People Behind the Science Podcast

By Dr. Marie McNeelyScience

People Behind the Science Podcast episodes

July 19, 2021 614: Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng: Sound Science in Restoring Hearing with Cochlear Implants
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Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng is Director of the Center for Hearing Research and Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Cognitive Sciences and Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China and his Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Institute of Physiology Academia Sinica in Shanghai. Fan-Gang then went on to earn his PhD in Hearing Science from Syracuse University. He served as a research Associate at the House Ear Institute and an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland before joining the faculty at UC, Irvine where he is today. Fan-Gang is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fan-Gang 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
In his free time, Fan-Gang likes to get outdoors, play basketball, hang out with his kids, and cook.
The Scientific Side
He has a background in engineering and neuroscience. The goal of Fan-Gang’s work is to help people with hearing impairments hear better. He does this using an electronic device (cochlear implant) that can stimulate a nerve to allow people with hearing loss to hear again. He also works to solve a hearing problem on the other end of the spectrum called tinnitus where people hear sounds that are not present in the environment.
A Dose of Motivation
“The next century is the century for biology.”
What Got You Hooked on Science?
As a kid, Fan-Gang was generally curious and interested in a lot of different things. However, language was one of his early interests that has stuck with him throughout the years. He remembers struggling to learn English as a teenager and thinking about the process of learning languages. Hearing is actually an important component, and this was the area he chose to investigate further in his research.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges
Fan-Gang is going through a challenging period right now trying to establish himself as a researcher on tinnitus (ringing in the ears). He is well-established in the field of cochlear implants and entering even a a slightly different research area has meant starting all the way at the beginning again in a lot of ways. Even after more than seven years working on this topic, he is still trying to get his first big NIH grant to study tinnitus.
A Shining Success!
Cochlear implants have been very successful but at a cost of over $100,000 (bilaterally), they are prohibitively expensive for many people. Cost is particularly a concern in developing countries. Fan-Gang has been working on a high-performance, lower-cost cochlear implant to help improve access to this technology. He started a company, developed a prototype, and they received approval in China to start using this device that is a third of the cost of the traditional implants. Now more than 2,000 patients have had their hearing restored with this implant.
Book Recommendations
Zero to One by Blake Masters and Peter Thiel, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Most Treasured Travel
When Fan-Gang was in India, he enjoyed a layover in Delhi where he was able to visit a beautiful old temple and learn the history of the place. One of the things about India that really struck him was how such a diverse group of people were able to peacefully coexist. There are people of many different religions as well as people of very disperate socioeconomic backgrounds living together side-by-side.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories
Fan-Gang and his lab get together for potlucks and volleyball outside of the lab, and these are great opportunities to spend time together and get to know everyone. The group also gets together in the lab once a week to talk science at their lab meetings.
Advice For Us All
Have fun. Passion is what will keep you going through life.
Guest Bio
Fan-Gang is a leading researcher in hearing science and technology, with over 200 publications, 8011 citations and an h-index of 43 (Google Scholar, March 2, 2015). He led development of the Nurotron 26-electrode cochlear implant (SFDA approval in 2011 and CE Mark in 2012) and SoundCure tinnitus suppressor (FDA clearance and CE Mark in 2011). He has consulted for NIH, NSF, DOD, and numerous other public and private agencies. He is the Editorial Board’s Chairman of the Hearing Journal and has been on the editorial board for 6 academic magazines. He severed as the Chair of the 2005 International Conference for Auditory Prostheses and edited 3 volumes on cochlear implants and tinnitus for Springer Handbook of Auditory Research. He holds 12 patents and has been on the Advisory Board and helped raise $80M for 5 medical device companies in US and China. He received the Syracuse University Doctoral Prize in 1991, the FIRST Award from NIH in 1994, Employee of the Year Award from House Ear Institute in 1997, Outstanding Overseas Chinese Youth Award in 2004, and Innovation Award from University of California in 2005. He was elected as Fellow of The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2007), Collegium Oto-Rhino-Larygologicum (2008), IEEE (2010), and the Acoustical Society of America (2011).

*This episode was originally published on May 6, 2015.
The post 614: Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng: Sound Science in Restoring Hearing with Cochlear Implants appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
39 min
July 12, 2021 613: Dr. Hélène Morlon: Conducting Diverse Research in Macroevolution, Macroecology, and Microbial Biogeography
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Dr. Hélène Morlon is a Research Scientist with the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Institute of Biology at the Ecole Nomale Supérieure in Paris. She is also affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Center for Research in Biology at the Collège de France. She received her M.S. in Ecology from the University of Paris and her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Bordeaux. Helene conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Merced, the University of Oregon, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley. She was hired by the CNRS afterwards and worked at the Center of Applied Mathematics at Ecole Polytechnique before accepting her current position. Hélène is the recipient of the 2012 CNRS Prize for Outstanding Research and the 2015 CNRS Bronze Medal. Hélène 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 (02:15)
Growing up in beautiful Provence in Southern France, Hélène learned to love nature. This passion for the outdoors has stayed with her over the years. When Hélène is not hard at work in the lab, she enjoys rock climbing, scuba diving, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and particularly kitesurfing. These challenging extreme sports keep her connected with nature and give her a sense of freedom.
The Scientific Side (03:50)
Hélène studies biodiversity and is interested in understanding questions like why there are more species in certain regions of the planet and why some groups of organisms are more diverse than others. She studies a variety of organisms to elucidate the general principles underlying evolution and biodiversity.
A Dose of Motivation (05:35)
“We are able to go to stars but still don’t know what happens embankments in front of our homes.” by Jean Giono
What Got You Hooked on Science? (10:16)
Though Hélène was surrounded by nature as a kid, she studied math in school instead of Biology. She appreciated the black and white/true and false aspects of mathematics, and she didn’t really know how to make a living out of studying nature. After taking a course on the application of math to life sciences, Hélène began to realize that she could combine her interests in math and nature in her career. Hélène tried a few different approaches throughout her training before finding the field that best aligned with what she was most passionate about.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (17:45)
The most challenging time for Hélène was the transition from being a postdoc to getting a permanent job. As a postdoc, she had been working very hard for five years in the U.S. and knew that she wanted to get a position back in France. The first time Hélène applied for a position with the CNRS in France, she was not selected. This was really disappointing, but Hélène’s perseverance paid off. The next time she applied, she was successful in getting the job.
A Shining Success! (20:00)
Learning that two of her postdocs were offered great jobs has been very exciting. These were proud moments for Hélène, particularly because she knows how difficult this stage of a young scientist’s career can be. Seeing her postdocs succeed was very rewarding and certainly an occasion worthy of a champagne toast!
Book Recommendations (25:50)
Colline by Jean Giono
Most Treasured Travel (21:36)
As a scientist studying biodiversity, Hélène has had opportunities to visit phenomenal places with rich biodiversity. She remembers jumping alongside kangaroos in the Sandplains in Australia and spending time working in the tropical field station in French Guiana.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (23:50)
Hélène has a lot of fun stories and memories from her time working as a postdoc with Jessica Green. While they were out doing field work in a forest in California, Hélène recalls feeling like she was in an Indiana Jones movie as she slid headfirst down tree trunks collecting samples.
Advice For Us All (28:55)
Always pursue your dreams, value creativity, and follow your instincts.
Guest Bio
After two years at the Centre for Applied Mathematics at the Ecole Polytechnique, Hélène moved to the Ecole Normale Supérieure where she leads an interdisciplinary team working on biodiversity. Hélène grew up in South of France, in Provence, where she developed adoration for Nature and its diversity. Her current research reflects a combination of her mathematical skills and this fascination for the natural world. Her recent work develops new analytical approaches for understanding biodiversity, focusing on phylogenetic methods. She writes and releases software freely available for anyone to use. Her work has spanned ecological and evolutionary processes including community assembly, broad-scale geographic patterns of diversity, and the process of speciation.

*This episode was originally published on August 24, 2015.
The post 613: Dr. Hélène Morlon: Conducting Diverse Research in Macroevolution, Macroecology, and Microbial Biogeography appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
35 min
July 05, 2021 612: Dr. Ed Belbruno: Studying How Objects Move in Space and Determining Low Energy Paths to the Moon and Mars
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Dr. Ed Belbruno is a professional artist, specializing in abstract expressionist paintings, Clinical Professor of Mathematics at Yeshiva University, a Visiting Research Associate in the Astrophysics Department at Princeton University, and President and Founder of the company Innovative Orbital Design. Ed received his associate degree from Mitchell College and his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from New York University. He then worked as a faculty member at Boston University for about five years before accepting a position as a trajectory analyst at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). After leaving JPL, Ed held positions at Pomona College and The Geometry Center at the University of Minnesota. Throughout his career, Ed and his work have been recognized with various awards and honors. He received Germany’s Humboldt Research Award in Mathematics, received the Laurels Award from Aviation Week Space and Technology Magazine, was named one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Space Thinkers” by New Scientist, and was the subject of a feature documentary movie entitled “Painting the Way to the Moon”. In our interview, Ed shares more about his life and research.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:30)
Art is one of Ed’s passions outside of math and science. Since his first serious oil painting of a view of Saturn from the moon of Titan at the age of seven, Ed has created a large portfolio of paintings, and he continues to be a prolific professional artist today.
The Scientific Side (5:26)
Ed is a mathematician who applies his work to answer questions in celestial mechanics, the branch of astronomy that examines how rockets, asteroids, moons, and other objects move in space. In particular, he focuses on delicate, complicated motions called chaos motions (based on chaos theory). Calculations of chaos motions are relevant for studying trajectories of spacecraft to the moon and other destinations, how the moon was created, the origins of the universe, and other questions in astrophysics.
A Dose of Motivation (11:07)
Motivation comes naturally for Ed, and he is generally an optimistic, inspired and happy person. He remembers his parents telling him that he was already laughing when he was born.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (11:55, 15:53)
As a kid, Ed was fascinated by space and oceanography. He grew up in the 1950s and 1960s when there was a lot of public interest in space, and his family lived near the ocean in New London, CT. When he was 14 years old, Ed and his friends designed an experiment where they kept a mouse alive in an underwater aquarium for over a month using a gas exchange membrane that pulled in oxygen from (and diffused carbon dioxide out into) the surrounding water. Ed’s attention was more focused on going to rock and roll concerts than on studying during high school, and he didn’t have many options in terms of college prospects. He was able to secure admission at a local two-year junior college where his mother worked in the bookstore, but his first semester was a complete disaster. Ed realized he needed to change. When he came back for his second semester, Ed worked really hard and was soon the best student the mathematics department had ever seen. Ed decided to continue his education at New York University, pursuing courses in mathematics and chemistry. One of the reasons Ed wanted to continue his mathematics training was because he knew it could offer him a chance to return to his childhood interest in studying space through the field of celestial mechanics. This field continues to captivate Ed today.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (30:29)
When he was young, Ed came across an article on astronauts in the attic of his mother’s house. The photo of the astronaut piqued his interest, and he asked his mom what an astronaut was. She promptly told him that there was no point in asking because he wasn’t smart enough to become one. This was a formative moment in Ed’s life. He knew deep down that he was smart, and this conversation with his mother challenged him to prove that he really was smart. It drove Ed to get a PhD in math, but even then, he didn’t feel he had really proven himself. It wasn’t until Ed developed his own theory of how to get spacecraft to the moon using chaos movement and used this theory to successfully rescue a Japanese robotic lunar probe that he really knew that he was smart. Ed’s success saved the Japanese lunar mission, and it saved Ed’s scientific career as well because other scientists at the Jet Propulsion laboratory where Ed worked had thought his new theory was a crazy idea.
A Shining Success! (34:30)
Another exciting success was his work investigating how the moon was created. A theory had been proposed that a large object about a third of the size of the Earth (approximately the size of Mars) had slammed into the Earth, and matter propelled into space by this impact came together to form the moon. While this theory seemed plausible based on the fact that the material the moon is made of is identical to the material in Earth’s mantle, the source of this enormous, Mars-sized object was still unknown. A professor at Princeton suggested that material may have collected in areas near Earth called Lagrange points until a Mars-sized object formed. This object could have escaped the Lagrange point and impacted Earth to create the moon. Ed was instrumental in applying chaos motion trajectories to show how a Mars-sized object could travel from one of these Lagrange points and end up hitting Earth. In computer simulations, the object collided with the Earth with such high frequencies that he and many others were convinced that this is what likely occurred. This project was Ed’s first foray in astronomy, and their results were published in a prestigious academic journal and featured on the cover of New Scientist Magazine.
Book Recommendations (39:05)
Intelligent Life in the Universe by Carl Sagan and Iosif Shklovsky
Most Treasured Travel (39:57)
Ed’s work in science and mathematics has provided him with opportunities to travel all over the world. For example, he received the Humboldt Award for his work discovering low energy (low fuel) routes to the moon, and as part of this award, Ed got to spend a year working in Germany. While there, he met the President of Germany, explored the city of Berlin (which has become one of his favorite cities in the world), and enjoyed broadening his perspectives by living outside the United States. Ed also really enjoyed being a visiting faculty member at a university in Bogotá, Columbia. He never would have envisioned himself traveling to Columbia, but he loved the city, and the coffee there is the best he has ever had.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (43:41)
After finishing graduate school, Ed accepted a faculty position in mathematics at Boston University. Though mathematicians have a reputation for being more solitary and less social, Ed was delighted to discover that the community of mathematicians at Boston University at the time was nothing like the stereotypes. Every single night, a group of people would gather at the Boston University pub for drinks and entertainment.
Advice For Us All (49:43)
Don’t give up.
Guest Bio
Ed is currently working on the way a spacecraft or comet can move within dark matter. He has worked for a number of years on low energy (fuel) ways to get spacecraft to the Moon and Mars. One of his trajectories was used in 1991 to rescue a Japanese lunar spacecraft (Hiten) and successfully get it to the Moon. He has studied the big bang singularity and different type of motions about black holes. As an artist, his art is evolved significantly over the years. He is now working mainly in black and white on expressionist apocalyptic landscapes. His works are shown in galleries in the US and throughout the world. They are in a number of collections. Ed enjoys working out in the gym and going to the beach. He lives in Princeton, NJ and loves to travel.
The post 612: Dr. Ed Belbruno: Studying How Objects Move in Space and Determining Low Energy Paths to the Moon and Mars appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
51 min
June 28, 2021 611: Dr. Andrea Califano: Translating Gene Expression Experiments into Therapies for Human Disease
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Dr. Andrea Califano is the Clyde and Helen Wu Professor of Chemical Systems Biology in the Departments of Systems Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, and Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. He is Founding Chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Director of the JP Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center, and Associate Director for Bioinformatics of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. He completed his doctoral studies in physics at the University of Florence in Italy and his postdoctoral studies at MIT. Afterward, Andrea worked at the IBM TJ Watson Research Center, and he subsequently became Program Director of the IBM Computational Biology Center. In 2000, Andrea co-founded First Genetic Trust, Inc and founded another company called Therasys in 2008 before joining the faculty where he is today at Columbia University. In this interview, Andrea discusses his experiences in life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science
Andrea and his family enjoy family outings to the botanical gardens, the zoo, and musical events. He also spends his down time playing tennis, skiing, watching movies, and reading.
The Scientific Side
In the lab, Andrea is trying to develop what we can think of as a blueprint or assembly manual for cells. He is using genetic and genomic information to reconstruct models of regulatory systems in normal cells and cells in disease states. They are learning about the proteins that regulate cellular changes in diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
A Dose of Motivation
“We’ve got no money, so we’ve got to think.” by Ernest Rutherford.
What Got You Hooked on Science?
Many of Andrea’s family members are in science, including his father. As a kid, Andrea put together quite an impressive chemistry lab with things he was able to borrow from his father’s chemistry lab. He remembers studying fairly sophisticated chemistry and quantum mechanics when he was quite young.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges
Andrea worked in industry for a while before starting an academic faculty position. One challenge that he faced with this path was starting as a full Professor at Columbia without any experience in writing grants. The first year and a half was a struggle to learn the process, put together proposals, and submit the applications.
A Shining Success!
The scientific achievement that Andrea is most proud of was recently published in the journal Cell. His lab group demonstrated the existence of the master regulator bottlenecks they proposed to be capturing the genetic mutational load of diseases such as cancer. They identified examples of the bottlenecks and showed that mutations relevant to cancer were upstream from these bottlenecks, funneling into them.
Book Recommendations
Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse, The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Most Treasured Travel
A very memorable trip for Andrea was a conference called “Biology Seen Through the Prism of Cancer” held in Paris last year. He grew up in Paris when he was young, so it was wonderful to be back in the city. Andrea was inspired by the presentations and discussions with excellent cancer scientists. In addition, the group enjoyed phenomenal works of art with a private visit at the Louvre museum and spent four days in a beautiful chateau.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories
Andrea had a spectacularly successful stand-up comedy moment at the American Society for Human Genetics conference in Philadelphia. He was invited to give a presentation there, and his joke about the differences between computational and experimental biologists caused the large crowd of 7,000-8,000 people to erupt in laughter.
Advice For Us All
In science and life you need to be constantly renewing and refreshing yourself. As a scientist, you should constantly think about whether the questions you are working on are the important ones.
Guest Bio
Andrea uses a combination of computational and experimental methodologies to reconstruct and analyze the logic of human cells. His methods have identified many driver genes responsible for human disease, including cancer and neurodegenerative syndromes, as well as for normal tissue development. In addition, he has developed methods for prioritizing compounds and combinations that can inactivate these genes, thus providing valuable therapeutic strategies. These findings have been translated into several clinical studies, including a very innovative set of N-of-1 clinical studies where disease master regulators are identified and pharmacologically targeted on an individual patient basis, using a systems biology approach to precision medicine. Andrea serves on numerous editorial and scientific advisory boards, including the editorial board of Cancer Discovery and Cell Systems, the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The MIT Koch Cancer Center, Cancer Genetics Inc., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., among others.

This episode was originally published on May 1, 2015.
The post 611: Dr. Andrea Califano: Translating Gene Expression Experiments into Therapies for Human Disease appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
43 min
June 21, 2021 610: Dr. Sharon Antonucci: Learning About Language Processing and Treating Word Retrieval Deficits in People with Aphasia
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Dr. Sharon Antonucci is a clinical researcher, speech-language pathologist, and Director of the MossRehab Aphasia Center. She was awarded her B.A. in child development and Italian from Connecticut College, her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in speech and hearing sciences from the University of Arizona. Prior to accepting her position at MossRehab, Sharon served on the faculty at Worcester State University. She has received the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar Award for her excellence in aphasia research, and in our interview today, she shares more about her science and her life.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:17)
When she’s not at work, Sharon loves to spend her time reading, watching TV, singing, volunteering with shelter dogs, and hanging out with her two dogs Maggie and Hulk.
The Scientific Side (4:19)
Sharon is a speech language pathologist and a clinical researcher. She works primarily with people who have a language impairment called aphasia as a result of a stroke. Sharon is particularly interested in understanding how information related to the meaning of words can be accessed in people with aphasia and how this may influence a person’s ability to retrieve words. Another line of research she is working on examines word retrieval in the context of conversation. In addition, Sharon is excited about the animal-assisted therapy work they have been doing in people with aphasia.
A Dose of Motivation (6:02)
Over the years, Sharon has been motivated and inspired by the wonderful people she works with—both people with aphasia and her scientific colleagues.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (8:25)
As she progressed through school, Sharon found herself gravitating towards courses on language, linguistics, and literature. When Sharon took a career aptitude test in middle school, the results advised her that she could be highly successful as a speech language pathologist. At the time, she was disappointed with these results because she didn’t even know what a speech language pathologist was. Sharon was intrigued by the prospects of a career in research where she could be paid to learn about things she was interested in. However, it wasn’t until sophomore year of college that she realized how to make this dream job into a reality. While exploring topics for a presentation in her linguistics course, she stumbled upon speech language pathology. It turned out, it was a really good fit that combined her interests in language, communication, and the brain.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (16:18)
For one of their peer-reviewed papers, Sharon and her colleagues had to go through multiple rounds of submission and resubmission. They worked on this paper for years. Each time the reviews came back, it was disheartening. However, Sharon didn’t give up. She kept revising and resubmitting the paper, and ultimately the published paper benefited from some of the feedback the reviewers provided. This was also an important learning experience where Sharon realized she didn’t necessarily have to agree with all of the suggestions from reviewers and make all of the changes they requested. In some cases, it was appropriate to push back and explain why the requested changes were not the best approach.
A Shining Success! (20:13)
Recently, Sharon was thrilled to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health to support research on an animal-assisted therapy program for people with aphasia. This has been the most exciting success of her career. When she received the notice of award for this grant, Sharon could not wait to share the news! The project involves teaching people with aphasia how to train dogs using techniques of positive reinforcement. People with aphasia have language impairments, but their intelligence is preserved. As a result, they can successfully execute the complex cognitive tasks required to train dogs. Dogs often pay more attention to intonation, body language, and facial expressions than to individual words, and this allows people with aphasia to engage in successful communication even if they struggle to retrieve specific words. Further, participants in the program can also benefit from the emotional, psychological, and physical benefits of interacting with animals. This project is especially meaningful for Sharon because it combines her scientific passions with her love of dogs.
Book Recommendations (3:31)
Any books by Gail Godwin, James Harriot, Robert Caro, and J.R.R. Tolkein
Most Treasured Travel (23:31)
Sharon has greatly enjoyed traveling to Italy both for science and for leisure. She studied abroad in Milan, and it was amazing to be immersed in the Italian language and to get to know the city. Since then, Sharon has visited Rome, Capri, the Italian Riviera, Siena, and other fantastic places in Italy. Beyond Italy, Sharon has enjoyed exploring a variety of places in the U.S. that she may not have otherwise visited. During her travels, it has been a joy to meet new people, and some of these chance encounters have led to long-term collaborations and friendships.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (27:20)
When Sharon was a PhD student, there was a faculty member who was well-known for hosting sensational Halloween parties every year. People from various departments in the University dressed up and participated in the festivities. One year, Sharon straightened her hair, put on her finest bell bottom jeans, and went to the party dressed as a hippie. It was fun to see that many of the people she knew who took their work very seriously at the university didn’t take themselves too seriously at the party.
Advice For Us All (30:21)
Try to get comfortable with leaving a silence before you respond to something that someone says. It is common to try to formulate your response while someone is talking to you, and this can prevent you from fully listening and taking in what the other person is saying. Also, dedicate yourself to doing what you love and what you think is important.
Guest Bio
Dr. Sharon Antonucci is a clinical researcher and speech-language pathologist who specializes in aphasia and aphasia rehabilitation. Her research focuses on semantically-guided lexical retrieval, the neural substrates of language processing in adults, and developing treatments for lexical retrieval deficits for individuals with aphasia. The work in her laboratory combines MRI brain imaging with behavioral language assessment and treatment. Current projects include examining how damage to specific regions of the brain can affect word retrieval, as well as how understanding of these brain-behavior relationships can better inform the development of treatments for word retrieval impairments. Sharon has served as an ad hoc reviewer for a number of academic journals and as an associate editor of the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. She is a member of the Academy of Aphasia, American Speech-Language andHearing Association (ASHA), ASHA SID 2: Neurophysiological and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders, the International Neuropsychological Society, and is an associate member of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Sciences and Disorders. Sharon is also pleased to be a member of the National Aphasia Association Advisory Council.
The post 610: Dr. Sharon Antonucci: Learning About Language Processing and Treating Word Retrieval Deficits in People with Aphasia appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
34 min
June 14, 2021 609: Dr. Jan Westpheling: Fueling Up on Inspiration Investigating How Bacteria Can Facilitate Biofuel Production
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Dr. Jan Westpheling is a Professor of Genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. She received her B.S. degree in Microbiology from Purdue University. Jan worked as a Research Technician at Eli Lilly before going back to graduate school to earn her Ph.D. in Genetics from the John Innes Institute. She worked for a year for Biogen in Geneva, conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University, and served on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School before joining the faculty at the University of Georgia where she is today. Jan is a two-time recipient of the Creative Research Medal from the University of Georgia, and she served as a Member of the National Research Council Committee on the Development and Acquisition of Medical Countermeasures against Biological Warfare Agents in 2005. During our interview, Jan shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (02:12)
Jan lives on eight acres of old-growth forest and loves gardening. She has been planting specific trees to attract birds and also putting out bird feeders. As a result, her property is like a bird sanctuary, with owls and migratory birds coming through each year. Jan loves spending her time outside enjoying nature and the wildlife around her.
The Scientific Side (03:45)
In the lab, Jan is dedicated to her research on biofuels. Her lab group works to engineer bacteria that help convert non-food crop plants like switchgrass into useful fuels like ethanol.
A Dose of Motivation (06:04)
“All that glitters may not be gold, but at least it contains free electrons.” by John Desmond Baernal
What Got You Hooked on Science? (11:00)
Jan grew up in a small farming community in the south. Though she didn’t come from an academic family, Jan was interested in science from an early age and adored the TV show “Mr. Wizard” because of all the fun science experiments they did. In college, she pursued science and was inspired by one of her professors who was a renowned virologist and really taught her how to think through scientific problems.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (27:30)
It’s hard sometimes to battle feelings of intellectual inadequacy and to maintain confidence during turbulent times in your scientific career. Jan has struggled with instances where a grant she poured everything into was rejected without being discussed by the panel of reviewers. Another challenge in science are the bullies in the field who take advantage of situations to intimidate others and attack when you are most vulnerable. The best way to respond sometimes is to keep your head down, work hard, and let your science speak for you.
A Shining Success! (31:00)
Jan’s lab has had a lot of exciting successes with a project in her lab where they have engineered bacteria to produce biofuel from non-food plants in a sustainable way. Their paper published last year was the first example of a non-food substance being used to make biofuels directly without costly pretreatment steps. Some of the biggest successes in Jan’s career though have been when her students achieve great things like getting their dream jobs or publishing their first manuscripts.
Book Recommendations (32:00)
The Brethren by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong, books on the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin.
Most Treasured Travel (33:25)
Rome is Jan’s favorite city in the world because of the friendly people, wonderful culture, and welcoming atmosphere. Her time spent in England was also really memorable, and she was surprised at how much she struggled with the unexpected language barrier. Jan ended up watching British soap operas to try to learn all the slang, how people really talked, and what people thought was funny.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (37:10)
Jan is a big practical joker. From sending fabricated reprimands from the Radiation Safety Office to her boss, to a deliciously iced packing foam “cake” that she served a colleague for his birthday, Jan has indulged in many hilarious pranks. Her lab currently has a tradition of an annual holiday party where they give each other embarrassing gifts that have to be proudly displayed on lab members’ desk for the next year.
Advice For Us All (40:40)
Choose the people you work with in your lab and in your collaborations very carefully. You should work with people you trust who care about science as much as you do. Also, do what you love rather than what is practical.
Guest Bio
There are many challenges to converting biomass from crop plants such as Poplar or Switchgrass to biofuels (such as ethanol) and biomaterials. A critical component of the development of bio-based alternative fuels, such as ethanol and hydrogen, is the identification, characterization, and manipulation of microorganisms and biocatalysts for biomass conversion. Organisms and enzymes that can function at high temperature, 80-100 degrees C are especially useful for this conversion because the biomass material is typically pre-treated at high temperature before microbial or enzymatic conversion. Although the pursuit of biological routes to alternative fuels has been ongoing for several decades, recently available genomics-based approaches offer unprecedented access to novel enzymes and pathways for biomass conversions, making rational, genome-wide approaches for biocatalyst discovery and pathway identification that lead to enzyme production and metabolic engineering possible. An essential component of the application of modern technology to microbial and enzymatic biomass conversion is the ability to genetically manipulate extreme thermophilic microbes and the enzymes they produce. The focus of Jan’s research is to use functional and structural genomics-based methods, in conjunction with classical genetics and biochemical approaches, to identify novel biocatalytic (purified enzymes) and metabolic strategies (using whole cells) for bioenergy conversion. This work fits into the larger intellectual context of using classical (high temperature microbial bioprocessing, large-scale protein purification) and modern (structural genomics, bioinformatics, transcriptional response analysis, gene replacement/mutational analysis) approaches to study extremophile biology and biotechnology as this relates to bioenergy conversion.

This episode was originally released on August 7th, 2015.
The post 609: Dr. Jan Westpheling: Fueling Up on Inspiration Investigating How Bacteria Can Facilitate Biofuel Production appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
45 min
June 07, 2021 608: Dr. Ricardo Areneda: A Neuroscientist Following His Nose to Exciting Discoveries in Neuromodulation of Olfactory Circuits
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Dr. Ricardo Araneda is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Concepcion in Chile and his undergraduate thesis project at the Catholic University in Santiago. Afterward, he came to the U.S. and conduct research at St. Louis University. Ricardo received his PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and served as a postdoctoral fellow and then Associate research scientist at Columbia University before joining the faculty of the University of Maryland. Ricardo 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
Ricardo has a variety of hobbies outside of science, including painting, photography, and bicycling. He also likes taking his dog out to the beach for a run.
The Scientific Side
In the lab, Ricardo is dedicated to studying the sense of smell. Smells are important for communication for a lot of animals, and there is a strong link between smell and taste. He studies the cells in the brain that help us determine what we are smelling and make decisions about how to respond to it.
A Dose of Motivation
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton
“He allowed himself to be swayed by his conviction that human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
What Got You Hooked on Science?
Ricardo has a particularly inspirational story. Neither of his parents finished elementary school, and he was the first one in his family to get a college degree. His parents were supportive of his dreams and he was fascinated by chemistry as a kid. He shared his fond memories of putting flowers in alcohol to extract the colors and touring university chemistry labs with his father.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges
Even though a career in science is full of wonderful opportunities and fascinating research, there can be long periods where you are doing very repetitive, tedious tasks. It’s easy to lose sight of your sense of excitement doing these tasks.
A Shining Success!
Mentoring is very important to Ricardo. Last year his first graduate student graduated, and he was excited to see her go on in science. He was also selected this year as the Mentor of the Year at his University as well as recipient of the Undergraduate Mentor of the Year award.
Book Recommendations
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean, Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo
Most Treasured Travel
The Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole is a beautiful place near the ocean, and people come from all over the world to participate in courses, exceptional research, and all the fun networking and social gatherings. Ricardo took the Neurobiology course there when he was in his first year of graduate school and was later invited back to teach the Neurobiology course!
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories
Ricardo spent some time working in a lab in New York City, and he had fun checking out many of the cool music venues to see one of the graduate students’ bands perform.
Advice For Us All
You should always treat what you are currently working on as if it is the key piece that will get you to your goal. This experiment could be the key figure of your next paper. When things are working you have to be there putting in 100%.
Guest Bio
Ricardo’s long-term research goal is to understand the mechanisms by which neuromodulation drives the activity of neuronal networks. Specifically, his lab uses olfaction as a model system to learn how neuromodulators such as noradrenaline and acetylcholine influence sensory processing and cognition. Using several techniques, including targeted expression of optogenetic and chemogenetics tools, they precisely control the activity of neuromodulatory neurons that regulate activity in olfactory circuits. One of Ricardo’s aims is to determine how these neuromodulators influence odor-guided behaviors. Interestingly, olfactory circuits are exceptionally plastic, in that they are among the few neural circuits known to replenish cells with adult born neurons in the brain. This gives their lab the unique opportunity to study the way neuromodulators can influence the ability of adult-born neurons to join pre-existing circuits.

*This episode was originally published on November 26th, 2014.
The post 608: Dr. Ricardo Areneda: A Neuroscientist Following His Nose to Exciting Discoveries in Neuromodulation of Olfactory Circuits appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
45 min
May 31, 2021 607: Dr. Paul Schimmel: Unraveling the Roles and Therapeutic Potential of the Enzymes that Translate our Genetic Code
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Dr. Paul Schimmel is Professor of Molecular Medicine and of Chemistry at Scripps Research Institute. He also holds an appointment with the Institute for Advanced Study at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is the author of a widely used three volume textbook on biophysical chemistry, and is a co-founder or founding director of eleven biotechnology companies that develop new therapies for human diseases and disorders. Paul earned his B.A. in Pre-Medicine from Ohio Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics at MIT. He did a short postdoc at Stanford before joining the faculty at MIT. Paul served on the faculty at MIT for 30 years, and prior to coming to Scripps, he was the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Department of Biology there. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and honors, including being named an elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. In addition, Paul received the American Chemical Society’s 2020 Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success, the 2020 Scientist of the Year Award from the San Diego Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, the Harvard University Frank Westheimer Medal, the American Chemical Society’s Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry, the Biophysical Society’s Emily M. Gray Award for Significant Contributions to Education in Biophysics, the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association Brilliant Achievement Award, the Stein and Moore Award of the Protein Society, and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and the Kellogg School of Science and Technology at Scripps Research. In our interview, Paul shares insights from his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (3:37)
When he’s not hard at work, Paul loves getting out on the water on his powerboat. For over two decades, he and his wife Cleo have enjoyed exploring the islands and coasts of the Pacific Northwest. They’ve met many fantastic people, sampled great food, and reveled in the beautiful scenery.
The Scientific Side (6:25)
Though Paul began his studies intent on becoming a medical doctor, he became fascinated by the fields of biophysics and biophysical chemistry along the way. His research answers fundamental questions about the origin of life and the genetic code. In his work with a variety of biotech companies, Paul is also translating his laboratory research to create new medicines that leverage key processes, mechanisms, and molecules employed naturally by our bodies.
A Dose of Motivation (9:53)
“Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden
What Got You Hooked on Science? (13:14, 16:39)
Paul spent much of his childhood out on the streets. He grew up in gritty neighborhoods near New York City, and he really wasn’t invested in reading or schoolwork. In high school, the guidance counselor told Paul’s mother that he just wasn’t college material. Things began to change for Paul when he started getting interested in solving problems in his high school math class. He had a great teacher who believed that he was good at math before Paul realized it himself. Deciding that a change of environment would be best, Paul’s mother sent him off to college at a small school in the middle of Ohio. At first he hated it and wasn’t doing well in his classes, but eventually Paul met a physics teacher who encouraged him and fostered his interests. It got to the point where Paul couldn’t stop thinking about physics problems throughout his day. Based on his father’s long-standing wish that he become a doctor, Paul majored in pre-medicine and went off to medical school after graduation. While in medical school, Paul became fascinated by the emerging fields of biophysics and biophysical chemistry. He spent hours pouring over research papers at the library and writing letters to authors to request reprints. It was a difficult decision, but Paul dropped out of medical school and enrolled in a graduate program to pursue science instead.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (21:57)
Many of the most valuable lessons Paul has learned about life happened outside of the classroom. He spent his childhood living in places where people were relatively poor, there were issues with crime, and the schools were under-resourced and oversaturated with students. Paul spent most evenings out with his friends, and he’ll never forget one evening when he had a terrible toothache. The pain became so intense, that he finally told one of the older boys that he was going home. That boy told Paul that if he couldn’t endure the pain and keep going, he didn’t belong out there in the first place. Paul thought about this, and he stayed out. On another occasion, Paul got in a fight and returned home injured and bleeding. His mother helped clean him up and made sure that he was okay, then she sent him back out into the night. These experiences taught Paul that he could be resilient, and they instilled in him the idea that he had an unwavering support network in his family. Learning these things early in life has helped Paul overcome so many hurdles in the various endeavors he has pursued.
A Shining Success! (25:26)
When Paul was in college, MIT was featured in cover stories by Time Magazine and Newsweek. The articles described how the students and faculty at MIT were incredibly intelligent, intense, and passionate. Paul wanted to be there, but he knew there was no point in applying because his grades weren’t great, and there was no way he would be admitted. Later as a medical student, Paul’s academic performance improved, and he learned that MIT had a well-regarded life science graduate program. On a cold winter day, Paul ventured over to MIT and met with the head of biochemistry. During the meeting, Paul announced that he would drop out of medical school right away if they let him enroll in the graduate program partway through the year. After some deliberation and phone calls, Paul was invited to enroll. The first time he walked up the long staircase and stepped through the main entrance of this storied institution, Paul was in awe. There was an overwhelming sense of purpose emanating from everyone who sped past him, and there were signs of science and engineering everywhere. He had achieved what he thought was an impossible dream. The dream became even more rewarding when Paul returned to MIT as a faculty member after his postdoctoral training.
Book Recommendations (32:30)
Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung, “Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher’s play The Honest Man’s Fortune
Most Treasured Travel (38:43)
Paul has been to Hong Kong more than thirty times, and he loves the energy there. He has a lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and enjoys working with collaborators on stimulating research projects. If you have a chance to visit Hong Kong, Paul recommends immersing yourself in the rich history, exquisite architecture, delicious food, and lively markets.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (40:03)
People often have the perception that scientists have all the answers, but despite being experts in their fields, scientists make mistakes just like everyone else. There was one occasion when Paul got into an argument with one of the postdocs in his lab because Paul believed the observation the postdoc reported was incorrect. Paul asked the postdoc to revisit his findings and gave some additional instructions. A week or two later, after completing all of the additional steps that were requested, the postdoc arrived at the same conclusion. At that moment, Paul realized that the postdoc was right, and they had made a major discovery. Paul was so excited, but he also felt sheepish for having doubted the findings initially.
Guest Bio
Paul is the author or coauthor of over 500 scientific research publications, as well as coauthor of a widely used 3-volume textbook on biophysical chemistry. His research interests have focused on aminoacyl tRNA synthetases as fundamental interpreters of the genetic information. Through career-long investigations of this ancient and universal set of essential enzymes, his laboratory has worked on a universal mechanism for correcting errors in the interpretation of genetic information, and went on to show how this mechanism is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and for preventing serious pathologies and disease. His laboratory also discovered what others have referred to as a primordial, or ‘second’, genetic code that eventually was incorporated into the modern code. In a separate line of research published back in 1983, Schimmel developed the concept of what are now known as ESTs (expressed sequence tags) and the strategy of shotgun sequencing, approaches that several years later were adopted for the human genome project. Nature magazine listed Schimmel’s work on the development of ESTs as one of the four key developments that launched the human genome project (Nature volume 409, p. 862 (2001)). Lastly, his laboratory established connections of synthetases to disease and, most recently, they reported the structural and functional metamorphosis of these proteins, whereby they are repurposed with novel activities, both inside and outside the cell, in a variety of cell signaling pathways. This knowledge is now being applied in clinical trials to treat a major lung disorder.
The post 607: Dr. Paul Schimmel: Unraveling the Roles and Therapeutic Potential of the Enzymes that Translate our Genetic Code appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
42 min
May 24, 2021 606: Dr. Wakenda Tyler: Treating Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
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Dr. Wakenda Tyler is an Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Oncology and Metabolic Bone Disease and Adult Reconstruction at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She was awarded her M.D. And M.P.H. from John Hopkins University and completed residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Wakenda then completed a fellowship in musculoskeletal oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester where she is today. Wakenda 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 (02:10)
Wakenda spends her time outside of the science and medicine doing a wide variety of activities. For her, running is a great way to relax and she enjoys running in races, especially charity events. She also likes to go snowboarding, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, and traveling to new places.
The Scientific Side (03:10)
Wakenda is an orthopedic surgical oncologist. She is an orthopedic surgeon with a clinical and research focus on cancerous tumours found in bones, tendon, soft tissue, ligament, and muscles.
A Dose of Motivation (04:00)
“Keep on keeping.”
What Got You Hooked on Science? (05:49)
Growing up, Wakenda was exposed to a lot of math and science since her father was a computer programmer. When Wakenda was in sixth grade, her teacher was really enthusiastic about science and math. This helped spark her curiosity as well, and a string of inspirational teachers in high school and college kept her on a path to a career in science and medicine. Specifically, Wakenda’s freshman biology teacher in college recommended she pursue a career in medicine because of her talent in math and science, as well as her great people skills.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (14:15)
Wakenda met the first huge career challenge when a major grant she wrote was rejected. Her first few smaller grants were relatively easily funded, and she was feeling really good about her prospects for supporting her research. Then the reviews for the large grant came back, and they were devastating. After a few tears and some quality time hiding under a blanket at home, Wakenda returned with tenacity and has had many successes since.
A Shining Success! (17:00)
A project in Wakenda’s lab attempting to make a transgenic mouse model had been going on for over a year. They had to start over multiple times due to issues with the experimental design and problems with the methods. She was about to resign herself to giving up on this part of the project when one of her colleagues came in with picture-perfect results where everything had finally worked out. This was a hugely satisfying moment, and it was great to see the project through to the finish.
Book Recommendations (20:36)
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Most Treasured Travel (22:07)
Wakenda was able to travel to Japan for an entire month on an orthopedic fellowship. She presented her research and clinical work to colleagues there, but was also able to learn a lot from the Japanese orthopedic surgeons she spoke with. As part of the fellowship, she travelled to different places and was able to see various parts of the country. Experiencing the culture and visiting the Nagasaki Museum were very memorable for her.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (24:50)
During residency, Wakenda and her fellow orthopedic residents would escape from the stress of their positions once a year on a group trip. One year they went to Atlantic City for a week and spent their days playing tag in the casinos, racing up and down the beach, and having fun together.
Advice For Us All (28:55)
Observation goes a long way. There is so much you can see by simply looking carefully. Also, make sure you find a hobby outside of science that will give you peace and tranquility.
Guest Bio
Wakenda focuses her practice on the care of patients with bone and soft tissue tumors. This care includes the treatment of patients of all ages, including young children to elderly adults and all components of the extremities, including the pelvis and sacrum. She also specializes in total joint replacement and complex reconstructive cases. Wakenda is committed to providing the highest quality of care to her patients and works closely with doctors within other medical specialties to provide the most comprehensive care that a condition may require. Her research interests overlap with her clinical practice and center around the treatment of patients with bone and soft tissue tumors and conditions that lead to osteolysis (bone destruction as a result of implant wear and loosening or presence of tumor). Wakenda’s current research investigates treatment of aggressive benign conditions, such as pigmented villonodular synovitis and giant cell tumor of bone. More specifically, she examines the molecular and cellular signaling pathways of cells in these conditions and the genetic alterations that lead to such conditions. Other research areas in her lab are: medical and surgical treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, the inhibition of osteolysis in both benign and malignant bone conditions, allograft implantation for large bone defects, and treatment of metastatic disease to bone from other organs systems.

*This episode was originally released on July 29th, 2015.
The post 606: Dr. Wakenda Tyler: Treating Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
33 min
May 17, 2021 605: Dr. Shailesh Kantak: Conducting Research on Bimanual Coordination and Arm Use After Stroke
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Dr. Shailesh Kantak is a clinician scientist, an Institute Scientist, and Director of the Neuroplasticity and Motor Behavior Laboratory at Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (MRRI). He is also a recently tenured Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Arcadia University. Shailesh received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital at Mumbai University. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy with a specialization in Neurologic Physical Therapy from Mumbai University as well. Afterwards, Shailesh attended the University of Southern California where he was awarded his PhD in Biokinesiology. Next, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and subsequently the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In our interview, Shailesh shares more about his life and research.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:32)
Cooking and sharing homemade meals with friends are two things that bring Shailesh a lot of joy. He also enjoys gardening and traveling (though he hasn’t been able to travel much lately).
The Scientific Side (5:08)
Shailesh is a clinician scientist who is dedicated to helping people with neurological injuries recover better and more quickly. He is interested in understanding why some people respond well to treatments and recover more fully, while others do not.
A Dose of Motivation (7:19)
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
“Kindness is free.” – Shailesh’s mom
“Be stronger than your strongest excuse.” – Alan Maiccon
What Got You Hooked on Science? (13:53)
When thinking about what he wanted to do for his career, Shailesh knew that he wanted to work with people, likely in a clinical profession. Where he grew up in India, students were required to take a state-level exam, and performance on the exam determined the programs to which students could apply. Based on his scores, Shailesh could choose from physical therapy or dentistry. Physical therapy really appealed to him because it is a collegial profession where therapists work with patients to help them recover. Shailesh was particularly interested in the brain and neurological rehabilitation. After graduation, he participated in various continuing education programs, and it was exciting to apply what he was learning when working with patients. These education opportunities opened his mind to the importance of using research to inform clinical practice to provide the best care. Shailesh also began to wonder why there was so much inter-individual variability in response to treatments. Two patients with similar neurological damage may respond very differently to similar treatments, and he had to know why. This curiosity is what drove Shailesh to pursue a PhD and begin conducting his own research in the field.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (23:16)
After accepting his position at MRRI, Shailesh worked tirelessly to submit numerous grant applications, and it was frustrating to have these applications rejected. It was a really challenging time but also a period during which he learned a great deal. By persevering and being open-minded, Shailesh was ultimately successful. It was particularly helpful for him to get feedback from his colleagues. For one of his grants, they suggested he should focus only on the first aim of the grant and split it out into three separate aims. At first, Shailesh was disappointed by the feedback, but he put together a new aims page, and this grant submission was funded.
A Shining Success! (26:57)
Recently, Shailesh and his colleagues at Arcadia University published a paper in which they proposed a comprehensive, systematic framework that helps clinicians analyze movement and hypothesize different factors that may contribute to a person’s movement deficit. This paper has received a lot of attention in the field of physical therapy, and it has had an impact both on how clinicians think about treating people with movement disorders as well as how educators treat future clinicians in this area. Another exciting success was when Shailesh’s first NIH R01 grant was funded. He’ll never forget that moment when he opened the email and saw the notice of award. His parents were visiting that morning, and he ran out of the room with his heart racing to celebrate with them. It was exhilarating.
Book Recommendations (29:48)
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Becoming by Michelle Obama
Most Treasured Travel (31:36)
The Highlands of Scotland are one of the most remarkable places Shailesh has visited. The natural beauty is magnificent. When Shailesh is preparing to wrap up his career years from now, he hopes to rent a cottage and write his last grant there. One place on the top of Shailesh’s dream destination list is New Zealand.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (33:19)
As a graduate student, one of Shailesh’s favorite lab traditions was their international potluck parties. The lab he was working in had people from a variety of countries including Taiwan, Thailand, India, France, and the U.S. For the potlucks, each lab member brought a dish from their country to share with the group. It was always a fun event with amazing food. At MRRI, Shailesh enjoys their annual holiday party where they play a white elephant gift exchange game. There is a showpiece gift that re-emerges every year, and it has been funny to see who will end up with the small statue of sea creatures holding hands at the end of each game.
Advice For Us All (38:16)
Be kind to yourself as well as to others. Also, respect people for who they are and the different experiences and perspectives they have. Don’t be afraid to think big, work hard, persevere, and always be open to change. Remember that science is a wonderful human endeavor that has the potential to change human lives. This makes your work as a scientist even more meaningful and rewarding.
The post 605: Dr. Shailesh Kantak: Conducting Research on Bimanual Coordination and Arm Use After Stroke appeared first on People Behind the Science Podcast.
42 min

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