Podcast appearances and mentions of Ruth L Kirschstein

Ashley is a BRAIN Initiative K99/R00 investigator & Ruth L. Kirschstein  postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Marcos Frank, PhD at Washington State University in Spokane. Ashley's current research focuses on the role of astrocytes in sleep and sleep homeostasis. Sleep is a very interesting topic and seems to have caught attention through the years of best products to help induce but what about what happens to our brains when we do.

A critical part of the scientific process is the interpretation and presentation of results in a form that the general public can understand. When science is not clearly communicated, it can seem to produce complex and conflicting information. However, scientists typically don't have any training on how to communicate, despite the fact that it's a very important part of their success, not only for advancing their discoveries but for getting money to do the science in the first place. Alison Davis has made it her life’s work to help scientists communicate the right way.  Alison is the President of Word Science LLC, a firm she founded almost 11 years ago to deliver concise and engaging science writing and editing, speech writing for science and medical clients, as well as related materials for a variety of audiences including lay audiences. She is the author of Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth L. Kirschstein. Before starting her own firm Allison served as a science writer for the National Institutes of Health and NASA's Ames Research Center. Alison earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She did her postdoc at Stanford University School of Medicine in Developmental Biology and studied at the University of California Santa Cruz's science communication program. Allison earned her Bachelor's in Biochemistry magna cum laude from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks [1:00] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Alison Davis [2:29] Dr. Davis shares what attracted her to science and what led her to science communication in UC Santa Cruz [6:27] What challenges did Dr. Davis face as she was transitioning her career into the science communication space? [11:33] Dr. Davis gives her perspective on ghostwriting in the science field and why it’s important to be confident in what you do when establishing your career [14:23] Dr. Davis talks about how her training in science has helped her in her writing career  [16:45] Dr. Davis discusses how science communication has evolved since the time she started working in the field [20:00] Career advice from Dr. Davis on how to best transition into the science writing and communication space [26:41] The importance of choosing your audience, honesty, and organized thinking when you’re working on a writing piece particularly in the field of science [35:18] The role of good science communication in combating the denial and denigration of science Connect with Alison Davis Dr. Alison Davis LinkedIn Wordscience LLC Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth Lillian Kirschstein, MD Science Communication As a Career Although many scientists consider science communication as an alternative career path, it does not necessarily involve the conduction of experiments or thorough studies. According to Dr. Davis, science communication is mostly ghostwriting since you will mostly be positing ideas and studies by others. What matters, she says, is that you stay true to the study and maintain honesty with your audience because this helps build your confidence in your skills and in your capacity to communicate the message that you want to impart. Critical thinking, honesty, and a good dash of humor are helpful in a career that some might consider as unforgiving. It is one of the ways through which the sciences can be defended against the denigration and denial that it’s facing in a world where people are questioning its credibility and reliability on a daily basis. Determining your audience, zeroing in on your medium, and writing a piece that resonates with people are crucial aspects of the job. Connecting Before Communicating In today’s society where some research institutions have become weak and dependent on outside funding, some research findings have a tendency of being exaggerated thus making them sound like alternative facts instead of literature and research-based evidence. The failure to connect with the audience and to share findings with them at a level that they can understand and appreciate is a challenge to scientists and therefore, a challenge to those who are working in the field of science communication. According to Dr. Davis, scientific research is beneficial to everyone which means that effective communication is an absolute must. The need to connect every piece written with the audience it was written for is non-negotiable; the challenge is how to do it in a way that is engaging and compelling. In this episode of When Science Speaks, Dr. Davis shares how her career has grown through the years and the challenges that she figures to be constants in the field of science communication. She imparts wisdom and advice on how to write science pieces, how to connect with the audience, and also emphasizes why this field is an important contributor to the world of science as a whole. Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com https://bayerstrategic.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer-Strategic-Consulting-206102993131329 On YouTube: http://bit.ly/BSConTV On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanielbayer/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayerstrategic/ On Medium: https://medium.com/@markbayer17 Subscribe to When Science Speaks on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Graduating with a PhD is an unbelievable accomplishment. It is the culmination of many years of sweat, tears, hard work, and dedication. And for many who have finally received their PhD diploma, the next step is to get into a Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The transition can be difficult, so where can postdocs turn to in order for them to transition smoothly from graduate school to their next big adventure? The Postdoc Academy is designed just for that.  Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson is Assistant Provost, Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs at the Boston University School of Medicine where she provides services and programming for all postdoctoral scholars at Boston University. Previously, Dr. Hokanson was US Deputy Director of Science and Innovation at the British Consulate-General in Boston.  Dr. Hokanson has received an Executive Education Certificate for the Entrepreneurship Development Program from MIT Sloan School of Management. She also completed an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cornell University in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Boston University and has earned her Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks [1:04] Mark introduces Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson [2:58] The Launch of the Postdoc Academy [3:48] The first course, ‘Succeeding as a Postdoc’, is open for registration now [4:22] Benefits that students receive from joining the Postdoc Academy [7:00] Highlights of the first course [9:59] Plans for upcoming courses Connect with Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson’s first episode on When Science Speaks Sarah on LinkedIn Sarah on Twitter The transition from graduate student to postdoc Becoming a postdoc is a major challenge and a change. While it’s important to begin the process with focus and attention, but the whole experience isn’t meant to last forever. That’s why it’s important to also give as much value to career planning and on your goals and plans once the Fellowship has been completed. The question is, how do you do this in the most effective way possible? Postdoc Academy was built to address that and the many other questions that come with the decision to pursue Postdoctoral Fellowship. When transitions, new experiences, and planning for the future all happen simultaneously, it can be exhilarating. Postdoctoral candidates are often busy with many activities which is why the course designed by Postdoc Academy is flexible. The goal of the entire course is to provide transferable skills to postdocs in a wide variety of career paths through a comprehensive program. The course takes place over six weeks, with one week modules, but the weekly sections need not be completed until the six weeks have all been duly accomplished since the priority is the schedule and other study commitments of postdoc candidates. The cost of the course is also flexible with paid tracks available that will award certification and credentials.  Succeeding as a postdoc Leveling up from graduate school to a postdoctorate fellowship program is a major change. Not only will your expectations but so too will your routines. So what can you expect when you sign up with Postdoc Academy? What topics will be covered and learnings and benefits can you get from joining their course? Most importantly, how much will it cost to participate in a course? The first course is called “Succeeding as a postdoc”, and is organized into four modules. It is focused on the transition between being a graduate student and career planning. The first module is a general overview and forming a career plan. The next module focuses on how to implement a career plan. Because stress can be a challenge for many postdocs, the third module is about resilience and stress management. The fourth and final module fulfills the Academy’s commitment to diversity and is about working in intercultural environments.  Learn more about Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson and Postdoc Academy on this week’s episode of When Science Speaks. Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com https://bayerstrategic.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer-Strategic-Consulting-206102993131329 On YouTube: http://bit.ly/BSConTV On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanielbayer/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayerstrategic/ On Medium: https://medium.com/@markbayer17 Subscribe to When Science Speaks on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

What would you say are the most important aspects of postdoc research? Would the learning environment or the availability of mentors rank high on your list? What about the role of passion and enthusiasm for your field of study? Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson joins Mark in this episode of When Science Speaks to highlight the role of enthusiasm and storytelling in postdoc research. Sarah is the Assistant Provost of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs at Boston University. She is responsible for providing services and programming for all postdoc scholars at Boston University, as well as supporting the development of University policies related to postdoc scholarships. Before joining Boston University, Sarah was the US Deputy Director of Science and Innovation at the British Consulate-General, Boston. Dr. Hokanson holds a BA in Chemistry from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She completed a National Institute of Health (NIH) Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cornell University in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks [1:08] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson. [3:50] What sparked Sarah’s interest in science? [7:30] Sarah talks about taking a position working for the British Consulate. [12:00] What is the Postdoc Academy? [15:00] How Sarah and her team create programs that appeal to postdoc researchers. [18:00] Sarah’s advice for postdoc researchers. [20:30] Why enthusiasm for your field is crucial. [22:20] How to connect with the Postdoc Academy. Connect with Sarah Chobot Hokanson Postdocacademy[at]gmail.com Sch1[at]bu.edu Sarah on LinkedIn Sarah on Twitter Resources & People Mentioned National Postdoctoral Association Don’t fake it, pursue what energizes you Have you ever found yourself stuck listening to someone who is dispassionate about their work? The experience tends to be incredibly dull and ultimately a waste of time. While It’s not fair to expect every researcher to come out with the most stunning and captivating presentation, a lack of passion and enthusiasm speaks volumes. What is the solution? Should you fake excitement for something that you don’t care about? Most people are ill-equipped to take a topic they care nothing about and make it sound interesting. Don’t try to fake enthusiasm; your audience will see it coming from a mile away. If you find yourself in a field of study that you don’t care about, make a change as soon as possible. Not only will you benefit from switching to a subject that you care about, but those on the receiving end of your research will also benefit. If you are stuck, consider reaching out to your mentor or peers and utilize the network you’ve built to make a change. Why storytelling is crucial to communicating your research Storytelling is an often neglected aspect of postdoc research. Even the phrase, “Storytelling” seems foreign in a world of facts, figures, and data. What does storytelling have to do with postdoc studies? It all comes down to effectively conveying your findings. If you can’t tell a compelling story with the data you’ve collected, you need to look at it from a different perspective. Your research will only have the desired effect if you present it in a way that connects with your target audience. Are you presenting your findings to your peers? If so, you can get away with a lot of lingo and jargon, but you still need to make a compelling case. Are you presenting to an audience outside your field of study? If that’s the case, you’ve got to find a way to connect your research to something they can understand. You don’t have to abandon your data and figures, you must make them relevant to your audience. This aspect of your research will come more naturally if you are engaged and invested in your subject matter. To hear Dr. Hokanson expand on this topic and much more, make sure to catch her full conversation with Mark on this episode of When Science Speaks. Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com https://bayerstrategic.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer-Strategic-Consulting-206102993131329 On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanielbayer/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayerstrategic/ On Medium: https://medium.com/@markbayer17

Enhanced Audio Podcast - Part 2Aired date: 5/17/2010 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time

Enhanced Audio Podcast - Part 1Aired date: 5/17/2010 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time

Enhanced Video Podcast - Part 1Aired date: 5/17/2010 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time

Enhanced Video Podcast - Part 2Aired date: 5/17/2010 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time