STEM Tea | Faith in science
In this episode of STEM Tea Antentor Hinton (Vanderbilt University, TN, USA) and Tina Termini (Fred Huch Cancer Center, WA, USA) speak to Melanie McReynolds, HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow and Rising Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University (PA, USA). Here she discusses her research on the intersection of metabolic decline and aging, overcoming challenges along the route from her postdoc to her faculty position and key advice on grant writing and choosing the right postdoc position for you.
What emerges throughout the episode though, is the consistent theme of Melanie’s powerful faith and how it has helped her on numerous occasions throughout her career. Melanie reveals the tools and proverbs, taken from her faith and applied in a professional scientific context, that have empowered her to find her voice, reducing the impact of her speech impediment on her professional interactions, helping her address imposter syndrome and so much more.
Contents:
- Intro: 00:00-01:05
- Introduction to Melanie and her early research: 01:05-02:35
- Melanie’s research and transition from postdoc to faculty position: 02:35-04:00
- Overcoming hurdles during postdoc studies: 04:00-08:50
- Building community around faith-based science: 08:50-11:45
- Melanie’s journey to postdoc and stepping out on faith: 11:45-17:35
- Finding her voice and using faith to guide her next steps in science: 17:35-20:05
- Overcoming imposter syndrome: 20:05-23:30
- What do you want to do for individuals as you build yourself up? 23:30-25:20
- What are the next steps in faith-based science and mentoring? 25:20-27:25
- Techniques for caring for your mental health: 27:25 – 31:20
- Advice on pursuing your dream and applying for grants 31:20-33:50
- Choosing a postdoc, and picking a research query to follow: 33:50-38:00
- What’s the tea today? 38:00-39:00
