STEMulating Conversations with Dr. Q

Be a Voice, not an echo.  When you are in a position of leadership, your voice is a powerful tool.   How you communicate is equally, if not more important, than the words spoken.  Before using your voice, ask yourself:  1. Am I credible enough to speak on this subject; 2. Is it work the risk for me to speak on this subject; 3. What impact will my voice have on this subject?    

Consulting can be rewarding careers for those with a STEM background. The key to a successful consulting practice is identifying a niche, and having a demonstrated record of expertise in that area. When Dr. Rowe-Rendleman launched Omar Consulting, there was a need to fill the gap between the bench and the bedside with product development support services for the pharma and medical industry.   She...

Dr. Patrice Yarbough believes that the 'lab' is any where science is conducted, and often times it is outside the confines of a traditional brick and mortar with test tubes and fume hoods.  Such is the case for her in her role as a senior scientist with NASA Johnson Space Center.  Dr. Yarbough, a biochemist, talks about how her lifelong passion for conducting translational research led to her curr...

"Being comfortable with you who are and having confidence in what you bring to the table" are the guiding principles that have directed most of the career decisions of Dr. Adrian Land.  In this episode, he shares his traditionally non-traditional STEM career path from a small Southern town to now leading a regulatory affairs team at a Fortune 500 company.   He is passionate about sharing his story...

Everyone has a brand, but how you manage your brand can be the determining factor in your career advancement.  Personal brand strategist Isha Cogborn, founder of the Epiphany Institute joins in this week's STEMulating conversation to offer tips on effectively identifying and managing your brand.  Isha worked with scientists at all levels at one of the world's largest chemical corporations, so she...

Being open to opportunity and understanding that 'your skills will take you where your strengths are'.  These are the two main principles that Dr. Jones credits for successfully navigating a career path from faculty member to entrepreneur to current Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of New Hampshire. Follow Dr. Jones on Twitter @wayne_e_jones Visit his website at htt...

It's the final episode, but not exactly what you think! Listen in to see why we are leaving Beyond the Bench behind.

What do you do when you feel as though you are not longer growing in your role?  You've not burned out; but rather, you've become bored.  What do you do when you just don't feel like doing anything, because it is too mundane?   

As an ecologist, Dr. Claire Horner-Deving had an interest in studying relationships, identifying strength of interactions and understanding how communities work together.  While she liked the science, she realized that she didn't love it.  So what did she do?  She parlayed the skills and principles  learned as an ecologist and applied them to building programs focused on supporting underrepresente...

What do you do after you have rested, relaxed and renewed?  You RESET!  This week's episode challenges you along your career pathway to be a 'cation'.  Be positive in your outlook regardless of the stage of your career, or what you aspire to achieve.  Know what it is that you want, so that when someone asks, "how may I help you", you will be able to respond with a clear and concise answer.  Listen...

Resting, relaxing and renewing are all critical to your ability to be productive and successful.  That's just what I did over the past month. Now we are back and ready to kick off SEASON THREE of STEMulating conversations!  

Dr. Erika Shugart is a trailblazer of pursuing 'alternative' careers in STEM.  Exposure to science in her formative years influenced her desire to pursue a PhD; however, she quickly realized that her interests and skillset extended beyond the boundaries of a research laboratory.  Listen to this conversation and learn about her scientific journey beginning in Oak Ridge, TN to her current role as Ch...

Science communication comes in many different forms, so it should come as no surprise that Dr. Theanne Griffith, a PhD neuroscientist, is also a children's literary author of STEM inspired series of chapter books.  In this episode, Theanne shares the steps she took to landing a deal with Random House publishing.  She also emphasizes how her scientific training has influenced her fiction writing an...

Dr. Garry Cooper has blazed a career path in the span of 10 years than most will do in a lifetime.  In the span of a decade, he earned a PhD in neuroscience, did a postdoc, worked at two different Big Four management consulting firms, co-founded and launched a successful company of which he is the CEO and still finds time to serve as an adjunct professor. How does he do it?  In everything aspect o...

When a previous guest of the show wants to start a podcast to share his experiences on leadership and leadership development, you bring him back on.  Latane Brackett's (Episodes 64 and 39) transparent, honest and humorous approach to leadership is something that we can all benefit.  Listen in to this special edition episode to find out what Can I Just Tell the Truth is all about.    

Dr. Kristala Prather Jones knew before she entered graduate school that working in industry would be critical to her success as a research professor.  She understood then that impacting students as individuals was her passion, and walks in that purpose each day as the Arthur D. Little Professor of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  After listening to the episode, you c...

Tokiwa Smith loves math and science and wanted to share her passion of STEM with others, so she created SEM Link , a nonprofit that promotes student achievement and career exploration in math and science while increasing student exposure to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) communities.  

Dr. John Harkless has always loved science, so it come as a surprise that this P-Chemist is all about communication, storytelling and being inventive in ways that he didn't know that he can be.  He has taken this philosophy with him in every job he has had, so it is no surprise that he has engaging approach to teaching P-Chem. Check out Dr. Harkless'sYouTube Dhannel to view some of the student vid...

January is not the only month for someone to celebrate a NEW YEAR.  This episode is a conversation with myself as I share my journey beyond the bench!

Chemists who stay at a single organization their entire career are a rarity.  Latrease Garrison started her career as an intern writing obituaries for C&EN and is now the Executive Vice President of Education at the American Chemical Society.  It was an interesting, fun, and STEMulaitng conversation! Follow Latrease on Twitter  @MrsGfromVA American Chemical Society

Her career journey has gone from a SLAC with no undergraduate research experience to managing technology transfer projects within the Federal government.  This week's conversation with Dr. Merissa Baxter reveals another exciting path for STEM trained PhDs who are interested in areas of scientific communication.  Follow her on Twitter @DrM_Baxter

Dr. Elizabeth Wayne credits Mississippi School for Math and Science for providing the solid foundation which has led to her becoming an award-winning biomedical engineer, TED Fellow, speaker, and advocate for women in higher education. Listen in as she shares her journey beyond the bench and plants seeds for several STEMulating conversation.  She is also the co-host of the show PhDivas Podcast phd...

Two quotes this week to Motivate, Energize and Affirm the Leader in You!  Entropia2019

You never know where your career will lead you, particularly if you choose to pursue biotech roles.  The rewards can be as fulfilling as the risks are frustrating. When Melanie entered a PhD program in bioscience at The Scripps Research Institute, she had no idea that her career path would lead her to a formal project management role; however, that's exactly what happened, and she is enjoying it. ...

Choosing a career as a professor means more than research. In this week's episode the Chem Diva, Dr. Malika Jeffries-El, shares a range of views on a variety of topics on her experiences as a successful African American female chemist navigating the scientific academic landscape. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Chem_Diva