This Academic Life

This Academic Life

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This Academic Life episodes

  • Ep.36 – Lecturers in Academia

    In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Aleeta M. Powe,  an associate professor of instruction in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Louisville, on the challenges and needs that lecturers face in academia. 

     
     
    Reference list:
     
    Sponsor: De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
     
    Cast list:
     

    • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
    • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
    • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

      • Editing team:

       

      • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
      • Edited by Angella Chen
      • Edited by Jared Duffy
      • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

        • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

        31 min
      • Ep.35 – Turning in Final Grades
        Episode Notes

        In this episode, we talk about instructors’ stresses when turning in those final grades. As we wind down the semester, it is time to see if all of your lecture preparation, classroom demonstrations, careful selection of homework questions, creation of in-class quizzes, and your best science jokes have paid off - it is time to “Turn in Those Grades.”

         
         
        Reference list:
         
        Sponsor: De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
         

        Cast list: 

        • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
        • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
        • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

          • Editing team:

           

          • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
          • Edited by Angella Chen
          • Edited by Jared Duffy
          • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

            • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

            26 min
          • Ep.34 – A Middle Schooler's View on STEM

            In this episode, Lise Tantin talks about the broad view of STEM from a middle schooler’s point of view. She shares her thought on how the STEM programs are evolving and what the new topics attract youth these days.

             
            Guest bio:
            List Tantin is a student at West High School's magnet ELP program in Salt Lake City-Utah. She will be graduating from eighth grade this year. She is interested in neuroscience.
             
            https://www.txstate.edu/chemistry/About-the-Department/Faculty-Profiles/schilter.html
             
             
            Reference list:
             
            Sponsor: De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
             
            Cast list:
             

            • Lise Tantin (Guest) is an 8th grader in Salt Lake City, Utah.
            • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
            • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
            • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

              • Editing team:

               

              • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
              • Edited by Angella Chen
              • Edited by Jared Duffy
              • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                26 min
              • Ep.33 – Non-Traditional Path to A Tenure-Track Position

                Non-traditional path to a tenure-track positionIn this episode, Prof. Schilter talks about his unusual path to a tenure-track position and how his position as a senior editor of Nature Reviews Chemistry is helping his career today as a researcher and educator.

                 
                Guest bio:
                David Schilter attended The University of Sydney, where he received a BS with First Class Honours and the University Medal (2001−2004). He continued at Sydney to pursue graduate work in bio-inorganic and supramolecular chemistry, for which he was awarded a PhD (2005−2009). Combined postdoctoral/lecturing stints at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2009−2014) and the Institute for Basic Science (2014−2016) saw him extend his repertoire into bio-organometallics and carbon materials, respectively. This experience was further complemented by his editorial roles at Springer Nature, where he helped launch Nature Reviews Chemistry while also serving at Nature Catalysis and Nature Communications (2016−2021). A passion to return to academia and exploit this diverse knowledge saw him join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas State University as Assistant Professor (2021−). His interests lie in the synthesis and characterization of molecular inorganic complexes relevant to biology and catalysis.
                 
                https://www.txstate.edu/chemistry/About-the-Department/Faculty-Profiles/schilter.html
                 
                 
                Reference list:
                 
                Sponsor: De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
                 
                Cast list:
                 

                • Prof. David Schilter (Guest) is a Professor of Chemistry and BioChemistry at Texas State University.
                • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
                • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                  • Editing team:

                   

                  • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                  • Edited by Angella Chen
                  • Edited by Jared Duffy
                  • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                    • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                    32 min
                  • Ep.32 – Social Media in Academia

                    In this episode we discuss how social media sites and academics go hand in hand. Whether it's promoting your work, making connections, or helping get your students names out there every platform has its benefits and drawbacks.

                    Reference list:

                    • Wired Academia: Why Social Science Scholars Are Using Social Media LINK
                    • Social Media in Academia LINK
                    • Social media for professional development and networking opportunities in academia LINK
                    • Academia goes social media, MOOC, SPOC, SMOC and SSOC LINK
                    • The social media in academia and education LINK
                    • Social media for scientists LINK

                      • Sponsor: De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. Cast list:

                      • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                      • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
                      • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                        • Editing team:

                        • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                        • Edited by Angella Chen
                        • Edited by Jared Duffy
                        • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                          • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                          25 min
                        • Ep.31 – Managing Your Grants

                          In this episode, we discuss some frequently asked questions regarding grants management once the funding has arrived at the awarded institution, including: course buyout, summer salary, overspending, and indirect cost recovery (or overhead returns). 

                          Reference list: 

                          • OMB Uniform Guidance for Grants and Contract Agreements OMB Uniform Guidance (2014) | GRANTS.GOV

                            • Sponsor:

                            De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. 
                            Contact list: 
                            If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
                            Cast list:

                            • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                            • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah. 
                            • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                              • Editing team: 

                              • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                              • Edited by Angella Chen 
                              • Edited by Jared Duffy
                              • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                                • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                                27 min
                              • Ep.30 – Overcome Overwork

                                In this episode, we discuss the culture of overwork and how we can strategize to overcome it.

                                Good reads are listed in the Reference list in this show notes.

                                Reference list:

                                https://voicesofacademia.com/2020/09/04/confronting-the-culture-of-overwork-less-is-more-by-brittany-uhlorn/
                                https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2019/12/11/what-interests-do-busyness-and-overwork-academe-serve-opinion
                                https://archeothoughts.wordpress.com/2018/09/21/the-cult-of-overwork-in-academia-a-confessional-post/
                                https://thevarsity.ca/2021/03/14/opinion-combatting-toxic-academic-culture-work-to-learn-not-work-to-work/
                                https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8282063/

                                Sponsor:

                                De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website.

                                Contact list:

                                If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

                                Cast list:

                                Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.

                                Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

                                Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                                Editing team:

                                Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                Edited by Angella Chen
                                Edited by Jared Duffy
                                Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                                Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                                22 min
                              • Ep.29 – War and Education

                                In this episode, we discuss the war in Ukraine and its impact on the scientific community and academia as a whole.

                                Reference list: 

                                • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com) 

                                  • Sponsor:

                                  De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. 
                                  Useful Resources and References:

                                  • The view from Kyiv: Head of Ukraine's research agency calls for international help | Science|Business
                                  • https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00505-9
                                  • https://physicsworld.com/a/horror-and-hope-for-ukrainian-scientists/
                                  • https://monitor.icef.com/2022/03/international-educations-continuing-response-to-the-war-in-ukraine/
                                  • https://www.dfg.de/en/service/press/press_releases/2022/press_release_no_01/index.html
                                  • https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/african-students-wonder-what-next-after-ukraine-war-upends-education-2022-03-24/
                                  • https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/mapping-host-countries-education-responses-influx-ukrainian-students
                                  • https://www.science.org/content/article/ukrainian-researchers-flee-trauma-and-terror-war
                                  • https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-science-community-condemns-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/

                                    • Contact list: 

                                    If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
                                    Cast list:

                                    • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                                    • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah. 
                                    • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                                      • Editing team: 

                                      • Angella Chen 
                                      • Jared Duffy

                                        • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                                        16 min
                                      • Ep.28 – DEI: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

                                        Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) has become an ubiquitous part of academics. In this episode, we talk with an DEI expert, Mr. Matt Pinchinat, who is the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Guilderland Central School District in the capital region of NY. He’s also an adjunct faculty at Clarkson University. He answers some emergent questions on why DEI is necessary in academics and what we expect to achieve through DEI activities and initiatives.

                                        Reference list:

                                        • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                        • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

                                          • Sponsor:

                                          De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website.
                                          Useful Resources and References:

                                          • https://www.guilderlandschools.org/equity-diverrsity-and-inclusion-at-guilderland/
                                          • https://asm.org/Articles/2021/May/Addressing-Diversity,-Equity-and-Inclusion-in-Acad
                                          • https://peopleadmin.com/2016/09/dei-why-it-matters-and-whats-standing-in-the-way/
                                          • https://academicpersonnel.ucmerced.edu/Evidenced-Based_DEI_Best_Practices
                                          • https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/words-to-action
                                          • https://www.heritage.org/education/report/diversity-university-dei-bloat-the-academy
                                          • https://www.academicdiversitysearch.com/what-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-academia/

                                            • Contact list:

                                            If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.
                                            Cast list:

                                            • Mr. Matt Pinchinat is the Director of DEI at Guilderland Central School District in NY and an adjunct faculty at Clarkson University.
                                            • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                                            • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.
                                            • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                                              • Editing team:

                                              • Angella Chen
                                              • Jared Duffy

                                                • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                                                1 min
                                              • Ep.27 – Recommendation Letters for Students

                                                Recommendation letters are an important part of students’ applications for different fellowships, scholarships, as well as grad school. In this episode, we will talk about who to ask for these letters and what is the typical format of these letters.

                                                Reference list: 

                                                • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                                • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com) 

                                                  • Sponsor:

                                                  De Gruyter: This episode is sponsored by De Gruyter and its portfolio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For “Students and Researchers in Mathematics” De Gruyter’s 2022 catalog is now available on This Academic Life website. 
                                                  Useful Resources and References:

                                                  • https://www.thebalancecareers.com/recommendation-letters-for-a-promotion-2061686
                                                  • https://csw.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/avoiding_gender_bias_in_letter_of_reference_writing.pdf 

                                                    • Contact list: 

                                                    If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
                                                    Cast list:

                                                    • Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
                                                    • Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah. 
                                                    • Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

                                                      • Editing team: 

                                                      • Angella Chen 
                                                      • Jared Duffy

                                                        • Support This Academic Life by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/this-academic-life

                                                        1 min

                                                      About This Academic Life

                                                      From the publisher's feed

                                                      This is an academic podcast for everyone who inspires to be a successful STEM educator and researcher. In each show, we share stories and look into the incredible journey that impacts STEM education…