack out to remote sites where there had been natural fires. Lauren started working months ahead of time to get ready for the trip and prepare dehydrated meals for the lab to eat. One day, they opened the large canister where they had been storing their food to protect it from bears, and they discovered the food was gone. All that was left was a handwritten note from someone thanking them for leaving out food. The next day, the lab’s field assistant tripped over a log and sprained her ankle. Then they accidentally left their sampling gear at a site and had to hike all the way back to retrieve it. Later, a bear came into their campsite and destroyed many of the traps they needed to collect pollinators for their study. At this point, Lauren and her colleagues were exhausted, surviving on snacks, their field assistant could barely walk, and much of the equipment they needed had been destroyed. In the face of all of these challenges, Lauren stayed calm. These kinds of things happen in field research, and everyone made it back to share the story.
Beyond the challenges with field research, it can be difficult to be part of an underrepresented group in science. As a woman whose mother’s family is from Argentina, it can be hard when you don’t see other people in science who look like you. Science can also seem very competitive, extremely time-consuming, or too difficult to be successful and happy. There can be moments when you may wonder if perhaps science isn’t for you. However, Lauren decided to give it a try. She went into the process of applying for faculty positions telling herself that it would be okay if it didn’t work out. It can be tough to find the right fit in the right department. If it doesn’t work out, you can always change directions and try something new.
A Shining Success! (25:46)
Getting her first large grant as a faculty member was a huge success. She submitted a grant to the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, and it was so validating to have the grant reviewers acknowledge that her project was a good idea and provide funding to support it. Lauren will never forget when she got the phone call to notify her of the grant award. Having the funds to hire postdocs and graduate students to work with her on this project investigating the health of bees was so important for her career. Recently, they had a virtual meeting where a postdoc revealed preliminary results on the parasites they found in different bee species. Lauren is so excited for the data to be entered so they can complete the analysis and better understand which bee species are most vulnerable to parasites and what factors may contribute to bee health in the areas they studied.
Book Recommendations (28:42)
The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America’s Bees by Joseph S. Wilson and Olivia J. Messinger Carril
Most Treasured Travel (30:46)
Visiting South America has been particularly meaningful for Lauren. There are interesting similarities between the ecosystems in North and South America, and Lauren has met many excellent pollinator researchers there. Recently, Lauren traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and this was an amazing adventure. Since her mother is from Buenos Aires, it was wonderful for Lauren to see this part of the world that is connected with her own family. She also had a chance to meet outstanding colleagues and visit cool places, including the pampas and the hilltops with thriving communities of pollinators.
Another memorable trip for Lauren was visiting Sweden to attend a conference on species interactions. As part of the conference, the attendees stood up on the tables and participated in Swedish folk songs. She also had a chance to visit the tomb and garden of Carl Linnaeus, the creator of the modern scientific naming system.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (33:48)
Lauren and her lab members don’t often wear white lab coats, but they have made those rare occasions more fun by decorating their lab coats. The group got together at one point to bedazzle everyone’s lab coats with rhinestones and fun decorations. Lauren acknowledges that as a young woman with purple hair and a bedazzled lab coat with embroidered butterflies, she doesn’t necessarily fit the image that most people have of a biologist. However, Lauren has found that in the departments where she has worked, there are many young women and diverse people working together and doing great science.
Advice For Us All (39:56)
You just have to forgive yourself sometimes, particularly considering the challenges we are facing in the world today. Take a moment to notice and appreciate all of the diversity around you and reflect on the fact that you are part of this wonderful and complex ecosystem. Despite the global pandemic, it is comforting to know that the bees are still pollinating our flowers and there is a level of stability in our ecosystem.
Guest Bio
Lauren’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which species interactions maintain species diversity, and how we can harness these processes to manage and restore diversity in human-modified systems. She focuses on pollinators because they are critical for our food supply and the maintenance of natural plant communities. Her aim is to discover new insights into how communities form, evolve and persist through time and space. In addition, her personal connection to issues concerning agriculture sustainability as a native of the Central Valley and Latina woman has motivated her to study how to design agricultural systems to better support humans and wildlife. Beyond promoting biological diversity, her second mission in life is to increase human diversity in the sciences.

*This episode was originally released on July 20, 2020.
The post 880: Dr. Lauren Ponisio: Working to Preserve and Restore Populations of Bees and Other Pollinators appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
44 min
August 24 879: Dr. Greg Wilson Mantilla: Examining Early Mammals and the Evolution of Modern Mammalian Diversity
Dr. Greg Wilson Mantilla is a Professor in the Department of Biology, Adjunct Professor in Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke Museum, and Director of the DIG Field School at the University of Washington. He is also a Research Associate at the University of California Museum of Paleontology. Greg received his B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University and his Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Afterwards, he received an NSF Fellowship to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Helsinki. Before moving to the University of Washington, Greg was Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Greg was awarded the Raymond M. Alf Award for Excellence in Paleontological Research & Education from the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, and he received the University of Washington’s Bergstrom Award for Art and Science (with Ari Rudenko). In this interview, Greg shares more about his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:31)
Outside of science, Greg enjoys staying active, spending time with his family, and following sports. Playing soccer has long been a favorite pastime, and Greg now enjoys coaching his two children. He also enjoys watching soccer and other sports, working out, reading, traveling, and relaxing with movies and TV shows.
The Scientific Side (4:30)
His research explores the evolution of mammals that lived alongside dinosaurs and how mammals have diversified over time. Remarkable fossil discoveries have revealed that these early mammals were far more diverse than once thought, including species adapted for digging, climbing, gliding, and even feeding on small dinosaurs.
A Dose of Motivation (6:33)
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
What Got You Hooked on Science? (9:22)
Greg wasn’t a dinosaur-obsessed kid who knew he wanted to be a paleontologist from an early age. He was more interested in exploring nature and pursuing soccer than studying fossils, and it wasn’t until college that courses in genetics and human origins sparked his fascination with the prehistoric world. Hearing more about paleontology from his older brother who is now also a paleontologist gave Greg more exposure to the field during a formative time.
Even after beginning graduate school, Greg wasn’t sure if paleontology was the right fit. After a pivotal conversation with his advisor, and a summer of fieldwork in Montana, Greg was convinced. That experience showed him the excitement of asking questions and testing ideas directly in the field. Today, Greg continues to study the same fossils in Montana that first captivated him as a graduate student, using decades of accumulated data to better understand the mass extinction that ended the age of the dinosaurs.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (26:28)
In paleontology, fieldwork is essential for making new discoveries, but it also involves a lot of complicated logistical and interpersonal hurdles. These include securing government permissions, building relationships with local communities, coordinating collaborators, and navigating unfamiliar situations.
On some expeditions in places like Ethiopia and India, Greg and his colleagues have invested substantial time and resources, discovered exciting fossils, and begun excavations only to be told at the last moment that they could not collect the specimens. Experiences like these have taught Greg the importance of patience, persistence, and adaptability. While setbacks beyond your control can be deeply frustrating, he has learned that sometimes the best response is to adjust, move on, and learn what you can from the experience. Even projects that don’t work out as planned can provide valuable lessons that will serve you well later in your career.
A Shining Success! (30:51) 
Greg recently published a paper describing a new 75-million-year-old mammal fossil that is one of the most complete mammal specimens known from this period in North America. The fossil was discovered in 2009 by a close friend and colleague who later passed away unexpectedly, and the project remained unfinished for many years. During a recent sabbatical, Greg committed to completing the work, and the species was ultimately named in honor of his late friend—making the publication especially meaningful.
The fossil also offers a fascinating window into one of the great success stories of mammal evolution. This mammal belonged to an extraordinarily long-lived lineage that arose during the Jurassic period, thrived alongside dinosaurs, survived the mass extinction, and persisted until about 35 million years ago. These small mammals evolved specialized teeth for eating plant foods and diversified into a variety of ecological roles, including ground-dwelling, tree-climbing, and digging species. Their adaptability may have helped them survive the asteroid-driven extinction, though they were eventually surpassed by groups such as rodents and primates.
Book Recommendations (3:27)
The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Most Treasured Travel (36:07)
Travel and fieldwork have given Greg opportunities to experience cultures and places far beyond the typical tourist destinations. However, one particular expedition had a lasting impact. Before beginning graduate school, Greg spent four months in Niger on a paleontological expedition in the Sahara Desert, searching for dinosaur fossils in areas that had rarely been explored by scientists. At about 24 years old, he found himself camping in the desert, working alongside local guides, hauling enormous fossils from the ground by hand, and navigating the many challenges and adventures of conducting research in such a remote environment. The people, landscapes, music, and experiences from that trip remain vivid in his memory, and the expedition helped inspire a lifelong passion for fieldwork that has shaped many of his subsequent research projects.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (7:33)
Greg’s PhD advisor, Bill Clemens, had a major influence on the way Greg approaches science and mentorship. Bill was a calm and thoughtful guide who helped Greg become the scientist he is today. One of the traditions in Greg’s lab is to give a gift to each student when they finish their PhD. For one student who was also impacted by Bill’s mentorship, Greg decided to have a custom bobblehead of Bill made as their gift. He made two copies: one for the student and one for himself to keep. The bobblehead remains on the bookshelf in Greg’s office as a regular reminder to slow down, think carefully, and explore things deeply.
Advice For Us All (42:56)
Take time to identify what genuinely makes you happy and find ways to pursue those interests, even if the path looks different from traditional career options. In paleontology, for example, meaningful involvement can extend far beyond becoming a professor or museum curator. Passion plus the hard work of learning and developing expertise can open many doors, and you’ll often find that others are willing to help.
Guest Bio
As a paleontologist, Greg aims to understand critical transitions in the deep-time history of life. One of the most captivating of these transitions is the early radiation of mammals, which ultimately led to their striking diversity today, from the tiny, flying bumblebee bat to the titanic, fully aquatic blue whale. His research is collaborative and combines fieldwork around the world to collect new fossils and associated geological data, description and systematic study of fossil specimens, and quantitative analysis of morphology, function, and ecology of extant and extinct taxa and communities. He focuses on the first two-thirds of mammal evolution during the Mesozoic Era (220 to 66 million years ago) and early Paleogene, when major mammal groups that include placentals and marsupials originated, and fundamental changes in the anatomy, physiology, and ecology of mammals occurred. His work has elucidated paleoecological and macroevolutionary patterns of early mammals in the context of dinosaur-dominated terrestrial ecosystems, the breakup of Pangaea, and the mass extinction at the end of the Mesozoic.
The post 879: Dr. Greg Wilson Mantilla: Examining Early Mammals and the Evolution of Modern Mammalian Diversity appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
45 min
August 17 878: Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants
Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres is Director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology and Distinguished Professor of Genetics at the University of California, Riverside. She also holds the University of California John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair and is Professor of Rice Physiology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She was awarded her B.S. in biology from the University of Utah and her Ph.D. in botany from the University of Edinburgh. Afterwards, Julia conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the faculty at UCR. She has received many awards and honors over the course of her career, including being named an elected Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists. In addition, she has been recognized with the Stephen Hales Prize from the American Society of Plant Biologists. In our interview, Julia shares more about her life and research.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:30)
When she’s not working, Julia enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. She also has fun baking and cooking with fresh vegetables from her garden.
The Scientific Side (3:19)
A major focus of Julia’s lab is to investigate how plants survive water extremes with the goal of improving the ability of crops to survive a temporary flood.
A Dose of Motivation (4:01)
“In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” – Henry David Thoreau
What Got You Hooked on Science? (7:39)
Julia’s love of nature and plants began early in her childhood. She grew up in San Diego County with access to a thriving coastal sage community in the hills behind her house, and she loved exploring and playing outdoors. Initially, Julia thought she wanted to go into forestry, so she enrolled in a forestry program in college. However, she soon realized that her true interests were in botany. As an undergraduate student, she had an opportunity to take a course in electron microscopy and subsequently work in a research laboratory. This experience had a tremendous impact on Julia and put her on course for a career in scientific research.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (15:31)
Over the years, Julia has faced a variety of different types of challenges. In one case, her lab and another group were both working at the same time to discover the mechanism through which plants can sense oxygen and sense a decline in oxygen levels. While this type of situation can be very difficult because science is highly competitive, it is also important to embrace collaboration and try to work together. In this scenario, both groups came to the same conclusions, and the methods they used were complimentary. The situation ended up being a big success since their findings were independently confirmed by another research group, and their data had important implications for the field.
A Shining Success! (18:00)
Julia has been excited to launch a new graduate program called Plants 3-D at the University of California, Riverside. This program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to translate basic plant biology to address important issues relevant in agriculture and biotechnology. The program was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation. At first, Julia thought she would be successful in obtaining funding with the first grant she submitted to create the Plants 3-D, but she ended up having to re-write the grant multiple times before it was funded. It was a lot of work, but Julia is really looking forward to training students for careers in areas that can have a big impact, as well as providing opportunities for diverse students in science and engineering.
Book Recommendations (27:11)
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World by Andrea Wulf
Most Treasured Travel (20:33)
One of Julia’s most memorable trips involved visiting farmers and farm advisors in Bangladesh and India. Regional farm advisors had provided farmers with packets of rice seeds to plant in areas that are sometimes impacted by floods from the monsoons. When these areas get flooded, the rice plants there often die, so they were hoping these new rice cultivars would be better able to survive the floods. While there, Julia had a chance to speak with women in the farming communities to understand their thoughts about the new rice cultivars. She will never forget how one woman was beaming with joy when she told the translator that she was so happy to see that the rice regrew after the flood. It was incredibly rewarding for Julia to see their work having real world impacts on people in these communities. Julia also got a greater appreciation of some of the other issues these farmers face, including droughts, and the importance of understanding how genes that may impact flood resistance affect other characteristics of the plants.
A second particularly meaningful trip was one that Julia took with her son to visit the Amazon Rainforest in Peru. As a biologist who studies the impacts of floods on plants, it was fascinating for her to spend a week on a boat in the Amazon to see firsthand the dynamics of a flooded ecosystem and the diversity of plants that live in that ecosystem. There are many traits present in plants there that we may not fully understand that allow them to endure the regular flooding. During their trip, Julia and her son did a lot of birdwatching and saw so many amazing species of plants and animals.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (29:12)
Scientists are people too. There are many different personalities in science, and anyone can feel free to be themselves. It has been wonderful for Julia to build a network of collaborators and colleagues throughout her career, and she continues to stay in touch with many of these people. In her own lab, Julia and her team always have a party when someone from the lab is ready to move on to the next stage of their career. Prior to the pandemic, they would get everyone together at her house and play croquet. While they have stopped having their traditional parties, the games of farewell croquet have continued on the university campus with proper social distancing.
Advice For Us All (35:20)
Think through things before you act. Make sure you spend time working through your ideas and thinking about potential challenges for a hypothesis you are going to address or a technology you are going to develop before starting a project. Also, remember that nature is critically important to us and to our world. It is essential to think about climate change and to be proactive. This is the most important thing we can do for mankind and for the future.
Guest Bio
Julia’s research is focused on learning how plants survive a dynamic environment, especially too much or too little water in order to improve the production of crops. Her research considers the genetic variation that exists in nature that enables rice to be productive in environments that have floods of different depth or duration during the growing season. She also studies the minute details of how rice and less flood resilient plants keep key cells alive when oxygen and energy levels are dangerously low. Julia leads the Plants3D graduate program, funded by the National Science Foundation, which trains teams of biologists and engineers to address challenges in agriculture and biotechnology using synthetic biology and entrepreneurship. When she is not focused on science, she is often with family, on a walk, or in her kitchen garden with her dog. She tries to use as little water as possible to keep her fruit trees happy.

*This episode was originally released on October 5, 2020.
The post 878: Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
38 min

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