This Academic Life

This Academic Life

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This Academic Life episodes

  • Ep.26 – Side Track: Moving Before Tenure

    In our anniversary episode, we discuss faculty on “Side Track”: moving before tenure with Dr. Andre Clayborne who is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and BioChemistry at George Mason University.  Dr. Clayborne has successfully navigated the transition between universities while on the tenure track. He candidly shares with us his experiences, concerns, and challenges on his “train” to tenure. 

    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://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/18078/how-frequently-do-pre-tenured-assistant-professors-switch-institutions

        • 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. Andre Clayborne (guest) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and BioChemistry at George Mason University. https://science.gmu.edu/directory/andre-clayborne 
        • 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).

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

          33 min
        • Ep.25 – Academic References for Faculty

          Recommendation letters are an important component of a postdoc/faculty application as well as a faculty promotion packet. These letters have unique requirements and are not the same as typical letters of recommendation. In this episode, we talk about who you should ask for these letters and how to write 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).

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

                32 min
              • Ep.24 – Course Evaluations

                Teaching evaluations can have many purposes including assessment of an instructor’s teaching effectiveness. It can also impact one’s academic career such as reappointment or promotion and tenure. In this episode, we talk about the history of teaching evaluations, how and when they are effective, and how we can possibly improve students’ participation and its effectiveness in the future. 

                Reference list: 

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

                  • Useful Resources and References:

                  • https://www.universityaffairs.ca/features/feature-article/course-evaluations-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
                  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4842911/
                  • https://www.press.jhu.edu/news/blog/grading-college-history-evaluating-teaching-and-learning
                  • https://asccc.org/sites/default/files/publications/GuidelinesDevelopingFacultyEval_0.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). 

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

                      33 min
                    • Ep.23 – The Adventures of Faculty Sabbatical Leave

                      Sabbatical for academic professors is a sacred opportunity to rejuvenate research ideas and initiate research collaborations. In this episode, we talk about the history and various forms of sabbatical. We also share how we planned and made our own sabbaticals as meaningful enrichment experiences. 

                      Reference list: 

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

                        • Useful Resources and References:

                        • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatical 
                        • https://blog.trello.com/sabbatical-leave
                        • http://inside.scrippscollege.edu/grants/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/sabbatical-funding.pdf
                        • https://www.universityaffairs.ca/features/feature-article/the-changing-sabbatical/

                          • 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).

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

                            27 min
                          • Ep.22 – Chasing Funding for Researchers at National Labs

                            The grant culture in research institutes (i.e. academia, industry, and national labs) has been evolved over the past decades and led to an environment where chasing fundings has had a significant impact on shaping the new culture. In this episode, Dr. Anastasia Ilgen, a Principal Member of Technical Staff at the Geochemistry Department, Sandia National Laboratories, shares her experience and insights on writing proposals and securing research funding. She discusses how to build cohesive research programs and design proposals with an appropriate combination of risks and likely successes.

                            Guest info: Dr. Anastasia G. Ilgen is an experimental geochemist, specializing in chemical reactions at solid-water interfaces. She leads several research programs at Sandia, and is active in the American Chemical Society Governance. She grew up next to the active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia. She enjoys hiking with her family, traveling, cooking and baking, and taking care of her numerous pets.

                            • https://www.labpartnering.org/experts/d93065b9-0e86-452f-a296-3d1024837e6d
                            • https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/chemical-sciences/profiles/anastasia-ilgen.html

                              • Reference list:

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

                                • 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).

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

                                  1 min
                                • Ep.21 – The Quest for a Faculty Position-Part II

                                  Our conversation on the quest for a faculty position continues. Listen to our perspectives from both sides of the table.

                                  The fall season is time to look for faculty positions and universities are also getting ready to find the most suitable candidate(s) for their openings. This episode talks about some aspects of this search.

                                  Reference list:

                                  • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                  • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)
                                  • An interesting read: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay

                                    • 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).

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

                                      23 min
                                    • Ep.20 – The Quest for a Faculty Position-Part I

                                      The fall season is time to look for faculty positions and universities are also getting ready to find the most suitable candidate(s) for their openings. This episode talks about some aspects of this search.

                                      Reference list: 

                                      • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                      • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com) 
                                      • An interesting read: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay

                                        • 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)

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

                                          26 min
                                        • Ep.19 – What did we do this summer?

                                          Do professors get their summers off? You’ll learn about how the three of us spent our summer. Research continues, administrative tasks pile up, and the summer is simply too short!

                                          Reference list:

                                          • Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
                                          • Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)
                                          • An interesting read: https://www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/articleDisplay.cfm?ID=1711

                                            • 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 Newel (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).

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

                                              22 min
                                            • Ep.18 – Academic Entrepreneurs

                                              Academic and entrepreneurship are strongly linked in many ways as they work together in contributing to technology and economic developments in our society. Today, we’ll learn from an academic entrepreneur, Dr. Adam Ryason, The CEO and founder of “Intelligent Medicine Inc.” and learn how he started his exciting adventures. Intelligent Medicine Inc. is a software and simulation startup company based in upstate NY.  

                                              Reference list: 

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

                                                • 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:

                                                • Dr. Adam Ryason is the CEO and founder of Intelligent Medicine Inc. https://www.intmed.us/#about 
                                                • 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 Newel (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)

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

                                                  1 min
                                                • Ep.17 – A Rollercoaster Ride: The Life of a Graduate Student

                                                  Graduate school can be exciting and yet stressful for a graduate student. In this episode, we talk with a couple of Ph.D. students who are a married couple, Keawepono (Pono) and  Priscilla Delgado Wong. Both Pono and Priscilla are currently biomedical engineering students at Georgia Tech. They share their journeys as graduate students. 

                                                  Reference list: 

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

                                                    • 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 webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on facebook group “This Academic Life”. 
                                                    Cast list:

                                                    • Pono and Priscilla Delgado Wong are currently Ph.D. students in the biomedical engineering department at Georgia Tech. 
                                                    • 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 Newel (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).Notes here

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

                                                      25 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…