science communication

From NASA to Nexus – Turning Science Into Impact with Arnaud Stiepen

How do you go from studying the stars to helping others shine in their science communication? 🌟 In this inspiring conversation, astrophysicist, TV host, and TEDx speaker Arnaud Stiepen joins David Mendes to share how he built a bridge between research and the public through Nexus by Arnaud Stiepen — his platform for transforming complex…

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Papa PhD Gold: From Bird Brains to Broadcasts – Dr. Kiki Sanford’s Science Communication Journey

Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis! This week, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Kirsten “Kiki” Sanford, a science communicator with an unconventional path from bird neuroscience to the front lines of science storytelling. In this episode, Dr. Kiki shares behind-the-scenes stories of launching “This Week in Science,” collaborating with mentors like Leo Laporte,…

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Papa PhD Gold: Rethinking Selling and Storytelling in ScienceWith Anna Clemens

Welcome to this new episode of Papa PhD Gold! Here’s the big takeaway from this excerpt from my conversation with scientific writing expert Anna Clemens: Selling isn’t a dirty word in academia – it’s all about communicating your research in a way that connects with people, even if they aren’t specialists in your field. If…

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Demystifying Industry Careers for PhDs With Morgan Foret

Welcome to this new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Morgan Foret, who brings a fresh perspective on navigating the journey from academia to industry. Morgan shares her personal story, beginning with her undergraduate studies in cell biology, an international research internship in Germany,…

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Unlocking Chemistry Literacy: Comic Books, Storytelling, and Molecular Imagination with Colleen Kelley

Welcome to a brand new episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this conversation, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Colleen Kelly, a seasoned chemistry professor, researcher, and now award-winning author of children’s chemistry comic books. With a PhD in chemistry from Penn State, Colleen’s career has spanned environmental toxicology, medicinal chemistry,…

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Sarah McLusky of the Research Adjacent Podcast

Welcome to a special collaborative episode of “Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD” featuring Sarah McClusky, host of the Research Adjacent podcast. In this conversation, David Mendes sits down with Sarah to explore the often overlooked world of research-adjacent careers—the roles, paths, and opportunities for PhDs and researchers beyond traditional academic tracks. Sarah draws on…

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Papa PhD Gold 001: The Hidden Benefits of Science Communication for Researchers

Welcome to a brand-new Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD experience – the “Papa PhD Gold” format, where we dive into a past episode of the show to explore the intersection of science, communication, and personal growth as a researcher. In this episode, we are joined by Elodie Chabrol, a passionate advocate for science communication…

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PhD Job Hunt Best Practices With Claudia Belliveau

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD! In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, your host David Mendes sits down for a meaningful chat with Claudia, who just wrapped up her PhD and is now stepping into the pharmaceutical industry. They explore Claudia’s experiences during her time in…

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Navigating Our Fear of Change With Mary Poffenroth

Welcome to another enlightning episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD! This week, I delve into the intricacies of fear and courage with my guest, Mary Poffenroth. During this discussion about navigating the fear of change, especially relevant for graduate students and early-career professionals facing uncertainty about the future, Mary shares her rich experiences,…

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Turn On, Tune In, Master Out – Using Comedy in Science with Lexa Graham

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating interface between science and comedy. Our guest – Lexa Graham – is a Toronto comedian and writer with a master’s degree in chemical engineering. During our conversation, Lexa shares her journey from the lab to the stage, revealing…

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