SciChronicles (Kayla Burgher and Risa Schnebly)

In this inaugural episode of SciChronicles, we feature two amazing storytellers who tell us of their journeys in accepting and understanding their identities in science and how their experiences have impacted their work and personal lives. 

Our first storyteller, Olivia Davis, recently graduated from ASU with her PhD in Biology and Society and is now working as a postdoc studying mental health in graduate school. Olivia shares her own mental health journey in graduate school and how her struggles have inspired her postdoctoral research. 

The second story is from Arvind Varsani, a molecular virologist and professor at the ASU School of Life Sciences whose work spans multiple ecosystems and species. Arvind tells us how his identity has shaped his experiences living and working all around the world and how these experiences have taught him resilience. 

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.

In the episode of SciChronicles, two storytellers tell us about their winding paths towards becoming researchers. 

Our first storyteller, Kelle Dhein, is a historian and philosopher of science who recently became an assistant professor in the School of Complex Adaptive Systems. Kelle shares an origin story that might be unexpected for an academic, and encourages others in the sciences to get real about where they come from.

The second story is from Austin Blackmon, a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Cellular Biology program doing research on an enzyme important to developing cancer treatments. Austin shares why he's always been intent on doing cancer research, but how it took him a long time to get to where he is now.

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.

This episode of SciChronicles, hosted by Risa Schnebly, features the inspiring stories of two scientists, Baylee Edwards and Jarrett Joubert, whose personal journeys shed light on the complexities of pursuing a career in science and the challenges of reconciling identity, society, and belief systems.

Baylee Edwards, a PhD candidate doing biology education research, explores the perceived conflict between science and religion and how a life-changing biology class reshaped her understanding of their compatibility. 

Jarrett Joubert, a PhD student, recounts how he pivoted from wanting to study medicine to becoming interested in the history of biology at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement was growing across the country.

The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of storytelling in science and a call to embrace diverse narratives that challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion.

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.

This episode of SciChronicles, hosted by Kayla Burgher, features the inspiring stories of two scientists, Dr. Edauri Navarro-Perez and Dr. Xyonane Segovia, who share how their experiences and struggles have influenced who they are today and how they approach their science.

Dr. Edauri Navarro-Perez, a postdoctoral fellow for the Earth Systems Science for the Anthropocene, explores how her experiences during university strikes and Hurricane Maria in her homeland of Puerto Rico showed her the importance of community and shaped the research she is doing today.  

Dr. Xyonane Segovia, an Assistant Teaching Professor at Arizona State University, shares about her mental health journey getting back to school and throughout her Ph.D. Trigger Warning: This story contains explicit discussion of suicide, suicidal ideation, and other sensitive mental health topics. Please consider if you are in a place to listen.

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.

This episode of SciChronicles, hosted by Risa Aria Schnebly, features the journeys of two scientists, Daniel Bisgrove and Sci-Chronicles co-host Kayla Burgher, who share how their careers aren't exactly what they had imagined.

Daniel Bisgrove, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Biology and Society program at Arizona State University, has always loved animals, especially goats. As a child, he aspired to be a vet, but he tells us of a shocking experience that made him rethink how he wants to work with animals. 

Kayla Burgher, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Environmental Life Sciences program at Arizona State University, tells us how the plans she put in place for her PhD haven't exactly gone to plan. Her research is unpredictable, and so is the world. But through her experiences studying sea turtles, she's learning to accept the uncertainty. 

P.S. The eclipse that Daniel mentions in his story occurred in April 2024.  

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.

This episode of SciChronicles, hosted by Kayla Burgher, features the journeys of two scientists, Paige Madison and SciChronicles co-host Risa Aria Schnebly, who share stories about their understanding of what science looks like and who it's done by.

Paige Madison is an alumnus of Arizona State University's History of Science Ph.D. program, currently works as a media editor for the PBS show Eons, and is a contributing science writer for National Geographic. Paige recounts the story of how her visit to an archaeological dig site in Indonesia changed her view of who science is done by -- a realization that's changed the way she writes.

Risa Aria Schnebly, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Biology and Society program at Arizona State University, tells us about how they started their Ph.D. trying to make their research, and themselves, fit in with what they perceived academia to be. After recounting their journey to getting into a Ph.D., Risa recounts the moment they decided to switch their research subject to align closer to what they really care about.

If you have not already, please consider subscribing so you do not miss future episodes. Also, be sure to check out ASU's Ask a Biologist and its companion podcast, as well.

If you are interested in crafting a story to share on SciChronicles, please fill out this interest form to learn more and connect with the hosts, Risa and Kayla.