Advertise on podcast: From where does it STEM?

JP hosts a roundtable with four early-career scientists launching the Atlas of Inspiring Latin American Scientists, a new project amplifying representation, mentorship, and global collaboration. A powerful conversation about imposter syndrome, visibility, returning home, and why becoming what you don’t see can change an entire generation.

What happens when the academic path doesn’t work out but the love for science never fades? Sheeva Azma shares how she left her PhD, built a career in science journalism and policy, founded Fancy Comma LLC, and found a new way to contribute to science beyond the lab.

From physics to genomics to NASA, Dr. Chris Mason and Dr. Afshin Beheshti share the unconventional paths that led them into space biology. We talk about collaboration, GeneLab working groups, how high school and undergraduate students can join real NASA projects, and why curiosity, not credentials, is the key to discovering life beyond Earth.

HHMI Investigator Steven Henikoff shares the untold story behind BLOSUM matrices, centromere biology, and the early days of computational genomics. From being drafted during Vietnam to shaping how we align every protein sequence today, this episode explores how curiosity, collaboration, and mentorship can shape an entire field.

NYU neuroscientist Shane Liddelow shares his path from a small town in Western Australia to Stanford and beyond: how mentorship shaped him, how he builds lab culture with feedback and trust, and why confidence, community, and clear communication matter as much as grit.

What happens after you submit a paper to a journal like Cell? In this episode, JP talks with two scientific editors from Cell Press about how peer review really works, how editorial decisions are made, and what it’s like to build a career in scientific editing. From presubmissions and reviewer selection to burnout, publishing ethics, and social justice in science, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people shaping the scientific record.

In this special episode, From where does it STEM? co-host Angelique Allen talks with Dr. David Asai about reimagining science education, equity in STEM, and why changing the system means changing what (and who!) we value."

Dr. Melissa Haendel just joined UNC as its newest faculty member, shaking up the world of biomedical data. We talk big data, open science, and how she’s working to make research more connected, collaborative, and impactful.

Corals, symbiosis, and scientific courage—Dr. Mónica Medina dives deep into what it means to study and protect life underwater. We talk about reef conservation, community, and leading with heart in science. This episode was co-hosted with HHMI Gilliam Fellow Danny Olivares-Cordero, a researcher studying coral and coral reefs.

Policy powerhouse, science champion, and advocate for equity—Dr. Keith Yamamoto has done it all. In this episode, we talk about precision medicine, open science, and how bold ideas can reshape the future of research.

Mass spec, mentorship, and making science more inclusive—Dr. Ben Garcia does it all. In this episode, we talk about his journey through proteomics, pushing the boundaries of epigenetics, and lifting up the next generation of scientists. This episode was co-hosted with Jovan Tomes Vaquerano, a talented graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill.

Trailblazer, community builder, and scientist—Mayor Barbara Foushee wears many hats. In this episode, we talk about making history in Carrboro, leading with purpose, and staying rooted in service every step of the way

In this episode, I chatted with Dr. Kaitlyn Sadtler, who is pushing the boundaries of biomedical science. Co-hosted with HHMI Gilliam Fellow and ChemE PhD Candidate Sydney Floryanzia, we talk about their groundbreaking research, the twists and turns of their scientific journeys, and the power of collaboration in tackling big challenges. More on Dr. Sadtler, per the NIBIB: Kaitlyn Sadtler, Ph.D. joined NIBIB as an Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator and Chief of the Section for Immunoengineering in 2019. Prior to her arrival to the NIH, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Daniel Anderson, Ph.D. and Robert Langer, Ph.D., focusing on the molecular mechanisms of medical device fibrosis. During her time at MIT, Dr. Sadtler was awarded an NRSA Ruth L Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship, was listed on BioSpace’s 10 Life Science Innovators Under 40 To Watch and StemCell Tech’s Six Immunologists and Science Communicators to Follow. In 2018, she was named a TED Fellow and delivered a TED talk which was listed as one of the 25 most viewed talks in 2018. She was also elected to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Science, selected as a 2020 TEDMED Research Scholar, and received multiple other awards. Dr. Sadtler received her Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where her thesis research was published in Science magazine, Nature Methods, and others. She was recently featured in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Magazine as an alumna of note. Dr. Sadtler completed her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, followed by a postbaccalaureate IRTA at the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology at NIAID.

In this episode, I chat with Jaida Elcock, a marine biologist studying basking sharks, and co-host with HHMI Gilliam Fellow Danny Olivares-Cordero, a researcher studying coral and coral reefs. We dive into their journeys, their research, and what keeps them hooked on the ocean’s mysteries!

In this episode, we chatted with Sabrina Imbler, a science writer exploring the wonders of the natural world. They also wrote one of my favorite books of all time: How Far the Light Reaches! Co-host, Angelique Allen, a scientist and HHMI Gilliam Fellow made their podcast debut. She is passionate about communicating science with the public. The three of us discussed science writing, journalism, and ways to make science more accessible and engaging.