When Science Speaks

A study released by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) claimed that 50% of academic papers are read-only by their authors and journal editors and that 90% of these are never cited. This means that most, if not all, of the innovations that can be found in businesses, industries, and manufacturing have no academic basis and do not come from recommendations from business schools. According to this week's guest, Professor Kambiz Maani, the findings of the AACSB signifies that no one finds much value in academic papers when it comes to innovations and best practices in various industries and that they look within the business space alone for innovations and best practices for just-in-time manufacturing, total quality management, and enterprise resource planning. It was this realization that made Professor Maani decide to start the Annual Research Translation Competition at Massey University with the intention of making business research more relevant and useful to the public and to business managers.

Professor Maani is an internationally acknowledged expert in systems thinking and complexity. His academic and consulting career spans over 30 years in the US, Asia, Australia, and South America. His academic portfolio includes being the Foundation Chair in Systems Thinking, and Practice at the University of Queensland, being the Division and Department Head at the University of Auckland, and being an Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at Massey Business School. He has also held visiting positions at MIT, London Business School, Boston University, Cornell, and the Helsinki School of Economics.

Professor Maani's work focuses on complexity management and group decision making and he has been the recipient of several research and publication awards from scholarly journals. His current projects include strategy and policy design in climate change and sustainability. He has advised numerous corporations and government agencies in Australia, New Zealand, the US, China, and Asia, and he also provides seminars in corporate training internationally. Professor Maani is the author of internationally acclaimed books that are used widely at universities, governments, and organizations around the world. His latest book, Multi-Stakeholder Decision Making for Complex Problems was published by the World Scientific press in 2017 which features his consulting projects for UNESCO Biospheres in Asia.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[00:39] Mark introduces his guest, Professor Kambiz Maani

[03:34] Why Professor Maani created the Annual Research Translation Competition

[11:02] Professor Maani discusses why academic research risk losing funding

[15:55] The importance of using jargon-free language when translating research

[17:45] What is systems thinking and why is it important?

[22:31] How Professor Maani became a pioneer of systems thinking

[28:06] Professor Maani shares success stories and the benefits of the application of systems thinking

Connect with Professor Maani

Professor Kambiz Maani on LinkedIn

Multi-Stakeholder Decision Making for Complex Problems by Kambiz Maani

Why Academic Research Remains Abstract And Mostly Unusable

Research done by academia is fascinating. They have uncovered many different ways to improve on the way things work and offer a wealth of information on the ways to innovate and improve practices for businesses, industries, and manufacturing. But the problem lies in the ability of these research pieces to be translated into a narrative that regular folks will understand. Professor Kambiz Maani found out that the reason why innovations in businesses and industries do not use research provided by academia is that it's full of jargon that does not resonate with people. And the problem is rooted in the definition of success for research which is measured by citations. This has made research studies into a massive industry where publishers are merely looking at citations as proof for journal quality and journal impact factors. Instead of becoming a resource of knowledge for businesses and industries, researchers have become unknowing contributors locked into a disconnected system.

So how then do we tap into the capability of research to be a useful resource for relevant solutions in addressing pressing issues in society? The answer, according to Professor Maani, is systems thinking.

Improving the way you do and translate research

With academia not being able to convey its findings properly with key stakeholders and with the general public, it faces the risk of having their funding significantly reduced. Therefore, it is crucial for academics to focus on research that addresses a significant issue in business and society, and then to turn their findings into a narrative that can be easily understood and grasped and implemented by the community.

One way to do this is to reduce the scientific jargon used in papers and instead use easy-to-understand yet accurate terms instead.

Professor Maani says that by refusing to be boxed into the idea that the primary audience for research are peers in academia, it opens up the vast opportunities for translation for academics. By embracing the idea that industry stakeholders and the public are the ultimate beneficiaries of research, it will be easier to adapt the research into a language that everyone can understand.

Why systems thinking is expedient for researchers

Although much of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs are hinged on reductionism by researchers, it is easy to lose the essence of each piece and parcel along the way. This then complicates the processes that should work as a unified whole and instead, creates a convoluted system that is inefficient and may even prove to be ineffective.

In society and policy, Professor Maani says that we have seen the effect of that mentality in isolated policies that create winners, losers, and trade-off decisions that are based on seeing things in isolation and rather than seeing the whole picture. For research to become more relevant to society, academics need to learn to practice systems thinking so that they can better bring together the pieces of a study that they have dissected in the process.

Learn more about Professor Kambiz Maani and his work on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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Scientists and engineers know that communicating their work in a compelling narrative is crucial to their line of work. It helps people understand and appreciate the complexity of the research and study they have done but the problem is, not many STEM professionals know how to turn their work into a compelling story. What they need to do, according to Dr. Bob Rogers, is to work on their demystifier quotient which is the ability to bring their stories to life and translate these complex topics into an engaging and comprehensible story for the general audience.

Dr. Rogers is a leader in his technical field of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and he is also a master communicator and translator of complex topics. He is an extraordinary demystifier in his area of expertise and he is currently the Expert in Residence for AI at UCSF Smarter Health where he is developing FDA-cleared AI to improve healthcare, and he is also an advisory board member at the Institute for Applied Computational Science at Harvard University where he's currently helping shape the Data Science, Computational Science, and Engineering Graduate Programs at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Dr. Rogers is the co-founder of Orchestrated Intelligence which focuses on AI to augment supply chain planners. He previously served as Chief Data Scientist for IT Transformation in the Data Center Group at Intel, and as Intel's Chief Data Scientist for Analytics and AI solutions. Prior to his work at Intel, Dr. Rogers had an impressive array of leadership experiences through founding and co-founding startups in the data science field.

Dr. Rogers earned his Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University and B.S. in Physics from Berkeley.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[01:07] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Bob Rogers

[04:03] Tips on how to tell a compelling story about your work

[06:50] Is communicating through vivid and simple terms in order to reach more people consider as a dumbing down of concepts?

[08:47] Why scientist and engineers struggle to translate high-level concepts in a way resonates with the general audiences and policymakers

[13:21] Dr. Rogers shares his perspective on the capabilities of AI now and in the future

[16:29] The challenges and risks associated with the wide adoption of AI

[20:48] Dr. Rogers recalls his project at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and how he used AI to improve their data analysis and other processes

[30:16] The keys to becoming an effective data scientists

[35:38] How PhDs and postdocs can use their knowledge in entrepreneurship in a meaningful manner

Connect with Dr. Bob Rogers

Center for Digital Health Innovation at UCSF

Orchestrated Intelligence

Dr. Bob Rogers on LinkedIn

Understanding the process of better communicating your work

The value of breaking down high-level concepts into a narrative that the general public can understand is an important factor to consider in the field of STEM. However, it is a skill that remains elusive for many scientists and engineers because turning technical research into a compelling story isn't the easiest thing to do. But Dr. Bob Rogers says that it's possible if you start by understanding the needs of your audience and answering these questions: why they're there, what they need to know, and what can your product do for them.

Once you have those dialed in, it will be much easier to communicate with them in an effective and engaging manner that will allow them to resonate with the work that you have done. By simplifying the terms you use and sharing your narrative in a compelling yet easy to grasp manner, you have already made it that much easier to get your message across. It is about knowing every detail about the topic at hand and finding a balance of what to add or leave out in crafting a narrative from a complex topic in order to make it comprehensible for your target audience.

Leveraging AI now and in the future

Artificial Intelligence is a system that's built to answer a very specific question. If you think about AI that way, then you're well on your way to being able to maximize it to its full potential. AI shouldn't be viewed as a competitor for human skills; rather, consider it as a source of support that improves the processes and output that's gathered from large amounts of data.

However, there are risks and challenges involved when in the adoption of AI, with the biggest one being its inability to recognize underlying bias in the data that's entered within its system. This is particularly true with the extant privacy laws for data protection across various industries.

Learn more about Dr. Bob Rogers, his expertise, and his work on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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A common thread that runs through diverse and successful careers in STEM, whether in the academic or corporate world, is the ability to interpret and communicate complex and data-driven topics into narratives that can inspire action at the individual, corporate, and policy levels. However, many STEM professionals still grapple with the skills and attributes they need that can help them distill complex topics which makes the work of this week's guest, Joan Wasser Gish, incredibly crucial.

Joan Wasser Gish is an expert in translating findings from education, research, and implementation into policy and practice at scale. Twice appointed by the Governor to the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care, Joan helps to build systems that improve implementation and policies that make access to high-quality early education easier, particularly for low-income children across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

She joined the Boston College Lynch School of Education in 2015 to translate research on the effective integration of comprehensive services in K-12 into a state-wide infrastructure. This infrastructure was designed to support the integration of education with social services, youth development, health, and mental health resources for Massachusetts children and families.

Joan and her team's impact has expanded beyond Massachusetts to include multiple states around the country. She has extensive experience related to educational and social domestic policies focused on low-income children and families. She's worked on these issues in a Presidential campaign and also in the United States Senate. Joan is helping to lead policy change across the country and has been published by the Washington Post, Brookings Institute, Education Week, and Commonwealth magazine.

Joan holds an MA in Education Policy from Columbia University's Teachers College and a JD from Columbia School of Law. She received her BA in Political Science and Political Theory where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[01:01] Mark introduces his guest, Joan Wasser Gish

[03:08] The common theme in Joan's diverse work experiences and the skills that helped make her successful in each of them

[05:54] Joan shares why she thinks it's important to pay attention to the political environment in her field of work

[09:17] How Joan manages her various high-level responsibilities

[11:10] Essential techniques and practices for distilling complex topics and in communicating these to policymakers

[19:17] Joan reveals how she developed the skill to distill complex topics

[21:26] How grad students, P.hDs, and postdocs can learn how to effectively communicate and discuss complex topics

[27:24] Joan's career journey and her takeaways from it

Connect with Joan Wasser Gish

Joan Wasser Gish on LinkedIn

Lynch School of Education and Human Development

Department of Early Education and Care

Translating Data into Narratives to Inspire Action

Whether it's communicating with policymakers or with potential investors, having the skill to translate complex topics and data into meaningful narratives is a core differentiator. Joan Wasser Gish says that while researchers focus on the rigor, accuracy, and integrity of their research and are able to effectively communicate and establish their credibility in the academe, that often isn't the case when they're presenting it to people who aren't as familiar with the jargon and concepts that they are working on.

Policymakers who want to make the best policies for their constituents aren't so keen on learning terms that they can easily misunderstand or be confused with. What they want is an effectively and efficiently communicated narrative that they can easily grasp and turn into policy. This then is where Joan's work is crucial: bridging the gap between research and policymaking.

Essential skills and techniques for distilling complex topics

For Joan, distilling complex topics for policymakers is about straightforward, accurate, and understandable translation of the relevant research. It is about refining the data they've found and summarizing it without losing its value, credibility, and relevance to the policy that is being pushed for and developed.

This involves outlining the benefits of research for the purposes of the desired policy, as well as clearly pointing out the key points that policymakers need to focus on in the process of their policymaking. Drafting citations and providing access to ad rem reports are helpful but being able to get your point across in a succinct and comprehensible manner is even more vital.

Learn more about Joan Wasser Gish on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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The term soft skills are in no way judgmental but many employers will prefer to describe it as professional skills, personal skills, collaboration, and communication. Irrespective of how it is described, it is almost unanimously accepted that soft skills are crucial in today's workplace, especially in the life sciences. When asked what these soft skills are, employers tend to narrow it down to communication and team building. However, Karla Talanian and two of her colleagues found through their research that there are more to soft skills than commonly thought.

Karla Talanian is the Director of Talent and Workforce Development, as well as the Manager of Labor Market Research at MassBioEd, an educational nonprofit whose mission is biotechnology, education, and workforce development. MassBioEd is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 that represents and provides services and support for the world's leading Life Sciences supercluster. It has a membership of more than 1200 biotech companies, academic institutions, disease foundations, and other organizations involved in life sciences and healthcare.

Prior to joining MassBio, Karla served as Biomedical Careers Program Manager at Just-A-Start Corporation where she trained adults of high potential and low opportunity for careers in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and clinical life sciences industries. Karla also has taught math and served as Associate Director of the Russian School of Mathematics in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Karla earned her MBA and Master's Degree in Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and her BA in chemistry from Smith College.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[01:02] Mark welcomes his guest, Karla Talanian

[02:57] Karla explains the origin of the term soft skills and why they used the phrase in their article title

[06:56] Why biotech firms are more inclined to focus on soft skills versus technical skills and which specific skills they look for when hiring someone

[12:05] Karla shares why the executives they interviewed found it hard to define what soft skills were

[14:57] Why it's a challenge for biotech executives to find talents with soft skills and why having a growth mindset is crucial when looking for people with soft skills

[17:57] Karla talks about her plans for the future in relation to her research on soft skills

[20:37] The importance of addressing the soft skills gap in the field of Science

Connect with Karla Talanian

MassBioED

LinkedIn for Karla

Soft Skills in the Life Sciences Op-Ed

Understanding What Soft Skills Truly Are

Soft skills are underrated and yet a lot of employers in science consider these skills to be an important factor when looking to hire someone. The reason why it's grossly underrated is that employers themselves do not know how to accurately define what soft skills they are looking for in a potential candidate.

Karla Talanian and her colleagues did research on the role that soft skills play in the Life Sciences and their studies proved one of many things: that it plays an essential role in expanding and growing a field that's often perceived as focused solely on technical skills alone. They traced the origin of the term soft skills and figured out why there was a discrepancy between people's understanding of it and its application in any particular field.

Finding Talents with Soft Skills in the Life Sciences

Finding people with soft skills is a challenge for many employers particularly because of the notion that the sciences are all about technical skills and that everything else is secondary. But the research done by Karla's team found out that biotech firm executives are actually more inclined to find people who fit somewhere in the S.O.F.T. quadrant which is where the term "soft skill"s came from which are Self, Others, Feelings, and Think.

But while it is a challenge to find people with the perfect fit, it isn't impossible because these skills, though not innately present, everyone has the ability to learn these skills over time. The key factor? Growth mindset or the determination to improve and grow as a person and to have the ability to discard those things that are holding you back. And this, Karla says, is crucial in helping close the soft skills gap in the field of science.

Learn more about Karla Talanian on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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A critical part of the scientific process is the interpretation and presentation of results in a form that the general public can understand. When science is not clearly communicated, it can seem to produce complex and conflicting information. However, scientists typically don't have any training on how to communicate, despite the fact that it's a very important part of their success, not only for advancing their discoveries but for getting money to do the science in the first place. Alison Davis has made it her life's work to help scientists communicate the right way.

Alison is the President of Word Science LLC, a firm she founded almost 11 years ago to deliver concise and engaging science writing and editing, speech writing for science and medical clients, as well as related materials for a variety of audiences including lay audiences. She is the author of Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth L. Kirschstein. Before starting her own firm Allison served as a science writer for the National Institutes of Health and NASA's Ames Research Center.

Alison earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She did her postdoc at Stanford University School of Medicine in Developmental Biology and studied at the University of California Santa Cruz's science communication program. Allison earned her Bachelor's in Biochemistry magna cum laude from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[1:00] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Alison Davis

[2:29] Dr. Davis shares what attracted her to science and what led her to science communication in UC Santa Cruz

[6:27] What challenges did Dr. Davis face as she was transitioning her career into the science communication space?

[11:33] Dr. Davis gives her perspective on ghostwriting in the science field and why it's important to be confident in what you do when establishing your career

[14:23] Dr. Davis talks about how her training in science has helped her in her writing career

[16:45] Dr. Davis discusses how science communication has evolved since the time she started working in the field

[20:00] Career advice from Dr. Davis on how to best transition into the science writing and communication space

[26:41] The importance of choosing your audience, honesty, and organized thinking when you're working on a writing piece particularly in the field of science

[35:18] The role of good science communication in combating the denial and denigration of science

Connect with Alison Davis

Dr. Alison Davis LinkedIn

Wordscience LLC

Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth Lillian Kirschstein, MD

Science Communication As a Career

Although many scientists consider science communication as an alternative career path, it does not necessarily involve the conduction of experiments or thorough studies. According to Dr. Davis, science communication is mostly ghostwriting since you will mostly be positing ideas and studies by others. What matters, she says, is that you stay true to the study and maintain honesty with your audience because this helps build your confidence in your skills and in your capacity to communicate the message that you want to impart.

Critical thinking, honesty, and a good dash of humor are helpful in a career that some might consider as unforgiving. It is one of the ways through which the sciences can be defended against the denigration and denial that it's facing in a world where people are questioning its credibility and reliability on a daily basis. Determining your audience, zeroing in on your medium, and writing a piece that resonates with people are crucial aspects of the job.

Connecting Before Communicating

In today's society where some research institutions have become weak and dependent on outside funding, some research findings have a tendency of being exaggerated thus making them sound like alternative facts instead of literature and research-based evidence. The failure to connect with the audience and to share findings with them at a level that they can understand and appreciate is a challenge to scientists and therefore, a challenge to those who are working in the field of science communication.

According to Dr. Davis, scientific research is beneficial to everyone which means that effective communication is an absolute must. The need to connect every piece written with the audience it was written for is non-negotiable; the challenge is how to do it in a way that is engaging and compelling.

In this episode of When Science Speaks, Dr. Davis shares how her career has grown through the years and the challenges that she figures to be constants in the field of science communication. She imparts wisdom and advice on how to write science pieces, how to connect with the audience, and also emphasizes why this field is an important contributor to the world of science as a whole.

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Dr. Crystal Icenhour is the founding CEO of Aperiomix, a precision infection testing company at the intersection of high tech and biotech. Aperiomics is a service company identifying every known bacteria, DNA virus, parasite, and fungus in one test. This technology is a novel combination of genomics and informatics transforming infectious disease diagnostics and saving lives.

Dr. Icenhour is also the Principal of Icenhour Biotech, a consulting firm focused on providing support to the biotechnology community in the areas of leadership, innovation, and commercialization. Her professional goal is to bridge the translational gap between the worlds of business and science. She's committed to improving patient health through better infectious disease testing.

Dr. Icenhour earned her Ph.D., Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine in 2002 from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She served as a senior postdoctoral fellow at Duke University Health System and a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic. She also attended the University of Tulsa where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biology.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

• [01:00] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Crystal Icenhour
• [02:51] Dr. Icenhour explains about why scientist struggle to commercialize their work
• [05:03] What made Dr. Icenhour interested in innovating pathogen diagnostic and gin fighting infection
• [07:27] Dr. Icenhour talks about why she's interested in many different fields
• [11:03] Dr. Icenhour's three-piece advice for people who want to start or join a science-based company
• [13:33] Dr. Icenhour shares how you can build a good network through conversations that connect people to you at a personal level
• [17:14] Dr. Icenhour describes the biotech industry in Virginia and where she can see it heading
• [22:18] Dr. Icenhourl talks about her career highlights and the challenges she faced along the way

Connect with Crystal Icenhour

• Aperiomics
• Crystal's Linkedin

The Struggle to Commercialize Science

There is a fundamental difference between the scientific work that is done in an academic setting and one that can be used for purposes of business and entrepreneurship. While the ultimate goal of academic scientific research is the pursuit of knowledge, it's quite a different ball game when you put science in the world of business. Because science in business means serving the needs and wants of the market. According to Dr. Crystal Icenhour the transition of turning scientific research into a viable market product can be a struggle for the many scientists who are able to make breakthroughs but lack funding and support.

Dr. Icenhour is passionate about bridging the translational gap between science and business and her scientific accomplishments and entrepreneurial milestones offer a unique success story of the transition from the discovery of knowledge into application for profits in business. Balancing your time, identifying your skills and your strengths are crucial in making it work but when you do get the work going, the business will start growing.

Gaining confidence to make the transition from academics to corporate

The idea of transitioning from the space of academic and research science to using science for entrepreneurial purposes can be daunting. But with the right network and support, you can make an easy transition and find a way to meld them together to create a unique space for innovations that can help a lot of people. And one of the key elements to building that network is by opening yourself up to the prospect of meeting new people who will resound with the vision you have in mind.

Networking can be difficult for introverts but it's not impossible. In fact, introverts have the unique capacity of holding key leadership roles because they have the ability to listen well and to empathize with people which is very important when you want to bring people into your fold. Build your network by creating conversations that bring a more personal side of you that encourages connections and flavor discussions with just the right amount of information that will keep the person interested in making the conversation last longer.

The Outlook of The Biotech Industry in Virginia

STEM professionals will be pleasantly surprised that the biotech industry in Virginina is more robust than what people perceive it to be. There is so much room for growth and innovations in biotechnology, particularly in pharmaceutical innovations and in addressing veteran medical concerns. There is so much that can be done in Virginia and the industry there is looking to expand more to get under the radar of investors who can help make the industry flourish even more.

Learn more about Dr. Crystal Icenhour's experiences, expertise, and passion in this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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Allen Kamer is a highly successful entrepreneur and experienced corporate executive in the healthcare and medical informatics space with more than 25 years of experience. He recently joined OurCrowd as a Managing Partner to launch its first Digital Health sector Fund, which is called Qure Ventures which is focused exclusively on investments in digital health.

Previously, Allen was a co-founder of Humedica, a transformative population health and analytics company that was sold to UnitedHealth in 2013. Following the acquisition, Allen served as the Chief Commercial Officer of Optum Analytics which is a division in Optum, UnitedHealth Group's health services company. Allen also was a director at leading healthcare investment bank, Leerink Swann (now Leerink Partners), and held management positions at Biogen. He began his career reporting on FDA and policy issues for The Pink Sheet

Allen received his B.A in Politics and Legal Studies from Brandeis University.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

• [01:02] Mark introduces his guest, Allen Kamer
• [02:50] What attracted Allen to join the healthcare field and why he stayed in the industry for over 25 years
• [04:19] Allen talks about his unique entrepreneurship journey
• [08:36] The business model of entrepreneurship that involves building a start-up within an established firm
• [10:56] Do you need to have an MBA or Ph.D. to become an entrepreneur?
• [12:31] How to best overcome challenges in your business journey
• [14:58] Allens talks about the strengths and weaknesses of STEM graduate students and high-level Ph.D. candidates and postdocs in the healthcare industry and in entrepreneurship
• [18:09] Opportunities for PhDs and postdocs in data science
• [20:35] Allen shares career lessons he wished he learned earlier

Connect with Allen Kamer

• Allen Kamer on LinkedIn
• OurCrowd
• Qure Ventures

The importance of the healthcare sector

Healthcare is a professional field that impacts everyone. At some point, every person would require some level of healthcare service and/or products which means that individuals who take part in this industry not only become valuable contributors in ensuring the health of a community, they also contribute to the economic ramifications of a stable health sector. For Allen Kamer, it's a field that's exciting, challenging, and offers personal interaction with people which is why he was drawn into being a part of the health care industry for over 25 years to date. That said, he joined the industry not as a care provider but as a person who works behind the scene working on policy and regulations that would benefit the entire industry and everyone it touches.

Allen's entrepreneurship trajectory in the healthcare field offers a unique case study of the very essence of entrepreneurship: problem-solving, disruption and innovation. However, entrepreneurship comes in different flavors. Allen talks about the different facets of entrepreneurship and why he went with the unique approach of becoming an entrepreneur from within a corporation.

Overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship

As a STEM professional, chances are that you're highly skilled and are pursuing a graduate degree, Ph.D. or are currently working on or considering going into a postdoc. However, there are certain industry challenges that you will come challenge not just your existing skills but will also require you to learn new ones in order to cope. Allen believes that STEM graduates have the unique advantage of having gone through rigorous training that gave them A+ problem solving and research skills which is crucial in any given industry. But one thing is different though: there isn't much time to experiment and this, according to Allen is what poses the greatest challenge for most people who are newbies in the world of business.

Being able to adjust to a new environment and taking your learnings from one field to the next is always crucial and gives a person a headstart. But in business, the main challenge is ensuring customer satisfaction and gaining their trust enough for them to refer you to someone else. And one of the ways to do this is by learning all the processes and gathering enough data from client interactions and using these to your advantage as a business owner which is where research and data analysis skills garnered from years of practice can become useful.

Opportunities for PhDs and Postdocs in Data Science

Wherever you are in your career, there are lessons you wish you learned early on as they have the potential to determine your current and future opportunities. For Allen, he did not understand the power of networking early in his career and it was only when he started to expand his field and got the chance to interact with more people that he realized the value of creating a strong and reliable network.

STEM PhDs and Postdocs looking to go into the data science space would be pleasantly surprised to know that if they put their heart into it, they can truly make a mark in this industry. There is the constant need for the improvement of algorithms and the ability to connect disparate types of data and information together to understand medicine, science, and healthcare delivery, etc. So there are tons of opportunities for STEM professionals to become data scientists, enabling them to help in shaping a new healthcare industry environment.

Learn more about Allen Kamer and his experience and expertise on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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Dr. Kimberly Scott is a professor of women and gender studies in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University (ASU) and the founding executive director of Arizona State University's Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology (CGEST). She's a visionary leader and a business-savvy education administrator who is recognized as an international subject matter expert in STEM-related topics and advocacy that aims to enhance education opportunities for women and girls of color. Kimberly has published pieces in outlets such as the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, International Journal of Gender, Science, and Technology, Feminism and Psychology, Huffington Post and Slate, among others.

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Scott worked as an urban educator with international and national institutions including a center for girls in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the Education Loss Center in Newark, New Jersey, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African art. A highly successful grant writer in support of programs and research for girls of color and digital media use, Kimberly was named in 2014 as a White House Champion of Change for STEM Access. That same year, the publication Diverse Issues in Higher Education, identified Dr. Kimberly Scott as one of the top 30 women in higher education.

Kimberly earned her PhD in Educational Theory, Policy, and Administration from Rutgers University. Prior to that, Kimberly received her MS in Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education from Long Island University. She also earned her BA in Art History and French Literature from Smith College.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[01:03] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Kimberly Scott

[02:47] Why Kimberly founded the Arizona State's Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology (CGEST) and what programs they offer

[07:17] Common misconceptions about women of color in the STEM workforce

[10:39] Effective responses to address the misconceptions about women of color in the STEM field

[12:51] Why diversity is a need-to-have in any organization

[17:42] How CGEST shares their information and arguments in favor of diversity in STEM-related fields to policy makers

[20:28] Why women of color are less likely to get approval from venture capital and angel investors

[23:30] What to expect at the 4th National Annual STEM Collaborative Women of Color in STEM Entrepreneurship Conference 2020

[28:25] Kimberly speaks about the 2020 priorities of CGEST

Connect with Kimberly Scott

Kimberly Scott on LinkedIn

Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology

Women of Color STEM Entrepreneurship Conference

The challenges in STEM for girls and women of color

Minority women face many challenges in life because of society's preconceived misconceptions about them, boxing them in and limiting what they can do. In STEM-related fields, girls and women of color are often tagged as uninterested and lacking motivation, often times being questioned about how they are to avoid failure in their projects versus how they are planning to succeed. The difference in the language used when talking to and about girls and women of color in STEM can be discouraging but according to Dr. Kimberly Scott, that shouldn't be the case at all.

Trained as a sociologist of education and childhood, Dr. Kimberly Scott's interdisciplinary work examines the social and academic development and achievement of girls of color in informal spaces and their technosocial innovations. She is an authority when it comes to topics that discuss the limitations and boxed-in-misconceptions often imposed on girls and women of color, and how these misconceptions hinder them from pursuing careers in STEM and also, why pushing the envelope can be gratifying once they succeed and prove to the world how wrong it was.

The case for diversity in business and organizational success

Dr. Scott believes that despite the slow emergence of diversity, there is evidence that shows that when a business embraces diversity, they are likely to get a greater return on investment. She goes on to explain that diversity brings with it diverse ideas that lead to more innovative and creative products. Therefore it is no surprise that companies with greater gender and racial diversity are correlated with greater profitability.

Beyond the business sector, Kimberly Scott also talks about how her work over at the CGEST is helping to make the case for diversity in the public sector through policy advocacy more favorable. She shares how their studies and arguments in favor of diversity can make it easier for policymakers to know exactly what needs to be done through policy workshops and collaborations with people who have worked with policymakers to support their work.

Contribute to the solution at the 4th National Annual STEM Collaborative

Taking her work further, Kimberly Scott and the CGEST are organizing the 4th National Annual STEM Collaborative entitled Women of Color in STEM Entrepreneurship Conference 2020. The conference will be held from March 18th to 20th in the beautiful Monica Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. At the conference, participants will contribute to the discussion by joining transdisciplinary teams and coming to a possible solution that will create sustainable 10-year plans that can transform STEM pathways for girls and women of color. The aim is to have a series of innovative workshops using system mapping, a novel technique that can empower them to achieve greater heights in the field.

Learn more about Kimberly Scott and how she drives research, advocacy, and policy implementation initiatives that enhance education and opportunities for girls and women of color in STEM on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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STEM graduates are oftentimes boxed in as working in a laboratory or conducting experiments and studies in the field. In reality, they offer a diverse range of skills and assets through their years of education and training which can be used in other fields, particularly in entrepreneurship. And this is what Tess Michaels learned through her journey as a graduate with a STEM degree and her experience in investment banking, as well as her experience as a businesswoman.

Tess Michaels is the owner of Stride Funding, a venture-backed student funding platform that offers flexible and affordable income share agreements to supplement student loans. She is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple successful businesses including Soceana which is a software-as-a-service platform that enables corporations to better manage and promote corporate volunteerism. While she graduated with a background in STEM, she also has an extensive background in investment banking and private equity through her years with companies such as Goldman Sachs and Vista Equity Partners.

Tess graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she received the Penn Alumni Award of merit and has attended business school at the Wharton School of Business. While there she was also recognized with the Wharton Dean's Award for Innovation.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[00:57] What drew Tess Michaels to the STEM fields

[02:36]Tess shares her view on the relationship between scientific investigation and entrepreneurship

[04:26] Tess' recommendations for budding entrepreneurs

[07:26] The skills and abilities that natural and social scientists get from their training that becomes an asset in the startup environment

[9:53] What is Stride Funding?

[12:37] Tess talks about Soceana and what attracted her into being a policy entrepreneur

[15:04] Tess gives advice for women in research as they advance in their career

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Tess Michaels on LinkedIn

Stride Funding

Soceana

STEM graduates and their unique position in the world of business

STEM is often thought of as a higher-level education, but the foundation of a good science and technology education begins at an early age. As students progress up to secondary and post-secondary education, STEM students undergo rigorous training under these four disciplines which allows them to develop skills that they can apply beyond the specific field of expertise that they focused on.

Tess Michaels is a STEM graduate who has experience working in diverse fields including research, investment banking, private equity, and business startups. She knows firsthand that it is possible to bring your education into various professional fields with great success. She was able to apply the skills she has learned through her years of training and studies in various professional arenas. Tess has also used her experience to touch the lives of other people through companies she has founded starting with Soceana and now with Stride Funding.

The interplay between scientific investigation and entrepreneurship

Tess Michaels believes that scientific investigation and entrepreneurship are two fields that can combine to create something almost magical. And by "magic", she means being able to use inductive reasoning, strategic marketing, product development, and policymaking in inventive ways. By utilizing these techniques she can create a balanced and well-designed solution for problems that people face every day. This, she says, is what can help STEM graduates stand out in the world of business.

The most important thing when melding two distinct fields together is to find a unique position wherein the expertise you have gained from both fields complement each other. By finding a niche and focusing all energy into seeing a vision become reality, the line between scientific investigation and entrepreneurial risk-taking can be blurred, and graduates can find success in all areas of life.

Learn more about Tess Michaels and how she brings together science and entrepreneurship on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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Bayer Strategic Consulting is a training and consulting firm that helps scientists and engineers effectively communicate the value of their work to their most important stakeholders using jargon-free and engaging language that gets results. Get a free consultation today to find out what they can do for you and your work.

Graduating with a PhD is an unbelievable accomplishment. It is the culmination of many years of sweat, tears, hard work, and dedication. And for many who have finally received their PhD diploma, the next step is to get into a Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The transition can be difficult, so where can postdocs turn to in order for them to transition smoothly from graduate school to their next big adventure? The Postdoc Academy is designed just for that.

Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson is Assistant Provost, Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs at the Boston University School of Medicine where she provides services and programming for all postdoctoral scholars at Boston University. Previously, Dr. Hokanson was US Deputy Director of Science and Innovation at the British Consulate-General in Boston.

Dr. Hokanson has received an Executive Education Certificate for the Entrepreneurship Development Program from MIT Sloan School of Management. She also completed an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cornell University in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Boston University and has earned her Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[1:04] Mark introduces Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson

[2:58] The Launch of the Postdoc Academy

[3:48] The first course, 'Succeeding as a Postdoc', is open for registration now

[4:22] Benefits that students receive from joining the Postdoc Academy

[7:00] Highlights of the first course

[9:59] Plans for upcoming courses

Connect with Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson

Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson's first episode on When Science Speaks

Sarah on LinkedIn

Sarah on Twitter

The transition from graduate student to postdoc

Becoming a postdoc is a major challenge and a change. While it's important to begin the process with focus and attention, but the whole experience isn't meant to last forever. That's why it's important to also give as much value to career planning and on your goals and plans once the Fellowship has been completed. The question is, how do you do this in the most effective way possible? Postdoc Academy was built to address that and the many other questions that come with the decision to pursue Postdoctoral Fellowship.

When transitions, new experiences, and planning for the future all happen simultaneously, it can be exhilarating. Postdoctoral candidates are often busy with many activities which is why the course designed by Postdoc Academy is flexible. The goal of the entire course is to provide transferable skills to postdocs in a wide variety of career paths through a comprehensive program. The course takes place over six weeks, with one week modules, but the weekly sections need not be completed until the six weeks have all been duly accomplished since the priority is the schedule and other study commitments of postdoc candidates. The cost of the course is also flexible with paid tracks available that will award certification and credentials.

Succeeding as a postdoc

Leveling up from graduate school to a postdoctorate fellowship program is a major change. Not only will your expectations but so too will your routines. So what can you expect when you sign up with Postdoc Academy? What topics will be covered and learnings and benefits can you get from joining their course? Most importantly, how much will it cost to participate in a course?

The first course is called "Succeeding as a postdoc", and is organized into four modules. It is focused on the transition between being a graduate student and career planning. The first module is a general overview and forming a career plan. The next module focuses on how to implement a career plan. Because stress can be a challenge for many postdocs, the third module is about resilience and stress management. The fourth and final module fulfills the Academy's commitment to diversity and is about working in intercultural environments.

Learn more about Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson and Postdoc Academy on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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