Discovery Dialogues

In this episode of Discovery Dialogues, Dr. Heather Hartmann shares her journey from chemistry undergraduate to Vanderbilt graduate student and postdoctoral scholar, highlighting the experiences that shaped her career in biomedical research. She discusses her groundbreaking work on thyroid cancer biomarkers and the effects of PFAS “forever chemicals,” as well as her current research on drug metabo...

In this episode of Discovery Dialogues, neuroscience PhD candidate Soren Emerson shares how personal experiences and a passion for helping others led him to study addiction and brain function at Vanderbilt. He explores how cocaine changes the brain and how his research could uncover new paths for treating substance use disorders. Along the way, Soren reflects on the challenges, collaboration, and...

Go beyond blueprints and into the human side of engineering as PhD candidate Joshua McDuffie explores how people make life-changing decisions in the face of disasters. From personal experiences with flooding to groundbreaking research on risk perception and trust, this episode reveals why the biggest challenges aren’t always technical—they’re human. It’s a powerful story of resilience, community,...

Step into the fascinating intersection of religion, politics, and mental health as PhD candidate Caleb Kobosh uncovers how “madness” was understood in early modern England. Through the gripping story of George Tross, this episode explores how personal crisis, faith, and identity collide—and what that reveals about how we still think about mental health today. It’s a thought-provoking conversation...

From chaotic double pendulums to the mysteries of the brain, PhD candidate Jose Zepeda shares his journey into neuroscience and addiction research at Vanderbilt University. He explores how tiny, little-understood neural circuits may hold the key to understanding motivation, behavior, and the roots of addiction. Along the way, he reflects on mentorship, failure, and the curiosity-driven science tha...

Go beyond the research and into the real-life journey of Vanderbilt University PhD candidate Ebony Pearson as she navigates the twists of graduate school, from pivoting away from medical school to finding her passion in psycholinguistics. She shares candid insights on building confidence, finding mentorship, balancing independence with community, and developing unexpected skills like coding and da...