Shows
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep 14: Olivia Gonzalez, EconomistOlivia Gonzalez is an economist at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the Office of Strategic Management and Enterprise Integrity, where she conducts regulatory economic analysis, supports the evaluation of SBA programs, and leverages data and evidence as strategic assets to drive decisions. She co-leads the SBA’s Evidence and Evaluation Community of Practice which is intended to promote a culture of learning and evidence-based decision-making throughout the agency. Olivia has over 10 years of experience in researching and analyzing macroeconomic and microeconomic data from diverse sources, developing metrics, and synthesizing research in professional journal articles, research papers, an...2024-11-2140 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep 13: Celena Michaud, Electrical EngineerCelena Michaud is an Electrical Engineer at Avalanche Energy, a nuclear fusion startup developing a compact fusion device capable of providing clean, renewable energy for use in distributed and remote systems such as underwater vehicles and satellites. Her work includes designing experimental hardware, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems to support fusion research and experiments. While studying Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Georgia, Celena discovered her fascination with the intersection between low-level systems hardware and software. She completed an undergraduate co-operative education program at Gulfstream Aerospace, where she gained experience in real-time flight simulation and experimental...2024-11-1441 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep 12: Dr. Daisy Rosas-VargasDr. Daisy Rosas Vargas identifies as first generation indigenous (Mexica) and Latine born in what is called the United States. She is a chemist, science communicator, and educator who enjoys sharing the wonders of chemistry and science with the future generation. She used her voice to represent and advocate for the underrepresented students in the college classroom, as a former professor at a small liberal arts college. Her current focus, since making a career change, is making science accessible and relatable through projects like ‘Chemists in the Kitchen’ with the National Academy of Sciences, ‘Drawing with Dr. Daisy’ with the Muse...2024-11-0740 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep11: Daryl Capanzana; Product ManagerDaryl is a seasoned product lead dedicated to simplifying complex systems and creating seamless online-to-offline experiences. Her career across 3 countries is rooted in banking and spanned sustainable energy and tech at Tesla and Twitter. She is now in healthcare after co-founding a chat-based health consultation service, which won a global award for its impact and creativity on healthcare accessibility. With a multidisciplinary background, curiosity, and drive to improve lives, Daryl brings a unique blend of technical and social science skills with empathy to her work. She holds an MSc in Environmental Management from the National University of...2024-10-2438 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep10: Talis Apud-Martinez; STEM InnovatorTalis has spent the last 20 years co-founding and growing social enterprises focused in entrepreneurship education, youth leadership, and tech: FeelGood, Latiendo por Mexico, and Crew for All. She currently serves as an Associate Director at the ideaHUB in Dalhousie University, a deep-tech incubator committed to supporting founders to build physical products for a healthier world while becoming mindful leaders. Talis holds an MS in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico and lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with her husband, Dylan and two kids, Sam and Annie. 2024-10-1735 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep9: Danielle Cantrell-Sikstrom Intel gaming content strategistDanielle Cantrell-Sikstrom is the global gaming content strategist at Intel. In this role, she develops and executes the strategy for video and retail gaming content for Intel Core processors and Intel Arc graphics. Previously, she was an account manager at Sony Electronics in Los Angeles covering all audio, video, and camera sales and training. Prior to that, she worked at Sony Playstation doing marketing and merchandising. In her free time, she builds PCs, plays and streams video games, and enjoys live music.2024-10-0338 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep 8: Kayla B., Product Manager in TechKayla Bassett (she/her/hers) is the Head of Product at Ensis, a company developing AI-powered proposal software for responding to government RFPs, RFIs, and more. Prior to Ensis, she was a Director of Product Management by way of their acquisition of Limbix. At Big Health she directed the modernization of the key platform services and tooling supporting apps for insomnia, anxiety, and depression. And at Limbix, Kayla was the Director of Product Management and led a team of Product Managers building digital therapeutics for adolescent depression and anxiety. Previously, she built data products to accelerate clinical research at...2024-09-2640 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep7: Sohnee Ahmed Genetic CounselorSohnee Ahmed is a board-certified genetic counselor and variant analyst involved in genetic analysis and report writing for whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, and panel tests. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science, specializing in Genetics & Biotechnology with a minor in Anthropology. She then attended Wayne State University to achieve a Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling. Following graduation, Sohnee was recruited to the University of Rochester in New York State, where she was a joint faculty member in the Departments of Neurology and Medicine and provided in-person genetic counselling to...2024-09-1941 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep 6: Lainie Mataras, Senior Director of the Consultant Architecture and Design Group at Planar Lainie Mataras is the Senior Director of the Consultant Architecture and Design Group at Planar, a global leader in visualization technology. In this role, Mataras leverages her extensive professional network to foster relationships with industry partners and further develop the company’s consultant and architecture and design programs. With 30 years of experience in the audio-visual and digital signage industry, Mataras worked as a regional sales manager for the consultant industry at Sapphire Marketing, where she worked for 14 years. Prior to that, she held a technical sales role at Crestron, where she worked for a decade. Mataras is a boar...2024-09-1236 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep5: Jason Garborino Nursing LeaderJason Garbarino is an experienced nurse educator, clinician, and leader whose 16-year career in nursing spans across various speciality areas. Jason remains clinically active within primary care nursing, overseeing patient Annual Wellness Visits while teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing students. He taught nursing full-time for 11 years as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Vermont (UVM). He served as the Vice Chair/Director of the Undergraduate Nursing Program. In 2022, he was the recipient of the UVM Kreps-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award for his innovation, creativity, and community-building endeavors. Throughout his career, Jason has demonstrated a commitment to advancing...2024-08-2938 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep4: Ali Divan Entrepeneur in Life Sciences IndustryDr. Divan is the founder of Trulitica, a professional career services company that focuses on strategy, communication, and career development for scientists in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Divan has experience in reagents manufacturing & development, and diagnostics. He has served the San Diego biotech industry in Quality Control, Product Development, Technology Transfer, Operations and R&D. Among his most notable contributions, he supported the launch and operational scaling of BioLegend’s Totalseq product line during the COVID-19 pandemic. He holds a Ph.D. In Medical Sciences from Texas A&M University and completed his po...2024-08-2245 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep3: Samuel Oyefusi Nigerian EntrepeneurSamuel Oluwakorede Oyefusi is a Mechanical Engineering student at Pan Atlantic University, Ex-president of the Living Green Club, the co-Founder of Ridebuddy and Global Ambassador of Thierworld. He has a passion for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which drives his focus on Energy Transition and Robotics innovation, alongside advocacy for quality education. With a knack for research, analysis, and strategic planning, He utilises his expertise in innovation and sustainable development to foster positive change across Africa. As a community leader, he mentors the youths close to him...2024-08-1535 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep2: Shaundra Toy, Solution EngineerShaundra Toy is currently working as a Solution Engineer for Clari, a company working with AI in the Sales Process. Previously, she worked with Groove, a Sales Enablement Solution built on Salesforce, and previous to that, as a Solution Engineer at Salesforce Service Cloud working with High Tech Strategic Accounts. Prior to jumping into Tech she also had a career in the Print Industry, where she worked for Screen, Pantone, Kodak and Creo developing Professional Services for Color and Automation, and Global Brand Initiatives for clients like P&G, Target, 3M and Colgate-Palmolive. Toy is...2024-08-0839 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S3 Ep1: Chaya Mallavaram, Technologist and ADHD AdvocateDriven by a blend of formal education in accounting, a thriving career in technology for over 22 years, and a profound passion for art, I've embraced every facet of my life with a growth mindset. Living with ADHD has been my greatest teacher, guiding me through triumphs and trials and fostering personal growth at every turn. From navigating the complexities of distraction to discovering the power of hyperfocus, each experience has shaped me into who I am today. Harnessing my strengths in transformation, creativity, emotional intelligence, and unconventional thinking, I've learned to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. My journey...2024-08-0641 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep13 Etienne Palos, UCSD Computational ChemistryEtienne Palos is a Ph.D. candidate in Theoretical & Computational Chemistry, working in the group of Prof. Francesco Paesani at the University of California, San Diego. His work is founded on a data-driven approach for molecular simulation, and encompasses method development, implementation, and making conceptual connections between electronic structure theory and many-body representations of molecular systems, particularly in the condensed phase. His work resides "on the border" between quantum chemistry and statistical physics, seeking to improve our understanding of the complexity of molecular interactions, from the dimer to the thermodynamic limit.Etienne earned his M.S. from...2024-04-2539 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 16: Brianna Jepsen Indiana University Chemistry PhD CandidateBrianna Jepsen is pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at Indiana University, focusing on Materials and Organic Chemistry. She is a 3rd-year graduate student in Dr. Liang-shi Li’s lab and an NSF-GRFP Fellow. Previously, she received a B.A. in Chemistry from Colgate University. Her current research focuses on developing an alternative cancer treatment by synthesizing a new photosensitizer, a molecule that can absorb light and be used in photochemical reactions, to be used in photodynamic therapy, where light is shined on a photosensitizer to destroy tumor cells. Ideally, the treatment will be more localized than current methods to mi...2024-04-1830 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 12 Emmaleah JonesEmmaleah Jones is a recent graduate from Northeastern University's Master's program in Urban Informatics-- a blend of data science and urban planning. Her background is in urban planning, social science, and resilience studies. In undergrad, she conducted research with 100 Resilient Cities on urban governance and climate change-related natural hazards (flooding, land subsidence) in coastal villages of Semarang, Indonesia. In 2022 she was a Fulbright researcher in Chile, where she worked with an interdisciplinary team at CIGIDEN (the Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management) and the National Office of Emergency to build a simulation-based visualization and decision-support tool for integrating...2024-04-1148 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 15: Dr. Marilu Perez Garcia, AMES National LabDr. Marilú Pérez García is a first-generation college graduate. She started her academic career at the College of Southern Idaho, then transferred to Idaho State University to complete her bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She took a year off to travel before enrolling in the Chemistry Graduate Program at Iowa State University. After completing her doctorate in 2014, focusing on analytical and computational chemistry, Dr. Perez stayed in Ames for a post-doc position in the Critical Materials Innovation Hub, studying primarily rare earth elements. Now pursuing independent research, she examines ways to combine empirical and computational data to under...2024-04-0438 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep14 Emma Peterman, MIT Chemical EngineerI’m Emma Peterman, an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Galloway Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My current research is focused on engineering genetic circuits to perform more reliably in mammalian cells for applications like cellular therapies. Prior to MIT, I completed my B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware, where I researched pulmonary delivery of polymer nanoparticles with the Fromen Research Group.In addition to my research, I am passionate about outreach in my community, specifically focused on empowering young female scientists. I mentor local seventh grade students with...2024-03-2138 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 8 Sophia Manukian from Stanford UniversitySophia is a 1st year PhD student in Biochemistry at Stanford University, where she is currently rotating in labs. Her previous research included her Masters work on in vivo mRNA display, a high-throughput technique developed in the Tavazoie Lab at Columbia University to study protein interactions. When not playing around with proteins, Sophia enjoys participating in STEM outreach and mentorship which she has been involved in since her undergraduate days at UMass Lowell. In her spare time, you can find Sophia climbing at the local rock gym or enjoying a mug of herbal tea.2024-03-1436 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep10 Noah Lemke Texas A&M UniversityNoah Lemke is an NSF Graduate Fellow and PhD Candidate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He researches the reproductive behavioral ecology of the black soldier fly, a species of insect being mass-reared by companies around the world to convert agricultural residuals into feed for livestock and fertilizer for crops. His research aims to understand how evolutionary processes have shaped the black soldier fly’s reproductive behavior, and how specific behaviors might persist or be modified within captivity. Noah’s research has taken place in a variety of contexts, ranging from the lab, greenhouses, and the f...2024-03-0538 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 9 Vanshika Gupta at Purdue University Vanshika Gupta is currently a second year PhD student in the Dick lab at Purdue University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from San Jose State University in California where she researched with Dr. Madalyn Radlauer on the conversion of greenhouse gases to fuel via single chain polymeric nanoparticles. Post-graduation, she worked as an Amgen scholar with Dr. Netz Arroyo at Johns Hopkins University investigating the use of osmium-based complexes for electrochemical aptamer-based sensors before starting her PhD at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Jeffrey Dick group in Fall 2021. She moved with the...2024-02-2844 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep10 Noah Lemke Texas A&M UniversityNoah Lemke is an NSF Graduate Fellow and PhD Candidate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He researches the reproductive behavioral ecology of the black soldier fly, a species of insect being mass-reared by companies around the world to convert agricultural residuals into feed for livestock and fertilizer for crops. His research aims to understand how evolutionary processes have shaped the black soldier fly’s reproductive behavior, and how specific behaviors might persist or be modified within captivity. Noah’s research has taken place in a variety of contexts, ranging from the lab, greenhouses, and the f...2024-02-2638 min
Where does your journey STEM From?S2 Ep 9 Vanshika Gupta at Purdue UniversityVanshika Gupta is currently a second year PhD student in the Dick lab at Purdue University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from San Jose State University in California where she researched with Dr. Madalyn Radlauer on the conversion of greenhouse gases to fuel via single chain polymeric nanoparticles. Post-graduation, she worked as an Amgen scholar with Dr. Netz Arroyo at Johns Hopkins University investigating the use of osmium-based complexes for electrochemical aptamer-based sensors before starting her PhD at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Jeffrey Dick group in Fall 2021. She moved with the...2024-02-2644 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Amal Dadi Duke University ScientistAmal Dadi is a biologist with broad experience in basic science research, clinical testing, and environmental education and advocacy. She earned Bachelor's degrees in French and Biology from Grinnell College, and recently completed a Master's degree in Science Policy, Bioethics, and Tech Ethics from Duke University. She currently works as a scientist at Q2 Solutions, where she conducts laboratory work supporting clinical trials.Amal is passionate about science communication, public outreach, and research implementation. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, climbing, and conversations with her very chatty cat. 2024-02-2249 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Andrea Naranjo-Soledad PhD Candidate at UC BerkleyAndrea is an Environmental Engineering Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Ashok Gadgil's Lab at the University of California, Berkeley. As part of Gadgil's Lab, Andrea works on the design of technologies for the removal of chromium in groundwater and hopes to extend these technologies for the removal of other contaminants, such as uranium, found in groundwater. Andrea earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Before moving to the United States, she lived in Colombia where she saw many communities lack access to clean air and water, food, and sanitation. As...2024-02-1537 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Valerie Carricaburu, PhD Microsoft Business DevelopmentValerie joined Microsoft 3.5 years ago, is now Director of corporate business development at Microsoft, leading strategic partnerships in healthcare and life sciences. Valerie started her career as a researcher in the US after obtaining a PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from University of Bordeaux. Then, for the last 15+ years, Valerie held different positions structuring and negotiating deals with enterprises, startups, US Government, etc. at Intellectual Ventures, VICIS, and UW.2024-02-0833 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Zollie Yavarow, PhD Duke UniversityDr. Zollie Yavarow is a science communicator and patient advocate focused on rare disease and gene therapy. She founded Zaris Consulting, an organization providing gene therapy consulting and science educational content with a patient focus. She earned her PhD in Pharmacology and MA in Bioethics and Science Policy from Duke University in 2022. She is a published scientist and talented science communicator, winning numerous awards for her presentation skills. After ten years of research at the laboratory bench, Dr. Yavarow shifted to the real-world applications of therapeutics she studied, focusing on the patient perspective. Beyond these interests, she loves experimenting...2024-02-0136 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Anoop Kiran Brown UniversityAnoop is a second-year Engineering Ph.D. student and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Brown University. His research focuses on the physics-informed control of aerial robot (drone) swarms in unsteady environments. Before joining Brown, he graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University at Buffalo. As a mentor for underrepresented students through the NSTMF, he aspires to make STEM accessible and equitable. Outside of his academic endeavors, he enjoys flying as a student pilot, exploring sci-fi literature, and playing soccer.2024-01-3033 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Prathic Sundararajan Becton DickinsonPrathic is an associate in the Software Development Program at Becton Dickinson (BD). His current work focuses on implementing systems to secure the cloud technology powering BD’s current and future products deployed in hospitals. Prathic is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a Computer Science Minor. His primary focus is on the intersection between health and technology (healthtech). Outside of work, he finds solace in hiking, indulges in police procedurals, and listens to Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications during aviation emergencies.2024-01-2333 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Bryn Loftness, NSF GRFP at University of VermontBryn Loftness is a PhD candidate in the Complex Systems and Data Science program at University of Vermont and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She works in the Neurobotics Lab and M-Sense Research Group at the UVM Complex Systems Center developing machine learning and digital phenotyping algorithms. The data she works with are primarily biological and behavioral signals derived from on-body and off-body sensors, health, and/or contextual records. She also works remotely with the Sabeti Lab through the Broad Institute, specializing in behavioral phenotyping and digital epidemiology projects. In this role, she collaborates significantly with the...2024-01-1836 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Hosea Santiago Cruz Carnegie Mellon University Environmental EngineeringHosea Santiago Cruz is a Puerto Rican engineer and scientist. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. Hosea is a 3rd Year Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and an NSF-GRFP Fellow. His research focuses on enhancing treatment techniques to remove and destroy pollutants from water, specifically PFAS, also called “Forever Chemicals.” In addition to pursuing his Ph.D., Hosea forms part of AmandOcéano, a nonprofit organization working on preserving Puerto Rico’s marine and coastal ecosystems through education and conservation.2024-01-1641 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Natalie Coleman Texas A&M University Civil EngineeringNatalie Coleman is a PhD student at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Texas A&M University, under the construction engineering management program. She is a graduate research assistant at Urban Resilience.AI, a lab focusing on interdisciplinary and data-driven solutions for infrastructure resilience, working under Dr. Ali Mostafavi. Her research examines the social disparities and risk inequalities associated with disruptions in infrastructure services during the disaster impact. She is particularly interested in integrating the physical and social vulnerabilities of impacted communities to promote equitable infrastructure practices. Coleman uses data science, machine learning, and disaster research to understand...2024-01-1135 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Maria Zavala New Mexico State UniversityMaria was born and raised between Zacatecas, Mexico and Oakley, Idaho. She received associate degrees in chemistry, geology, & physics from the College of Southern Idaho (2017). Later she completed her bachelor’s in chemistry at Westminster University (formerly known as Westminster College) in Salt Lake City, UT (2019). Maria also earned her Master’s in Horticulture from NMSU (2021) and is currently in the Plant & Environmental Science Ph.D. Program here at NMSU. Her research explores algal strains as a food source for humans under simulated space conditions. More specifically, Maria is ensuring a simulated environment through gravitational cancellation in a 2-D plan...2024-01-0438 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Katelyn Feuling University of Chicago Katelyn is a second year PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and Neubauer Family Fellow. Using ultrafast laser spectroscopy, she researches how biological systems harness fundamental quantum mechanics to control light-driven processes. Before joining UChicago, she worked in industry as a laser field service engineer. She is passionate and active in STEM education, inclusive pedagogies, and advocacy in teaching and research.2023-12-1234 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Patrick Nikoletich, Chief Technology Officer ShippoPatrick is a technology executive and founder. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Shippo managing both product and engineering organizations. Previously, he served as the VP of Product at Truveta focused on developing AI/ML applications to improve the outcomes of patients receiving treatments, at Microsoft in Azure and AI & Research divisions as an engineering and program manager, and working for and leading small businesses developing applications with larger enterprises. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, riding motorcyles and hiking in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two dogs.2023-12-0738 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Brayan Vilanova-Cuevas Microbiology at Cornell UniversityBrayan earned a B.S. in microbiology from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. At the Hewson lab, he focuses on studying the pathogenic ciliate responsible for the mass mortality of sea urchins who belong to the Diadematidae family. He is a 2nd-year graduate student, NSF-GRFP, and CALS Stadtman Fellow in the Microbiology PhD program at Cornell University. He is passionate about making science, especially microbiology, more accessible and inclusive through organizing events, workshops, and seminars that foster a welcoming environment for all aspiring scientists.2023-12-0530 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Ben Ormond and Doug Herta Healthcare StrategistsBen Ormond is a Director of Care Transformation for Optum, and was previously with Kaiser Permanente’s Washington region, where he served as a Business Operations Director for the surgical specialties. The main focus in his career has been to understand the complexities of our particular health care ecosystem, with the express purpose of turning that knowledge into more affordable, higher quality health care for patients. Ben received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Portland, and his master’s from Gonzaga. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he lives in Seattle with his wife and dog, and he wat...2023-11-3053 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Jennifer Mak University of PittsburghJennifer is a PhD candidate in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She previously earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Her current work in the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (RNEL) studies mechanistic changes in the brain after a stroke, which can lead to visual-spatial attention and upper-limb motor dysfunction. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop technology-driven rehabilitation protocols and tools to facilitate stroke recovery. Jennifer is deeply passionate about STEM outreach to her local community, undergraduate mentorship, and inclusion of women and historically-marginalized groups in STEM...2023-11-2837 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Mai Huynh at Brown UniversityMai Huynh is a 4th Year PhD student in the Pathobiology program at Brown University. Her research in the Jamieson Lab revolves around the complex relationship between the microbiome and the immune system in the context of cancer. She is very passionate about a breadth of topics, ranging from music theory to political science. She has been involved in social justice and equity initiatives since very young and hopes to pursue a career promoting diversity in all types of research in order to make healthcare more inclusive.2023-11-2030 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Meghan Sullivan from Harvard UniversityMeghan recently earned her B.S. in chemistry from the University at Buffalo, where she synthesized new porous inorganic materials under the guidance of Prof. Timothy Cook. She is currently a first-year Ph.D. student and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at Harvard University. In the group of Prof. Daniel Nocera, she studies photocatalysis and other energy-relevant reactions. She is an advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM, and loves to explore new ways to engage general audiences in chemistry and support the next generation of scientists. (1) Meghan Sullivan | LinkedIn2023-11-1430 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Ashley Bosa at Boise State UniversityAshley Bosa is a fourth year geosciences graduate student at Boise State University. She is also a vulcanologist. She was born and raise in Southern Colorado where geology abounds and introduced her to her love of the Earth. She is currently working on a two-fold project in graduate school. The first part is to monitor rain triggered lahars (lava flows) in Vulcan de Fuego in Guatemala. The second part is to develop a collaborative vulcanic hazards training workshop for a local community in the cascades. In her spare time she enjoys outreach and science communication and has her very own...2023-11-0935 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Kristi Boyd AI SpecialistKristi Boyd is the Trustworthy AI Specialist with SAS' Data Ethics Practice(DEP). With experience across product management, quality assurance,and academic research, she has cultivated a unique, multidisciplinaryperspective on emerging technologies such as AI. She holds degrees inInternational Business from Azusa Pacific University and Technology Ethics& Policy from Duke University. With a blend of technical and ethical expertise, Kristi’s mission is tounderstand emerging technologies like AI, assess them in the context ofculture, and translate the findings into actionable recommendations to fueland push the boundaries of responsible innovation in ways that promotehuman well-being, agency, and equity. Her multifaceted ex...2023-11-0734 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Suraj Rajendran Computational Biology at Weill Cornell Medical CollegeSuraj is a Ph.D. student in the Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Computational Biology at Weill Cornell Medical College, specializing in computational biology and bioinformatics. His research interests include the impact of data heterogeneity in federated learning, predicting the ploidy status of embryos using deep video classification, clinical trial emulation, and deep learning in genomics. He is honored to be supported by the National Science Foundation through a Graduate Research Fellowship. Currently, he is co-mentored by Dr. Fei Wang and Dr. Iman Hajirasouliha. In my free time, He enjoys hiking and reading books about contemporary philosophy.2023-11-0233 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Andy Garcia Grad student transitioning to Co-founder in NYCAndy is the Co-founder and CEO of a healthtech company currently operating in stealth. Prior, Andy was a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at Columbia University, where his research focused on ways to improve osteoarthritis-related knee surgeries. He is a published scientific author, award-winning inventor, and engineer passionate about democratizing access to quality healthcare. He holds an MS in biomedical engineering from Columbia and a BS in mechanical engineering from New York University.2023-10-2533 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Rachel Kozloski, University of Nevada at Reno, NSF FellowRachel Kozloski is a PhD student in UNR’s Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences. Prior to beginning her PhD, Rachel worked in the private and government sectors as a soil scientist and environmental analyst. Her research focuses on microplastics in urban runoff and microplastic movement in connected surface and groundwater systems. When she is not conducting lab analyses or doing fieldwork she is equally happy exploring wild places or curled up with her dogs and a good book.2023-10-1954 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Josh Robinson, UT Southwestern NSF FellowJoshua is originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and minor concentrations in Biology and Leadership Studies from Baylor University. He matriculated to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX in 2020. He joined the Siegwart lab in 2021 and is working on the development of three-component lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as gene carriers. As seen with the COVID-19 vaccines, delivery of genetic material (in this case mRNA) has been very helpful and successful. He aims to potentially develop more efficient LNPs for mRNA delivery. Outside of lab, he is a big sports fan, both watching and playing...2023-10-1730 min
Where does your journey STEM From?Mel Ortiz Alvarez, Brown University NSF FellowMel Ortiz Alvarez de la Campa is a Puerto Rican & queer scientist, writer and artist. They graduated from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras with a B.S. in Integrative Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities in 2021. They are currently a third year Pathobiology PhD candidate at Brown University, as well as an NSF GRFP fellow. Their research focuses on finding a link between early life adversity, anxiety and the microbiome. Outside of the lab, Mel is co-founder of Ciencia Pa' Todes, a Spanish-language sci-com initiative based in the Caribbean.2023-10-1126 min
Where does your journey STEM From?IntroductionHave you ever wondered where people's journeys stem from? Welcome to my podcast where we explore career paths and research in STEM.2023-09-2004 min