People Behind the Science Podcast

By Dr. Marie McNeelyScience

People Behind the Science Podcast episodes

February 21, 2022 644: Dr. Angelique Johnson: Wired for Innovation: Modifying the Manufacturing of Microelectrode Arrays for Cochlear Implants
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Dr. Angelique C. Johnson is Founder and CEO of the startup company MEMStim LLC which is dedicated to reducing the cost of cochlear implants to treat hearing loss. She is also an adjunct faculty member in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Louisville. She received her undergraduate training in computer engineering and mathematics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Angelique completed her MSE and PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan (NSF Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems, which is now the Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems). She has received many awards and honors for her work, including the Pryor-Hale award for Best Business at the Michigan Business Challenge, funding from the NSF Innovation Corps program, as well as NIH phase I and phase II SBIR grants. In this interview, Angelique shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:16)
Angelique is a people person. When she has free time, she loves engaging in great conversations with friends, enjoying a cup of coffee together, and hanging out. She also spends her free time salsa dancing, going out for morning runs, competing in marathons, relaxing, and listening to music.
The Scientific Side (3:18)
Her work focuses on creating implantable electronics for restoring nerve loss or neural function that is damaged. Specifically, Angelique develops microfabricated arrays of wires for use in cochlear implants that can restore hearing loss and speech recognition.
A Dose of Motivation (4:27)
“Then the LORD answered me and said, ‘Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.’ For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.…” The Bible, Habakkuk 2:2
What Got You Hooked on Science? (8:32)
With a chemical and environmental engineer as a father and a mathematician and computer programmer as a mother, Angelique was immersed in science and scientific thinking from an early age. She remembers having fun learning higher level math theory at math camp during the summers, and it was these experience that gave her the confidence that she could be successful in a career in engineering and science.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (21:25)
As a graduate student, Angelique faced a frustrating technological challenge. She spent a long time trying to get her cochlear implant electrode array working in an animal model. The implants kept crumbling, failing, or not fitting into the target structure. Angelique was feeling really down about her lack of progress. Around this time, Angelique attended a conference, and something one of the presenters said gave her a great idea about how to fix her array.
A Shining Success! (23:56)
Getting her NIH Phase I SBIR grant was a really big victory. The first time Angelique applied, she did not receive the award, and she began to think it wasn’t worth it to apply again. After talking to a previous mentor who was successful after multiple attempts, Angelique decided to proceed with another submission, but she didn’t have high hopes. Angelique was thrilled when she got the good news. For her, this was validation she was on the right path, and it provided her some funding to pursue her start-up full time.
Book Recommendations (27:11)
The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks
Most Treasured Travel (29:26)
Angelique’s favorite travel experience was going to Hong Kong for a conference. The city was great because it was really different from what she was used to and any place she had ever been before. Angelique traveled with a friend who was from Malaysia, and after the conference they spent time in Malaysia together. Angelique was delighted by the phenomenal food and seeing sites off the beaten path. She particularly remembers enjoying excellent tea and admiring the beautiful and serene rolling hills of tea leaves there.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (33:42)
In her office at the University of Louisville, Angelique has a giant University of Michigan flag. It was a tradition in graduate school to buy a big Michigan flag for students when they were graduating with their PhDs. Everyone would sign it and include little messages. Occasionally when Angelique looks up while working, her eyes catch notes of encouragement and inspiration from her past colleagues.
Advice For Us All (39:48)
Always be determined and don’t give up. Try to focus on one thing, and do it really well. Once you have success in one area, you can pursue other things that excite you. Also, try to block out negativity. Write down your plan, and when things are crazy, go back to what you wrote down are reflect on whether it is still what you want. Be patient and persistent, and you can achieve it!
Guest Bio
Angelique’s startup company MEMStim LLC produces implantable electronics to treat neurological disorders. To date, the startup has raised nearly $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding. In her role as adjunct faculty in the University of Louisville College of Business, Angelique educates students on building successful companies using Lean Startup methodology. As one of Freeman Hrabowski’s Meyerhoff Scholars and a member of the Tau Beta Pi honors society, Dr. Johnson received Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Prior to attaining her PhD in Electrical Engineering from The University of Michigan, she worked on projects at the Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and California Institute of Technology on neural interfaces. Her work on microfabricated cochlear electrode arrays has resulted in several national and international patents, grant funding from the NSF and NIH, and a feature on the cover of Hearing Research. Passionate about people as well as engineering, Angelique has led numerous outreach programs to promote STEM careers to underrepresented minorities and women. One such program involved her traveling to Abu Dhabi to increase opportunities for Middle Eastern and North African Women in STEM. In addition to outreach, Angelique enjoys dancing, cooking, and running. She has completed four full marathons.
*This episode was originally published on July 4, 2016.
The post 644: Dr. Angelique Johnson: Wired for Innovation: Modifying the Manufacturing of Microelectrode Arrays for Cochlear Implants appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
45 min
February 14, 2022 643: Dr. Cullen Buie: Modifying Microbes for a Multitude of Applications from Healthcare to Biofuels
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Dr. Cullen Buie is an Associate Professor and the Esther and Harold E. Egerton Career Development Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Afterwards, Cullen was awarded a University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research at the University of California-Berkeley. Cullen joined the faculty at MIT in 2010. He has received many awards and honors in his career, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, the DuPont Young Professor Award, and the NSF CAREER Award. Cullen was also named a Stanford Distinguished Alumni Scholar, and, in 2016, Cullen was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans by The Root. Cullen is joining us to give us an inside look into his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:41)
When he’s not working, Cullen likes spending time with his wife and three kids. He takes advantage of down time to catch up on sleep and also to indulge in watching stand-up comedy. One of his favorite comedians is Jim Gaffigan. Cullen is also a big college football fan, and he is always rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Scientific Side (3:44)
In Cullen’s lab, they are working on a variety of projects that involve putting new nucleic acids or DNA into cells. For the most part, they use bacteria or other microbial cells and insert DNA that allow the cells to produce different things.
A Dose of Motivation (5:28)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Do or do not, there is no try.” – Yoda.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (10:29)
Early on, Cullen was really into sports and wasn’t especially interested in science or engineering. He played basketball and football in high school and had aspirations of pursuing a career related to athletics. Despite this, Cullen demonstrated an aptitude in science, and he took many advanced courses over the years. When he was preparing to go to college, he declared his major originally as pre-med since his sister was in medical school, but he was actually still undecided. Cullen went with his family to the Ohio State University campus to pick his younger brother up from a football camp over the summer, and while Cullen was there, he was able to meet with people on campus who introduced him to the field of engineering. Just a few days later, Cullen was back on campus and enrolled in a summer program that began his formal engineering education. Cullen considered many different career paths such as start up companies, industry positions, national laboratories, and consulting before deciding to become an academic professor. For him, academia was a place he could best integrate all of his skills, talents, and passions.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (24:18)
In Cullen’s first term in graduate school at Stanford, he was surrounded by brilliant students who were all coming in with different levels of experience. He quickly realized that he was behind compared to where he needed to be, and Cullen struggled with all of his classes that first semester. At the end of the semester, he went home for winter break. Cullen wasn’t happy with his grades, and he spent time updating his resume in case he didn’t make it through the first year and needed to find a job. When he returned to school, Cullen consulted with people in his lab to learn tips on studying for his courses, and things gradually got better.
A Shining Success! (28:15)
During his second and third years on the faculty at MIT, Cullen experienced a drought in funding. He received 10-12 consecutive rejections of grant proposals, and he was starting to worry about his ability to maintain and progress his scientific career. One day, he confessed to a small group of fellow faculty that he was struggling with funding, but he decided to rely on his faith and trust that everything would work out okay. Cullen came to terms with the possibility that he may not get tenure, and that even if that came to pass, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. That same day, he received an email regarding a grant he had applied to. It started off like every other rejection letter. His heart sank. As he kept reading, the realization began to sink in that this letter was congratulating him on his grant being selected for funding! This was an exciting success that helped turn things around for him.
Book Recommendations (34:02)
Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good by Amy L. Sherman
Most Treasured Travel (35:24)
There was a microfluidics Gordon Research Conference held in Italy in the mountains about an hour outside of Pisa. Cullen flew into Rome and was able to visit with one of his friend’s brothers who lived there. It was wonderful to have a local resident guide him through some of the sites. One of the most memorable places he saw was a prison where it is believed the Apostle Paul was held captive. Cullen also marveled at the impressive mix of ancient sites and modern buildings woven throughout the city. The conference was a phenomenal experience because Cullen was able to meet and get to know many of the scientists whose research he had been following for years.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (39:18)
Cullen enjoys planning social outings with his lab group. Recently, they all went to a karaoke bar together. Music is one of those things everyone seems to like, and people really got into it. It was great to see a different side of the people in the lab as they, sang, danced, and had a fantastic time.
Advice For Us All (42:45)
What will really distinguish you as a researcher is picking a good problem to work on. Also, it’s important to consider the big questions in life because they permeate everything you do. Often, people don’t contemplate these questions until they experience a tragedy that forces them to think about these big issues. Taking the time to reflect on the big questions like why we are here and what is the meaning of life will affect how you live your day-to-day life and prepare you for dealing with the difficult times we will all inevitably face.
Guest Bio
Cullen’s graduate work involved water management for hydrogen fed fuel cells and fuel delivery for direct methanol fuel cells. Cullen obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford in January of 2009. Prior to joining MIT, Cullen was a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley working with Professor Liwei Lin at the Berkeley Sensors and Actuators Center (BSAC). Cullen is currently an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Career Development Chair at MIT. His laboratory explores flow physics at the microscale for applications in materials science and microbiology. His research is applicable to a diverse array of problems, from anti-biofouling surfaces and biofuels to energy storage and bacterial infections. Here is a recent article from Cullen’s group published in the journal Nature that describes how raindrops can help bacteria in the soil disperse into the air.

*This episode was originally published on March 6, 2017.
The post 643: Dr. Cullen Buie: Modifying Microbes for a Multitude of Applications from Healthcare to Biofuels appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
49 min
February 07, 2022 642: Dr. Karmella Haynes: Expressing Her Creativity Making Epigenetic Machinery and Designing Biological Devices
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Since recording this episode, Dr. Karmella Haynes has joined the faculty in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech School of Engineering and Emory University School of Medicine. At the time of recording, Karmella was an Assistant Professor in the Ira A. Fulton School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. She was also a senior judge for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining the faculty at ASU, Karmella was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Teaching and Research fellowship at Davidson College, followed by an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Karmella joined us for an interview to tell us all about her journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:00)
Karmella likes to engage her creative side within the lab as well as outside of the lab. When she is not working, Karmella likes to look at art and to paint paint with oil or acrylic on canvas.
The Scientific Side (02:50)
In her research, Karmella works with cells that are grown in cultures (in a petri dish). Her lab studies synthetic biology, which involves synthesizing DNA outside of a cell and designing those new pieces of DNA so that they can be used for different purposes like stopping cancer cells from growing or helping stimulate tissue regeneration.
A Dose of Motivation (03:40)
“It’s a great day for science.” or “Ah, what a fine day for Science!” – Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory
What Got You Hooked on Science? (09:00)
Growing up, Karmella was a quiet and curious kid. She spent a lot of time in the backyard being inquisitive about the natural world and also liked to build and create things. Solving puzzles and understanding how things were put together were fascinating for her. In school, she was not only drawn to science, but also to math and art. Karmella got hooked on science in high school when she was introduced to solving Punnett squares in her biology class. This allowed her to combine her interests in biology, math, problem-solving, and thinking creatively.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (19:20)
As a postdoctoral fellow, Karmella had an idea she was really excited about that involved taking a protein in human cells and using it to build a circuit type system where the protein would land on a gene, turn it on, and form a complex feedback loop. It looked great on paper. One of the questions Karmella received when presenting this in lab meeting made her realize that the process she proposed would occur throughout the genome, not just in the place she intended to target, and the cells would likely die. This was really devastating at first, but then it occurred to her that this might be a great way to treat cancer. This discovery really launched her career.
A Shining Success! (23:03)
Karmella would like to see synthetic biology develop to the point where she could use a piece of DNA off the shelf and have it work exactly as expected every time like other engineering tools. It is important to get the materials they use to work reliably to allow scientists to build things faster and at a lower cost. With this as her inspiration, Karmella started a project where she developed a collection of pieces of DNA that labs can use for their projects, and it includes a way for users to provide testing, validation, and feedback on how well they work. She pitched this idea of crowd-sourced science to Women in Philanthropy and was awarded funding for her project. This was a really meaningful success because it was the first time she pitched a scientific project to a really diverse audience.
Book Recommendations (27:15)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Most Treasured Travel (30:00)
The most memorable travel experience was her first trip overseas when she was a postdoctoral fellow at Davidson College. Her mentor was invited to speak in a workshop on Synthetic Biology in China, and he invited Karmella to go in his place. It was phenomenal. She had a wonderful time in China and has enjoyed traveling there two more times since then.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (32:51)
While working as a postdoctoral fellow with Pam Silver, Karmella was surrounded by people who were not only hard working but also extremely creative. Some of the graduate students had an independent film organization, and they asked lab members volunteer to be actors. Karmella was featured in a few of their films, including a movie called Compound 54 where she played the role of the “skeptical scientist”.
Advice For Us All (37:09)
Learn how to say “No”. As you become more successful you will have so many opportunities, and you will have to start being strategic and prioritizing certain opportunities.
Guest Bio
Most people are familiar with “genetics,” the inheritance of visible traits like eye and hair color. Traits are encoded by a molecular alphabet (A,T,C,G) in the well known double helix structure, DNA. The network of protein particles that interact with DNA to control the expression of inherited traits are less well known. This process is epigenetics. Karmella’s lab uses protein engineering to create new epigenetic machinery that regulates DNA at will. One day synthetic epigenetics may allow us to rationally design new biological systems with predictable, reliable behavior and replace “magic bullet medicine” with “smart medicine.” In Karmella’s lab, they are able to assemble interchangeable protein modules to build synthetic transcription factors that regulate gene activity in human cells. Unlike typical synthetic transcription factors that recognize specific DNA sequences, our Polycomb-based transcription factors (“Pc-TFs”) are engineered to read chromatin modifications. Thus, a single engineered TF can potentially activate different cohorts of genes in cells that have distinct chromatin modification profiles. Karmella operates biological devices primarily in human/mammalian cells. Through use of modular design, Karmella aims to accelerate the pace of therapeutic technologies, such as tissue regeneration and customizable protein-based drugs.
Photo by Steve Craft
*This episode was originally published on October 12, 2015.
The post 642: Dr. Karmella Haynes: Expressing Her Creativity Making Epigenetic Machinery and Designing Biological Devices appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
40 min
January 31, 2022 641: Dr. Laurie Santos: Comparing the Cognitive Capacity of Canines, Humans, and Other Primates
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Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Comparative Cognition Laboratory at Yale University. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Harvard and Radcliffe College, and went on to complete her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard University. Among Laurie’s many awards and honors, she has received the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions to Psychology, the Lex Hixton Prize for Teaching Excellence in the Social Sciences, the Arthur Greer Memorial Prize for Outstanding Junior Faculty at Yale, the Stanton Prize from the Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and she has been named one of TIME Magazine’s “Leading Campus Celebrities”. Laurie and her research have been featured by The Today Show, BBC News, NPR News, NBC News, The New York Times, and many other media outlets. She is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:22)
During her time away from science, Laurie likes to enjoy nature through leisurely hikes. She is fascinated by celebrity autobiographies and memoirs, and Laurie is also fond of singing karaoke.
The Scientific Side (03:27)
As a psychologist specializing in comparative cognition, Laurie is interested in what makes humans special. She studies the cognitive abilities, strategies, and decision-making process we use to see if any non-human species share these or whether they are uniquely human. Most of Laurie’s research has focused on primates, since they are our closest relatives; however, she recently began studying cognition in canines as well. Even though dogs aren’t as closely related, studying how they think is particularly interesting because they live closely with us in the same environment.
A Dose of Motivation (04:49)
“In gratitude transform all that comes to you into happiness.”
What Got You Hooked on Science? (08:00)
Laurie has always been interested in human behavior and cognition. Her interest in pursuing a career in this research area started in college when she took her first psychology classes. The topics in class were really interesting, and Laurie hadn’t realized before that this was a field that she could study. In one comparative cognition class, Laurie had the opportunity to do field research observing behavior of macaque monkeys in the wild. After this experience, she knew this was what she wanted to do.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (15:34)
A few years ago, Laurie had to go through the unfortunate process of retracting a published research paper. The student working on the project had made some major mistakes, and Laurie felt like she had failed as an advisor and as a scientist. It was an awful experience, but she was committed to correcting the scientific record as quickly as possible. Through this, Laurie learned some valuable lessons, and they have implemented processes to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
A Shining Success! (19:01)
Laurie just had the first paper from their canine research center accepted for publication. Her group discovered that, compared to humans, dogs are less susceptible to bad or irrelevant information from others. This was an interesting finding and a huge milestone because there were a lot of challenges transitioning from working with primates to canines.
Book Recommendations (23:00)
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But… by Derrick Handspike
Most Treasured Travel (24:42)
Recently, Laurie had the opportunity to travel to the island of Moorea in French Polynesia for research she is conducting on cleaner fish there. It was an incredibly beautiful place to visit. One of her other favorite research destinations is an island off the coast of Puerto Rico called Cayo Santiago. The island is home to about 1,000 free roaming Rhesus monkeys, and these monkeys are accustomed to having people around, so there are phenomenal opportunities to watch the monkeys behaving in their natural habitat.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (28:40)
Elaborate Halloween celebrations have become a long-standing tradition in Laurie’s lab. They used to all carve pumpkins and give them to the monkeys as enrichment items. Now that the lab works more with canines, they host a doggy Halloween party where they invite the canine participants and their companions to dress up in costume and join in the fun. Laurie is also known for throwing fantastic themed Halloween parties outside the lab.
Advice For Us All (34:33)
Try to find the good in tough situations, and make the best of it. Even the stuff that you do badly can teach you about how to perform better. Don’t lose your curiosity and excitement for the stuff that you are studying.
Guest Bio
Research in Laurie’s lab explores the age-old question: what makes the human mind unique? She tests this question by studying the cognitive capacities of non-human animals. By comparing the cognitive abilities of non-human animals to those of humans, Laurie and her team can determine which domains of knowledge are unique to the human mind. At the Canine and Primate Laboratory (aka CapLab), she studies the origins of human cognition by focusing on two different groups of non-human animals. First, Laurie tests the phylogenetic origins of human cognition by studying our closest living evolutionary relatives, the non-human primates. By testing field-living non-human primates using methods from cognitive development, they are able to directly compare the capacities of non-linguistic primates with those of preverbal human infants. In addition, Laurie’s lab also tests the role of human experience by testing the non-human species that lives most closely with humans: the domesticated dog. By studying dog cognition and comparing it to that of other canids, we can explore the role of experience in a species built to pick up on human cues and training. Some of her current projects explore whether non-human animals possess aspects of a human-like theory of mind, the representations that dogs and non-human primates use to navigate cooperative and moral problems, the nature of human-unique constraints on pedagogy and social-learning in non-human animals, and whether other animals share human-like decision-making biases.

*This episode was originally published on May 9, 2016.
The post 641: Dr. Laurie Santos: Comparing the Cognitive Capacity of Canines, Humans, and Other Primates appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
38 min
January 24, 2022 640: Dr. Lewis Cantley: A Pathway to Success: Studying Signal Transduction in Cancer and Other Diseases
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Dr. Lewis Cantley is the Director of the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College as well as the Stanton Clinical Cancer Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also Professor of Cancer Biology in Medicine and Professor in Oncology Research at Weill Cornell Medical College. In addition, Lewis is Co-Founder of Petra Pharma and Agios Pharmaceuticals. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from West Virginia Wesleyan College and his Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry from Cornell University. Lewis conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University, and served on the faculty at Harvard University, as well as Tufts University before joining the faculty at Cornell. Lewis has received many awards and honors during his career, including the 2005 Pezcoller Foundation-American Association for Cancer Research International Award for Cancer Research, the 2013 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2015 Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine, the 2015 Wolf Prize, the 2015 Association of American Cancer Institutes Distinguished Scientist Award, the 2015 Canada Cairdner award, and he was named one of “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” in 2015 by Thomson Reuter. Lewis is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and the European Life Sciences Academy. Lewis is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:55)
Though Lew dedicates most of his time to doing and thinking about science, he is also an avid reader. In particular, he enjoys science fiction, mystery, and history books.
The Scientific Side (04:25)
Research in Lew’s lab investigates signal transduction. He has spent most of his career trying to improve our understanding of cell signaling pathways at a molecular level since many diseases involve defects in signaling. In cancer, for example, cells are constantly getting signals to continue growing and dividing, even though this is detrimental to the organism.
A Dose of Motivation (05:35)
“Chance favors only the prepared mind.” By Louis Pasteur
What Got You Hooked on Science? (09:15)
Lew feels like he was a born scientist. As a child, he was incredibly inquisitive, and he loved asking his father questions about how the world worked. His father was worked in the Coast Guard during World War II and was very knowledgeable about navigation and weather. Lew’s questions were often met with detailed scientific explanations that further piqued his interest in science. Chemistry was especially interesting for Lew, and he remembers mixing the contents of his chemistry kit together and marveling as the reactions changed color and the ingredients changed form. He also admits to using his early chemistry knowledge to dabble in making his own rockets and firecrackers as a kid.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (25:16)
When Lew and his colleagues first published their findings on the existence of a new enzyme that interacted with cancer-related proteins (PI3K), other labs tried to replicate their work and could not get the same results. These other labs altered the methods of the experiments using detergents to break up lipids, rather than using sonication to form a more membrane-like environment. Lew knew that this was the reason for the contradictory results, but it took years to convince the other scientists in his field. During this time, several papers were published refuting his findings, and he was denied tenure at Harvard University where he was working.
A Shining Success! (28:44)
Despite challenges surrounding the initial discovery of PI3K, this was Lew’s biggest success. One thing that made this discovery particularly exciting was that it stemmed from an unexpected observation. He and his lab were running an unknown protein on a chromatography plate alongside a similar known protein that they suspected would match. They noticed a systematic 1 millimeter difference in the positions of where these two proteins migrated. It was very subtle, but they had identified a completely different protein.
Book Recommendations (03:36)
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Most Treasured Travel (31:25)
One of the most memorable travel experiences for Lew was a trip to india to attend a scientific meeting on cancer. The meeting was held in Agra, and he took a bus from the airport in New Delhi to Agra, and was in awe of all the different modes of transportation on the road. There was everything from carts to camels, all packed together and using the same road. Lew was enchanted by the beauty of monuments like the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort that he was able to visit. The location, and the scientific meeting were fantastic.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (35:20)
It is a tradition in Lew’s lab to get the group together for lab retreats. He invites the current students and post docs, as well as previous members of the lab for three days packed with presentations, great food, music, and dancing into the early hours of the morning.
Advice For Us All (38:44)
Remember that nothing is impossible.
Do whatever easy for you because the things that are easiest are what you are talented at. Follow your talent.
Guest Bio
Lewis has made significant advances in cancer research stemming from his discovery in 1984 of the signaling pathway phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) which has a critical role in oncogene-mediated cell transformation, as well as insulin-dependent stimulation of glucose uptake and metabolism. Further work revealed that lipid products of PI3K directly activate the AKT/PKB protein kinase to provide a cell survival signal via increasing uptake of glucose. Activating mutations in PI3K genes have been implicated in many cancers, along with inactivating mutations in the PTEN gene (encoding a phosphatase that degrades PI3K lipid products). These discoveries have stimulated pharmaceutical companies to develop PI3K pathway inhibitors for cancer therapy. Lewis and his colleagues are currently testing the effects of combining PI3K inhibitors with emerging drugs as potential new ways to attack BRCA1 cancers, including the difficult-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Recent studies from the Cantley lab have revealed that growth factors, through activation of PI3K and other signaling pathways, cause major changes in cellular metabolism that are critical for the growth of cancer cells. Ongoing studies are defining how oncogene transformation of cells alters the flux of metabolites such as glucose and glutamine. The Cantley lab employs a wide range of techniques in its investigation of cancer metabolism and phosphoinositide signaling. The author of more than 400 papers and 50 book chapters, Dr. Cantley has received several prestigious accolades, including membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

*This episode was originally published on April 11, 2016.
The post 640: Dr. Lewis Cantley: A Pathway to Success: Studying Signal Transduction in Cancer and Other Diseases appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
43 min
January 17, 2022 639: Dr. Jon Butterworth: Colliding Particles to Comprehend the Components of Matter
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Dr. Jon Butterworth is a Professor of Physics and Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London. He received his B.A. in Physics and his Ph.D. in Particle Physics from the University of Oxford. Afterwards, Jon was hired by Pennsylvania State University to conduct postdoctoral research at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg, Germany before joining the faculty at UCL where he is today. John is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and recipient of their Chadwick Prize. He has also been awarded a Wolfson Research Merit Award from the Royal Society, an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, and a Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council Senior Research Fellowship. In addition, Jon is the author of the book Most Wanted Particle and author of a blog for The Guardian called Life and Physics. In this interview, Jon shares more about his journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:22)
Jon has two kids, and he spends most of his leisure time hanging out with them. He is also an avid writer and finds that writing is a good way to relax. At the same time, Jon enjoys activities like skiing and giving guitar performances, which terrify him sufficiently to force him to focus only on the current moment.
The Scientific Side (03:30)
He works on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva. They are smashing particles together at extremely high energies and measuring what happens. Collecting data on these particle collisions provides information about the smallest and most basic components of our universe.
A Dose of Motivation (04:31)
“A science is any discipline in which the fool of this generation can go beyond the point reached by the genius of the last generation.” by Max Gluckman
What Got You Hooked on Science? (09:34)
When he was 9 years old, Jon partnered with his brother and a friend to write a book that would contain everything we knew about space, stars, and planets. They were pretty serious about this undertaking. As they began the project, they came to the realization that there really was a lot of information known, but we were also learning new information every day, and things we thought we knew were constantly changing. This was really exciting for Jon.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (19:40)
One major setback Jon and many other researchers faced occurred during the initial run of the Large Hadron Collider. There was so much hype about getting the instrument up and running in 2008, and it broke nine days later. They were all devastated. A lot of damage was caused, and it was over a year before they could get it up and running again.
A Shining Success! (24:03)
Contributing to the discovery and confirmation of the Higgs boson particle was probably one of his greatest achievements. It was amazing to be involved in this discovery, even though it wasn’t really his own individual success since the credit is shared with about 6,000 other people. Sitting in the audience during the first meeting where the 2012 data was presented and then being there for the formal announcement that summer was thrilling.
Book Recommendations (28:00)
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson , Smashing Physics/The Most Wanted Particle by Jon Butterworth , The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom by Graham Farmelo
Most Treasured Travel (30:00)
Hamburg, Germany is among Jon’s favorite places. His first trip to Hamburg was also his first time ever on an airplane, and having opportunities to travel was one of the reasons Jon sought a career in particle physics. Jon worked there for a few years, and during that time he was able to get out and explore the fantastic city. The cool model railways caught his eye, and he had fun playing guitar in a band in the evenings.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (32:13)
At DESY In Hamburg they have a tradition of knocking on the tables instead of clapping when someone gives a talk. It was entertaining to watch the reactions of presenters who weren’t familiar with this custom. There are also a lot of idiosyncratic things he has experienced working at CERN, including the entire Tumblr blog devoted to chronicling abandoned chairs in odd places around the facility.
Advice For Us All (36:50)
When you are interviewing for jobs, think about the interview going both ways to get a sense of whether this is really the job you want and the people you want to work with. Also, for people interested in a science career, it is important not to put up with unfair conditions, make too many compromises, or live a life that you’re not happy with now as a means to a potentially rewarding career in the future. If you don’t love what you are doing now, you should find something you do love.
Guest Bio
Jon works on the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). He led a UCL group which contributed to the tracking, trigger and software. His own work has focussed on physics processes at the LHC which will help us discover more about electroweak symmetry breaking, or basically “why some things have mass”. This included searching for the Higgs boson, discovered in July 2012. Jon wrote some of the first papers on using the substructure of hadronic jets to identify the decays of boosted, massive particles – including the Higgs. He was convener of the ATLAS Monte Carlo group (2007-2009) and of the ATLAS Standard Model group (2010-2012). Until 2008, Jon worked on ZEUS experiment at the HERA electron proton collider at DESY in Hamburg. He made the first measurements of the photoproduction of hadronic jets and was physics chair of the experiment in 2003-2004. Jon led efforts to translate HERA data to have an impact at the LHC. He has also made several contributions to theory/phenomenology, including writing the widely used “JIMMY” programme to simulate multiparton interactions, other apects of QCD at colliders, supesymmetty, WW scattering, and some of the first papers on jet substructure, as mentioned above.

Photo by Claudia Marcelloni
*This episode was originally published on September 9, 2015.
The post 639: Dr. Jon Butterworth: Colliding Particles to Comprehend the Components of Matter appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
43 min
January 10, 2022 638: Dr. Maria Marco: Feeding Our Understanding of the Benefits of Bacteria in Human Health
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Dr. Maria Marco is an Associate Professor in The Department of Food Science & Technology at The University of California, Davis. She received her BS at The Pennsylvania State University and her PhD in Microbiology at the University of California, Berkeley. She went on to work as a postdoc and then as a project scientist at NIZO food research and TI Food & Nutrition in The Netherlands before accepting a faculty position at UC, Davis where she is today. Maria is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (01:55)
Maria likes to go camping and backpacking with her family in the Sierra Mountains in California. She also spends her free time jogging, doing yoga, and watching her two sons play soccer.
The Scientific Side (03:30)
Research in Maria’s lab focuses on understanding the good bacteria in the food that we eat. People tend to only think of the bacteria that can make us sick, but there are a lot of useful microbes in foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. Maria tries to identify the bacteria that are present in food and understand how they help change our food and contribute to our health.
A Dose of Motivation (04:45)
“It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.”- Grace Murray Hopper
What Got You Hooked on Science? (06:47)
In high school, Maria enjoyed her biology classes. However, it wasn’t until she worked in the lab of a fantastic female scientist in college that she decided to pursue a career in scientific research. While there, Maria began conducting research on microbes and got a sense of what it would take to be a scientist herself.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (17:10)
In graduate school, Maria couldn’t get what she thought was a simple, straightforward project to work. She struggled with it for two years before she was finally able to get the experiments running smoothly. During this process, Maria learned a lot about perseverance, solving problems, and how to be a good scientist. Support from her advisor and friends was critical for helping her get through this difficult time.
A Shining Success! (20:45)
Recently, a postdoc in Maria’s lab solved a technical problem in her research that had been troubling them for weeks. They had done some troubleshooting together to talk through the problems, and it was really exciting when the postdoc came to Maria with positive results. In Maria’s lab, they usually celebrate success by going out together for lunch, dinner, or drinks.
Book Recommendations (22:30)
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
Most Treasured Travel (24:40)
For the past two years, Maria has been collaborating with a group in Bulgaria. They have been studying an organism that was first isolated in Bulgaria and plays an important role in yogurt. Going to Bulgaria for the first time was a little uncomfortable because she didn’t know the language, and the country was very different from what she was used to. However, Maria really enjoyed her time there, and she learned a lot about the challenges of doing research in other parts of the world.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (27:40)
Maria remembers some of the fantastic times she had as a PhD student. She and a postdoc in the lab had a lot of fun making latex glove puppets and doing other silly things when they were taking breaks from work at the bench. In her own lab, Maria promotes a spirit of fun with Halloween costume parties, white elephant holiday gift exchanges, and other great traditions.
Advice For Us All (33:15)
Embrace your failures, and love your microbes.
Guest Bio
Maria’s research is on food-associated bacteria that are important for determining food safety and quality and for making beneficial contributions to human health. A central focus of her laboratory is the study of the genetics and ecology of lactic acid bacteria and their roles in food fermentations and as probiotics. This emphasis has led to a number of research topics. One major topic is on the mechanisms by which dietary probiotic bacteria can after intestinal physiology to prevent weight gain and aberrant inflammation. These studies are also providing new perspectives on how human diets and food delivery carriers can affect probiotic efficacy. An extension of this interest is on the functions of dietary fiber in improving health through the intestinal microbiome. Other research areas of interest are the ecology of lactic acid bacteria in the context of the microbiome in plant and dairy fermentations and bacterial detection and diagnostics in foods. Dr. Marco’s activities include outreach to professional societies, industry, and the public on food and gut microbiology. She served as a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Society for Microbiology and has received student recognition for her courses on food microbiology taught at UC Davis.

*This episode was originally published on January 25, 2016.
The post 638: Dr. Maria Marco: Feeding Our Understanding of the Benefits of Bacteria in Human Health appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
37 min
January 03, 2022 637: Dr. Sandra Encalada: Investigating Intracellular Transport and Potential Links to Neurodegeneration
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Dr. Sandra Encalada is the Arlene and Arnold Goldstein Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine and a Dorris Neuroscience Center Investigator at Scripps Research Institute in California. Sandra received her bachelor’s degree in physics from Earlham College, her M.S. in population genetics from the University of Florida, and her Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the University of Oregon. Afterwards, she was awarded a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research at the University of California, San Diego. Next, Sandra worked as an Assistant Project Scientist and Neuroplasticity of Aging Fellow at the University of California before joining the faculty at Scripps Research. She has received numerous awards and honors over the course of her career, including The Glenn Foundation’s Glenn Award for Research in Biological Mechanisms of Aging, The Baxter Foundation Young Faculty Award, and The Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar in Aging Award. In our interview, Sandra shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:32)
Lately, Sandra has been enjoying reading, playing games, and bonding with her 5 year old daughter. She also likes to spend her free time swimming in the ocean with her “pod” of fellow swimmers and practicing jazz improvisation on the piano.
The Scientific Side (4:27)
Sandra is a cell biologist whose research focuses on how proteins and other materials travel from the cell bodies of nerve cells all the way to the tips of the nerve cells. This process (called “transport” or “trafficking”) is critical for proper function of nerve cells, and it is highly regulated by a set of nanomachines called molecular motors. Sandra’s lab studies transport in healthy neurons and also how failures in transport may be related to or contribute to neurodegenerative disease.
A Dose of Motivation (7:51)
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
What Got You Hooked on Science? (13:51)
Growing up in Ecuador, Sandra was encouraged by her parents to think about science from an early age. In her early childhood, she was captivated by electronics, and she once broke her father’s radio by plugging the output wire into the wall outlet instead of the speaker. When she was 12 years old, Sandra told her family over dinner that she wanted to have a career thinking about how things worked, but she wasn’t sure what path may lead to that kind of job. Her father suggested she study math and physics to learn how to quantify aspects of how things work. Sandra took his advice, and she soon developed a love of physics. It wasn’t until later in college when Sandra started taking biology classes that she discovered her interest in cells and her fascination with the intricate structure of microtubules within cells.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (26:49)
In diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and prion diseases, the axons of neurons are affected by disease processes and begin dying first. Axons develop large swellings that look like beads on a string, and these swellings are full of accumulated material that has gotten stuck. Sandra began digging in the literature to try to determine how they formed, but she wasn’t able to find much information. She decided her new lab would work to model these axonal swellings and determine how they form in neurons. It has taken a long time to get to the point where they could put together a story about how the swellings form, and there have been a few major setbacks along the way. One challenge they faced was that the findings of a postdoc in Sandra’s lab seemed to be in direct contradiction with a very established tenant of how aggregates are formed in axons. However, no matter how many times they replicated the experiments, the data were clear. Sandra and her postdoc spent months trying to figure out what was going on. It turned out that what they were seeing was true in the very earliest stages of the formation of aggregates in axons, and the established findings in the literature were consistent with later stages of this process. Still, it was really challenging to explain their new piece of the puzzle to a field which was used to thinking about the process a certain way. This made it difficult to publish papers and get grants, and their work received a lot of criticism.
A Shining Success! (30:45)
Sandra and her colleagues have a paper coming out in print soon that describes the set of genes and proteins they discovered which depend on the movement of the nanomachines that walk along microtubules. When a mutant prion protein is put in neurons, the vesicles these proteins are transported in start to merge together when they encounter other vesicles during transport down the axon. The prion protein has a strong affinity to form aggregates and large sacs of pathological prion protein begin to grow and create swellings along the axon. Their work on this project revealed a lot about the mechanisms and requirements for the formation of swellings, as well as the process of movement of this protein in neurons. In addition, they identified potential targets in this process for future therapeutic interventions. Getting this work published was a big success, and Sandra recently received favorable news about a grant submission as well. It has been a long road, but the work has been very rewarding. Sandra likes to think about the success in terms of all of the people who have contributed to this project over the years and the impact this project has had on their careers.
Book Recommendations (12:10, 33:11)
A Feeling for the Organism: The Life and Work of Barbara McClintock by Evelyn Fox Keller, The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova
Most Treasured Travel ( 35:18)
When Sandra was a Master’s student at the University of Florida, she studied the population genetics of sea turtles. Her advisor was invited to give a talk in Cuba because the country was interested in protecting the very endangered sea turtles there. Sandra’s advisor asked her to go to Cuba in his stead to represent the lab and give a presentation on their work. It was an eye-opening experience for Sandra in many ways. She was a young student, and she was impressed by the amazing resilience of the scientists in Cuba who often were resource-limited, as well as their kindness and generosity. Sandra planned to stay in Cuba for five days, and she had brought enough money to pay for her hotel room. However, due to a communication failure before departure, she only had half of the money that she needed. She tried to pay the remainder with her Visa credit card, but they didn’t accept Visa cards at the time. It all worked out well in the end because one of the students who was hosting Sandra during the visit invited Sandra to stay with her family who lived nearby. Sandra will never forget how they opened their hearts and home to her during her time of need, despite the limited resources they had.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (38:08)
Nobel Laureate Ardem Patapoutian is known for his sense of humor and history of pulling pranks on colleagues. Sandra enjoys working with Ardem in the Dorris Neuroscience Center at Scripps Research Institute, and his lab is situated on the floor right above hers. Ardem won the Nobel Prize in 2021, but many of the festivities surrounding this achievement were cancelled or adjusted due to COVID-19. The ceremonies were held virtually and medals were awarded individually at local facilities to limit travel. Ardem made the best of these limitations by inviting his colleagues to join in these festivities, including the ceremony where he was given his Nobel Medal on the University of California, Irvine campus. Sandra has fallen for Ardem’s pranks often in the past, including some of his prank emails sent on April Fools’ Day. She had been contemplating how to prank him back, and she was thrilled when she saw an opportunity. Shortly after winning the Nobel Prize, Ardem was selected to receive the prestigious Medal of Lebanon, and Sandra received an email invitation to attend the event for the ceremony. Sandra was pretty sure the invitation was legitimate, but she sent Ardem an email telling him how clever his recent email prank was inviting her to this event. She claimed that she emailed her RSVP to the “organizer” telling them that she could not accept anything short of a physical invitation written in gold and plated with diamond rings. Artem replied immediately, frantically explaining that it was real and that he hoped she hadn’t sent that reply. Sandra apologized and said it was already sent. There was no response. After a little while, Sandra ran upstairs to tell him that it was just a joke, and she hadn’t actually sent a rude reply. When he heard this, Ardem laughed so hard that there were nearly tears in his eyes.
Advice For Us All (43:10)
When faced with a difficult decision, follow your gut feeling, and don’t look back. In the career of a scientist, there are many obstacles. Keep fighting for the great science you produce. It is important to support and care for the people who are doing science. Encourage the diversity, thoughts, and efforts of your colleagues, postdocs, and students.
Guest Bio
Sandra’s research is focused on understanding how nanomachines inside neurons, called molecular motors, interact with their cargo to transport them along microtubules in axons and dendrites of neurons. Her research utilizes a combination of cell biology, genetics, and high-resolution microscopy in model systems including mammalian neurons, mice, and in the soil nematode C. elegans, to understand how movement of proteins and other components inside neurons is faithfully accomplished. Sandra’s work integrates this basic cell biological knowledge to also dissect how defective transport in thin axons leads to causing traffic jams, resulting in accumulations inside axons that play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, in prion diseases, and in other neurodegenerative syndromes. Outside of work, Sandra likes to swim in the ocean (with a wetsuit!), which she closely shares with sea lions, once in a while with a sea turtle or two, and with dolphins and lots of fish, off the La Jolla coast. She also is teaching herself how to improvise some jazz on the piano, which she reveals is a mighty challenge compared to her classical piano upbringing. All of this occurs when she is not busy with her 5 year old girl and with her partner, and with their very highly active bernedoodle.
The post 637: Dr. Sandra Encalada: Investigating Intracellular Transport and Potential Links to Neurodegeneration appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
47 min
December 20, 2021 636: Dr. Russell Foster: Shining a Light on the Regulation of Circadian Rhythms in Health and Disease
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Dr. Russell Foster is Professor and Chair of Circadian Neuroscience, Supernumerary Fellow in Circadian Neuroscience, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, a Nicholas Kurti Senior Fellow, Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Head of The Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at Brasenose college at the University of Oxford. Russell received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol. He worked at the National Science Foundation Center for Biological Timing at the University of Virginia, and afterward served on the faculty at Imperial College before accepting a position at the University of Oxford where he has been for 10 years. Russell is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 2015, he received the honor of an appointment of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Russell has received many other national and international awards for his accomplishments in science including Japan’s Honma Prize, the USA’s Cogan Award, Harvard University’s Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine, as well as the UK’s Zoological Society Scientific Medal and Edridge-Green Medal from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. In addition, Russell is the author of the popular science books Rhythms of Life, Seasons of Life, and Sleep: a very short introduction. In this interview, Russell shares more about his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:36)
Russell spends his free time enjoying the company of his family and listening to music. He is particularly fond of opera and Mozart’s symphonies. In addition, Russell likes to escape the hectic hustle and bustle of life in science by visiting his cottage by the sea in Lyme Regis. While there, he enjoys swimming and sea kayaking.
The Scientific Side (03:34)
Research in Russell’s lab focuses on how body clocks, circadian rhythms, and sleep/wake cycles are are generated within the central nervous system, how they are regulated, and how these systems are regulated by light. He examines these questions related to normal functioning, as well as in the context of disease. Russell’s research uses a mechanistic approach to understand sleep cycle disruption and to investigate how disruptions may be corrected to improve health and quality of life.
A Dose of Motivation (05:40)
“Keep on kicking the door until the buggers let you in.”
What Got You Hooked on Science? (08:32)
As a young child, Russell was fascinated by dinosaurs and animals in general. He remembers lying on the ground watching lizards basking on a rock, collecting insects, and fishing in the sea. There was always a strong connection for him to biology. During school, Russell was leaning towards a career in marine biology, but after his experience recording the responses to light from cells in the eye in a physiology lab, he became fascinated with sensory systems.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (21:44)
After moving back from the US to the UK to start his lab at Imperial College, Russell was faced with a barrage of grant rejections. He recalls going for a walk in the park to clear his head after a particularly beautiful proposal was rejected. Later that evening, Russell returned home late and had completely forgotten that it was his birthday. His wife had planned a wonderful party, and being surrounded by friends and family helped put everything back into perspective.
A Shining Success! (19:38)
For Russell, having the opportunity to work with bright young scientists to help them launch their careers is immensely exciting and fulfilling. He is dedicated to creating an environment in which young scientists can thrive, and this was the main drive for him creating the new Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford.
Book Recommendations (24:40)
The House of Sleep by Jonathan Coe , Number 11 by Jonathan Coe , Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov
Most Treasured Travel (27:30)
Recently, Russell traveled to Boston to receive the Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine from Harvard University. He was honored to be recognized with this award, and he loved the city of Boston. In 2015, Russell received the Feldberg Prize. As part of this award, he traveled to Germany to give lectures, but was also able to enjoy the wonderful history of Berlin, Freiberg, and Munich. He also really enjoyed his trip to Abu Dhabi and the opportunity to explore the United Arab Emirates.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (31:54)
Russell has some wonderful colleagues and they often indulge in humorous conversations and poke fun at each other. Not long ago, Russell got a new high-tech computer, and one of his colleagues told him it was like giving his grandmother a Porsche.
Advice For Us All (36:45)
It is important to keep a sense of proportion and always be prepared to laugh at yourself. Maintaining a sense of humor is key.
Guest Bio
Russell’s research interests span visual and circadian neurobiology, focusing primarily on the mechanisms whereby light regulates vertebrate circadian rhythms. Life on earth has evolved under a rhythmically changing cycle of light and darkness, and organisms from single-celled bacteria to humans possess an internal representation of time. These 24 hour cycles, termed circadian rhythms, persist in the absence of external cues, and provide a means of anticipating changes in the environment rather than passively responding to them. In humans and other mammals, light provides the critical input to the circadian system, synchronizing the body clock to prevailing conditions. The photoreceptors providing this input are found in the retina, including the classical rods and cones which enable image-formation, as well as a subset of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) newly discovered by Russell and his colleagues.
The research interests of Russell’s group range across the neurosciences but with specific interests in circadian, visual and behavioral neuroscience. This covers such topics as how circadian rhythms are generated, the diverse functions these rhythms serve, how this system is regulated by light, the role of classical and novel photoreceptors in both visual and circadian light perception, and genetic disorders of these systems. This work includes a range of molecular, cellular, anatomical and behavioral aspects, as well as addressing the implications for human performance, productivity and health.

Photo Credit: Vera de Kok

*This episode was originally published on March 7, 2016.*
The post 636: Dr. Russell Foster: Shining a Light on the Regulation of Circadian Rhythms in Health and Disease appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
39 min
December 13, 2021 635: Dr. Spencer Barrett: Science with Style: Studying Plant Reproductive Biology
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Dr. Spencer Barrett is the University Professor, Canada Research Chair, and Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Botany from the University of Reading in England and received his PhD in Botany from the University of California, Berkeley before joining the faculty at the University of Toronto. Spencer has received many awards and honors during his career, including being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an Extraordinary Professor by the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He has also received the Lawson Medal from the Canadian Botanical Association, Premier’s Discovery Award for Life Sciences and Medicine from the Ontario Government, and the Sewall Wright Award from the American Society of Naturalists, among others. In this interview, Spencer shares more about his journey through life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:40)
Currently, Spencer travels over three months per year, and he loves exploring new places. When he’s at home, Spencer enjoys spending time in his garden with his wife. He is particularly fond of the tree peonies and primulas they have been growing.
The Scientific Side (4:55)
Spencer is an Evolutionary Biologist who specializes in ecological and evolutionary genetics, as well as plant reproductive biology. He also considers himself a plant explorer because he is able to go out to exotic places to find cool plants.
A Dose of Motivation (7:07)
“Plants stand still and wait to be counted.” by John Harper
What Got You Hooked on Science? (12:14)
As a kid, Spencer spent many family vacations camping and exploring the natural world. His parents were avid gardeners, so he was always surrounded by plants at home. During high school, Spencer had a wonderful biology teacher who often took the class out into the field to learn biology first-hand, and this had a major impact on him. Spencer’s interest in pursuing a scientific career was solidified in college where he was able to participate in a year-long research experience in Swaziland.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (28:29)
Studying flowering plants has had its frustrating moments. On one occasion, he flew all the way to Panama to study a water plant species, but when he arrived the plants weren’t bearing any flowers so they couldn’t do their work. Similarly, Spencer went to South Africa for a sabbatical to study mirror image flowers when they should have been in bloom. The flowers he was after were nowhere to be found, so he pivoted his plans and ended up making an exciting discovery.
A Shining Success! (17:24)
During his PhD, Spencer had the opportunity to go to the Amazon with a plan to conduct his thesis research on the origins of weed plants in newly establish rice fields. While there, he stumbled across the missing reproductive form of water hyacinth that Charles Darwin had hypothesized should exist, but no one had previously seen. In fact, the first water hyacinth Spencer picked up just happened to be the mysterious missing form!
Book Recommendations (35:00)
Nature’s Oracle; The Life and Work of W. D. Hamilton by Ullica Segerstrale, Helen Suzman: Bright Star in a Dark Chamber by Robin Renwick, any books by P. D. James, Ian Rankin, or Ian McEwan
Most Treasured Travel (38:22)
Spencer’s favorite travel destination is the Cape in South Africa. He is particularly fond of the drive from Cape Town to Namaqualand during August and September when all of the flowers are in full bloom. In general, Spencer is delighted by the beautiful typography, culture, wine, and diversity of Cape Town.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (41:55)
In the summer, Spencer often hosts parties in his garden with his lab, friends, and colleagues. He has an impressive collection of hats from his travels all over the world (about 120 specimens!), and these frequently make an appearance at these garden parties. Spencer enjoys choosing hats out of his collection for his students to wear and has developed a fantastic hat game to play with guests.
Advice For Us All (54:13)
Don’t believe everything you read in scientific papers.
Students in biology should make sure to consider the research questions they are examining within the context of the whole organism and natural history.
Guest Bio
Spencer received his BSc from the University of Reading in 1971. He worked as a weed biologist in Swaziland before moving to the University of California at Berkeley, obtaining his PhD from the Botany Department in 1977. In the same year, he was appointed a faculty member at the University of Toronto, where he is now University Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Spencer is a leading authority on the reproductive biology, genetics and evolution of flowering plants. His primary areas of research are the mechanisms responsible for evolutionary transitions in reproductive systems and the ecology and genetics of biological invasions. Barrett has received several awards in recognition of his pre-eminence as both an evolutionary biologist and plant scientist. He is a Past President of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution and the current Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Sciences. His hobbies are gardening, photography and travel and he enjoys the music of Brian Eno.

*This episode was originally published on July 8, 2015.*
The post 635: Dr. Spencer Barrett: Science with Style: Studying Plant Reproductive Biology appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
58 min

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