Vanderbilt Beyond the Lab podcast: Recent Episodes
Vanderbilt University
Curious about what biomedical science PhDs do for their career? In the "Beyond the Lab" podcast series, the Vanderbilt BRET Office of Career Development interviews biomedical science PhD and postdoctoral alumni about their career path.
Dr. Patrice Cuff has done many things! An industry postdoc, industry business development, and now an alternative academic role at a teaching institution. Learn more from Dr. Cuff about how she has pivoted and found job satisfaction on a unique journey to find the right fit.
Dr. Jennifer Malinowski shares her role with Lab Corp and the work she does in Market Access.
Dr. Matt Harlow, PhD, Senior Scientist at TRIANA Biomedicines, shares his path since Vanderbilt and his daily work life in drug discovery.
Dr. Geben shares about her role as a consultant with Anchor Point Consulting, specifically in competitive intelligence. She also shares about her time working abroad, being 100% remote, and the opportunities she purused in grad school to land her current role.
Dr. Shaver shares about his role at Natera as their Associate Director of Bioinformatics.
Dr. Roslin Thoppil, PhD, shares about her role with the American Association for Cancer Research where she leads the development and execution of national and international scientific conferences and educational initiatives. Her role involves close collaboration with top cancer scientists and clinicians from across the globe, ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs that drive meaningful progress in cancer research.
Dr. Santos tells us about her role as a consulting with a firm that focuses on competitive intelligence. She shares about her post-PhD path in industry while maintaining her love for science.
Dr. Keely Solomon Gilroy, PhD, shares her path from Medical Science Liaison to Science Communication to now a Medical Director in Industry.
We kick off Season 8 with Vanderbilt alumnus Dr. Tony Chen, PhD, who will share about his role in publishing at Springer Nature.
Dr. Amicia Elliott always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. But on the path, she collected tools for her entrepreneur toolkit to get her to where she is today: PhD training, tech transfer, government research, postdoc fellowship. Now she is the Product Director with Form Bio. Hear about all the steps in her path on the last episode of Season 7.
Dr. Justine Sinnaeve, PhD, is an Associate Scientific Director at Ashfield MedComms and tells us about her experience graduating during COVID and how she utilized that time to work freelance before launching into her SciComm/Medical Writing role.
After a successful internship with Health Research in Action, Lindsay Redman Rivera used her experience to pivot to a full-time position. She discusses what she learned during her PhD training as well as shares her approach to the two-body-opportunity.
After a fellowship with the FDA in regulatory, Dr. Todd Townsend, PhD, shares his path to his current role as the Regional Medical Scientific Director, Cardiovascular & Metabolism at Merck.
A love of food, creative scientist Jake Brown, PhD, found a way to combine his educational background with his long-term interests, now serving as a Product Development Scientist with Mars Petcare.
Is management consulting right for you? Dr. Courtney Copeland, PhD, tells her story about the pivot from biomedical science PhD to a management consultant!
Dr. Jeff Bylund, PhD, knew he enjoyed talking about science but he didn't want to continue at the bench. Join us for a laugh and a good career exploration discussion about Dr. Bylund's career ventures after his time training at Vanderbilt.
Going the "industry" route doesn't always mean Big Pharma! Learn from alumna Léolène Carrington, PhD, what it is like to work for a smaller company and how your love of science and learning can dictate your career.
Dr. Bojana Jovanovic is quite familiar with the Beyond the Lab series. She stepped in for the intro and logo at the launch of this series! Now, she is the Senior Scientific Lead, Clinical Biomarker Development at Eli Lilly|Loxo Oncology. We catch up about her path and current role, as well as how important the Molecular Medicine program was to her time at Vanderbilt.
There is no typical day for co-founder and CEO of Infinimmune Wyatt McDonnell, PhD. Dive in to the whatnots and to-dos of starting and maintaining a company in this episode.
The jump from academia to a start-up has been a fun one and we learn more as we sit down with Dr. Martin Moore, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Meissa Vaccines.
After some nudging from the ASPIRE Program, Dr. Chris Smith, PhD, started looking at academic roles in Postdoc Affairs and found his vocation! But his work as a postdoc himself was pointing to this all along! Join us as Dr. Smith tells us more about his role in academic administration and serving the postdoc population on the other side of the desk.
What came first for Kristi Thiel: Co-Founder or Professor? Learn more about Dr. Thiel's interesting steps in her career path and all the great ideas that have helped her along the way.
We are excited to kick off Season 7 of the Vanderbilt University Beyond the Lab podcast with Merck Scientist Dave Westover, PhD. Dr. Westover tells us about his role, how he jumped into industry and what he would recommend current graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to pursue to make the move to industry.
In this last episode of Season 6, Dr. Kristin Driscoll tells about her path since graduation and her current role in Competitive Intelligence for Cigna.
Dr. Cara Lang, PhD, is a Disease Area Analyst of Ovarian Cancer with Oncology Resource Group. In this episode, Dr. Lang shares her insight into her role and how she made the decisions around her post-grad next step, as well as the opportunities that best prepared her for this position.
For our 100th episode, Dr. Keenan Taylor, PhD, tells us about his role in Big Pharma as a Senior Scientist. Dr. Taylor tells us about the differences he has seen between academia and industry and what his daily work life entails.
Long title = lots of responsibility! Dr. Katherine Hutchinson, PhD, tells us about her role as a Senior Principal Scientist in Oncology Biomarker Development at Genentech, in San Francisco, California. Dr. Hutchinson tells us about her work in industry and life in San Francisco, while unpacking her long title!
Dr. Allison Eberly, PhD, describes her Clinical Microbiology Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic as well as her current role as an Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine and the Assistant Medical Director at Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Melissa Maginnis, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Maine and spends this episode talking about her path after Vanderbilt, the dual career search with her spouse, and the role as teacher and mentor in a University setting.
Dr. Lauren Griggs, PhD, and a Vanderbilt postdoctoral fellow alum, is now the Director of the Multicultural Engineering Program, Director of the Clark Scholars Program, and an Assistant Teaching Professor, all at Penn State University. She shares about her start right before COVID and the first few years in academic administration, as well as her work teaching. Dr. Griggs also provides insight into her career discovery and interview process.
Alumna Dr. Kate Bankaitis, PhD, tells us about her role as director of content at IQVIA and the interesting path of roles that led to her current position.
Alumnus and Medical Science Liaison Jeff Pawlikowski, PhD, tells us about his long tenure as an MSL, how he juggles the role's demands, and what the travel is actually like!
Dr. Marr is a senior consultant with Deloitte and spends some time talking about her path since Vanderbilt including her current role in consulting.
Beyond the Lab goes to Canada with alumnus Dr. JP Johnson, Jr, PhD, Vice President of Biology at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. A native to Tennessee, Dr. Johnson shares his journey in industry to the Pacific Northwest and onward to Vancouver.
Dr. Nicole Schramm-Sapyta, PhD, tells us about her role as a faculty member with Duke University and the Duke Institute for Brain Science. Dr. Schramm-Sapyta's love for science keeps popping up in her career story, and this episode focuses on this path.
Double 'Dore Dr. Eric Warren, PhD, owns his own forensic science business and tells us about his time with the TBI as well as the ways he began his business.
In this last episode of Season 5, Dr. Sudipta Chakraborty shares about her unique training experience, her remote work, and her role in clinical trial management.
Dr. Li Yang tells us about her work at the National Cancer Institute as well as how her training at Vanderbilt helped her prepare for the next step.
Dr. Tiffany Farmer, PhD, has used her skills and interest in science communication to create her career path, now has a manager of a team of Medical Science Liaisons. Learn more about her role as well as what she looks for in candidates!
Alumna Dr. Katie Vowell, PhD, shares about her role in industry with GSK, including the interview process and what it is like to work day-to-day with the company.
Dr. Sue Lee, PhD, shares about her role consulting and conducting business development with Alkermes as well as the switch to industry from academia.
Dr. Marquicia Pierce, PhD, shares about her role in technology start-ups and her unique advice on what current graduate students and postdoctoral fellows should pursue with their interest in business.
Join us as we chat with Lehanna Sanders, PhD, Business Development Manager, Advanced Solutions Life Sciences. Dr. Sanders focuses on national and international sales of bioprinting technology and tissue engineering solutions.
Dr. Shruti Sharma, PhD, is a postdoctoral alumna of Vanderbilt University and currently a data scientist with Ingram Content Group. Dr. Sharma's encouraging episode tells us about her path and what to pursue with an interest in data science.
Dr. Allie Greenplate, PhD, is the Associate Director of Science and Operations at the Immune Health Project at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Matthew Varga is currently a Research Scientist with local company Oncocyte. With his love of scientific research, Dr. Varga talks about his path after Vanderbilt and how his interests and networking led him to a current role that he enjoys.
Dr. Amanda Hansen is currently the Territory Manager for STEMCELL Technologies. Dr. Hansen is a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow alumna of Vanderbilt, and she shares her path to her current career as well as her daily activities in her role.
Dr. D'Anne Duncan is currently the Assistant Dean of Diversity and Learner Success at the University of California San Francisco Graduate Division. Dr. Duncan is a postdoctoral alumna of Vanderbilt and tells us about her interesting path now working with graduate students.
Dr. Ryan Bender shares about his role as a Molecular Geneticist at Neogenomics and what the role entails as well as why the field is so unique.
Learn how Dr. Kari Johnson, PhD, went from Vanderbilt graduate work, to an NIH postdoc, to now a faculty role with the Uniformed Services University.
Alumna and Board of Visitors member Dr. Colleen Piersen is the Assistant Head for Administration of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Director of Research Services in the Office of the Dean at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Piersen sits down with us to discuss how her scientific interests led her to a role with the University of Illinois system.
Dr. Miranda Hallett serves as a Patent Agent post-PhD and her postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt. Join us as we talk about her interesting path from science to law.
Join us as we interview Dr. Renee Bailey Iacona, Vice President, Oncology Biometrics, Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, as she talks about her time at Vanderbilt, the interesting turns her path has taken, and what she looks for when hiring.
Dr. Chris Jarrett, PhD, is a Senior Project Engineer with Stryker, and tells us about how he navigates his role, his path to his current role, and what he has been learning lately. Chris Jarrett is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Jud Schneider tells us about his role with Nashville Biosciences, helping companies launch forward, hiring, and the importance of learning from others.
Learn more about the role of Government Administration from Rubin Baskir, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Tune in to hear how Dr. Chandrasakan navigated her role in industry and what she does each day! Ramya Chandrasakan is an alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
In our last episode of Season 3, we talk with grants manager and director Janice Ascano, PhD, from Vanderbilt University Corporate and Foundation Relations.
Dr. Karissa Culbreath, PhD, knows a few things about laboratory testing in the clinical setting, and she sits down with us to tell us about how she got there and what she does all day!
Sitting down with Dr. Renee Dawson, PhD, provides a great conversation about her role in the Wente Lab as a staff scientist and her daily activities in that job.
Dr. Lesa Black, PhD, tells us about her role as a Scientific Review Analyst/CDRN Navigator with the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical Research and the Mid-South Clinical Data Research Network.
We welcome Dina Stroud, PhD, Executive Director, Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Program, Research Scientist, to tell us about her role in an academic program management setting.
Junior Research Associate at Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, alumna Elizabeth Conrad, PhD, talks to us about her industry pursuits at a local Nashville company.
Deputy Program Manager with Gryphon Technologies Chad Jackson, PhD, tells us about working in DC, government roles with a PhD, and finding the right career fit.
Former postdoctoral fellow alumnus AJ Baucum returns to campus to share his insight on his role as a primary faculty member at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Join us as we interview Nora Sanchez, PhD, data product manager of Real World Data Operations with Data Projects and Strategy Foundation Medicine.
Larry Thompson, PhD, is a Senior Principal Scientist in BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences with Pfizer. Alumnus now hiring manager and team lead, Dr. Thompson tells us more about his path, what he does each day, and how to ace an interview.
Ever wanted to hear about the power of Informational Interviews? Listen to JT Brogan, PhD (Manager, Global Emerging Markets Regulatory Affairs CMC, Biogen) and hear his story about how important informational interviews were to his career trajectory.
Dr. Margaret Read, PhD, reminds us that we are always a scientist, regardless of what career path we pursue. Learn more about her particular role as the General Manger of Corporate Alliances, Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization at Vanderbilt University.
Medical Science Liaison Dawn Stults, PhD, completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Vanderbilt. She then went on to work for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute as the Lung Cancer Program manager, where she gained extensive clinical research experience. Her first MSL role was at Clovis Oncology. She now works as a Medical Science Liaison for Genentech. Learn more about Dr. Stults, her path, and what she does all day!
Dr. Lori McGrew knew while in grad student that she really enjoyed teaching. But what did that look like long-term? Join us as we chat with Dr. McGrew and her hop across the street to Belmont University, where she is a tenured professor of Biology.
Dr. Melody Davis spent much of her career as a Medical Science Liaison, now an educational consultant. Dr. Davis tells us about all the paths we can pursue with an interest in MSL roles plus how to better equip yourself now for that path.
Dr. Kris Burkewitz, PhD, is currently on the tenure-track here at Vanderbilt University. How has the academic search gone for him? What are the difficulties to expect when beginning a lab? We will hear alumnus Dr. Burkewitz answer those questions and more.
Alumna Abby Olena, PhD, is a freelance science writer. Dr. Olena sits down with us to talk about her AAAS Mass Media Fellowship, her remote internship with The Scientist, her thoughts on social media and Twitter, and how to get started in freelance writing.
Dr. Steven Damo, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Life and Physical Sciences at Fisk University, a historically black university in Nashville, TN. Dr. Damo tells us about his path since his time as a Vanderbilt postdoctoral fellow and how his faculty role has him wearing many hats.
Dr. Jami Scheib, PhD, is a Science Officer with the company Ripple Effect, supporting the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) with USAMRMC. Learn more about her movement into this unique role in Grants, Government, and Research Administration.
What does technology development look like post-PhD? During our time with Dr. Lindsay Marjoram, we hear about her career that started as a grant writer who now gets to dream up the expansion of her company's pipeline.
Dr. Travis Smith, PhD, is the Associate Vice President in Health Care & Life Sciences at Proactive Worldwide. Dr. Smith talks with us today about his role, working with other PhD Vanderbilt alumni, and how his training prepared him for his current role.
Learn more about the role of a management consultant from Siwei He, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role working in industry from Valerie Kramlinger, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about Dr. Rebecca Latimer's time at Woods Hole and now her current role at the University of Virginia in academic grant discovery and administration. Dr. Latimer is an alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
From Vanderbilt to Oak Ridge National Laboratory to now managing an academic core facility, Hayes McDonald talks about his path of learning and discovery, working with faculty, and enjoying your work. Dr. McDonald is an alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the faculty role of a private liberal arts university from Klarissa Jackson, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Guidance Advisor in Regulatory Affairs from Sonja Brooks Fulmer, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Medical Science Liaison turned Medical Affairs leader from Erin Henry, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about a role in Drug Discovery from Dario Gutierrez, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the field of Data Science from Janina Jeff, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Join us as we hear from two alumni couples, Dr. Leslie Kwakye and Dr. Gunnar Kwakye at Oberlin College and Dr. Michelle Mazei-Robison and Dr. AJ Robison at Michigan State University, all couples currently in faculty roles at the same university.
Hear from both Dr. Leslie Kwakye and Dr. Gunnar Kwakye about their roles as faculty at a small liberal arts college.
Dr. Colleen Lawrence is the Manager of Translational Research at the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. She is also a postdoctoral alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Grants Administration from Amy Moore, PhD, postdoctoral alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
In town for a PhD Career Connections seminar, Dr. Mallori Burse Upshaw, PhD, a life science consultant, sat with us to talk about her role and the transition from a PhD to a consultant.
A double feature! Join us for two interviews with Dr. Efrain Garcia, PhD, from 2015 and 2018. This episode will share Dr. Garcia's insights into work/life balance, daily work activities, and advice for current graduate students and postdoctoral fellow.
Learn more about the role of a medical writer from Leah Potter, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a tenure-track faculty member at a large state school from Michelle Mazei-Robison, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about a role in Clinical Research from Mary Kosinski, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Licensing Analyst from Tom Utley, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about roles in Drug Discovery from Nuruddeen Lewis, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role in administrative operations within Academic Research Administration from Andrea Bauman Carnegie, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Data Scientist from Lindsey Morris, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a University Faculty member from Cynthia Brame, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role in Regulatory Affairs from JT Brogran, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role in Technical Sales and Support from Sara Perlaky FitzGerald, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of an Entrepreneur from Josh Nickols, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role as a Faculty Member of a State School from Hugh Fentress, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role in Media and Communications from Nicole Garbarini, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about a role in K-12 Teaching from Paulianda Jones, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Nonprofit Administration from Steve Roberds, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Government Administration from Kristen Herring, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Consultant and Project Manager from Erik Prentice, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Tenure-Track Faculty/PI from A.J. Robison, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of an FDA Reviewer from Omari Bandele, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Academic Core Facility Manager from Kim Dahlman, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Patent Attorney from Seth Ogden, JD, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Science Writer from Kathy Goss, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about Research and Development in Consumer Products from Emily Rubinson, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of the CEO of a Nonprofit from Jeremy Richman, PhD, postdoc alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Management Consultant from Laura Terry, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Tenure-Track Faculty PI from Victor Torres, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist from Karissa Culbreath, PhD, alumna of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Grants Manager from Jerome Jorquin, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Learn more about the role of a Medical Science Liaison from Molly Seale, PhD, alumnus of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Biomedical Research Education and Training Program.
Beyond the Lab is a Vanderbilt University podcast series provided by the BRET Office of Career Development in the School of Medicine. Find out more about this podcast and what episodes lie ahead.