STEMulating Conversations with Dr. Q: Recent Episodes
Marquita M. Qualls, PhD: Dr. Q
This podcast is a resource for those with a STEM background seeking to understand the vast career opportunities outside of the laboratory, how to prepare these roles, and tips on being successful after making the transition.
A parent recently asked me to give his sons advice and words of encouragement for the beginning of their college career. What I shared with them inspired this episode's message.
- Do Your Best
- Get Some Rest
- Leave the Nest
What does it mean to be a "cheerchemist"? Are you a cheerleader? Are you a chemist? The answer to both question is YES. This week's guest, Natalie LaFranzo, PhD, has used her talents for inspiring others since her college days of cheering sports events at Bradley Univesrity.
She began to transfer her skill of cheering into championing after receiveing her PhD and became more active in the American Chemical Society. She has held a range of leadership roles at all levels and is passionate about ensuring the chemical enterprse exeplifies the ACS core value of diversity,equity, inclusion, and respect. Her most recent accomplishment of being elected to the Society's Board of Directors will empower her to be an even greater Champion of Chemistry for ALL!
Follow Natalie on Twitter: @CheerChemist
Connect on LinkedIn: Natalie LaFranzo
Representative Rev. Harold M. Love, Jr., PhD is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University (TSU), the only public Historically Black College or University in Tennessee. In this episode we discuss his experiences attending an HBCU and the impact that it had on his personal and professional paths.
In a full circle moment of giving back to his alma mater and continuing the legacy of his father, Rep. Love championed efforts that showed the State of Tennessee may have underfunded TSU by as much as $544 million in matching payments. As a result, the university will receive $318 million in one-time capital funding for the 2023 fiscal year.
From painful losses to historic memorable moments, Rep. Love fondly describes his HBCU as a nurturing environment that enabled him to 'dream big dreams' and establish lifelong friendships.
To learn more about the Tennessee State University, an 1890 landgrant instituion visit the website
To learn more about the underfunding of HBCUS over that past 30+ years, a Bloomberg produced the docustory Short Changed Black Colleges Fight for Equal Funding and Forbes wrote an article entitled For HBCUs Cheated Out of Billions, Bomb Threats Are The Latest Indignity
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
This is a 31 day journey of topics to invoke STEMulating conversations on what it takes to turn your intent into results.
Dr. Michael D. Smith, widely known in the engineering world as Dr. Mike, credits his graduate school pivot to a chance notice of a brochure on a bulletin board. Though he entered a doctoral program seeking a PhD in engineering, he earned a Doctorate of Engineering, D. Eng degree which he describes as a combination of a PhD and and MBA.
A life long advocate for underrepresented groups to pursue STEM degrees, Dr. Mike has utilized his degree in a range of capacities spanning STEM education, STEM operations and programming at nonprofit organizations, and independent consulting.
Connect with Dr. Mike on LinkedIn
Greer Kirshenbaum studied neuroscience throughout her undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral career. Then, Dr. Kirshenbaum took a bold leap and used her PhD training to fuel her life's passion. She started Nurture Neuroscience to teach the science and support the art of nurturing infants so families can use sound science to enhance every single day of their children's lives.
Follow her on Social media to learn more about her work.
IG: @nurture_neuroscience
Twitter: @nurture_neuro
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/
Dr. Monica Cox has learned that being your authentic self is requires taking a certain level of risk. She is a wife, mother, daughter, activist, and professor who grew up as an only child in a rural southeast Alabama community. It was the core values instilled in her by her parents that has led to her being able to persist in the face of personal and professional adversity.
The conversation was not only STEMulating, but an authentic, inspirational and motivational testimony for choosing self and sanity above all else when faced with a valley moment in their career.
Learn more about Dr. Cox at her website drmonicacox.com
Follow her on social media at: @drmonicacox
His scientific curiosity can be traced back to being a two year old military kid playing in his desert backyard catching snakes and gila monsters. His major in chemistry was the result of a chance meeting in the hallway of a building at his undergraduate college. These two events eventually led Dr. Vernon Morris to pursue, not only an undergraduate degree in chemistry and mathematics, but also PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. A well-respected and highly accomplished researcher in his field, Dr. Morris is now Director and Professor in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at Arizona State University.
You can find out more about Dr. Morris via https://newcollege.asu.edu/vernon-morris
Be sure to join in for Part Two, when we discuss more of The Color of Weather.
It is never too late to start over. That's exactly the testimony of Dr. Iris Wagstaff. She is a chemist, educator, mentor, researcher and science policy advisor with extensive experience in STEM outreach and advocacy. She is also a thought leader and change agent in the broader STEM community.
After spending nearly 15 years in a successful industry career as a research chemist, she decided to leave that job and embarked upon a new path. She would go on to earn a PhD in Science Education, be named a AAAS Science Policy fellow and serve as a STEM Program Director in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Her inspirational and motivational story is one that all can benefit!
Dr. Carlotta Berry originally wanted to teach high school math, but her STEM journey has expanded well beyond. As an electrical engineering professor with a focus on robotics, Dr. Berry's impact and influence is felt at all educational levels and touches all genders, races and ethnicity. She believes that 'giving people the ability to learn about things they are interested in is LIFE CHANGING'. This principle holds true in both her professional and personal sphere of influence as evidenced by the founding of #NoireSTEMinist to giving pop quizzes on Twitter, to serving as a coach for her daughter's robotics team.
Learn more about Dr. Berry and her work in the field of robotics and diversifying STEM through her social media platforms:
@DrCABerry on Twitter, IG, TikTok
@NoireSTEMinist on Twitter, IG
https://noiresteminist.com/
A self-proclaimed “corporate dropout” who helps you to Live your purpose. Share your message. Change the world. One of the first steps to realizing your purpose is accepting that EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP. When we can get out of our own way and recognize what we need, we can do more and make a bigger impact--ON PURPOSE.
Her latest book, 'On Purpose: 12 Strategies to Reclaim Your Power and Change Your Life' can be found at platformforpurposebook.com
Social media handles: @ishacogborn
The HR Twins, Camille and Carla, have utilize their combined 30 plus years of HR experience to help style your career. They established The Career Salon to be a place where people can go to receive unfiltered and honest career advice from their unique and authentic perspectives. Both are passionate about their respective HR specialty area and offer behind the scenes views of recruiting and human resources functions to help clients achieve that next great opportunity, with style.
Follow the HR Twins on social media platforms @thecareersalon
Be sure to check out their YouTube discussion on The Miseducation of Corporate America
The HR Twins: Camille Tate and Carla Patton
Re-broadcast of Episode 83
Dr. Garry Cooper has blazed a career path in the span of 10 years than most will do in a lifetime. In the span of a decade, he earned a PhD in neuroscience, did a postdoc, worked at two different Big Four management consulting firms, co-founded and launched a successful company of which he is the CEO and still finds time to serve as an adjunct professor.
How does he do it? In everything aspect of his life, he has a guiding principle of "know your breakup point, and when it is reached, then it's time to walk away.
This #STEMulatingconvo covers his journey from the PhD to his day to day work at Rheaply, an asset management platform that plays a critical role in the circular economy by facilitating collaboration among scientists and entities conducting scientific research.
Also mentioned in this episode:
The Rheaply Website
Clip of Garry's March for Science Keynote in Grant Park
Email: Garry
Twitter @garrycooperjr
Twitter: @Rheaplyinc
IG: @Rheaply
From humble beginnings growing up between two housing projects in FL to becoming the Dean of a major private research institution in upstate New York, Dr. Darryl Scriven is an inspiration to all. He attributes the drive behind his success to these words, "there is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it and you are not too good to do what it takes to gt it done. Once you dispel that myth of being too good, you can get anything accomplished."
Seven years ago Darryl made a commitment to provide daily motivational video in a series call EVERY day I'm Hustling. You can access it from his YouTube page Doc Scriven
Dr. Grant Warner views the challenge of diversity in STEM and entrepreneurship as an opportunity for inclusion, because what many refer to as a pipeline problem he believes it is more accurately reflected as a pathway issue.
He discusses his educational journey and how he has leveraged his mechanical engineering PhD to have a voice and fuel his entrepreneurial mindset and ventures.
In this episode, we discuss the National Science Foundation I-Corps program and Black Tech Ventures, an organization he co-founded to empower African American tech-innovators and startup entrepreneurs and to foster a culture of entrepreneurship at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
We are excited to launch Season Four with Beronda Montgomery, PhD and celebrate the release of her new book Lessons from Plants. She shares key lessons learned from plants as it relates to mentoring, particularly about environmental fit and resilience. She also reveals her new leadership roles and her perspectives on why effective leadership is a critical component of change.
Follow Beronda on her social media platforms for thoughtful and thought provoking gems of knowledge and cool pictures of her travels while writing.
Twitter @BerondaM
Instagram @Beronda_M
#LessonsfromPlants can be found on bookshop.org
Beronda L. Montgomery, PhD is MSU Foundation Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology, she was named one of Cell’s 100 Inspiring Black Scientists in America.
June 27, 2020 is a doubly historic day for me. Today is the 3rd year anniversary of STEMulating Conversations. It is also the day that the Mississippi State legislature--in the House and Senate--voted to remove the current State flag that has flown since 1894.
The significance of this day and vote was definitely an occasion to connect with fellow PhD chemist and Mississipian, Dr. John Harkless, to have a awesome #STEMulatingconvo.
When you understand the context, the content is easier to digest. This is the guiding principle that will be used when we engage in STEMulating Conversations on the topics of diversity and inclusion, particularly as it relates to Black Americans in society and the sciences.
If you were to spend your time the same way you spend your money, what would your time bank account look like? Given that there will never be more than 24 hours in a day, managing the activities within that time may seem more like an art than a skill. Time management is a misnomer because you are managing activities rather than time.
Happy New Year! It's the beginning of 2020, and many of us have set ambitious new goals--new year, new chapters, new journeys, new experiences. What will you do differently in order to attain the results that you desire?
Hurricane Katrina was devastating on several levels, but it was the event that freed Dr. Calvin Mackie and enabled him to walk in his purpose. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie has a passion educating others on the boundless opportunities in STEM. He created STEM-NOLA to expose, inspire and engage members in New Orleans and surrounding communities about the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Now celebrating its sixth year, STEM-NOLA is sustainable STEM education model that is being replicated across the country.
Dr. Mackie received a BS in Mathematics from Morehouse College and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He went on to earn a Masters and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech.
The process of reflecting on successes and lessons learned that have occurred throughout the year enable us to set more realistic goals for the upcoming year. What worked well? What didn't go as planned? What can you do differently to achieve a better outcome? As 2019 comes to a close, what have you learned will shape your 2020 goals?
Jahari Soward had always considered herself a chemist, so when a colleague suggested that she consider recruiting, she was initially offended. Fast forward a few years, and she now owns her own career development and search firm . She realized that the skills that enabled her to be a good chemists were transferable to the role of technical recruiting. She realized it was about problem solving, and the same approach she used to solve a chemistry problem could be used to fill a talent gap.
In this week's episode, she shares her journey from a bench chemist to an entrepreneur to her STEM education efforts with eSTEAM kits.
Jahari also shares her excited in being elected as the first Black woman to chair the Georgia Local Section of the American Chemical Society.
When Clarice (Claire) Phelps received her undergraduate degree in chemistry, she had no idea that it would lead to her being the first African American woman to be on a team that discovered a new element on the periodic table.
She is currently a researcher and program manager in the the Nuclear Materials Processing Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
In this episode, Claire shares her unique career journey and training in nuclear chemistry via the United States Navy. She is a strong advocate for diversifying the sciences and uses her voice whenever possible to encourage women and minorities to pursue careers in the STEM field. Earlier this year, she was recognized as Es -99 on the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists for her outstanding commitment to research and public engagement.
Be a Voice, not an echo. When you are in a position of leadership, your voice is a powerful tool. How you communicate is equally, if not more important, than the words spoken. Before using your voice, ask yourself: 1. Am I credible enough to speak on this subject; 2. Is it work the risk for me to speak on this subject; 3. What impact will my voice have on this subject?
Consulting can be rewarding careers for those with a STEM background. The key to a successful consulting practice is identifying a niche, and having a demonstrated record of expertise in that area.
When Dr. Rowe-Rendleman launched Omar Consulting, there was a need to fill the gap between the bench and the bedside with product development support services for the pharma and medical industry. She drew on her scientific training and over 15 years of clinical development in the pharmaceutical industry to establish a global consulting firm to provide educational, scientific and clinical R&D leadership and services for global biotech and pharma clients seeking to understand US regulatory and/or expand clinical trials to North America.
Visit Omar Consultants webpage to learn more about the company's service offerings.
Dr. Patrice Yarbough believes that the 'lab' is any where science is conducted, and often times it is outside the confines of a traditional brick and mortar with test tubes and fume hoods. Such is the case for her in her role as a senior scientist with NASA Johnson Space Center.
Dr. Yarbough, a biochemist, talks about how her lifelong passion for conducting translational research led to her current role as the principal investigator of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) project.
Connect with Dr. Yarbough on LinkedIn
"Being comfortable with you who are and having confidence in what you bring to the table" are the guiding principles that have directed most of the career decisions of Dr. Adrian Land. In this episode, he shares his traditionally non-traditional STEM career path from a small Southern town to now leading a regulatory affairs team at a Fortune 500 company. He is passionate about sharing his story to inspire others who have similar backgrounds to pursue what truly interests them, rather than following what others may want your to do.
Connect with Dr. Land on LinkedIn
Everyone has a brand, but how you manage your brand can be the determining factor in your career advancement. Personal brand strategist Isha Cogborn, founder of the Epiphany Institute joins in this week's STEMulating conversation to offer tips on effectively identifying and managing your brand. Isha worked with scientists at all levels at one of the world's largest chemical corporations, so she is very familiar with the nuances and unique qualities typically associated with those in technical fields.
Connect with Isha on Linked in and visit her website to learn more about personal branding strategy!
Being open to opportunity and understanding that 'your skills will take you where your strengths are'. These are the two main principles that Dr. Jones credits for successfully navigating a career path from faculty member to entrepreneur to current Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of New Hampshire.
Follow Dr. Jones on Twitter @wayne_e_jones
Visit his website at https://www.unh.edu/provost
It's the final episode, but not exactly what you think! Listen in to see why we are leaving Beyond the Bench behind.
What do you do when you feel as though you are not longer growing in your role? You've not burned out; but rather, you've become bored. What do you do when you just don't feel like doing anything, because it is too mundane?
As an ecologist, Dr. Claire Horner-Deving had an interest in studying relationships, identifying strength of interactions and understanding how communities work together. While she liked the science, she realized that she didn't love it. So what did she do? She parlayed the skills and principles learned as an ecologist and applied them to building programs focused on supporting underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
One of her programs is the NINDS NIH funded BRAINS- Broadening the Representation of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience
Follow her on Twitter to learn more! @chornerdevine
What do you do after you have rested, relaxed and renewed? You RESET! This week's episode challenges you along your career pathway to be a 'cation'. Be positive in your outlook regardless of the stage of your career, or what you aspire to achieve. Know what it is that you want, so that when someone asks, "how may I help you", you will be able to respond with a clear and concise answer. Listen to feedback because that is how your truly make forward progress.
Resting, relaxing and renewing are all critical to your ability to be productive and successful. That's just what I did over the past month. Now we are back and ready to kick off SEASON THREE of STEMulating conversations!
Dr. Erika Shugart is a trailblazer of pursuing 'alternative' careers in STEM. Exposure to science in her formative years influenced her desire to pursue a PhD; however, she quickly realized that her interests and skillset extended beyond the boundaries of a research laboratory.
Listen to this conversation and learn about her scientific journey beginning in Oak Ridge, TN to her current role as Chief Executive Officer of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
Science communication comes in many different forms, so it should come as no surprise that Dr. Theanne Griffith, a PhD neuroscientist, is also a children's literary author of STEM inspired series of chapter books.
In this episode, Theanne shares the steps she took to landing a deal with Random House publishing. She also emphasizes how her scientific training has influenced her fiction writing and how the fiction writing helps with her technical writing.
You can learn more about her upcoming chapter book series, The Maker's Maze, by visiting her website at theannegriffith.com
Be sure to follow her on Twitter @doctheagrif
Dr. Garry Cooper has blazed a career path in the span of 10 years than most will do in a lifetime. In the span of a decade, he earned a PhD in neuroscience, did a postdoc, worked at two different Big Four management consulting firms, co-founded and launched a successful company of which he is the CEO and still finds time to serve as an adjunct professor.
How does he do it? In everything aspect of his life, he has a guiding principle of "know your breakup point, and when it is reached, then it's time to walk away.
This #STEMulatingconvo covers his journey from the PhD to his day to day work at Rheaply, an asset management platform that plays a critical role in the circular economy by facilitating collaboration among scientists and entities conducting scientific research.
Also mentioned in this episode:
The Rheaply Website
Clip of Garry's March for Science Keynote in Grant Park
Email: Garry
Twitter @garrycooperjr
Twitter: @Rheaplyinc
IG: @Rheaply
When a previous guest of the show wants to start a podcast to share his experiences on leadership and leadership development, you bring him back on. Latane Brackett's (Episodes 64 and 39) transparent, honest and humorous approach to leadership is something that we can all benefit. Listen in to this special edition episode to find out what Can I Just Tell the Truth is all about.
Dr. Kristala Prather Jones knew before she entered graduate school that working in industry would be critical to her success as a research professor. She understood then that impacting students as individuals was her passion, and walks in that purpose each day as the Arthur D. Little Professor of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After listening to the episode, you can learn more about her research at Prather Research Group
Tokiwa Smith loves math and science and wanted to share her passion of STEM with others, so she created SEM Link, a nonprofit that promotes student achievement and career exploration in math and science while increasing student exposure to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) communities.
Dr. John Harkless has always loved science, so it come as a surprise that this P-Chemist is all about communication, storytelling and being inventive in ways that he didn't know that he can be. He has taken this philosophy with him in every job he has had, so it is no surprise that he has engaging approach to teaching P-Chem.
Check out Dr. Harkless'sYouTube Dhannel to view some of the student videos explaining their chosen P-Chem topic as well as G-Chem tutorials.
Follow him on Twitter @JHarklessPhD
January is not the only month for someone to celebrate a NEW YEAR. This episode is a conversation with myself as I share my journey beyond the bench!
Chemists who stay at a single organization their entire career are a rarity. Latrease Garrison started her career as an intern writing obituaries for C&EN and is now the Executive Vice President of Education at the American Chemical Society. It was an interesting, fun, and STEMulaitng conversation!
Follow Latrease on Twitter @MrsGfromVA
American Chemical Society
Her career journey has gone from a SLAC with no undergraduate research experience to managing technology transfer projects within the Federal government. This week's conversation with Dr. Merissa Baxter reveals another exciting path for STEM trained PhDs who are interested in areas of scientific communication.
Follow her on Twitter @DrM_Baxter
Dr. Elizabeth Wayne credits Mississippi School for Math and Science for providing the solid foundation which has led to her becoming an award-winning biomedical engineer, TED Fellow, speaker, and advocate for women in higher education.
Listen in as she shares her journey beyond the bench and plants seeds for several STEMulating conversation.
She is also the co-host of the show PhDivas Podcast phdivaspodcast.wordpress.com
Follow her on Twitter @LizWaynePhD
~~@~~PhDivaspodcast
You never know where your career will lead you, particularly if you choose to pursue biotech roles. The rewards can be as fulfilling as the risks are frustrating. When Melanie entered a PhD program in bioscience at The Scripps Research Institute, she had no idea that her career path would lead her to a formal project management role; however, that's exactly what happened, and she is enjoying it. Through this journey she has learned that it's not just about your degree, but to go where your interests take you. Be sure to follow her on Twitter @melanie_nelson Also mentioned on the show: Melanie's blog: http://beyondmanaging.com/ Navigating the Path to Industry Melanie welcomes questions and comments about project management, time management or whatever else may be on your mind after listing to this episode. melanie@beyondmanaging.com
Choosing a career as a professor means more than research. In this week's episode the Chem Diva, Dr. Malika Jeffries-El, shares a range of views on a variety of topics on her experiences as a successful African American female chemist navigating the scientific academic landscape.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Chem_Diva
All of us could use coaching at some point in our career. There is a common misconception that coaching is only for high level management or those people who are experiencing performance issues on the job. However, people who utilize coaching as a tool for growth and development often realize significantly greater success and fulfillment in their career. If you are not sure if coaching is for you, see how many of the the items below you can identify!
Congratulations to Dr. Renetta Garrison Tull, SC14: Living Life Online, on her appointment as the inaugural Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UC-Davis
Coaching FAQ
One advantage of breaking goals down into smaller pieces is that it lowers anxiety caused by the overwhelming nature of large and complex goals. When the goal is dissected into smaller pieces, you have a clearer view of what needs to be done. You can then prioritize the smaller pieces and create a realistic action plan that leads to achieving the larger goal.
Growth is being able to celebrate small success and big failures. What are YOU going to celebrate today?
Dr. Levon Esters' approach to mentoring has led to the creation of a very successful program. The nationally recognized and award winning Mentoring at Purdue, or M@P program plays a significant role in cultivating an environment where students can be their whole selves.
Find out more about M@P by visiting the website.
Follow Levon on Twitter @Levon_Esters
As we enter into Day 33 of the partial government shutdown in the United States, how can leaders encourage and motivate their team during this difficult time?
Whether it was an undergraduate trying to identify the best graduate school and lab, or the recent graduate student or postdoc who is on the market for their first "real' job, Elizabeth Wu and Danika Khong recognized the need to prepare students for a career path in the sciences and developed a SCISMIC solution.
Join in this week's conversation to learn more about their exciting and entrepreneurial journey beyond the bench.
Visit their website to complete the "Lab Seeker" or the
"Job Seeker" assessment.
SCISMIC
A conversation recapping the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators highlights important topics that are applicable in every aspect of our lives and careers. In this episode with Latane Brackett, we discuss how entrepreneurial thinking has a direct relationship with mentoring, feedback and conflict resolution.
Follow Latane Brackett on Twitter @enatal3
Happy New Year! January marks the season of goal setting and mentoring. This hot topic explores and sets a charge for us to achieve those goals through the use of a mentor.
January is National Mentoring Month and mentoring expert Dr. Beronda Montgomery shares thoughts on mentoring from her two unique perspectives: a principal/primary investigator (PI) and a biologist who shares 'life lessons from plants".
We discuss:
--the importance of delineating the role of the PI into mentor and advisor
--the effectiveness of formal mentoring programs
--tips on cultivating mentoring relationships
Referenced in this episode:
Vanguard STEM with Jedidah Isler
National Research Mentoring Network
Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER)
Critical Mentoring by Torie Weiston-Serdan
Understanding Interventions Conference
University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute
Follow her on Twitter: @berondam
Tis the season for giving, and that includes making sure that you gift yourself something too. If you don't invest in yourself, you can't expect anyone else to do so. How do you determine the best gift for you this year? It's simple, but will require you to reflect on some things.
In this hot topic I share a few thoughts on a paper published in the December 10, 2018 Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences entitled the Changing Demographics of scientific career: The rise of the temporary workforce.
Click here to read full article
It all began by pursuing a job posting on a bulletin board during his postdoc. Now, a little over 10 years later, he is the Senior Vice President of Science and Education at The Franklin Institute, one of the oldest and premier centers of science in the country.
Whether you are a student, postdoc or professional, this is a conversation that will shed much light and perspective on the critical skills needed along a career path.
Learn about The Franklin Institute
What career would you have if there were no self-imposed constraints on what you could do or be? Dr. James Tarver challenges us in this week's conversation to be open minded and open to opportunities.
Reflecting on conversations held at the 2018 ABRCMS meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Students wanted to know about a career in consulting. This also led to a discussion of ensuring that the brand you want speaks to the work you are doing. Establishing credibility and depth of expertise is important in the STEM field, especially when you want to your scientific voice as a platform to advocacy.
We learned about the 5 W's in grade school English as an approach to writing. A hallmark of a good story meant that we answered the Who, What, Where, When and Why questions.
In this episode, I use simple 5 W questions to share advice, challenge and encourage those in STEM graduate programs.
Why are you in graduate school?
What are you willing to sacrifice?
Who are you seeking guidance and counsel?
When do you want to finish?
Where are you going upon completion?
Bonus: How are you getting it done?
True to Entropia's meaning, today's episode are random thoughts, but intended to be an encouragement to all who listen!
She's always been about the SMARTs, so it's no surprise that Dr. Sherry Marts is doing what she has always done since her graduate school years at Duke- being an advocate. Over the past few years, Sherry has been raising the awareness about harassment at scientific meetings, and providing the training to organizations' leadership.
Sherry realized early on that she wanted a career BEYOND THE BENCH. However, she credits her graduate and postdoctoral training, along with a series of nontraditional career roles, as the foundation that has enabled her to garner the credibility to make a real impact in this area.
Mentioned in this episode:
What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles
To learn more about Sexual amd Gender-based Harassment Training for Scientific Meetings, visit Smartsconsulting.com
On a recent trip to the local library with my niece and nephews, I noticed a sign on the shelf entitled Five Finger Rule. Since children are often drawn to books because of pretty pictures and bright colors on the cover, this guide is used to help the young [new] readers determine appropriate books for their reading level. If the child is simply reading the book and doesn’t know the words, all they are doing is flipping pages and never fully enjoying everything the book has to offer.
What if we had a Five Finger Rule to help us determine if we are in the appropriate job or career? Are you in your career because of the external appearances it gives, or are you walking in your called profession?
Dr. Karita Ambrose spent her entire undergraduate career doing research and continued on to receive a PhD in Biology. Her thoughts were on a life in academia and teaching and found the perfect post-doc that combined her love of research and teaching. But then, she did what many of people shy away from when it comes to their career--she was open to an opportunity. She left her postdoc early and began her career in industry. Starting out as an entry level bench scientist, then transitioning into a role that would ultimately turn into her career in scientific communications.
Enjoy this rebroadcast of one of the more popular episodes--How do you prioritize your priorities?
Beware of the naked man who offers you his shirt. The African proverb is as appropriate for your career as it is any other area. Who are the people you seek advice and counsel on as it relates to your career? Are they people who have traveled the path in which you seek? A quick thought-provoking STEMulating hot topic to end the month of August!
Your LinkedIn profile is more than a resume with a picture. Whether you are preparing to graduate and seeking your first job or you are an experienced professional who is now on the job market, LinkedIn can be a valuable tool to assist in your pursuit. Elisse Wright Barnes, JD, PhD shares actionable tips on how to make sure you are getting noticed by your target audience.
About Elisse Wright Barnes https://about.me/elissewright
It's 2018 and we are still having conversations about hairstyles and fashion choices as a career differentiator or limiting factor in the workplace. We say that we embrace diversity and are inclusive, but are we? When we produce websites, brochures and other material that showcase the people who work at our organizations, do they reflect the people who we say we are trying to attract?
This Hot Topic episode asks a simple, yet thought provoking question that will help you both assess and prepare for being promoted to the next level.
This is the kickoff of Year TWO of Beyond the Bench: STEMulating Career Conversations. We perform preventative maintenance for our vehicles, but do we do it for our careers? In this episode we explore 4 key items that should be on your Career Preventative Maintenance checklist.
A milestone reached! Celebrating one year of the podcast with a compilation favorite quotes and words of career advise from the Beyond the Bench guests over the past year.
A little over two years ago, I wrote an open letter to STEM graduate students about preparing for their next steps. Today, I give voice to the letter!
There are no right or wrong answers. You will not have to share your responses with anyone. All you have to do is be honest and the answers just may reveal the key to your success.
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When you measure your successes, whose measuring stick do you use?
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If “success is a failure turned inside out”, how many of your failures have you turned into successes?
3. How often has a fear of success prevented you from pursuing your dreams?
4. What is your plan for sustaining your success once you have obtained it?
5. Will you share your success with others?
Ascending to the position of college president is likely not at the forefront of one's mind while doing scientific research in graduate school or when beginning as a new faculty member. It definitely was not the case for Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan, but after heeding the advice of a mentor, she accepted an opportunity to explore the other "enlightened" side academia. Though she loved teaching and doing research, this initial experience in administration was one that would change the course of her career and eventually lead her to become the president of St. Mary's College of Maryland.
She not only shares her journey, but also shares personal stories and candid advice on how to navigate your chosen career path. Great insight detailing the joys and pains, the importance of self-care and how she uses the skills acquired as a scientist every day in her role as president.
You can follow her on Twitter @Pres_Jordan
Chemists are needed in the public health sector. When Dr. Angela Ragin-Wilson completed her Master's degree in chemistry, she landed a position as a bench scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. It didn't take long, however, for her to realize that she needed more. With the support and encouragement of a strong mentor, she enrolled in a PhD program.
The next steps on her path led her to begin a rewarding and unexpected career at the Centers for Disease Control. After spending a few years in a traditional role for chemists, Angela once again moved beyond her comfort zone and accepted an assignment on the public health side. The rest is history! She now is the Chief of the Environmental Epidemiology Branch in the Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences.
A PhD in a STEM field combined with a JD is a powerful combination and has afforded our guest an exciting career path. In this week's conversation, Dr. Kenrick Vidale shares his journey from a PhD in organic chemistry, through going to law school part time while working a full time job in the pharma industry, to passing the Bar in multiple States, and now a full fledged attorney who has worked in both pharma and the chemicals sectors.
Connect with him on Facebook or Linked In!
An internship at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) was a great experience for the budding electrical engineer because it prompted him to seek careers outside of the traditional lab environment. Over the course of his career, he gained experiences in a variety of fields spanning foods to pharmaceutical manufacturing and held roles at levels of increased responsibility.
At each step, he learned and observed some valuable leadership skills which he now coins as " mental morsels".
His latest books, "Where Are All the Leaders?" and "As I See It" are both available on Amazon.
Follow Latane on:
Twitter: @enatal3
FB: Elmo Brackett
LinkedIn: Latane Brackett
If you never say no, what does your yes really mean?
Your ‘yes’ may have various meanings, but in this Hot Topic we explore what a ‘yes’ means in the context of 1.) association 2.) prioritization 3.) prioritization.
Keeping an open mind is one of the things that has been critical to the successes of Dr. Gloria Thomas. A series of professional and personal events led her back to her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she has expanded her STEM wings and now serves as the Director of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University.
This superwoman mom is a prime example of how marketable and valuable a STEM degree is. She is also a member of a distinct group of scientists who have worked in all three major career sectors--industry, government, and academe. She shares how she is able to use those highly trained critical and analytical thinking skills in her role.
We also discuss the value of diversity and inclusion and why it is important to get to know a person instead of judging them by their physical appearances.
You can follow Gloria on Twitter at @GThomasPhD
Also mentioned in this episode:
Louisiana State University Center for Academic Success
Dr. Saundra McGuire metacognition
Dr. Melissa Vaught, known on social media platforms as @biochembelle, started her STEM journey at a community college in Virginia with initial hopes of going into a medical field. However, she fell in love with chemistry and her career path took a turn which led her down the road to a PhD, two postdocs, and two very rewarding positions--one on the East Coast, the other on the West Coast.
Listen in as @biochembelle not only shares her STEM journey beyond the Bench, but also talks about why she became active with the national postdoctoral association and in the online science community.
Follow her on Twitter @biochembelle
When Darrell Davis completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry, he had aspirations of teaching. However, a networking connection at a NOBCChE conference temporarily altered that path, and he began his career as a forensic chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Though several years of hard work and being open to opportunity, he became the laboratory director for the South Central District of the DEA. He became an expert in clandestine laboratories, and he made sure he remained true to his passion of teaching and and ensuring that young people had access to the equipment and training needed to pursue STEM degrees.
After he retired, things truly came full circle when he established STEMversity--a non-profit organization headquartered in Milledgeville, Georgia on the grounds of the historic Central State Hospital Campus-- to provide state-of-the-art, hands-on STEM training to underrepresented students in middle school through college, as well as, to professionals.
Mentioned on this show:
STEMversity
Drug Enforcement Administration
Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission
Connect on Facebook:
How do you give meaning and action to Diversity and Inclusion? It's not simple, and it will make most uncomfortable. If we truly want to become more diverse and inclusive in the STEM community, we must provide opportunities to and take risks on those who are not mirror images of ourselves.
@drqualls on Twitter
In Episode 22, we met the newly minted PhD Dr. Melody Wright and she shared her joys of landing her first role outside since obtaining her degree. She transitioned into a role that was atypical for someone with her background, but with hard work and determination, she landed the role.
Fast forward 3 months, and she gives an update that she has resigned from that position. Stress seriously impacted her mental, emotional, and physical well being. Her message as to why and what prompted her resign is truly a STEMulating conversation that we all need to take heed!
When you look back over your career journey, what are the areas that you can see personal and professional growth?
February 1st marks the anniversary of my journey Beyond the Bench. In this episode, I share advice on the STEMulating conversations I would have liked to have had as a graduate student.
When she started graduate school, her plans were to be in the academy. However, after having conversations with her labmate and networking with fellow alumni of her institution, the journey beyond the bench took a different course. Dr. Fortis was open to opportunity which led her to a AAAS policy fellowship, the National Science Foundation, New York Academy of Science, and now as the director of postdoctoral affairs at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
We also discuss how Hurricane Maria has impacted her home of Puerto Rico and asks that listeners continue to assist however they can.
She points to Ciencia Puerto Rico as a resource for information on ways to help.
CienciaPR.org/en (English site)
CienciaPR.org/es (Spanish site)
A Mississippian, an HBCU graduate, a PhD immunologist with postdoctoral training from an Ivy League institution, yet he sums up his journey beyond the bench with a simple phrase: be good to the people around you; be good to the people you care about, but most importantly be good to yourself!
Dr. Caleph Wilson shares his journey from the bench to a career in industry--first as a research scientist at an emerging biotech/biopharm, and now as a technical sales specialist and consultant for a global instrumentation company. You'll also learn about his science communication and advocacy work in making sure that science is accessible to all.
Follow him on Twitter: @HeyDrWilson
If you've ever wondered about a career in the policy world, this week's guest shares his journey from the North Carolina School of Math and Science to his current role at the National Institutes of Health. He also gives candid, yet helpful advice for those who are conducting job searches.
Follow Dr. Kenneth Gibbs, Jr. on Twitter at:
@KennyGibbsPhD
@STEMPhDCareers
Also mentioned in this episode:
Meyerhoff Scholars at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Leadership Alliance
NIH/NIGMS
This week's episode is a rebroadcast of a very popular 2016 Lunchtime webinar on setting Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic and Time Bound (SMART) goals.
Tips on not only how to create them, but also how to ensure that you attain and achieve them.
This week's episode is a rebroadcast of a 2016 lunchtime webinar on Active and Passive networking. We explore the definition of network, and pose challenging questions to unearth they type of networking that most of us engage.
We discuss several examples to allow you to see a clear difference between passive and active networking.
Is working in industry really that different from working in an academic research laboratory? How can you transfer the skills learned while training for a PhD into real time application? These are just two of several areas of insight that this newly minted PhD guest shares on her journey from the bench to the workplace.
Mentioned on the show:
Twitter: @Being_Melody
Instagram: @brokeonpurpose
Broke On Purpose
If someone asks how can they help you, what would be your response? You never know when this may happen, so if you stay ready, you will never have to get ready.
As we prepare to spread love and cheer to others in this season of giving, be sure that you make it a priority to Invest in You.
Is your scientific identity determined by the number of experiments you run each day? Do you somehow lose the ability to be a scientist when you choose to utilize your scientific training and skills outside a laboratory environment? Today's guest, Dr. Lamont Terrell, is a trained PhD synthetic organic chemist who had a very successful career as a bench scientist. Now, he's taking his talents to the 'other' side of the business and making an impact in identifying talent for the R&D organization.
Find out more about Dr. Terrell on his LinkedIn profile
You can also view a video interview of him talking about his career at GSK on the Muse. Click here to view.
Dr. Howard G. Adams is a mentoring guru. He is a leading expert on developing people through mentoring and strategic career/life planning. He has written, lectured, and consulted extensively on effective strategies for career, educational, and personal development. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and seminar presenter, having spoken at over 650 colleges/universities, numerous national conferences, and conducted training for a number of fortune 500 companies.
From 1978 to 1995 Adams served as Executive Director of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM), headquartered at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN. He retired from GEM in 1995.
Find out more about Dr. Adams on his website: howardgadamsasso.com
What is your WHY ME? Are you experiencing a situation that seems like there is no way for you to possibly be successful? Maybe you are ready to take that bold step towards your dream but just don’t know where to begin. Do you ever find yourself observing the progression and success of others who are seemingly doing the same things that you are, but wonder why you are not getting similar results? Whatever the case, the next time you find yourself asking WHY ME, ask yourself: What’s Hindering You from Maintaining Excellence? The solutions to WHY ME are found in 3 main areas: Skills, Mentoring, and Network.
Email me at podcast@stemulatingconvo.com
Follow on Twitter @drqualls