Majors Minors & Maybes - Career Exploration for Curious Minds

What if the next breakthrough in cancer treatment, genetic research, or personalized medicine depended on someone you've probably never heard of? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we're uncovering the fascinating world of the Scientific Curator. The STEM professional responsible for organizing, preserving, and protecting the biological samples and scientific data that fuel life-chang...

What do potato chips, yogurt, frozen pizza, sports drinks, and even your favorite cookies have in common? Behind each one is a food scientist. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , we're uncovering the fascinating career that blends chemistry, biology, creativity, and problem-solving into one delicious profession. Join us as we follow a day in the life of a food scientist, explore how f...

In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , we explore the fascinating world of the Medical Game Designer. The creative minds building video games, VR simulations, and interactive experiences that teach patients, train doctors, and make healthcare less intimidating. Through the story of Andie, a designer creating a game that helps kids understand and manage asthma, we uncover how gaming, medi...

From astronaut teamwork and stress management to designing safer systems for pilots and space crews, this career sits at the intersection of psychology, engineering, neuroscience, and space exploration. But what does an aerospace behavioral scientist actually do every day? How do you study human behavior when gravity disappears? And what can students study now if they dream of helping humans thriv...

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? Season 2 of Majors, Minors & Maybes is back! This time, we’re digging even deeper into the careers you didn’t know existed, but suddenly can’t stop thinking about. We’re talking about the kind of jobs that make you pause mid-scroll and say, “Wait that’s a thing?” The kind of careers your guidance counselor definitely forgot to mention. The kind...

What happens when fashion meets the future? Enter the world of the 3D garment/apparel designer. The pros turning pixels into pants and software into style. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , we follow Lila, a digital designer whose “day at the office” includes sculpting clothes in 3D, stress-testing fabrics in virtual wind tunnels, and making sure a gown drapes flawlessly before a si...

It's our season finale and we are going out in style with wrinkle-free, perfectly packed layers. In this episode, we meet Jordan, a personal travel gear curator who turns chaotic packing into a luxury experience. Think RFID kits, climate-smart wardrobes, and outfits tailored by region, vibe, and weather app. But that’s not all, we’re reflecting on our wild ride through the wonderfully weird world...

What do you get when you cross a researcher with a storyteller? A hybrid writing scientific consultant. These are the folks who make complex science not just readable, but unforgettable. In this episode, we follow Milo from grant proposals to blog posts, decoding breakthroughs in genetics one minute, and drafting policy briefs the next. Whether it’s helping doctors understand the latest studies or...

What do medical manikins, high-stakes drama, and behind-the-scenes brilliance have in common? Meet the Clinical Simulation Specialist. These are the folks who builds immersive healthcare training scenarios where the stakes feel real, but the patients are not. From heart attacks on cue to VR surgical rehearsals, Taylor here you will how a blend of tech, theatre, and medicine prepares our future hea...

This Halloween bonus episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes takes us into the shadows of the courtroom with a career you’ve probably never heard of, the medical-legal illustrator. Think of them as detectives with a pencil translating X-rays, medical jargon, and surgical notes into visuals so clear they can sway a jury. In this bite-sized, slightly spooky side quest, we peel back the curtain on a d...

Bugs, bytes, and a changing climate? Yes, it’s a thing! In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , we meet the climate entomology informatics specialist. It’s a mouthful of a job title that basically means they track insects using data to understand how climate change is shaking up ecosystems. From digital fieldwork to predictive models, this is a career that blends biology, tech, and enviro...

What if your clothes could think? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we thread the needle between fashion and tech with a career that is as futuristic as it is fabulous. We are plunging into the 3D textile designer. From temperature-sensitive fabrics to garments that light up and charge your phone, these fabric wizards are blending engineering, design, and a touch of sci-fi magic to c...

Think all the action happens above ground? Think again! In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we dig deep (no pun intended) into the wild world of microbial ecology. Meet Leo, a fungi-loving field scientist decoding underground fungal networks, glowing bacteria, and the secret lives of microbes that just might save our forests and our future. From mushroom-powered climate tech to DNA in...

Do you think that therapy is just couches and clipboards? Think again. On this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we are stepping into the pixelated world of virtual reality therapy. Where high-tech headsets help people conquer fears, rewire habits, and build confidence one simulation at a time. Together with Dr. W., you will explore the virtual reality therapist who trades in traditional tal...

Maggots. Murder. Mystery. Let’s go! They say the truth is in the details and in this case, it's in the bugs. Grab your magnifying glass (and maybe a strong stomach), we are heading into the wild world of forensic entomology where tiny insects become crime-solving heroes. From blowflies to beetles, these tiny timekeepers help forensic scientists crack cases and tell the truth when no one else can....

A mystery is brewing and tiny insects might just hold the answers. In 48 hours, Majors, Minors & Maybes heads into the curious, squirmy world of forensic entomology. Spoiler alert: maggots are about to steal the spotlight. In this bonus teaser, Dr. W. gives you a sneak peek at the next episode where science meets crime scenes, bugs become timekeepers, and careers get unexpectedly creepy-cool....

Welcome to Majors, Minors & Maybes! Join Dr. W., professor, mom, and part-time career detective, as she unpacks the wonderfully weird world of work. Each episode blends storytelling and real-world insights to explore the surprising and sometimes downright delightful careers, that will make you say “Wait, that’s a real job?!” Whether you are a student, a career-changer, or just someone who’s en...

Ever watched a video of a cell dividing or a heart valve opening and thought, “Wait…how did they film that?” Spoiler alert: they didn’t! It was animated by someone who speaks both molecule and motion. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , we dive into the dazzling world of biomedical animators, the visual translators who turn complex science into stunning stories. Dr. W. unpacks how the...

Forget farm-to-table! We are talking space-to-salad. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes , your professor, mom, and part-time career detective, Dr. W. explores the surprisingly down-to-earth role of a space agriculture scientist. These are the folks figuring out how to grow fresh food where there’s no gravity, no soil, and surely no bees. Follow a fictional day in the life of Priya, a s...

Ever rage-quit a health app because the login made zero sense? Enter the healthcare UX (user experience) designer. Part techie, part empath, and full-time digital lifesaver. On this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we follow the designer on a mission to rescue users from the labyrinth of confusing forms, medical jargon, and clunky buttons. With a toolkit full of sticky notes, empathy, and i...