

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers
Dr. Marie McNeely, featuring top scientists speaking about their life and c
Are you searching for great stories to ignite your curiosity, teach you to perform better in life and career, inspire your mind, and make you laugh along the way? In this science podcast, Dr. Marie McNeely introduces you to the brilliant researchers behind the latest scientific discoveries. Join us as they share their greatest failures, most staggering successes, candid career advice, and what drives them forward in life and science.
Our website with show notes]]
Greetings science fans!
We’re elated to welcome you to People Behind the Science where we explore the lives and experiences of the people behind the research and scientific discoveries of today.
People Behind the Science’s mission is to inspire current and future scientists, share the different paths to a successful career in science, educate the general population on what scientists do, and show the human side of science.
In each episode, a different scientist will guide us through their journey by sharing their successes, failures, and passions. We are excited to introduce you to these inspiring academic and industry experts from all fields of science to give you a variety of perspectives on the life and path of a scientist.
Our esteemed guests will tell you:
what motivates them and how they balance their competing responsibilities
how they worked through some of the most challenging times in their careers
advice to help you through your own journey through life and science
Our Podcast
People Behind the Science is a podcast focused on the people doing fascinating research through interviews with top scientists. We are proud to have interviewed so many inspiring scientists, including U.S. National Academy scientists like Josh Sanes, Nick Spitzer, Lou Muglia, Jacob Israelachvili, Gene Robinson, Larry Squire, John Dowling, James Berger, and David Spergel, as well as popular scientists in the media like Donna Nelson (science advisor for the TV show Breaking Bad) and Jack Horner (science advisor for the Jurassic park movies). We are honored to have shared their amazing stories with people in all 50 states in the USA and in over 120 countries across the world.
Our website with show notes]]
Greetings science fans!
We’re elated to welcome you to People Behind the Science where we explore the lives and experiences of the people behind the research and scientific discoveries of today.
People Behind the Science’s mission is to inspire current and future scientists, share the different paths to a successful career in science, educate the general population on what scientists do, and show the human side of science.
In each episode, a different scientist will guide us through their journey by sharing their successes, failures, and passions. We are excited to introduce you to these inspiring academic and industry experts from all fields of science to give you a variety of perspectives on the life and path of a scientist.
Our esteemed guests will tell you:
what motivates them and how they balance their competing responsibilities
how they worked through some of the most challenging times in their careers
advice to help you through your own journey through life and science
Our Podcast
People Behind the Science is a podcast focused on the people doing fascinating research through interviews with top scientists. We are proud to have interviewed so many inspiring scientists, including U.S. National Academy scientists like Josh Sanes, Nick Spitzer, Lou Muglia, Jacob Israelachvili, Gene Robinson, Larry Squire, John Dowling, James Berger, and David Spergel, as well as popular scientists in the media like Donna Nelson (science advisor for the TV show Breaking Bad) and Jack Horner (science advisor for the Jurassic park movies). We are honored to have shared their amazing stories with people in all 50 states in the USA and in over 120 countries across the world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 10, 2015 • 41min
269: Contemplating Community Connectivity and Conservation in Coral Reefs - Dr. Josh Drew
Dr. Josh Drew is a Lecturer in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology and Director M.A. in Conservation Biology Program at Columbia University. He received his M.S. degree in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Public Policy from the State University of New York at Albany and his PhD from the Boston University Marine Program. Afterward, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Field Museum in Chicago and served as an Adjunct Professor at East West University in Chicago before joining the faculty at Columbia. Josh is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

Jun 8, 2015 • 45min
268: Clearing Out Brain Clutter: A Glimpse into the Glymphatic System - Dr. Jeff Iliff
Dr. Jeff Iliff is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Jeff received his PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from Oregon Health and Science University. Afterward, he conducted postdoctoral research, and later served on faculty, at the University of Rochester Medical Center before returning to OHSU where he is today. Jeff is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

Jun 5, 2015 • 40min
267: Directing Our Eyes to the Skies with Stellar Infrared Images of Asteroids, Comets, and Stars - Dr. Amy Mainzer
Dr. Amy Mainzer is a Senior Research Scientist and the Principle Investigator for the Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is also the Principal Investigator for the Near Earth Object Camera mission proposal and the Deputy Project Scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission. After earning her B.S. In Physics from Stanford University, Amy accepted a position at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center. She then returned to academia to earn her M.S. in Astronomy from the California Institute of Technology and PhD in Astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles. Amy has received many awards and honors for her work, including the Lew Allen Award for Excellence, as well as the NASA Exceptional Achievement and Scientific Achievement Medals. She has also been recognized along with NASA team members for their efforts on the Spitzer, WISE, and NEOWISE missions. Amy is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

Jun 3, 2015 • 43min
266: Having a Blast Studying Magma Crystals to Understand Volcanic Eruptions - Dr. Erik Klemetti
Dr. Erik Klemetti is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Denison University. He received his Bachelor's degree in History and Geosciences from Williams College and his PhD in Geology from Oregon State University. He worked as a Laboratory Research Supervisor at the University of Washington and then as a Consultant and Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Davis before joining the faculty at Denison. In addition to his research and teaching, Erik writes for Wired Science in his blog called Eruptions that focuses on volcanoes and volcanism. Erik is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

Jun 1, 2015 • 1h 7min
265: Investigating Important Interactions Between Molecules and Membrane Proteins - Dr. Olaf Andersen
Dr. Olaf Andersen is a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program in New York City. He was awarded his MD from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen and Rockefeller University before joining the faculty at Cornell University. Olaf has received many awards and honors including being named a Foreign Member of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, receipt of the K. S. Cole Medal from the Biophysical Society, being named an Honorary Fellow of the Cornell University Weill Medical College Alumni Association, receipt Distinguished Service Award from the Biophysical Society, and receipt the Inaugural Bruce Ballard Mentoring Award. Olaf is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

May 29, 2015 • 43min
264: Cracking the Climate Code - Deciphering Signatures in Geologic and Hydrologic Records to Model Climate Variability - Dr. Gavin Schmidt
Dr. Gavin Schmidt is the Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Principal Investigator of the ModelE Earth System Model there. He received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from University College London. Afterward, he went on to conduct postdoctoral research at McGill University and Columbia University. Gavin worked for several years as an Associate Research Scientist and Research Scientist at Columbia before accepting a position with NASA where he has been for the last twenty years is today. In addition to his research, Gavin is also an avid science communicator and he is co-founder of the RealClimate blog. He was named EarthSky Science Communicator of the year and was awarded the Inaugural American Geophysical Union Climate Communication Prize both in 2011. He is also the co-author, with Joshua Wolfe, of Climate Change: Picturing the Science. Gavin is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

May 27, 2015 • 54min
263: Professor Applying Principles of Physics to Biological Systems - Dr. Sonya Bahar
Dr. Sonya Bahar is a Professor of Biophysics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy as well as Director of the Center for Neurodynamics at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She received her B.S. degree in Physics from Drexel University and her Master's and PhD degrees in Biophysics from the University of Rochester. Afterward, Sonya conducted postdoctoral research at Duke University, the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and Weill-Cornell Medical College of Cornell University before joining the faculty at the University of Missouri, St. Louis where she is today. Sonya is a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the St. Louis Academy of Science Innovation Award, and the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was also named a Trailblazer by the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Sonya is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

May 25, 2015 • 39min
262: Getting to the Root of Plant-Activated Carcinogens and Environmental Mutagenesis - Dr. Jim Gentile
James M. Gentile is the Dean for Natural and Applied Sciences at Hope College and the past President of Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a Tucson, AZ-based foundation dedicated to science since 1912. Jim received his Master's and PhD in Genetics from Illinois State University and conducted a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Jim then joined the faculty of Hope College where he remained for nearly 30 years before becoming President of Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a foundation that funds innovative scientific research. In 2013, Jim returned to Hope College where he is today. Jim has received many awards and honors during his career, including the Alexander Hollaender Research Excellence Award from the Environmental Mutagen Society, the Cancer Medallion of the Japanese National Cancer Institute, and the Science Medal of Distinction of Pisa, Italy. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, and a National Academies education mentor. Jim was also honored by Illinois State University with an Alumni Achievement Award and election to the university Hall of Fame, and was given a Special Achievement Award by the Council on Undergraduate Research. Jim is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

May 22, 2015 • 43min
261: Researching Relationships and How They Impact Mental Health and Learning in Children - Dr. Jennifer Jenkins
Dr. Jennifer Jenkins is the Atkinson Chair of Early Child Development and Education and the Interim Academic Director of the Frazer Mustard Institute of Human Development at the University of Toronto. She received her Bachelor's degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Sussex, her Master's degree in Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Nottingham, and her PhD in Psychology from the University of London. Afterwards, she worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and then as a Lecturer at Stirling University before joining the faculty at the University of Toronto. Jenny is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

May 20, 2015 • 52min
260: Studying How Synapses Sustain Signaling to Process Sound - Dr. Samuel Young
Dr. Samuel M. Young, Jr. is an Independent Max Planck Research Group Leader of Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience in Jupiter, Florida. He received his PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He went on to conduct post-doctoral research in the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratories at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California and at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in the Department of Membrane Biophysics in Goettingen, Germany, where he later accepted a position as an Internal Research Group Leader. Samuel then accepted a position at the Max Planck Florida Institute where he is currently. Samuel is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.