Discovering Academia

Join us for an insightful conversation with Jesse Drew, a distinguished videomaker, multimedia artist, and associate professor of Cinema and Digital Media at UC Davis. Our discussion takes a fascinating journey through the media landscape, exploring its past, present, and future, and the profound impact it has on our society. Jesse shares his unique insights on the transformative potential of medi...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Bruce German, a distinguished professor in the food science and technology department at UC Davis, and the director of the Foods for Health Institute. Dr. German is a leading researcher in the field of nutrition, using human breast milk as his model to understand how we can improve human health through diet.   In this episode, we dive deep into Dr....

In this episode, we sit down with Valeria La Saponara, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC Davis. With an extensive background in researching the durability of fiber-reinforced composites for aerospace, civil, naval and wind energy applications, Valeria has recently shifted her focus to studying mycelium, a fascinating organism with potential uses in addressing a wide range of...

Join us for a conversation with Ali Moghimi, an assistant professor of teaching in remote sensing and AI applications for precision and digital agriculture at UC Davis. He is also the master faculty advisor for the new agricultural and environmental technology major, which focuses on preparing students to integrate new technologies like AI to solve the problems of food and energy sustainability. I...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Professor Ermias Kebreab, the Associate Dean and Professor of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Kebreab holds the Sesnon Endowed Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and conducts groundbreaking research in animal nutrition, mathematical modeling of biological systems, and the impact of livestock on the environment.   With over 250 pe...

Join us for an insightful discussion with Professor Jonathan Eisen, an award-winning researcher at UC Davis, as he takes us on a journey into the fascinating world of microbiology. With appointments in the Department of Evolution and Ecology, the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the Genome Center, Professor Eisen's research spans across many different areas within microbiolog...

Join us for a enlightening discussion with Professor Mark Yarborough, a leading bioethicist and former Director of the Clinical Research Ethics Program at UC Davis. With decades of experience exploring the intersection of public trust and biomedical research, Dr. Yarborough's work sheds light on some of the most pressing ethical questions facing the field today. In this episode, we delve into the...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Professor Ian Korf, a leading expert in genomics and bioinformatics research and education. Ian is passionate about understanding the information flow from genotype to phenotype and has made significant contributions to the field through his work at UC Davis. In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of genomics and explore the concept of DNA as a...

Join us for a powerful conversation with doctoral candidate Zachary Psick from the Department of Sociology at UC Davis. With a focus on the causes and consequences of crime and punishment, Zachary is an emerging voice in the fight for criminal justice reform. In this episode, Zachary shares his inspiring story of going from being incarcerated to becoming a renowned researcher and co-founder of the...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Professor Stavros Vougioukas, the Department Vice Chair of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis. As a leading expert in the field of mechanization and automation for specialty crops, Dr. Vougioukas is at the forefront of using robotics to revolutionize agriculture. In this episode, we delve into the exciting possibilities and challenges of u...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Giovanni Peri, a Professor of Economics and the Director of the Global Migration Center at UC Davis. As a leading expert on human migration, Dr. Peri brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the discussion. In this episode, we explore the multifaceted issues surrounding human migration, including the reasons people choose to migrate, the factors tha...

Join us for a thought provoking conversation with Associate Professor Tina Rulli, a prominent figure in the field of normative and applied ethics, with a particular focus on reproductive and population ethics. With a PhD from Yale University and postdoctoral training at the NIH Bioethics Department, Professor Rulli brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our conversation. We explore a range...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Randi Hagerman, the Medical Director of the UC Davis MIND Institute, a world-renowned research center focused on the study of neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Hagerman is an acclaimed expert in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and autism. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of neurodevelopmental diso...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Simon Sadler, the Chair of the Design Department at UC Davis. As a leading expert in the field of design, Simon shares his thoughts on the role of design in shaping our collective and individual identities, and explores alternative approaches for the future. In this episode, we delve into a variety of thought-provoking topics, including the definition of...

Join co-hosts Brent Valentine and Keller Kramer as they discuss the genesis of the Discovering Academia podcast and their aspirations for its future. This informal conversation delves into the essence of Discovering Academia as both a podcast and a larger entity. They also share their vision for the show and the impact they hope it will have on the academic community. In the latter half of the epi...