Vitamin PhD Podcast

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In this episode of Vitamin PhD, Matt and Heather discuss many aspects of publishing and research dissemination, from the overall process to the challenges and rewards. This episode compiles insights and wisdom gleaned from nine different guests who will be featured in episodes throughout the season, including professors, working professionals, and graduate students across academic disciplines. They discuss why PhD students should publish, how to choose a publication venue, challenges you may face along the way, and get some great tips and tricks.  

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In this episode, Heather and Matt discuss the research process and how to design research questions. They are joined by guest Michael Gennert, robotics engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and member of the Education and Workforce Advisory Committee at the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. . Given his work with the ARM Institute, they also ask Prof. Gennert how to effectively collaborate with industry as an academic. 

Our Graduate Student panel, Amanda Ruiz from Brown University, Dana Ahern from University of California Santa Barbara, Kiara Lee from Brown University, and Kristin Tzok from Boston University, share something that they believed going into graduate school.that they now feel differently about.

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In this episode of the Vitamin PhD podcast, co-hosts Matthew Boyd and Heather Mooney introduce themselves and the scope of the season before tackling the question, “what is research?” with Dr. Greg Wright, UC Merced Associate Professor and Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Global Economy and Development.  

Our Graduate Student panel, Amanda Ruiz, Brown University, Dana Ahern, UCSB, Kiara Lee, Brown University, and Kristin Tzok, Boston University, tell us what research means to them and answering our season-long challenge question, “in three to five words, finish this sentence: research is….”

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In this episode, we meet our new hosts for Season 6 of VitaminPhD, Heather Mooney from the Sociology department and Matt Boyd from Computer Engineering. Heather and Matt share some information about their exciting new topic for this season, exploring the core capacity of research skills and how PhD/postdoc students can create more informed research projects!

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In the final episode of season 5, Rohin and Jess are joined by Dr. Ritu Raman, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, and Iam Gaieck, an ORISE fellow at the US Department of Energy, about their career paths and the importance of good communication in a variety of life experiences. We talk about challenges in communication faced by international students, how to advocate for yourself and your research in a large crowd, and how their fellowship experiences shaped their career paths. All opinions and views expressed are our speakers own and do not reflect those of their fellowship and/or employers. Be sure not to miss the finale episode!

Links to share:

From Ritu-
Website: https://rituraman.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRituRaman?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

From Iam -
NSPN: http://scipolnetwork.org/
National Association of Science Writers: http://nasw.org/
Internship and Fellowship opportunities with the US federal government: http://zintellect.com/
Twitter: @WilliamGaieck
Mirzayan Fellowship: http://mirzayanfellow.nas.edu/
ReclaimingSTEM: https://reclaimingstem.wardofcode.com/

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In part one of the final episode of season 5, Rohin and Jess are joined by Dr. Ritu Raman, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, and Iam Gaieck, an ORISE fellow at the US Department of Energy, about their career paths and the importance of good communication in a variety of life experiences. We talk about challenges in communication faced by international students, how to advocate for yourself and your research in a large crowd, and how their fellowship experiences shaped their career paths. All opinions and views expressed are our speakers own and do not reflect those of their fellowship and/or employers. Be sure not to miss the finale episode!

Links to share:

From Ritu-
Website: https://rituraman.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRituRaman?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

From Iam -
NSPN: http://scipolnetwork.org/
National Association of Science Writers: http://nasw.org/
Internship and Fellowship opportunities with the US federal government: http://zintellect.com/
Twitter: @WilliamGaieck
Mirzayan Fellowship: http://mirzayanfellow.nas.edu/
ReclaimingSTEM: https://reclaimingstem.wardofcode.com/

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In this week’s episode, Jess and Rohin are joined by Professor Derek Turner, a science philosopher from Connecticut College, and PhD Candidate Meredith Schmehl, Public Engagement & Communications Chair for the National Science Policy Network. This week’s episode is about the tools needed to effectively communicate with a broad audience and how each of our speakers have evolved in the field of science communication. We cover topics from science policy to dinosaurs, with lots of helpful communication tips throughout. 

Links to share
Extinct Blog - extinctblog.org
Website - https://www.derekdturner.com/

• National Science Policy Network: https://scipolnetwork.org/
• List of training resources compiled by my committee at NSPN: https://scipolnetwork.org/page/scipol-guide
• Massive Science Consortium: https://massivesci.com/consortium/?ref=meredithschmehl
• NPR Scicommers ("Joe's Big Idea"): https://www.npr.org/2017/08/24/537735624/friends-of-joes-big-idea-fojbis
• Lifeology: https://lifeology.io/
• GISTA Slack Community (unfortunately I got the name wrong in the recording - it's the Guild for the Improvement of Science [and SciComm] Through Art): https://gista.slack.com/
• ComSciCon: https://comscicon.com/
• Science Communication Online Programme (SCOPE): https://ciera.northwestern.edu/programs/scope/
• Reclaiming STEM: https://reclaimingstem.wardofcode.com/
• Science Talk: https://www.sciencetalk.org/

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In this episode of VitaminPhD, Jess and Rohin are joined by Rachel Petherbridge, a PhD student at Harvard University, and Deboki Chakravarti, a science writer and YouTuber. Throughout this exciting conversation, we learn from both of our speakers about the important role communication plays in the age of COVID-19, the role social media plays in transforming how we engage with science, and the importance of accessibility across diverse backgrounds. We learn from our speakers how to engage with a wider audience and what they have learned through their experiences and career paths about the importance of accessible communication.

Links to share -

Deboki Website - https://www.debokic.com/
Youtube Channel (Okidokiboki) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbLj_96SB25O7wwFq4fkqw
Journey to the Microcosmos -- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBbnbBWJtwsf0jLGUwX5Q3g
US National Parks Service --
https://www.instagram.com/nationalparkservice/

Rachel LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpetherbridge/

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In the second installment of this two-part series, Rohin and Jess talk with an esteemed panel including Dr. Adrienne Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist and Dr. Astrid Caldas, senior climate scientist, both from the Union of Concerned Scientists, and PhD student Rob Ulrich from UCLA about their work in speaking up! This two part series explores the balance between advocacy and credibility and speaks to the challenges of advocating as a graduate student. We discuss how communication has changed and continues to evolve in the face of COVID-19 and climate change. We tackle fears associated with speaking up and communicating in politically charged situations. Our speakers stress the importance of the student voice and perspective and encourage us all to speak up!

Links to Share -
Union of Concerned Scientists
https://www.ucsusa.org/about/people/astrid-caldas
UCS Science Network - https://www.ucsusa.org/science-network

From Rob:
Queer & Trans in STEM - https://twitter.com/queersinstem
Reclaiming STEM - https://reclaimingstem.wardofcode.com/
Website - https://www.robertnulrich.com/
Presale for his book The Hard Parts of Life - https://www.robertnulrich.com/the-hard-parts-presale

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In this 2-part series, Rohin and Jess talk with an esteemed panel including Dr. Adrienne Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist and Dr. Astrid Caldas, senior climate scientist, both from the Union of Concerned Scientists, and PhD student Rob Ulrich from UCLA about their work in speaking up! This two part series explores the balance between advocacy and credibility and speaks to the challenges of advocating as a graduate student. We discuss how communication has changed and continues to evolve in the face of COVID-19 and climate change. We tackle fears associated with speaking up and communicating in politically charged situations. Our speakers stress the importance of the student voice and perspective and encourage us all to speak up!

Links to Share -
Union of Concerned Scientists
https://www.ucsusa.org/about/people/astrid-caldas
UCS Science Network - https://www.ucsusa.org/science-network

From Rob:
Queer & Trans in STEM - https://twitter.com/queersinstem
Reclaiming STEM - https://reclaimingstem.wardofcode.com/
Website - https://www.robertnulrich.com/
Presale for his book The Hard Parts of Life - https://www.robertnulrich.com/the-hard-parts-presale