Podcast
People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers
Hosted by Dr. Marie McNeely, featuring top scientists speaking about their life and c · EN
Are you searching for great stories to ignite your curiosity, teach you to perform better in life and career, inspire your mind, and make you laugh along the way? In this science podcast, Dr. Marie McNeely introduces you to the brilliant researchers behind the latest scientific discoveries. Join us as they share their greatest failures, most staggering successes, candid career advice, and what drives them forward in life and science.
18episodes
Episodes
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865: Investigating How Frogs are Impacted by Climate Change, Fungal Disease, and Selection Pressures - Dr. Cori Richards-Zawacki
2w ago00:43:16Tap to summarizeDr. Cori Richards-Zawacki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology at the University of Pittsburgh. Cori studies topics in ecology, evolutionary biology, behavior, and conservation in frogs. In particular, she is working to understand how frogs use different body forms, colors, and other features to survive partially on land and partially in water. When she's not working and doing research, Cori enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two young daughters. She likes to play soccer, hike, go mountain biking, and do other outdoor activities. Cori received her Bachelor's degree in engineering and biology as well as her PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology both from the University of Michigan. She conducted postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Institute and the University of California, Berkeley. Cori next served on the faculty at Tulane University prior to joining the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in 2015. In our interview, Cori shares more about her life and science.
Transcribe →864: Investigating How Brain Inflammation May Contribute to Compulsivity - Dr. Laura Bradfield
3w ago00:41:17Tap to summarizeDr. Laura Bradfield is Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at The University of Sydney. In the lab, Laura studies the behavioral and brain mechanisms of compulsivity and compulsive disorders. Conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease all have elements of compulsivity. Rather than focusing on one particular condition, Laura and her team are working on developing better animal models of compulsivity and understanding how inflammation in certain parts of the brain affects compulsive behaviors. Outside of research, Laura loves to sing, and she enjoys going out for karaoke with colleagues in the evenings during conferences. She is also a fan of CrossFit workouts and spending time with her 14-year-old daughter. Laura received her bachelor's degree with honors in psychology and her PhD in neuroscience from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Sydney and subsequently the University of New South Wales. Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Sydney, Laura served as a Lecturer at University of New South Wales and a Research Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. In this interview, she shares more about her life and science.
Transcribe →863: Developing Novel Materials with Wide Applications from Medicine to Manufacturing - Dr. Tim Long
4w ago00:41:31Tap to summarizeDr. Tim Long is Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute at Virginia Tech. Tim's lab is working on a wide variety of research projects that are focused on novel macromolecular structures to tailor the properties and processing of polymers. His work has applications across many industries, including the development of chemotherapy treatments and electro-active devices important for prosthetics in medicine. In his job, Tim spends a lot of time in his office, in front of computers, in the lab, and inside at conferences, so he likes to spend his free time outside. There are beautiful mountains near his home in Virginia, and Tim has fun hiking, mountain biking, and enjoying nature with his family. He was awarded his B.S. in Chemistry from St. Bonaventure University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Tim worked as an Advanced Research Scientist and subsequently a Senior Research Scientist at Eastman Kodak Company, an Advanced Technical Program Research supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and a Principal Research Chemist with Eastman Chemical Company. Tim has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career, including the Virginia Outstanding Scientist of the Year Award, the Robert L. Patrick Fellowship Award, the ACS POLY Mark Scholar Award, the Carl Dahlquist Award from the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council, the American Chemical Society Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Cooperative Research Award, the Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence, the Collano Innovation Award, the Interdisciplinary Research Team Fellowship Award, the Faculty Research Award from the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry, the IBM Faculty Award, and the 3M Company Faculty Award. Tim has also been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the American Chemical Society, and a Fellow of the American Chemical Society Polymer Division. In our interview, Tim shares more about his life and science.
Transcribe →862: Understanding How the Brain Battles Infection - Dr. Tajie Harris
Apr 2700:41:25Tap to summarizeDr. Tajie Harris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. Tajie's research is at the intersection of immunology, microbiology, and neuroscience. She's interested in understanding how the immune system functions in the brain, particularly when someone is infected with a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. When she's not working, Tajie enjoys going for walks and spending time with her two rescue dogs. She is also a fan of traveling, cooking, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She received her B.S. degree in biology from Bemidji State University in Minnesota and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Afterwards, Tajie conducted Postdoctoral Research in immunoparasitology at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty at the University of Virginia where she is today. In this interview, Tajie shares more about her life and science.
Transcribe →861: Engineering Novel Solutions for Data Storage and Energy Management in Electronics - Dr. Eric Pop
Apr 2000:57:36Tap to summarizeDr. Eric Pop is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering as well as Materials Science & Engineering at Stanford University. Research in Eric's laboratory spans electronics, electrical engineering, physics, nanomaterials, and energy. They are interested in applying materials with nanoscale properties to engineer better electronics such as transistors, circuits, and data storage mechanisms. Eric is also investigating ways to better manage the heat that electronics generate. When he's not working, Eric enjoys snowboarding up in the mountains of California. He also enjoys traveling, playing soccer, and following professional soccer leagues. Eric received his B.S. in electrical engineering, B.S. in physics, and a M.Eng. in electrical engineering from MIT. He was awarded his PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Afterwards, Eric conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University before accepting a position as a Senior Engineer at Intel. Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford University, he served on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Eric has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, Young Investigator Awards from the Navy, Air Force, and DARPA, as well as an NSF CAREER Award. In our interview Eric shares more about his life and research.
Transcribe →860: Making a Mechatronic Tremor Suppression Glove for People with Parkinson's Disease - Dr. Ana Luisa Trejos
Apr 1300:41:32Tap to summarizeDr. Ana Luisa Trejos is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as Biomedical Engineering at Western University in Canada. She is also an Associate Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute. Ana Luisa's research combines mechanical, electrical, computer, and software engineering to develop smart machines that can perceive what is happening in the environment and react intelligently. In particular, she is designing wearable mechatronic technologies that can help people recover from mobility problems due to a musculoskeletal injury or a movement disorder like Parkinson's disease. When she's not at work, Ana Luisa enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, putting together jigsaw puzzles, hiking, swimming, and running. She has also been having fun renovating her house, and she has recently been working on completely remodeling one of their bathrooms. Ana Luisa was awarded her B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Costa Rica and her M.A.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia. She worked as an Applications Engineer for Progressive Moulded Products in Ontario from 2000-2003. She then joined the team at Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics at Western University as a research engineer. Ana Luisa later attended graduate school at Western University where she was awarded her Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2012. Ana Luisa has been awarded the IEEE London Section Outstanding Women in Engineering Award and the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Canada District Volunteer Appreciation Award. In our interview, Ana Luisa shares more about her life and research.
Transcribe →859: Modeling How Ecological and Evolutionary Processes Drive Adaptation in a Changing World - Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
Apr 600:49:08Tap to summarizeDr. Lawrence Uricchio is Assistant Professor and the Youniss Family Professor of Innovation in the Department of Biology at Tufts University. Research in Lawrence's lab focuses on modeling how evolutionary and ecological processes work. They use a combination of experimental and observational approaches to generate data, and then they develop mathematical models to explain the observations they make in nature. Outside of work, Lawrence is a devoted family man who loves spending time with his nine-year-old son, often shuttling him between soccer practices and games. He also enjoys being outdoors and running, a passion that has stayed with him since his days as a middle-distance runner in high school and college. He completed his bachelor's degree in physics at Carleton College, received master's degrees in biophysical sciences and computer science from the University of Chicago, and was awarded his PhD in bioinformatics from the University of California, San Francisco. While at UCSF, he was named a Discovery Fellow. Afterwards, Lawrence conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University under a Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics (CEHG) Fellowship and an NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA). He also conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the faculty at Tufts in 2021. In this interview, Lawrence shares more about his life and science.
Transcribe →858: Studying New Cellular Mechanisms of Memory Involving Myelin - Dr. Douglas Fields
Mar 3000:47:08Tap to summarizeDr. R. Douglas Fields is Chief of the Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Adjunct Professor in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, Doug is the author of numerous books and magazine articles about the brain, including the recently released book Electric Brain: How the New Science of Brainwaves Reads Minds, Tells Us How We Learn, and Helps Us Change for the Better. Doug studies how the brain develops and the mechanisms involved in changes to the brain's structure and function (plasticity). He is particularly interested in how experience regulates development and plasticity in the brain, as well as the mechanisms at a cellular level that are involved in learning. When he's not doing research or writing about science, Doug enjoys rock climbing, mountain climbing, building acoustic guitars, and making his own beer and wine. He received his B.A. in biology from the University of California, Berkeley, his M.A. degree in marine biology from San Jose State University, and his Ph.D. degree in marine biology from the University of California, San Diego, working jointly in the Medical School and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Afterwards, Doug conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University, Yale University, and the NIH before starting his research laboratory at the NIH in 1994. Doug is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and he is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of the scientific journal Neuron Glia Biology. In our interview, Doug tells us more about his life and science.
Transcribe →857: Mathematician and Communicator with an Eye for Modeling Cataract Development in Populations Over Time - Dr. Talithia Williams
Mar 2300:51:09Tap to summarizeDr. Talithia Williams is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean for Research and Experiential Learning at Harvey Mudd College. In addition, Talithia is Host of the PBS Series NOVA Wonders and author of the book Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics. Talithia is a mathematician who does disease modeling. She has been working with the World Health Organization to create models of the rates at which groups of people develop cataracts over time. Left untreated, cataracts can cause partial or complete blindness. In the U.S., cataract surgery is quick and accessible, but this is not the case in other countries. Knowing where there is the greatest need for treatment is important for the World Health Organization as they make decisions on where to send ophthalmologists to perform surgeries. In addition to being a mathematician and researcher, Talithia is a mother of three boys, a wife of 15 years, a TV show host, an author, and a person of faith. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, being involved in her church, volunteering, and helping people in her community. She received a B.S. in mathematics from Spelman College, and while an undergraduate student, Talithia conducted research at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After graduating, Talithia went on to earn a master's degree in mathematics from Howard University, a master's degree in statistics from Rice University, and a PhD in statistics from Rice University. Prior to joining the faculty at Harvey Mudd College, Talithia conducted research at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the NASA Johnson Space Center, and the National Security Agency. Talithia has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including the Mathematical Association of America's Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member and The Claremont Colleges Diversity Mentor Award. In our interview Talithia shares more about her life and work.
Transcribe →856: Engineering Innovative Shoes to Help Feet Move Forward - Dr. Tyler Susko
Mar 1600:44:56Tap to summarizeDr. Tyler Susko is Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cadense, Inc., a company that creates groundbreaking adaptive solutions. He is also a Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Vice Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. And he is Principal Engineer and Owner of Susko Engineering, LLC. Tyler is dedicated to creating useful things that solve real-world problems for people. He and his team have designed an innovative shoe where portions of the bottom surface alternate between providing high-friction grip to low-friction slide to help people move their foot forward when walking. As an entrepreneur and a father of three, Tyler keeps very busy. He and his family enjoy hanging out, rock climbing, skiing, and engaging in robotics club activities together. Tyler has learned to blend his work life with his family life, so his kids sometimes come with him to the office, and sometimes he brings his work home. Tyler received his bachelor's degree in Integrated Business and Engineering and his master's degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University. Afterwards, he worked as a design engineer for Ingersoll Rand for two years before returning to graduate school. He was awarded his PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT. After completing his PhD, Tyler joined the faculty at UC Santa Barbara and launched his engineering consulting company. He co-founded Cadense in 2021. Cadence has been recognized with an Innovation Award from the Pacific Coast Business Times, and it was named a finalist for Fast Company's 2025 Innovation by Design Award. In our interview, Tyler shares more about his life and his career.
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