The Science Bridge

In this episode, join hosts Breanna Bishop and Grace Rodenberg as we chat with Dr. Kimberley Bruce. Dr. Bruce is an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes at CU Anschutz. Her research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, with the goal of treating neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic diseases. She walks us throu...

In this episode, we sit down with Anna Figueroa, a pharmacist-turned-researcher who's uncovering a surprising link between epilepsy and the "batteries" inside our cells. Anna studies Dravet syndrome, a severe form of childhood epilepsy caused by a genetic mutation that throws the brain's electrical signals out of balance. Her research points to an unexpected culprit: the mitochon...

In this episode, we interview Dr. James Nichols, a tenured professor here on the Anschutz campus. We dive into the fascinating world of zebrafish research and craniofacial development, exploring how studying fish can help us understand the development of our own faces. We talk about the importance of being open to the unexpected in science, including our guest’s unique journey from working as a fi...

In this episode, join hosts Lauren Dunn and Breanna Bishop as they sit and chat with Shelby Fainelli, a fourth-year student in the Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine program. Shelby discusses their research on Neurexins, a special protein in the brain that acts as a bridge or connection point between neurons. Efficient communication between neurons is key for our day-to-day functioning, and Shelb...

In this episode, join hosts Preston Stafford and Jon Woodward as they sit and chat with Dr. Katie Fantauzzo. Dr. Fantauzzo tells our hosts about her research involving craniofacial developement and how alterations in genetics can lead to cleft lip and palate, for example. She tells us about her PhD research and how a discovery made there lead her to postdoc studies. She shares with us what its lik...

In this episode, join hosts Natasha Shrivastava and Grace Rodenberg as they gain perspective from PhD candidate Kate Matlin on what it’s like being an informatician in the field of breast cancer research. We dive into hypoxia and protein translation with the hopes of leveraging this research to develop targeted therapies for hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer. We also discuss life in publ...

In this episode, join hosts Grace Rodenberg and Natasha Shrivastava as we dive into the wonders of cell division and the implications of unique molecules called cohesions in the development of cancer with Assistant Professor of Cell, Stem Cell, and Developmental Biology at CU Anschutz, Ally Nguyen. Conversation ranges from tortoises to CRISPR, so there is something here for everyone! Only here on...

In this special send-off episode of  The Science Bridge , we sit down with Jeremy Fleck, a PhD candidate in the Lenz Lab and one of our own podcast hosts, before he moves on to his next adventure. We chat about host-pathogen interactions, metabolomics, and the fascinating ways researchers use these tools to better understand disease and infection. We also dive into skepticism surrounding science a...

In this episode, hosts Lauren Dunn, Breanna Bishop, Jon Woodward, Jeremy Fleck, and Preston Stafford sit down and reminisce on the last 49 episodes! We chat about how the podcast came to be, reflect on the learning curves we experienced while starting a brand new podcast, and share some of the major ups and downs. We are so proud of our team and all the hard work we have put in and are excited to...

In this episode, hosts Lauren Dunn, Jeremy Fleck, Preston Stafford, Jon Woodward, and Bre Bishop sit down and give their advice to incoming graduate students! They discuss what to do the summer before starting grad school, how to pick rotations, how to excel in your classes, and perhaps most importantly, how to balance school and your personal life. As a group, they have experience with every stag...

What happens after a patient survives a critical illness, and how can research improve their recovery? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Hippensteel from CU Anschutz to explore his work on critical care, lung disease, sepsis, and the lasting effects of an ICU stay, including delirium and confusion. Dr. Hippensteel also shares how studying blood vessels and analyzing large patient popula...

In this episode, we sit down with PhD candidate Megan Pearson to explore what it's like to bridge the worlds of clinical care and laboratory research. Megan studies Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a complex connective tissue disorder that affects each patient differently, and is working to uncover its genetic basis by identifying patient subgroups through symptom patterns, genetics,...

On this episode, join your hosts Ginny Fogg and Preston Stafford as they chat with Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Berry, a current professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the New York Medical College. Hear about her journey to become a science communicator and professor, from her PhD training presenting her with opportunities to showcase her work leading to a love of science communication to the u...

In this episode, join your hosts Lauren Dunn and Preston Stafford as they sit down with Abbigayl Burtis, a current graduate student, soon to be alumni, here at Anschutz from the Molecular Biology program. Hear about her journey to become a CD8+T cell researcher in fatty liver disease, what influenced her to pursue her graduate studies, and the challenges in studying the intersection of immunology...

What does it take to build meaningful connections between students and the life sciences industry? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michelle Guney, Industry Navigator for Bioscience, Food and Agriculture in the Classroom to Career Hub at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Dr. Guney shares how she helps create partnerships with industry that open doors to internships, jobs, and hands-on...

In this episode, Samuel gives us an excellent introduction into the fascinating world of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells. Samuel is a first-generation Mexican American PhD student at the Anschutz Campus. He takes us on his unconventional journey that led him to academia and tells us a few things he learned along the way.     Date Recorded:  May 29th, 2026    🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:  ...

In this episode, we sit down with PhD candidate Parker Hicks. Parker is a senior student in the Human Medical Genetics and Genomics program here on the Anschutz Medical Campus and has a background in computational biology. He shares his work surrounding mixed language models, compiling large sets of preexisting data to answer specific disease questions, and we hear his wisdom surrounding the world...

In this episode, we sit down with Mouna Dardouri, a PhD candidate in the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research program here on the Anschutz Campus. We learn about Mouna’s upbringing in Tunisia and how her experiences there led her to become interested in health economics. She tells us about how she ended up in Colorado for her Master’s in Public Health degree, then her PhD training. She also tells us a...

In this episode, we sit down with Melly the Science Geek, a science communicator with a cross-platform audience of over 600,000 followers. She shares with us how she got into science communication, and how she has been able to connect so strongly with her audience. She tells us about her favorite videos and the science behind them, and how she picks the topics she highlights in her content. She al...

In this episode, join hosts Jon Woodward and Preston Stafford for an inspiring conversation with Utibe Ettah, a driven CU Anschutz graduate student originally from Nigeria. Utibe shares her scientific journey; from witnessing the impact of the Ebola outbreak which first led her into nursing, to a passion in broader treatment therapies leading her toward a secondary degree in pharmacy, and finally...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Roberto Ogelman and hear about his research around serotonin and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and their impacts on brain development. He shares the different models he used to study this chemical and how they impact excitatory synapses. He also tells us how talking to kids at a Denver science museum inspired him to leave academia and pursue...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Abby Gillespie, who is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Joe Nassour’s lab. She shares her interests in telomeres, especially their role in aging and protecting chromosomes, how she ended up at CU Anschutz, and her past outreach activities in jails. We talk about how her research regarding telomere shortening and repair didn’t necessarily match with preco...

In this episode Dr. Neel Mukherjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, shares his journey into academia and his philosophy surrounding scientific communication. He found an early interest in RNA biology and has remained in the field. Dr. Mukherjee shares his insights into communicating his research effectively to all audiences, specifically through the us...

In this episode, we catch up with PhD candidate Rachael Kostelecky. Rachael is in the last few months of her PhD at Anschutz and has lots of wisdom to share. She shares with us the skills she has found to be most helpful in a PhD, how to navigate through hard times, and how she found herself in a molecular biology PhD program. We dive into the biology behind herpes viruses, specifically how they w...

Meet the newest hosts of the Science Bridge podcast- Bre, Grace, and Natasha (aka the Girls)! They are first year PhD students from Pharmacology, Human Medical Genetics, and Molecular Biology programs at CU Anschutz. Tune in and hear about their scientific journeys, passion for science communication, and the turbulent 2025 PhD admissions cycle. They all come from unique backgrounds, experiences, a...