Episode Summary:

This insightful episode features Emmanuel Tsekleves, Ph.D., a full professor at Lancaster University and research director in Lancashire, England. Emmanuel shares his personal journey from Ph.D. graduate to full professor by age 40 and offers invaluable advice on how Ph.D. candidates, postdocs, and early-career academics can successfully navigate the complex academic job market. From avoiding common application mistakes to the importance of securing funding, this conversation is packed with practical tips for aspiring academics.

Key Takeaways:

• Start Early & Learn from Mistakes: Dr. Tsekleves highlights the importance of mentors and learning from early mistakes in his academic journey. He emphasizes that mistakes can be powerful learning tools but suggests it's even better to learn from others' experiences.

• Transitioning from Postdoc to Assistant Professor: Many postdocs fall into the trap of discussing future research plans rather than focusing on securing funding. Emmanuel explains how this common pitfall can hinder postdocs' chances of securing tenure-track positions.

• Application Quality vs. Quantity: Sending out many generic applications will likely yield poor results. Emmanuel stresses the importance of focusing on a single application, conducting thorough research on the institution, and aligning your application materials with their specific needs.

• Speak to the Postholder: Before submitting an application, Emmanuel suggests reaching out to the academic contact listed in the job ad. This helps you gain insider information, shows genuine interest, and gives you visibility with those making hiring decisions.

• Show How You Add Value: Instead of listing your qualifications, demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the needs of the institution. Show how you can contribute to their teaching programs, research groups, and overall mission.

Actionable Tips:

1. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Postdocs need to shift their mindset from talking about research to discussing the funding they can attract. Learn to demonstrate value by focusing on what you bring to the institution.

2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: Tailor each application specifically to the institution and role, showing how your research and teaching expertise fit their culture and objectives.

3. Engage with the Hiring Institution: Reach out to the postholder before submitting your application. It gives you a chance to learn more about the role and make a strong impression.

4. Research and Personalize Your Applications: Whether you're applying for a postdoc or a tenure-track position, be sure to thoroughly research the department and align your cover letter, research statement, and teaching statement with their current projects.

About Dr. Emmanuel Tsekleves:

Dr. Emmanuel Tsekleves is a professor at Lancaster University, where he also serves as research director. His work includes mentoring early and mid-career academics, helping them publish high-quality research, secure funding, and navigate the academic job market. He offers a variety of resources, including training programs and his popular newsletter, Academic Insider.

Connect with Dr. Emmanuel Tsekleves:

• LinkedIn: Emmanuel Tsekleves
• Twitter/X: @EmmanuelTsekleves
• Instagram: @EmmanuelTsekleves

Bridging the Communication Gap for Scientists and Engineers: Insights from "Speak Like a CEO"  Thought Leader Oliver Aust

In this episode of When Science Speaks, I sit down with Oliver Aust, one of the world's preeminent experts on leadership communications. Oliver has helped hundreds of founders and CEOs become top 1% communicators, including many leaders with a scientific or engineering background.

Oliver shares actionable tips and insights in his books, LinkedIn and newsletter, as well as on his popular podcast, Speak Like a CEO. Those interested in working with Oliver can join the Speak Like a CEO Academy (links to Oliver's offerings in the Resources section below).

During the episode, Oliver highlights common communication challenges and offers strategies for improvement, such as using clear structures, storytelling, and simplifying language. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding one's audience and dealing with linguistic nuances for non-native English speakers. 

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Clear Communication

00:21 Challenges for Scientists and Engineers

00:39 Career Transition Beyond Academia

00:54 Exploring Communication Improvement Options

01:00 Guest Introduction: Oliver Aust

01:57 Common Communication Blind Spots

03:28 Transforming Leadership Communication

04:41 Practical Hacks for Effective Communication

06:18 Case Studies and Real-World Examples

10:33 Overcoming Language Barriers

16:44 Final Thoughts and Actionable Tips

19:08 Conclusion

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Oliver's LinkedIN profile

Oliver's books: Available on this page 

• Message Machine: How Communications Will Make You an Unstoppable Founder

• Unignorable: Build Your Personal Brand and Boost Your Business in 30 Days

• Mastering Communications: How CEOs and Executives Can Build a Great Reputation in the Digital Age

• How to Speak Like a CEO: How successful leaders communicate

Speak Like a CEO:

• Podcast

• Newsletter

• Academy

As the podcast enters its fifth season (220 episodes and counting!), I'm incorporating shorter segments with my commentary on key communication topics - like:

• How to make your presentation engaging and memorable
• The most effective ways to translate complexity so your listeners understand and retain your message
• Shaping your writing so it's crisp and captures your readers attention

The show will still include interviews as always.

Have a topic about writing, presentating, or moving your priorities forward?  

Drop a comment at the show's Youtube channel at WhenScienceSpeaks podcast.

This week's episode features Russ Harrison, Director of Government Relations for IEEE-USA, the American component of the world's largest technical professional society, IEEE, with nearly 170,000 individual members across the United States. IEEE-USA supports the career growth and public policy interests of its members, who are technical professionals.

Our conversation covered a range of advocacy and policy issues, including:

• Common misperceptions about policymaking Russ hears from audiences during his frequent talks with IEEE-USA members, their questions, and how he responds to them

• Areas Russ believes technical professionals - in general - need to further develop to be successful as advocates for their policy priorities

• Which assets technical professionals have in interactions with policymakers and their staffs - including some that perhaps engineers, for example, don't even realize they have

• How advocacy has been affected by COVID

• Central principles of Russ's own advocacy approach, and how his approach has developed over the years

• IEEE-USA's priorities for shaping policy and how Russ sees policy and regulation developing in the future

 

This week's episode features, Roshni Rao, PhD, inaugural Director of PHutures, the new resource for PhDs and Postdocs at the Johns Hopkins University, discussing professional development, life design and connections.

Topics include: 

The PHutures initiative at Johns Hopkins - its mission and Roshni's goals for the program

What it was like and how she was able to address and overcome the challenges associated with all the major, on-the-fly changes required by the pandemic

The kinds of programming PHutures offers 

As a leader who earned her PhD in the U.S. and did her Postdoc in Washington, DC, how her perspective on the international PhD and Postdoc experience is influenced by her own first-hand experience.

How being a non-U.S. citizen studying and training in the U.S. at the PhD and Postdoc levels ties to career exploration and also how Roshni is addressing - as director of PHutures - some of these specific challenges, like navigating visas

As someone now in a leadership role at one of the most prestigious U.S. universities, does imposter syndrome still manifest itself and how Roshni helps PhD students and Postdocs cope with - and hopefully conquer - imposter syndrome

What Roshni means by "relationship building" when she emphasizes its importance to her students and trainees and how she "teaches" it, if you will, along with examples or illustrations she uses to help her program participants internalize it

How relationship-building has benefited her career and whether she always was adept at building professional relationships

One thing that listeners could do today to initiate or strengthen a beneficial professional relationship?

Looking over the horizon, how she sees demand across PhD and Postdoc programs in the U.S. developing for the types of transferable skills that PHutures offers

 

In this week's episode, I'm joined by Palesa Mothapo, Ph.D., Head of Postdoctoral Research Support in Stellenbosch University's Division for Research Development located in Stellenbosch, South Africa's Western Cape province, for an informative and interesting discussion of topics including: 

- How Palesa first developed her interest in Zoology and then later, decided to focus on invasive species

- In her role at Stellenbosch University, where she helps postdocs making the transition from academia to industry, the types of skill development strategies and resources she draws upon in working with her trainees

- Which knowledge, skills, or abilities postdocs typically already possess that Palesa finds are most relevant to a transition to industry, and which are often most in need of further development

- How Palesa goes about helping trainees learn to effectively communicate complex scientific topics to general audiences and her own approach to translating and distilling her research work so it's engaging and accessible to non-experts

- What it was like for Palesa to serve as a Mandela Washington Fellow in 2018 and how she feels the experience may have influenced her perspective and work

- Palesa's plans and goals for 2021

In Dr. Kahnweiler's second appearance on the show, the "Champion of Introverts" discusses her new book, "Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces", and a range of related topics, including: 

- The benefits and risks for introverts of remote work and how to avoid "Creative Paralysis"

- Finding the right balance of connection and downtime for introverts, who tend to need time alone to recharge, and the role of co-working spaces as a way to strike that balance

- How the "Introvert Revolution", as Dr. Kahnweiler calls it, has shaped attitudes of employers over time with respect to introverts

- Should introverts mention that personality trait during a job interview with a potential employer?

- How and whether extroverts should strive to also tap into characteristics of introverts - to be an ambivert, as she mentions in your book ?

- How Dr. Kahnweiler sees the environment for introverts post-pandemic, in terms of the prevalence of introvert-friendly polices, more commonly accepted communication channels, and related issues

Jovana Milosavljevic-Ardeljan, Ph.D. is a scholar from Serbia who came to the U.S. in 2014 to pursue a master's degree in Linguistics and stayed for her Ph.D. in Education specializing in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies.

In this episode, we discuss a range of science communication and mentoring topics affecting Ph.D.s, including:

• Why Science communication skills and their importance tends to be downplayed in Ph.D. programs
• The consequences of underdeveloped communication skills in various settings, from employment to mentoring relationships
• How Jovana's experience teaching English as a second language in her home country of Serbia informs her current work at University of New Hampshire
• Themes and learnings for healthy, productive mentor-mentee relationships covered during the 3-part series on mentor-mentee relationships she developed and delivers
• The Northeast U.S. and Canada regional competition of Three-Minute Thesis (3-MT)
• One thing listeners can do right after listening to the show that would improve their communication skills

In this special episode, executive coach, team effectiveness consultant, author, and podcast host Guy Bloom explains his "Living Brave" approach, talks about his new book "Living Brave Leadership" and related performance topics such as:

What's "Living Brave" leadership and how can it strengthen your own leadership muscles?

How Guy went from a 4-time martial arts Hall of Famer to a winner of the UK's Training Journal Magaine's Best Leadership Program

How Guy enables leaders, teams and organizations to lead without the need of positional power.

What Guy means by "Living Brave Leadership", the term he coined to describe his leadership approach

The types of services Guy delivers through his consulting firm

What Guy means about "Beating the Drum" within an organization until the organization resonates.

How can scientists - typically trained to follow the data - be effective leaders?

How does someone get the courage - particularly experts who know the facts and have the evidence - to speak up?

What's one thing listeners can do after the interview to start on the journey to "Living Brave"?

In a first father-daughter interview on the podcast, Bill and Emma Dauster discuss important science communication and policy issues, including:

– Approaches that Bill, a longtime public policy expert, has found scientists employ that are particularly effective in getting their message across to politicians and common missteps to avoid

– Notable differences between persuading a scientific advisor compared to a politician that a research project is important and/or deserving of funding

– How Emma's science background as a PhD student in Neuroscience and Behavior informs her views on politics

– When Bill was working in the Senate and the White House, which qualities and skills did effective scientist-staffers he supervised or worked with seem to possess

– The best entry points for scientists who want to get into the policy arena, including at the local, state, or federal level and  Legislative Branch compared to Executive Branch

– The importance of diversity in research 

– Scientists are trained to "follow the data", but public policies are shaped by, and embedded with, political considerations like the "equity" of a proposal, not just how efficient it may be, or the power of certain group in society to bend a policy to its benefit, for example. How these factors can challenge scientists interested in policymaking, as it's not just "all about the data"

 

This week's episode features Mike Simonds, the Chief Operating Officer of Unum, a leading provider of disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision benefits through the workplace that serves 39 million people worldwide covering 182,000
businesses in the U.S. and the U.K. that offer benefits provided by Unum.

We discuss a range of workplace culture and skills issues, including:

Unum's strong Multicultural Leadership Development Program

The leadership qualities Unum seeks to cultivate in participants in its talent development programs

The importance of storytelling in presenting data and understanding data doesn't "speak for itself"

The types of skills and attributes Unum considers to be key when recruiting potential new hires

The future of work evolving or transforming as a result of changes in response to COVID?

Mike's career advice for listeners who may be interested in data science outside of academia but don't know where to begin

 

This episode features Jenny Ro, Ph.D., who's had a fascinating career journey so far.

While a college student, Jenny worked with four companies, including Proctor & Gamble, and commercialized her own invention without a patent.

During our conversation, Jenny describes being mentored by "Super Connectors" and learning how to build human relationships to solve problems. Jenny's goal is to enable everyone to do that.

We discussed a range of topics relating to innovation, mentoring, and the importance of effective communication, such as:

- Jenny's story about her biologist days and how Ohio State football helped her conduct her field research

- How she perfected her "story" as she made her way through the fields of Ohio looking for wild birds

- What led Jenny to start her company CuriousReactor and what her plans are for the future of the company

- How the company can benefit scientists, who often may be introverts

- Jenny's belief that the tech transfer system is broken and what should be done to fix it

- Jenny's thoughts on when an idea is worth patenting and when it's not worth it, as much can be done without a patent

- Why Jenny believes that COVID is accelerating connections

- Why Jenny thinks the peer review process will be affected in the longer term, after we move beyond the current COVID circumstances

Today's episode features Mary Foley Phillips, PhD.

Mary's mission is to empower women to take control of their destinies and make decisions according to their values, with the ultimate goal of growing the pipeline of strong women business leaders, women sitting on governance and scientific advisory boards, and women business mentors.

We discussed a range of topics, including:

- Mary's leadership in her 500 Women Scientists chapter and her motivation for creating monthly pub talks on scientific topics. 

- What surprised her about the pub talks

- Why she thinks scientists are attracted to participate in these events and how she thinks participation has affected the way these scientists talk about their research to general audiences

- The reaction from patrons at the pub during the talks and whether they ask questions or engage at all

- As a leader in Research Development for many years, putting together teams to go after grants, for example, what common features Mary found across successful grant winners

- The lessons Mary feels she learned as a start-up founder, and what would she would do differently - if anything - were she to start another company in the future

On this episode of When Science Speaks, host by Mark Bayer dives into the world of storytelling with guest Chris Hare, exploring the impact and importance of a high-impact storytelling approach Chris has developed and used with his clients called "Atomic Storytelling."

Episode Highlights:

• The Quest for Effective Storytelling: Mark and Chris kick off the episode discussing the widespread discussion on storytelling and the lack of informed advice. Chris introduces the concept of Atomic Storytelling and its transformative power.

• Chris's Journey with Microsoft: Chris shares a pivotal moment in his career, working on a project for Microsoft and discovering the effectiveness of content derived from successful developers.

• The Pitfalls of Manufacturing Stories: The duo explores the common challenge of manufacturing stories and emphasizes the need for genuine, impactful narratives in business contexts.

• Atomic Storytelling in Action: Chris provides a practical example involving a defibrillator company, illustrating how Atomic Storytelling can create a powerful emotional connection.

• Balancing Emotion and Rationality: Mark and Chris discuss the importance of blending emotional and rational elements in storytelling, especially in B2B contexts.

• Overcoming Storytelling Challenges: Chris addresses the common belief that not everyone is a natural storyteller, emphasizing the learnable nature of storytelling skills.

• The Scientist's Strength in Vision: Chris highlights the strength scientists possess in envisioning the future and emphasizes the importance of sequencing and storytelling to bring others along on the journey.

• Brian Janous's Journey at Microsoft: An intriguing anecdote about Brian Janous's mission to make then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer understand and appreciate the energy vision at Microsoft, showcasing the persistence required in long-term storytelling.

• Unveiling the Narrative at Amazon: Chris discusses Amazon's narrative of being data-driven and its potential limitations. The story unfolds as he reveals a crucial insight about the third-party seller side and the initial focus on resellers. The pivotal shift occurs when a VP starts meeting with sellers, leading to the discovery that brand owners drive a significant portion of Amazon's business.
• The Human Connection in Storytelling: Emphasizing the importance of understanding data while maintaining a broader perspective. Chris highlights the role of continuous human connection and the value of not relying solely on data-driven insights.
• Embracing Imperfections in Stories: Acknowledging the messiness of stories and the common misconception that a story must be perfect. Sharing a personal coaching session experience that emphasized the power of authenticity and imperfection in storytelling.
• Co-Creation and Feedback: Advocating for involving stakeholders in the storytelling process.
  Encouraging feedback and collaboration to enhance the narrative and ensure internal alignment within organizations.
• Exploring whether a good story can overcome poor delivery and vice versa.
  Chris shares a personal experience of overcoming a challenging delivery by grounding the presentation in powerful storytelling.
• The Moth Experience: Recommending listening to storytelling platforms like The Moth and 99 Percent Invisible to understand diverse storytelling styles.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Guest Chris Hare's LinkedIn profile

Chris's podcast, The Storied Future

Richard Nugent is passionate about helping others make the most of their innovations. His expertise is Intellectual Property Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, IP Training, and related services.

On this episode of When Science Speaks, we discuss a range of issues related to translating science into the commercial realm, including;

- Richard's methodology for working with PhDs and researchers to help them translate their ideas and innovations into commercial products

- Some of the common challenges he finds that can trip up scientists as they work to make the journey through translational science

- Some examples of both successful translation to the marketplace and unsuccessful attempts 

- Certain attributes Richard has found during his long experience of working with scientists and their IP that are solid indicators a particular scientist or team is more likely to be successful - or not

- The kind of training Richard recommends for scientists interested in translational science to help them improve the likelihood of success

- Some of the blindspots inventors aren't even aware of as they're getting started in translational science

- One piece of advice Richard would give inventors interested in translational science

 

 

In this episode, I discuss the roots and applications of effective, authentic persuasion with New York Times best-selling author Jonah Berger, PhD, including topics such as:

How Jonah got interested in persuasion and decision-making What fascinates him about these topics

In The Catalyst, Jonah writes about "Reactance", which he describes as the negative feeling experienced when told what to do, often triggering resistance and rejection of whatever it is. How should policy makers address Reactance if the goal is to encourage widespread mask-wearing and vaccination, now that we have vaccines approved as safe and effective in the U.S.

Jonah writes about another powerful force affecting people's decision-making process- "Endowment" - which he defines as the increased value people place on things they've been doing or owning for a while, like a home, for example. How can those who want to authentically and honestly persuade take Endowment into account in their persuasion efforts.

The role of emotion, not just data, is so important in persuasion. What Jonah says to those who aren't comfortable invoking emotion or the type of training that expressly teaches not to invoke emotion?

Where can listeners go to learn more about your work? Any plans yet for your next book?

In this week's 2-part episode, Mark talks with Jessica Li, who has a range of experience in VC, content development, and growth marketing.

Mark and Jessica discuss a range of topics, including:

Jessica's approach to interviewing guests when she develops content and how it informed her approach when potential portfolio companies wer pitching to her and her former colleagues at Sonoma Capital

What makes a good interview, in Jessica's view

In translating their science to the market, what do many founders get wrong (including the recognition that "translation" is even required)?

In addition to being an investor and entrepreneur with a strong background in quantitative skills, Jessica also is a frequent writer for general audiences. The combination of these two abilities at such a high-caliber is unusual. How did her dual talents develop, and does she see any connections to her approach to writing and how she tackles challenges requiring expertise in quantitative principles?

In addition to her mentoring of founders mentioned in the introduction, Jessica also is Head of Content at Elpha, an online forum for women in tech. Are there specific obstacles that women in tech encounter that are not experienced by their male counterparts? How can men in the industry support their female colleagues who may be faced with these challenges?

Jessica has achieved quite a lot in her career journey so far, which still is in its early stages. What qualities have helped spur Jessica's successes so far?

What advice does Jessica have for listeners who may be scientists or engineers thinking about entrepreneurship as a career choice? 

Mike Grandinetti and Dr. Ikhlaq Sidhu first appeared on the show in November 2020 to discuss their plans and the then upcoming launch of the Global Venture Catalyst (GVC) platform and community.

The GVC initiative is aligned with a number of COVID-19 innovation-focused podcasts that I collaborated on with Mike in the Spring and Summer of 2020 to highlight how a number of institutions, from Mass General Hospital to Georgia Tech to Rutgers to the Smith College Picker School of Engineering were breaking down silos and bringing together previously disparate groups to create critically needed ICU-class mechanical ventilators, incubation boxes, and face shields to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and life threatening shortages of this critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In this promised follow-up episode, Iklaq and Mike provide an update on the key take-ways of the GVC event, which operated on five continents simultaneously between January 9-17, 2021

Here's a quick executive summary of this exciting - and groundbreaking - initiative:

170 students participated with representation from the top 25 research universities globally and the top 20 MBA programs globally

Successful global corporate collaboration with Medtronic, Dassault, Next Era Energy, Applied Material, Celonis, Elkem, Axel Springer, and others 

Successful participation of global VC funds and tech accelerators, including LearnLaunch EdTechAccelerator, Blockchain Founders Fund, Amazon LaunchPad, and others

Successful participation of global advanced tech startups

Major learnings

Tested AI algorithms for creating student teams

GVC's project-based team collaborations/spring are the new job interview

GVC is creating the education program of the future by:

- Unlocking latent potential of students

- Providing project - based learning in real life situations (STARTUP ventures and firms)

- Developing a professional profile for tech skills and also for proactive team behaviors (IQ/EQ/collaboration skills)

- Delivering a benefit to all stakeholders

- Helping students unlock potential, learn on real projects, and meet industry leaders and learn about industry players they likely would not have otherwise encountered

- Participating companies get visibility with a sought-after talent pool, targeted recruiting opportunities, and can benefit from the solution of, or progress towards resolving, actual problems

- Nurturing emerging ecosystems, diversity slate, and CSR

GVC major take-aways

1. Global community of innovators across 5 continents came together very quickly

2. Validated huge gap between companies and young, hyper-current skilled students

3. Great tech talent is truly globally dispersed

4. Undergraduate students can make huge contributions

5. The design sprint methodology, infused with the innovation-engineering methodology - is powerful and effective across many "use cases" (AI/ Machine Learning; tech assessment; UI/CX; Minimum Viable Product)

6. It's remarkable what can be achieved in a 4-day focused sprint to unleash innovation

7. Some students hired to be interns, for example:

- Czech student with strong hired as intern by Boston EdTech company led by MIT CSEE grad)

- US MechEng student with career goal to work in auto industry to be hired as intern by a European company building next gen EV lithium ion batteries

Going Forward Plans

Build a platform and a community

Continue to grow global community

Provide additional opportunities for students to realize their professional goals and ambitions through a range of programs, including:

- Short term consulting projects - funded by scholarships/ stipends / etc.)

- Fellowships to contribute to building GVC community

- Create additional opportunities for companies to hire the very best students (both EQ/IQ) to support access to critical talent (including racially and ethnically diverse talent) and innovation activation goals through a range of programs

- Leverage hybrid faculty, students

- Launch more sprints, short-term consulting projects

- Provide developing countries and regions with opportunities to help advance their students educational STEM skills by transcending limited local resources and expertise and integrating these participants them into a larger global digital ecosystem

Relevant Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

https://www.globalventurecatalyst.org/

https://www.globalventurecatalyst.org/blog

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markdanielbayer_entrepreneurship-startups-education-activity-6728332715592040449-rK5U/

https://whensciencespeaks.com/podcast/caring-for-covid-19-patients-creating-ventilator-design-challenge-with-rich-boyer-md-phd/ https://whensciencespeaks.com/podcast/georgia-techs-inventive-responses-to-ppe-shortage-with-chris-saldana-phd/

On this episode of "When Science Speaks", Chiara Bertipaglia, PhD shares her perspectives on a range of issues related to making the transition from researcher to the field of professional development, including:

The work she does at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute

What led her to decide she wanted to focus on professional development and community building

How she managed that transition and whether she had supportive mentors to support her along the way

Her training work in transferable skills, which is so important, particularly during this turbulent time, and how she views the dynamic of the increasing need for natural and social science PhDs and trainees to learn skills such as business concepts for scientists

The challenges she experienced as she continued her training (Chiara earned her PhD in Germany), how she embarked on her career in the U.S., and overcome obstacles

Chiara's advice to listeners who may be facing some of the same, or similar, trials and tribulations she experienced

Thinking about her training curriculum, where she typically finds the biggest areas in need of improvement

The one thing listeners can do today to be better communicators of their science to general audiences

In this episode, Mark and his guest, Jaishree Singh, discuss a range of issues related to impact investing, including:

How Jaishree got involved in this dynamic, meaningful field, and what sort of knowledge, skills, and abilities enable her to be effective in her work

The evolution of impact investing, including how it got started and the major industry players in the field

How Jaishree overcomes the challenges of communicating data to general audiences and how she goes about doing it in a way that's relatable and engaging

With Jaishree's public health background and communications expertise, how how she believes information about COVID-19 should be better communicated

Note for listeners: This week's episode with Jeremy Marcus, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, was recorded in September 2020, prior to the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

This week's episode features Jeremy Marcus, who's served for 7 years as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director in the office of U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA). Previously, Jeremy served as Legislative Director for former Congressman Russ Carnahan, Democrat of Missouri.

On this week's episode, Mark and Jeremy discuss topics including:

How Jeremy views the role of science and academic research in the policymaking process

How Jeremy and his colleagues rely on outside experts

Strategies or activities Jeremy considers effective and beneficial for staffers who work cooperatively with outside scientific advisors

Unproductive or unhelpful behaviors from outside experts Jeremy has observed and pitfalls for PhDs and other experts to avoid

For scientists and other subject matter experts who want to help shape policy from the inside, some of the potential entry points into policymaking - either at the federal, state, or local level - that Jeremy considers likely to be more successful than others

How the policymaking process has been affected by COVID-19, and what accommodations that are being made Jeremy could see continuing even after the need for social distancing has passed

What Jeremy likes most about his job

Nathaniel Brooks Horwitz has had a set of rare experiences - particularly for someone still in the early stages of his career journey. His passion is to develop new medicines.

A Principal at RA Capital, a leading biotech venture capital firm in Boston, board member at Synthego Corporation, Quench Bio, GentiBio and others, Nathaniel was previously founding CEO of Nivien Therapeutics.

On today's episode, Mark and Nathaniel discuss a range of topics, including:

- How Nathaniel proceeded from research at Harvard University through founding his own company, dealing with the crosscurrents he described in his Washington Post op-ed, and then moving to his current role after graduating from Harvard in 2018

- What fuels Nathaniel's passion for medicine development

- How Nathaniel made the transition from labs at Harvard to the startup scene, including what prepared him for it, what surprised him, and what obstacles he confronted

- How Nathaniel balanced the need to remain accurate with the demands from investors, for example, looking for clear descriptions of the progress of his work

- The lessons Nathaniel feels he learned as a result of his experience with his start-up

- How Nathaniel's experience as a founding CEO informs his work now when he listens to pitches from entrepreneurs or participates in Board meetings

- What Nathaniel considers the key success factors - the essential skills and qualities - for being a successful entrepreneur

- How Nathaniel recommends listeners interested in entrepreneurship develop those skills and qualities

 

In today's episode, management consultant, professor, angel investor, columnist, and book author Peter Cohan joins Mark to discuss a range of interesting topics, including:

How he developed his dual interests in art and engineering and whether he sees them as disparate or complementary interests

Whether the experience of having a business in his family contributed to his interest in business and ultimately his career choice

As a longtime advisor to business leaders - and a lecturer in business strategy - some of the key leadership traits Peter sees in his clients who are effective leaders and also teaches to his students, as well as common leadership blindspots

Keys to resilience that listeners should keep in mind these days, which also were featured in Peter's column in Inc. Magazine.

As a highly-visible writer, commentator, and communicator for many years while also having academic training in technical fields - engineering and computer science - what advice Peter has for engineers who want to strengthen their ability to communicate with non-engineers, particularly when it comes to writing for general audiences

Peter's recommendations for books, training, or conferences that could provide useful information or insights for listeners wanting to learn more about the start-up ecosystem

- Note: Peter is the author of the just-released book, "Goliath Strikes Back - How Traditional Retailers Are Winning Back Customers From E-Commerce Startups", http://bit.ly/PeterCohanGoliathStrikesBackBook

7. How has COVID-19 has impacted his teaching and how it could affect it in the future.

 

 

On this week's episode of When Science Speaks (link in comments), I talk with Stephen Fantone, CEO and Founder of Optikos and the Optical Society (OSA) President for 2020. We discuss a range of topics, including:

- The projects to battle COVID-19 that OSA and its members have been working on, such as decontamination and sterilization of PPE

- OSA initiatives focused on contributing to efforts to respond to climate change

- How OSA helps its members interested in science policy get their voices heard on issues they care about and contribute their scientific knowledge and expertise to help inform relevant public policies

- OSA's pivot to digital meetings and lessons learned

- OSA's plans for the future

In this enlightening podcast episode, Bill Birchard, a seasoned journalist and business writer, delves into the fascinating world of writing and its impact on the brain. Through extensive research, Bill discovered a treasure trove of information on how language can stimulate various regions of the brain, and in turn, enhance reader experience.

Episode Highlights:

• The Discovery of a Goldmine: Bill shares how his late-career exploration led him to a wealth of research on how language affects the brain. He stumbled upon decades of behavioral and imaging experiments that uncovered the neurological responses triggered by different types of language.

• Writing with Impact: The discussion centers around Bill's quest to write with more impact, ultimately resulting in his book. He explains how specific words and phrases, when crafted effectively, can fire up the brain and release dopamine, creating what he calls a "brain buzz."

• Embodied Cognition: Bill explores the concept of embodied cognition, where specific words engage not only the language processing circuit but also parts of the brain associated with physical experiences. This, he argues, leads to a more immersive reading experience.

• The Role of Dopamine: Bill breaks down the neurochemical process in the brain, highlighting dopamine's crucial role in the reward circuit. He explains how this neurotransmitter influences desire, pleasure, and, ultimately, the learning process.

• Principles of Great Writing: The conversation unfolds as Bill discusses eight principles of great writing, each backed by research showcasing its impact on different brain regions and the reward circuit.

Key Takeaways:

• Specificity is Power: Bill emphasizes the neurological underpinnings of the principle that specificity in writing is more powerful than generalities. He explains how our brains engage more deeply when words evoke sensory and motor experiences.

• Abstract Words and Simulation: While specificity reigns supreme, Bill acknowledges that abstract words also play a role in stimulating the brain through associations and simulations.

Conclusion:

Listeners are treated to a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between language, the brain, and the art of writing. Bill Birchard's insights provide a roadmap for writers looking to tap into the neurological responses that make impactful writing truly unforgettable.

Resources mentioned in the episode

Link to purchase BIll's most recent book, Writing for Impact

Bill's website

 

This week's episode features Nic DiPalma, founder and CEO of SpacetimeLabs, a creative agency for science.

SpacetimeLabs develops advanced communications for science and research to connect with the public through art, design, and creativity.

Nic also is Principal and Executive Creative Director at Nic DiPalma Creative, which is a design consulting group focused on accelerating client creativity and building a culture for developing innovative ideas through web design, motion graphics, design systems, and training.

On today's episode, we discuss:

SpacetimeLabs' focus, which is particularly important these days, as communicating with the public science - including the need for self-quarantines and business closures - has been a challenge.

Nic's career journey, and some of the key science communication lessons that stand out for him along the way 

Nic's view on the importance of immersive experiences as a way both to communicate about science and also to build buy-in from listeners who may not accept scientific evidence supporting topics like climate change. 

As an expert science communicator, where Nic sees shortcomings or room for improvement in the way that scientific topics and issues are described to general audiences

How Nic's philosophy, approach, and expertise gained through his career so far be applied to improve communication about COVID-19

In this episode, Mark and his guest, Prashant Natajaran, Director of Data Sciences and Analytics at Unum, discuss a range of topics, including:

What makes the U.S. unique and why Prashant is optimistic about the future despite the challenges

As an engineer, Prashant's perspectives on how to be a skilled communicator

Prashant's advice on how to become a strong communicator

How to prevent AI from reinforcing racism and biases in society

 

 

 

In this episode, Ihklaq Sidhu, PhD and Mike Grandinetti share information about "Global Venture Catalyst", a new hands-on, entrepreneurial education initiative they're launching to provide 500 engineers, technical students, and business school students around the world a transformative experience to work in diverse teams to develop new hight-impact projects.

Today's topics include:

Details about the Global Venture Catalyst, such as what participants can expect to experience or achieve

What Ikhlaq's and Mike's goals are in creating this innovative program and what would make it successful

Why they decided to create this offering

What makes it different from other programs out there

How students can apply and where should they go for additional information

The themes of Ihklaq's book, "Innovation Engineering", and what he was hoping to accomplish by writing it

How Ihklaq and Mike see the pandemic shaping engineering and entrepreneurship going forward, even after normal activities resume

Harvey Seifter is Director and Principal Investigator at Art of Science Learning and the Founder and Managing Director at Creating Futures That Work.

In this week's episode, Mark and Harvey discuss a range of topics related to how the arts can spark creativity in science education and the development of an innovative 21st Century STEM workforce, including:

• The investigative nature of science and the arts and the potential of ABL to foster passion for exploration and discovery in young learners.
• What first led Harvey to the hypothesis that incorporating arts-based learning could spark interest in science, spur innovation, and encourage collaboration in adults
• What Harvey's work found in terms of how the integration of ABL into science education can spur greater interest in the study of science and inspire students to want to learn more about, and potential pursue, careers in STEM fields
• Whether his work includes in its scope what may be happening neurologically to trigger this behavior, and if he has any theories at this point
• Details about the symposia and roundtables he's held at places like the Smithsonian, Illinois Institute of Technology, and California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology
• What fascinates him about his work
• What are the implications, in his view, of the connection between ABL and innovation
• Is art - which appeals to perhaps a different dimension than fact - an example of connection with students through emotion

Resources mentioned in the episode

artofsciencelearning.org

 

David Doyle is the author of a new book, "Ask What You Can Do", a valuable resource for anyone thinking about entering public service, particularly local government and especially if you're a scientist, engineer, or technologist coming from the private sector. 

David is a passionate believer in the power of data and technology to help us understand and solve the world's biggest challenges. He's fascinated by issues at the intersection of technology, data and public policy and generates new knowledge that he shares through public speaking, teaching, and writing. 

In this episode of the show, Mark and David discuss a range of topics, including:

• The career growth and networking benefits of working in government
• How gaining public and private sector experience can position you in the key role of translator between government and corporate decision-makers
• Why David believes local government may be entering a prolonged phase of technological transformation.
• How David thinks the leadership responsibilities performed by local governments during the pandemic will impact the pace of technology adoption in local government and also the level of interest of technologists in entering public service
• The types of scientific and technology training that is particularly needed within local government and where in public service he sees exciting and meaningful career development opportunities for scientists and engineers

 

David Michaels, PhD is an epidemiologist and professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health. He was Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health from 2009-2017, the longest serving head of OSHA in its history, and was Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety and Health from 1998-2001, charged with protecting workers, residents and the environment around US nuclear weapons facilities.

Under David's leadership, OSHA strengthened exposure standards for silica and beryllium, and issued new rules on safety while greatly increasing the agency's focus on the healthcare industry. He also issued OSHA's first compliance guide and recommended practices for employers for preventing and addressing retaliation against whistleblowers who raise safety concerns.

David's current work is on the relationship between safety and health management systems, operational excellence and sustainability, a topic on which he lectures frequently, and on improving the protection of workers exposed to COVID-19 as the economy reopens.

David is a leader in efforts to protect the integrity of the science underpinning public health and environmental protections, and is author of numerous articles in leading scientific publications, as well as "Doubt is Their Product" (Oxford University Press, 2008) and "The Triumph of Doubt: Dark Money and the Science of Deception" (Oxford University Press, 2020). David's article co-authored with Gregory R. Wagner, MD entitled "Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Worker Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic" was just published by the Journal of the American Medical Society - otherwise known as JAMA.

On today's episode, Mark and David discuss a range of issues related to misinformation about COVID-19, David's new book "The Triumph of Doubt", and other topics including:

David's work with the National Academy of Sciences on the equitable dIstribution of a COVID-19 vaccine whenever it's deemed safe and effective

What David means by the "science of deception", a term he uses in his latest book, and whether there are ways to inoculate against its spread

The idea that historically science is supposed to be apolitical - has that notion ever reflected reality if we understand politics to be about power within a society and the ability to shape community behavior

Thinking about the current proliferation and consumption of misinformation and disinformation, particularly around topics grounded in science such as global warming and vaccine safety and efficacy, are we seeing something that's a difference in scale or in kind - meaning have we seen this type of dynamic before, but now it's supercharged by social media, for example, or is the current environment something new and different, and perhaps more dangerous

Are there particular topics that lend themselves to distortions, and are there specific antidotes that have proven effective in waking up the public, if you will, to the mirage concocted by scientists-for-hire

As a trained scientist, former Professor at the City of New York Medical School, and an expert in epidemiology and biostatistics, among other related topics, David Michaels is a "quant jock", if you will. As a political appointee and head of OSHA, he also is adept at navigating the policymaking terrain, where data are only one factor to be considered in formulating policy. Does a reliance on data and evidence - sometimes to the exclusion of other factors such as emotional arguments and appeals to shared values - hamstring scientists involved in policymaking who aren't trained or accustomed to these powerful forces in the policy ecosystem, and what can scientists and the institutions that train them do to address this issue

When David was leading OSHA and interacting with policymakers in Congress, what sort of arguments in support of OSHA policies did he find particularly persuasive

Given the existential threat to human health posed by this environment of manufactured doubt, what can listeners do in an effort to turn the tide

 

 

On this week's episode, Mark's guest is Steve Dickman, CEO of CBT Advisors, a strategic consultancy supporting the biotech industry. 

Topics discussed during the episode include:

• How Steve made the transition from working at Science and at  Nature - where he founded and ran the first Nature news bureau in Germany, among other responsibilities - to thriving in the ecosystem of VCs, Private Equity, and startups
• The obstacles Steve faced as he shifted his professional focus and how he overcame them
• How Steve develops and delivers persuasive, impactful stories for his clients, with examples from the startup environment of stories he felt were particularly compelling
• Steve's advice for listeners thinking about trying to break into the startup ecosystem, and, for those already working within it, what qualities and approach Steve has found to be hallmarks or similarities of successful entrepreneurs
• Common blindspots or areas for further development that Steve and his team frequently see in the field
• How Steve and his firm provide feedback, particularly when a business plan, for example, may be way off the mark
• During this period of historic uncertainty and flux, what challenges and opportunities Steve sees on the horizon, and his career advice for scientists and engineers looking to start or shift careers

Useful resources

• The works of statistician, data visualizer, and artist Edward Tufte on communicating data using graphics. Described by The New York Times as the 'Leonardo da Vinci of data,' and Bloomberg as the 'Galileo of graphics', Tufte taught data analysis and policy making at Princeton and Yale for 32 years and authored five books
• Michael Gilman's blog post on choosing your VCs https://lifescivc.com/2015/04/five-questions-to-ask-your-investors-before-you-take-their-money/ 
• Gilman's blog post on risk reduction in biotech startups: https://lifescivc.com/2014/05/risk-a-users-guide-for-drug-developers/ and why it's good to be virtual https://lifescivc.com/2016/01/the-virtues-of-virtual-and-why-were-devirtualizing/. 
• Jeff Bussgang's book on how VCs operate reviewed by Steve Dickman: https://bostonbiotechwatch.com/2010/04/26/vc-from-both-sides-mastering-the-vc-game-by-jeffrey-bussgang/
• How data science is influencing life science VC investing,  https://a16z.com/2020/01/13/bio-newsletter-january-next-decade/ and https://a16z.com/2020/01/08/komodo-health/
• Steve Dickman's post on Vijay Pande https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedickman/2016/02/02/can-biology-even-drug-discovery-be-clouded-its-early-but-andreesen-horowitz-vc-thinks-so/#4c16d6955a16 and his portfolio company Benchling https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedickman/2017/11/08/lab-notebook-software-bypassed-by-biologists-poses-tough-challenge-for-software-developers/#55c1c5ed1804
• Steve Dickman's post describing Baillie Gifford: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedickman/2017/04/12/the-long-game-in-life-sciences-181-billion-fund-baillie-gifford-invests-big-in-private-companies/#1907f7334d89
• Books recommended for listeners interested in biotech and the startup ecosystem: 
  • Invisible Frontiers by Stephen Hall 
  • Making PCR by Paul Rabinow 
  • Hackers by Steven Levy (re the original hackers at MIT, one of whom, Tom Knight, is a co-founder and executive at Ginkgo, a synthetic biology unicorn)
  • Bad Blood
  • Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart (recent novel, topical for those interested in the money business)
  • Market Wizards by Jack Schwager (how individuals make money in all sorts of markets – a classic – deeply relevant)

 

In this week's episode, Jen Jortner Cassidy, Senior Customer Success Manager at LinkedIN, shares her passion for lifelong learning and how listeners can reap the benefits of learning as an enduring aspect in their lives as well as related topics, including:

The benefits of the process of learning in addition to the result of actually having a new skill in your toolbox

How she defines "learning" - meaning how much exposure or practice in a new area is considered a new learning, from her perspective

What she's learning about mindfulness

How she thinks the continued need to learn remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic will impact learning now and in the future

Her views on in-person learning vs. virtual learning

One fun thing listeners could learn to do today

 

On this episode, Mark discusses a range of translational research issues with the Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences at Harvard Innovation Labs, including:

What led Mike to focus on life science virtually from the start of his professional career.

From Mike's perspective, what do all successful startups have in common, and what are the big mistakes Mike has seen that doom startups

With his years of experience building and advising companies, what's Mike's proudest professional achievement

Mike's focus has been on complex, pioneering technologies. How does he effectively communicate to general audiences - investors and the media, for example - about the value and importance of new products he's developing

Translational research and commercialization have been buzzwords for quite a while, and many academics are interested in applying research done in the lab in a commercial context. This isn't an easy undertaking, and many fail. As someone who's been an academic and a successful entrepreneur, what advice does Mike have for his former colleagues in the academy who want to start businesses based on their research

The latest news from the Harvard Innovation Labs

Mike's professional heroes - those he most admires

 

In this week's episode, Mark and Marc discuss innovation in the life sciences industry, including the recent launch of Orange Grove's portfolio company, Asalyxa Bio. Topics include:

Remdesivir and Marc's view on this experimental medicine for combatting effects of COVID-19

Why Marc decided to focus his professional life on funding innovations in health care and what led him to concentrate there

With Marc's expertise in analyzing and putting together deals, what role the ability for founders and executives to craft compelling, accessible narratives about the value of their products plays in their ultimate success

Examples when Marc felt a particularly engaging pitch propelled a medicine forward to success while perhaps a medicine that was at least as innovative if not more stumbled and failed because of ineffective messaging about its benefits

With global teams racing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, how Marc sees the deal or investment community responding

As an entrepreneur and health care investor, what Marc considers the most important thing entrepreneurs should be doing right now to position themselves for success despite the economic turbulence

Introduction

This week's episode features David Giltner, Ph.D. David is an accomplished figure in the field of technology commercialization, product development, and career design, with over two decades of experience in developing cutting-edge photonics technologies for commercial use.

In 2017, he founded Turning Science to provide training and support for scientists looking to transition into the private sector. David holds a BSS and PhD in physics and boasts seven patents in laser spectroscopy and optical communications.

David's books, "Turning Science Into Things People Need" and "It's a Game, not a Formula," have been instrumental in guiding scientists through their career transitions.

Transitioning from Academia to Industry

We start by discussing David's early career after earning his PhD. David highlights the challenges he faced when transitioning from academia to industry. He emphasizes the lack of guidance on careers outside academia and how he navigated this transition independently. David's decision to work with lasers, a familiar field from his graduate work, led him to industry, where he contributed to the development of semiconductor laser technology. The presence of a highly educated workforce made the transition smoother, yet David admits he grappled with adapting his working habits from academic research to the corporate environment.

Preparing for a Career in the Private Sector

We then cover David's advice for current PhD candidates interested in pursuing careers in the private sector. David stresses two major points: the importance of designing a career path and understanding the industry game. He outlines a five-step approach, highlighting the significance of identifying strengths, defining a target, and emphasizing the art of storytelling. Furthermore, David underscores the necessity of comprehending the industry dynamics to thrive in the corporate world.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in the Private Sector

David discusses common missteps scientists make when transitioning to the private sector and how to avoid them. He outlines three prevalent challenges. First, he observes that many PhD scientists enter the workforce feeling the need to prove themselves as the smartest person in the room, a mindset unsuited for teamwork. Second, he notes the tendency to lose sight of company priorities and get engrossed in curiosity-driven projects, contrary to the results-oriented nature of industry. Last, David highlights the struggle scientists face in making decisive recommendations, as academia's emphasis on certainty clashes with the fast-paced decision-making required in the corporate sector.

David's Books and Themes

We then shift the discussion towards David's books, beginning with "Turning Science Into Things People Need." David explains that the book emerged from his desire to provide guidance to scientists seeking rewarding careers outside academia. He then introduces his second book, "It's a Game, not a Formula," which serves as a playbook for succeeding in industry. David's forthcoming third book promises to delve deeper into the diverse career paths scientists can pursue, including roles as employees, entrepreneurs, or collaborators between academia and industry.

Working Internationally: Cultural Considerations

We delve into the nuances of working with PhDs in industry, especially when it comes to international collaborations. David acknowledges social and communication customs vary globally, which can impact how scientists present themselves in interviews or collaborations. He emphasizes the power of storytelling as a universal tool to convey accomplishments without feeling like one is bragging. David encourages scientists to share experiences through narratives, allowing potential employers or collaborators to visualize their contributions effectively.

Upcoming Goals for 2024

Mark concludes the episode by discussing David's goals for the upcoming year. Besides the release of his third book, David is eager to expand on two new workshops. The first focuses on building a scientific consultancy side gig, offering PhD candidates and postdocs opportunities to leverage their strengths. The second workshop, "Startup Basics for Scientists," aims to demystify entrepreneurship for scientists considering venturing into the world of startups. David emphasizes the importance of understanding both the benefits and challenges of starting a company, highlighting the unique strengths scientists can bring to entrepreneurship.

Resources mentioned in the episode: David's books

Turning Science Into Things People Need

It's a Game, not a Formula

 

 

Particle physicist and postdoctoral research associate Yangyang Cheng, PhD explores the universe and also shares her unique perspectives on her native country of China and the U.S. political landscape across media, including in the Op-Ed pages of The New York Times, on BBC News, and in SupChina, a New York-based, China-focused news, information, and business services platform.

In this episode, Mark and Yangyang discuss a variety of science, political, and communication topics, including:

How Yangyang developed her dual scientific and communication skills and how she sees connections and similarities in the way she does physics and the way she approaches her writing and public speaking

Growing up in China and coming to the U.S. after graduating from university, Yangyang's experiences doing physics in China as a female physicist

Yangyang's fascinating research as a particle physicist

Her interests about American politics

The techniques and principles that guide her communications to general audiences

Her op-ed pieces in the Sunday New York Times and the kinds of reactions she has received from them

 

In this inspiring and enlightening interview, Mark and Tracie Delgado, PhD discuss Tracie's professional journey, her fascinating research, and how she's able to effectively translate her work into engaging, accessible descriptions. Specifically:

Tracie's early years growing up in East LA and how that experience has shaped her research and fueled her passion for increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in science
What it was like when Tracie arrived at UCLA to begin her studies, the types of challenges she faced, and how she was able to overcome them
Her message for listeners who may relate to her background and experience some of these same challenges
Tracie's leadership in an organization called the Society for Advancement for Chicanos and Native Americans, or SACNAS, and the organization's mission and activities
How listeners can learn more about SACNAS and get involved in the organization
Details about Tracie's fascinating research - studying how viruses, in particular the herpesvirus - can cause cancer   Tracie's keys to effective communication and her recommendations for other scientists, engineers, or professionals in technical fields who want to become better communicators
Tracie's Facebook page on COVID-19, which she started in her spare time to respond to the questions people in her life were asking her, and now serves as a resource for those far beyond her immediate circle of family and friends

 

 

Fabricio F. Costa, PhD is a science and technology expert, seasoned business strategist, and serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in top academic labs and companies including Harvard University, Northwestern University, Google, Apple, and others.

On this episode of When Science Speaks, Mark and Fabricio discuss a range of topics, including:

How Fabrizio developed his interest both in startups and also in his field of speciality, life sciences

As a consultant, the common red flags Fabricio sees when he's advising companies that can cause organizational underperformance

When Fabrico served as CEO of DataGenno, what it was like to be  selected to present at a ceremony at the White House and what he learned from the experience

Fabricio's perspectives on the importance of science communication

As a native of Brazil who has spent many years in the U.S. working and studying, Fabricio shared lessons he's learned and insights he's gained as part of his cross-cultural engagements

Fabricio's various career transitions - going from PhD program to postdoc to starting companies - and the kinds of activities he  participated in while in school and as a trainee to help position himself after graduation for his career choice

How Brazil - and Fabricio's own family - have suffered from the spread of COVID-19

 

In this episode, Mark talks with Chris Garabedian, Chairman and CEO of Xontogeny, which he founded in 2016 to support multiple promising technologies from early development through clinical proof of concept.

In 2017, Chris joined Perceptive Advisors to develop their Venture Fund strategy and launched the Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund in 2018 to support early stage companies seeded and incubated at Xontogeny and other ventures.

Chris has a broad base of experience and a track record of success over his decades long experience in the biopharma industry.  He served as the President and CEO of Sarepta Therapeutics from 2011 to 2015, overseeing the turnaround of a company that is now a commercial stage leader in the genetic technology space after leading the development of the company's Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy program. Prior to Sarepta, Chris led Corporate Strategy for Celgene from 2007 to 2010. Prior to Celgene, Chris served in a number of global commercial and corporate development leadership roles at Gilead from 1997 to 2005.

Chris serves on a number of Boards of life sciences companies and speaks at industry conferences on a wide range of important issues.  Chris is also on the Board of Directors of MassBio and serves as a Senior Advisor for the Boston Consulting Group.

Chris earned his B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Mark and Chris discussed a range of topics, including:

What led Chris to found Xontongeny - what was missing in the marketplace that Xontongeny delivers

What Chris finds effective founders have in common that increases the likelihood they'll succeed? 

The kinds of red flags that stand out that may lead Chris and his team to decide to take a pass on investing in a startup

How Chris thinks the pandemic will shape program development moving forward

The skill sets or expertise founders should have beforethey walk in the door to speak to an accelerator or other potential funders 

Some of the key services Xontongeny offers its scientific founders that are particularly important to helping them move successfully through the program development lifecycle, hopefully to approval

For scientists and entrepreneurs interested in translating their science to a viable commercial product, how should they begin to prepare and what should their mindset be as they think about working with a company like Xontongeny

 

Vinit Nijhawan is Managing Director of MassVentures, the first public venture capital fund in the U.S., funding early stage, high growth Massachusetts companies for more than 40 years.

In this episode, Mark and Vinit discuss a range of topics related to innovation and entrepreneurship, including:

The skills that have been central contributors to Vinit's success

Capabilities startup founders often need to further develop to advance their companies and their own professional careers

The flagship conference - MALSI+ 2020 - to be held virtually on August 20, 2020 by the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC), connecting scientific innovators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators 

The success stories that have come out of the MALSI conference in the past

The lessons Vinit has you learned that could help someone just starting out as an entrepreneur or thinking about starting a company

 

Dr. Brad Spellberg is a  polymath. He's simultaneously a Chief Medical Officer, of a major medical center, Professor of Medicine, medical researcher, practicing clinician, founder-entrepreneur, and  author of multiple books. He brings a uniquely holistic perspective to his public policy recommendations on the future of the US healthcare system

Chief Medical Officer at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center. He is also Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. He received his BA in Molecular Cell Biology-Immunology from UC Berkeley, and MD at UCLA, where he served as the UCLA AOA Chapter Co-President and won the prestigious Stafford Warren award for the topic academic performance in his graduating class. Dr. Spellberg completed his Residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Harbor-UCLA Med Center.

As CMO, Dr. Spellberg has transformed the quality and efficiency of care delivered at LAC+USC Medical Center, the largest public hospital in the US west of the Mississippi. As CMO, he has 18 non-clinical direct reports and another 18 Chiefs of Clinical Services reporting to him. He has improved many aspects of hospital operations, from HR, to patient flow, to personnel, to UR, Social Services, medical documentation and billing, clinical care, etc. He has markedly increased inpatient billing, helped increase primary care empanelment and managed care revenue, successfully recruited multiple physician leaders, and has established new clinical programs (e.g., LGBTQ clinic, bariatrics surgery).

Dr. Spellberg may be the only CMO in the US who not only continues to be actively clinically, staffing both Internal Medicine ward teams and Infectious Diseases consulting service, but also maintains an active NIH-funded basic science laboratory. Dr. Spellberg has also co-founded 3 biotechnology start up companies, which have resulted in 3 molecules that are in active clinical development (phase I-III clinical trials). He is also a national policy expert with respect to antibiotic resistance, having testified before Congress, been interviewed on multiple television programs, in the documentary movie Resistance, and written an award winning book, Rising Plague. 

In this episode, we explore the fascinating insights and key recommendations in Dr. Spellberg's latest book," Broken, Bankrupt and Dying"  where he discusses the  precarious state of the US Health care system, the underlying reasons that have led to this dysfunction and key recommendations to improve the system to deliver a level of healthcare that American citizens deserve.

    In this episode, Mark and Ester Caffarel-Salvador, PhD discuss her research on transdermal patches, career transitions, mentoring, and other issues, including:   Ester's experience with the Impact mentoring program, issues she finds mentees are particularly concerned about, and how she  advises them to handle them

How speaking 7 languages may help Ester when she's communicating about her research and helping other scientists improve their own communication skills

Similarities and differences between mentoring scientists in Spain and the U.S.

Ester's professional experience in many different environments - such as big pharma, startups, hedge funds, and consulting - and  key skills for being successful in each of them

Today's guest is Bill Shute, a highly experienced government relations executive, strategic advisor, podcast creator/host, graphic designer, and author.

During his 30 years of leadership, Bill has  demonstrated how to be effective across a range of key activities, including strategic planning, contract capture, employee management, public speaking, and advocacy.

Bill is currently Executive Director of the Washington Center for the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where he both manages a graduate student fellowship program in the District of Columbia and creates a beachhead policy hub for LBJ School faculty to engage with federal policy makers.

At the LBJ's Washington Center, Bill also serves as Inaugural Professor in the Center's Master's program, teaching institutions, processes, and negotiations in the federal arena to the Center's Master's degree students.

For almost 18 years, Bill served as Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations for the entire University of Texas System, a wide-ranging executive-level leadership role. Bill previously had worked in senior government relations roles at several companies, including for 11 and a half years as Executive Director of Federal Relations for Southwestern Bell. 

Bill earned his B.A. with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from the University of Houston Bates College of Law.

On this episode of the show, Mark and Bill discuss a range of policy and communications topics, including:

Bill's podcast, 80-proof Politics, on which Mark was a guest. What led Bill to launch 80-Proof Politics and what's the focus of the show 

The essence of politics and how it differs from partisan politics. As Executive Director of the prestigious LBJ School of Policy Policy's Washington, DC Center, Bill talks about the Center, its mission, and its goalst

The effective qualities, techniques, or strategies federal policymakers used when Bill was accompanying them during visits with policymakers and helping them shape their messaging

Bill's favorite stories about his many years of advocacy leadership for the UT System with  - of course - names withheld to protect the innocent, as needed.

The qualities that made President Lyndon Johnson one of the most persuasive communicators we've ever had in the White House

The one thing listener can do today to improve their skills in communicating their work to non-experts, whether that's U.S. Representatives and Senators, their grandma, or 8-year-old cousin

 

Frank and Emilia Metzel lead a company called Life Science Animation in Krakow, Poland that explains science with animated videos, helping get the message across, spark interest of potential investors or educate the general public.

As many life science companies struggle to explain their science to non-scientists, Life Science Animation aims to help by producing custom-made, easy to understand and engaging 2-minute animated videos for websites, conference presentations and social media.

Before serving as CEO, Frank was founder and CEO of Alpen Animation among other roles in sales and marketing.

Emilia Metzel has more than 10-year's of experience in motion design and a life-long love for science. Emelia is Creative Director of Life Science Animation. She's been a motion graphic designer and multimedia specialist, combining her two passions - science and animation - at Life Science Animation and in related roles at previous firms.

In this episode, we discuss a range of issues related to clearly communicating scientific topics using visuals, including:

The qualities of an effective animation and common mistakes to avoid in animation

How cultural beliefs can affect animations

Why it's such a challenge for some scientists to effectively communicate with general audiences, including investors, policymakers, and the public

What's Frank's and Emilia's process for translating complex scientific topics into anination

Advice for scientists who may be interested in a career in the science animation field

Their favorite scientists and artists

In this special livestream, Steph Guerra, PhD and Dan Pomeroy, PhD discuss "Science Policy for PhD-Trained Scientists", the Harvard Medical School Scientific Citizenship Initiative (SCI) study they produced with Jason Heustis, PhD.

Steph and Dan discuss a variety of science policy and career development issues, including:

The vision, mission, and goals of SCI - what led to its creation and what it hopes achieve 

The main themes of the study that emerged in terms of the traits, knowledge and skills that are key for PhD-trained scientists to have in order to be successful in the policy world

How the research findings compared to the in-real-life experiences of both Steph and Dan, both former AAAS Fellows

How the pandemic has altered the attitudes or interests of PhD-trained scientists when it comes to getting involved in science policy

Some of the barriers they experienced or witnessed when it comes to scientists entering the policy world

How science-based evidence and credible data are viewed and used (or not) by policymakers when policies are being developed

Lessons they wished they had learned BEFORE starting their science policy journey that perhaps would have made the transition or early experiences easier

One thing listeners can do after the livestream to improve their science policy skills, even if it's just a small, incremental thing

Overview:

This episode of the show features Nicholas Dirks, Ph.D., President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences.

Discussion Highlights:

• The rapid pace of technological change, from AI to gene editing, outpacing policy-making mechanisms.
• Reflections on historical instances where scientific advancement outpaced understanding and regulation, like the development of nuclear weaponry.
• Notable scientific advancements: AI, structural biology, gene editing, and the need for regulatory frameworks.
• Challenges in building and restoring public trust in societal institutions.
• The importance of incorporating emotion and narrative in science communication to rebuild public trust.
• The changing role of faith-based organizations in supporting and shaping scientific endeavors.
• Dr. Dirks' upcoming book, "City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University," focusing on the need for universities to adapt and change.
• Dr. Dirks' pride in establishing a pioneering Data Science program at UC Berkeley, offering a multidisciplinary approach to computational literacy.
• Introduction of the International Science Reserve, a network of scientists preparing for future global crises.
• The Academy's initiatives in addressing the challenges and ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• The New York Academy of Sciences
• Books by Nicholas Dirks

 

In this week's episode, John Younger, MD, Vice President for Science and Technology at University City Science Center in Philadelphia, PA, shares his expert perspectives as a physician-scientist and biotech entrepreneur. Drawing upon his unique blend of skills and experience, John discusses:

The main ingredients of a winning pitch from startups to potential investors

Typical moments during pitch meetings that trigger "go or no-go" moments

Whether poor communication can kill an otherwise fundable project or, alternatively, can strong communication save an otherwise flawed project

Scientists are often told they need to be better storytellers - and entrepreneurs may be advised to do the same to humanize their pitch. Is this always good advice?

How scientists should convey information to investors - both before and after they get funding - to accurately provide realistic status updates without freaking out their often non-scientist funders

Are there certain qualities or practices that have helped him  successfully make transitions in his career journey

Attributes that make him effective in his current role

What it was like to testify before Congress earlier this year on entrepreneurship

Professional advice he would give to his "younger Younger" self

Whether it's finding the cure for leukemia or saving the riches of coral reefs, there is a person behind every new discovery. PassioInventa provides a space where scientists can discuss their research in an accessible way with non-scientists, dispel some of the myths surrounding what science is and is not, and humanize the people behind the lab coats.

As PhD students, Jay Baer, Daniel Chapman, and Blaide Woodburn founded PassioInventa to help scientists share their work through articles, videos, interviews, and more.

In this episode, Jay, Daniel, and Blaide discuss with Mark:

Why they are interested in science communication and science policy

• What those categories and terms mean to them
• Where the gaps are within current science communication and science policy training, and how their newly founded organization, PassionInventa, aims to address them
• Their feelings about scientists getting involved in politics
• What kind of reactions they have received from colleagues, mentors, PIs, about PassionInventa
• What kinds of science communication and science policy tools they would you like to see available and how they would you like to be able to use them - i.e., in-person role-playing workshops, presentations, online courses, conferences
• Where they see the greatest demand for learning science communication skills and where is there still resistance to learning these skills
• How they plan to apply the skills they developed as PhDs
• What advice they have for colleagues listening to this episode who want to get more involved in science policy