The Science Bridge

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...

In this episode, we sit down with physician-scientist Dr. Cailin Collins to explore how her work bridges the gap between the lab and the clinic. Dr. Collins shares her journey through MD-PhD training and how it shaped her passion for a career that combines patient care with scientific discovery. Focused on hematologic malignancies, she discusses the unique opportunity to treat patients in the clin...

In this special episode, Dr. Bruce Mandt, Associate Dean at CU Anschutz and our organization's faculty mentor, takes us through his exciting and, eventually non-traditional, journey in academia. His early interest in psychology and neuroscience led him to addiction studies and unpacking cocaine use in rodent models. While his interest in these science questions remained, Dr. Mandt discovered h...

In This Episode:   Can stem cells be used to repair and regenerate damaged retinas? And how close are we to restoring vision for those who have lost it?  Join hosts Jon Woodward and Preston Stafford for an engaging conversation with retinal organoid expert and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Dominic Shayler. Inspired by watching his father lose his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, Dr. Shayler shares his jou...

Hosts Jeremy Fleck and Lauren Dunn sit down and chat with Arjun Krishnan, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, about all things related to AI, computer science, and using large datasets to answer complex biological problems. In this episode, they learn about Arjun’s background and his journey through science, and how he landed at the Anschutz campus. They also chat a...

In This Episode:  Do your genetics change which foods you like and dislike? Is there a way we can make those unsatisfying, distasteful foods delicious for the masses? Join us on this episode of the Science Bridge with Dr. Joanne Cole as we dive into the genetics that drive our preferences for different types of food. Can broad population genetics be used to unlock why we all have such different pr...

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Greenfield, a PhD candidate studying DNA replication in yeast, to explore what happens when cells copy their genetic “book” and certain sections are unexpectedly delayed. Sam uses creative analogies to break down complex molecular biology and explains how these rare replication events may connect to cancer, development, and aging. We also hear about his unconv...

In This Episode: Have you ever wondered what mysteries underlie one of the most recognizable organelles of the cell, the mitochondria? Ever wanted to know what it's like to apply for faculty leadership positions in academia? Join hosts Jon and Preston as we interview one of the leading faculty and chair of pharmaceutical sciences here at Anschutz, Dr. Blake Hill, as we dive into the cutting pr...

In This Episode:  In this episode of the Science Bridge podcast, hosts Lauren Dunn and Jeremy Fleck welcome Cassie Minne, a PhD candidate on the Anschutz campus studying craniofacial biology. Cassie shares insights into her research on how genetic and molecular factors shape the development of the human face, including discussions on conditions like cleft lip and palate. The conversation explores...

Welcome to season 2! What does it mean to taste something? How does our perception of taste even start? Come join us on a dive into the unexpected complexity in the structure of the taste bud!  In this episode, we follow Dr. Courtney Wilson’s non-traditional journey as she discusses her path to becoming an assistant research professor in the Cell & Developmental Biology program at CU Anschutz...

Let your interests take you where they may, despite the foreseeable challenges ahead.    In this episode, Dr. Edward (Ed) Evans discusses his path to becoming a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. James DiGregori’s lab. From roots in math and chemistry, Dr. Evans talks about how his passion in one field led him into disease prevention research where he had to become an expert in a whole new field. Dr. Evan...

In This Episode: We sit down with Dr. Tonya Brunetti to explore her path into science and how she uses computational tools to make sense of complex biological data, especially data revealing how the immune system works. She shares what first sparked her interest in bioinformatics, the methods she relies on to decode large datasets, and the ways she applies bioinformatic approaches to deepen our un...

In This Episode: Join us as we sit down with Dr. Deviyani Rao for her very own episode! Devi has been an instrumental part of Project Bridge CO for many years and the driving force behind this podcast. Hear about her passion for science communication, where her journey is taking her in her post doc, and her life beyond the bench. This isn’t farewell, it is see you later!   Recorded on: September 1...

In This Episode: In this episode we cover Breanna’s journey as a scientist thus far in her career. Breanna is a graduate student with a funded grant through the NIH. We talk about her interests as an Alzheimer's researcher and speculate on a few of the possible molecular underpinnings of the disease. Finally, we discuss her path in becoming a Medical Science Liaison.  Recorded: August 22nd  20...

In This Episode:  Bailey is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Molecular Biology program. She studies how primary cilia form and function.  A med school hopeful turned researcher. Outside of the lab she is a part of a band. Recorded on: August 5th 2025   🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:  ✨ Connect With Us:  Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram & BlueSky    Project Bridge Colorado We...

In this episode: We are joined by post doctoral research Devin Effinger, Ph. D. Tune in and hear about the world of psychedelics, their therapeutic roles following traumatic brain injury, and his journey into science! Recorded on: July 23rd 2025 🛠 Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Devin on Instagram & BlueSky National Institute on Drug Abuse ✨ Connect with us: Follow The Science Bridge...