Secret Life of a Graduate Student

Laure and Megan bring the mini-series guests together for a final discussion on faith and science in graduate school. The group discusses some common threads from each of their individual interviews, such as religion as a form of life balance and how they navigate preconceptions from colleagues, friends, and podcast hosts of conflict within their way of life and their careers. 

Megan interviews Miriam Rafailovich, a distinguished professor of material science and chemical engineering at Stony Brook University, who practices Orthodox Judaism. Miriam talks about emigrating from Romania to the United States at an early age to escape racism and religious persecution. Her family valued education and openly encouraged her to pursue her academic interests. Miriam believes that her active pursuit of knowledge and nature enables her a rich relationship with her Jewish faith.

Laure interviews government scientist Tyler Westover, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, widely known as Mormonism. Tyler talks about growing up religious in Idaho, where he was inspired by the numerous science textbooks in his home. They discuss his very rational reason for pursuing a degree in engineering, and how he was ultimately swayed to leap into a PhD in quantum physics. Listen to hear how Tyler is moved by his faith and how it has moved him forward in his science career.

Laure interviews Catholic graduate student, Abigail Miller about what it is like to actively practice faith while being a full time graduate student. Abigail talks about growing up Catholic, and how she did not always know she was going to be a scientist. Listen to hear how Abigail expresses that becoming a scientist and learning about the universe has brought her closer to her faith.

Laure and Megan open up their mini-series on faith and science with a conversation about about how religion can play a role in life and graduate school. Even though 30-40% of scientists practice a religion, faith and science are often portrayed as oil and water. Laure and Megan explore this idea, challenge their own preconceptions, and talk about their own experiences with religion and spirituality. 

Laure interviews content optimization strategist David Lubertozzi about his windy and sometimes bumpy journey from pastry chef, to scientist, to marketing specialist. Dave candidly discusses some of the challenges he faced while in graduate school, and how those challenges may have been heightened as a result of uncommon path.

Megan interviews archaeological scientist Julie Dunne about her life before and after science. As a former accountant, Julie was unfulfilled in her career. She talks about how she found happiness in curiosity and science. She ultimately decided to rewrite her life, switch careers, and never look back, this is her story.

Megan interviews current graduate student Brett Garabedian about his life before science. Brett was an average high school student, a community college drop-out and on a path to a career in his family's business of selling gems on the home shopping network. This episode features the story of Brett's uncommon path from gemologist to scientist working in the exciting field of glycobiology.

Megan and Laure open up their latest mini-series on taking time before graduate school, by sharing their own anecdotes. They also discuss the challenges some women face when it comes to making life-impacting decisions about professional development and time.

Laure and Megan bring the overcoming obstacles interviewees, Katharine Seton, David Payne, and Richard Mankin, together for a panel discussion. They discuss how, while it wasn't always easy to do, making their conditions visible to their collaborators and employers has helped them feel comfortable in the competitive science environment.