STEMulating Conversations with Dr. Q

Chemists are needed in the public health sector. When Dr. Angela Ragin-Wilson completed her Master's degree in chemistry, she landed a position as a bench scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. It didn't take long, however, for her to realize that she needed more. With the support and encouragement of a strong mentor, she enrolled in a PhD program.

The next steps on her path led her to begin a rewarding and unexpected career at the Centers for Disease Control. After spending a few years in a traditional role for chemists, Angela once again moved beyond her comfort zone and accepted an assignment on the public health side. The rest is history! She now is the Chief of the Environmental Epidemiology Branch in the Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences.

A PhD in a STEM field combined with a JD is a powerful combination and has afforded our guest an exciting career path. In this week's conversation, Dr. Kenrick Vidale shares his journey from a PhD in organic chemistry, through going to law school part time while working a full time job in the pharma industry, to passing the Bar in multiple States, and now a full fledged attorney who has worked in both pharma and the chemicals sectors.

Connect with him on Facebook or Linked In!

An internship at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) was a great experience for the budding electrical engineer because it prompted him to seek careers outside of the traditional lab environment. Over the course of his career, he gained experiences in a variety of fields spanning foods to pharmaceutical manufacturing and held roles at levels of increased responsibility.

At each step, he learned and observed some valuable leadership skills which he now coins as " mental morsels".

His latest books, "Where Are All the Leaders?" and "As I See It" are both available on Amazon.

Follow Latane on:

Twitter: @enatal3

FB: Elmo Brackett

LinkedIn: Latane Brackett

If you never say no, what does your yes really mean?

Your 'yes' may have various meanings, but in this Hot Topic we explore what a 'yes' means in the context of 1.) association 2.) prioritization 3.) prioritization.

Celebrating the success of others can serve as a motivator.

Keeping an open mind is one of the things that has been critical to the successes of Dr. Gloria Thomas. A series of professional and personal events led her back to her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she has expanded her STEM wings and now serves as the Director of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University.

This superwoman mom is a prime example of how marketable and valuable a STEM degree is. She is also a member of a distinct group of scientists who have worked in all three major career sectors--industry, government, and academe. She shares how she is able to use those highly trained critical and analytical thinking skills in her role.

We also discuss the value of diversity and inclusion and why it is important to get to know a person instead of judging them by their physical appearances.

You can follow Gloria on Twitter at @GThomasPhD

Also mentioned in this episode:

Louisiana State University Center for Academic Success

Dr. Saundra McGuire metacognition

Dr. Melissa Vaught, known on social media platforms as @biochembelle, started her STEM journey at a community college in Virginia with initial hopes of going into a medical field. However, she fell in love with chemistry and her career path took a turn which led her down the road to a PhD, two postdocs, and two very rewarding positions--one on the East Coast, the other on the West Coast.

Listen in as @biochembelle not only shares her STEM journey beyond the Bench, but also talks about why she became active with the national postdoctoral association and in the online science community.

Follow her on Twitter @biochembelle

When Darrell Davis completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry, he had aspirations of teaching. However, a networking connection at a NOBCChE conference temporarily altered that path, and he began his career as a forensic chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Though several years of hard work and being open to opportunity, he became the laboratory director for the South Central District of the DEA. He became an expert in clandestine laboratories, and he made sure he remained true to his passion of teaching and and ensuring that young people had access to the equipment and training needed to pursue STEM degrees.

After he retired, things truly came full circle when he established STEMversity--a non-profit organization headquartered in Milledgeville, Georgia on the grounds of the historic Central State Hospital Campus-- to provide state-of-the-art, hands-on STEM training to underrepresented students in middle school through college, as well as, to professionals.

Mentioned on this show:

STEMversity

Drug Enforcement Administration

Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission

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How do you give meaning and action to Diversity and Inclusion? It's not simple, and it will make most uncomfortable. If we truly want to become more diverse and inclusive in the STEM community, we must provide opportunities to and take risks on those who are not mirror images of ourselves.

@drqualls on Twitter

In Episode 22, we met the newly minted PhD Dr. Melody Wright and she shared her joys of landing her first role outside since obtaining her degree. She transitioned into a role that was atypical for someone with her background, but with hard work and determination, she landed the role.

Fast forward 3 months, and she gives an update that she has resigned from that position. Stress seriously impacted her mental, emotional, and physical well being. Her message as to why and what prompted her resign is truly a STEMulating conversation that we all need to take heed!