Careers in research aren’t linear. They pivot.

For Women’s Week, Julie Kiefer, PhD, speaks with Rachel Hess, MD, MS; Erin Witter Rothwell, PhD; and Neli Ulrich, MS, PhD, about the evolving research landscape, the mentors who influenced them, and the decisions and realities behind their leadership journeys at the U.

If research or leadership is on your radar, this one’s for you.

2025 was a demanding year for research leaders nationwide. From shifting federal priorities, to new compliance expectations and a fast-changing funding environment. For Dr. Erin Rothwell, Vice President of Research, 2025 was a year in which she navigated all of that while supporting faculty, strengthening infrastructure, and representing our university in Washington D.C. In this episode, we sit down with VPR Rothwell and discuss several topics, including what 2025 taught her about leadership, traveling to D.C. to build alignment with policymakers and federal partners, and more.

Dr. Wesley Sundquist has had a stellar 2025. He was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for his lab’s research that led to a highly effective drug that prevents HIV infections: Lenacapavir. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sundquist and discuss several topics, including what challenges or hurdles did he face when he and his team started HIV research, pressure (both self and external) and how to overcome it, and what continues to drive him today.

On the inaugural episode of the U Groundbreakers Podcast, host Xoel Cardenas talks to Dr. Jakob Jensen, Assistant Vice President of Research at the University of Utah about being diagnosed with melanoma at a young age in rural Montana, his passion for research, what keeps him driven, and what he has learned about himself throughout his journey—both personally and as a researcher.