Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD

Making Impact in Research Through Science Policy With Adriana Bankston and Jamie Vernon

Welcome to Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD, the podcast that delves into the diverse and impactful roles scientists can play beyond the lab.In today's episode, we explore the intersection of science and policy with our special guests, Adriana Bankston and Jamie Vernon. During our conversation Adriana and Jamie share their personal journeys from the lab to influential roles in science policy.Adriana's passion for policy was sparked during her academic career, leading to her pivotal role at Sigma Xi, while Jamie's trajectory saw him transition from being a molecular biologist to advocating for scientists' involvement in policy.Join us as we unravel the critical roles of scientists in policymaking, the launch of Sigma Xi's Civico, a groundbreaking platform connecting scientists with policymakers, and invaluable advice for early-career researchers looking to leave an impact beyond the thesis.


Adriana Bankston is a Senior Fellow in Civic Science & Public Policy with Sigma Xi, where she leads a project that examines science policy engagement at the state level and determines the skills, knowledge, and resources required by scientists to successfully influence public policy.Prior to this role, Adriana was a Principal Legislative Analyst at the University of California Office of Federal Governmental Relations, where she served as an advocate for the university with Congress, the Administration and federal agencies. Adriana has had a number of roles leading to where she is today and in recognition of her contributions to the field, Adriana was named among the Top 20 in 2022 Advocacy practitioners by the Advocacy Association, and awarded the inaugural 2022 ARIS Emerging Broader Impacts Leader Award. Adriana earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University.Jamie Vernon is executive director and CEO at Sigma Xi and publisher of American Scientist. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Sigma Xi's director of science communications and publications and editor-in-chief of American Scientist. He was also Sigma Xi's co-director of operations from 2014 to 2015. A molecular biologist by training, he transitioned from research in 2011 to serve as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow and an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow in the U.S. Department of Energy. For more than a decade, he has been an advocate for the use of science in decision making at all levels of government, business, and in our personal lives. He holds a B.S. in zoology from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in biotechnology from East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from The University of Texas at Austin.
What we covered in the interview:
How early-career scientists can effectively integrate policy relevance and societal impact into their researchSpecific opportunities and resources available for scientists to engage in policy work, such as fellowships, internships, and advisory rolesHow scientists  can navigate the transition from research to policy, and effective approaches for getting involved in policy work while pursuing a graduate degreeChallenges and benefits of scientists participating in policy discussions and advisory roles at the state and federal levelsHow the Civico platform aims to bridge the gap between science and policy, and what opportunities it offers for scientists at various career stagesManaging time effectively to balance graduate studies with engagement in policy work and advocacy efforts 
This episode’s resources:
Civico Platform | WebsiteCivico Launch | VideoCivico Launch | Press Release
Thank you, Adriana Bankston, thank you Jamie Vernon!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Adriana and Jamie, let them know by clicking the links below and leaving them a message on Linkedin:Send Adriana Bankston a thank you mess...

Flourishing in your PhD and Beyond With Amal Abuzeinab

Welcome, friend! This week on Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD, I'm bringing you a fascinating discussion on adaptation, resilience, and flourishing as a PhD with my guest - Amal Abuzeinab.

Dr Amal Abuzeinab is the Institute Head of Research Students (IHRS), Institute of Architecture, De Montfort University, UK. Amal is currently supervising 3 PhD students, supervised 4 PhD students successfully to completion, and examined 4 PhD students. She served as the Co-Faculty Head of Research Students (FHRS) for the faculty of Arts, Design, and Humanities between 2017-2020.
What we covered in the interview:
The importance of being flexible and adaptable during your research journeyThe need for PhD candidates to anticipate and address potential problemsThe importance of self-selection in pursuing a PhD and becoming an independent researcherThe issue of limited tenure-track positions for PhD graduates The importance of a support system for PhD candidates
This episode’s resources:
Workshop for Women Higher Education Network (WHEN) | Website
Thank you, Amal Abuzeinab!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Amal, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:Send Amal Abuzeinab a thank you message on Linkedin!Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!

Leave a review on Podchaser !


Support the show !

You might also like the following episodes:
Alexandra Howson – A Career in Continuing Medical EducationKate Dahl – Reinventing Yourself after AcademiaMerle van den Akker – Debunking PhD MisconceptionsEmma Brodzinski – Supporting and inspiring graduate studentsAs always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)

Support the show on Patreon !


Or buy me a coffee :)

Prévoir sa carrière : Si on acceptait l’imprévu ? Avec Olivier Cadeau

Bienvenue à ce nouvel épisode d'Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD !Cette semaine, je parle du rôle du hasard dans les parcours de carrière avec Olivier Cadeau, doctorant en neuropsychologie de l'enfant et explorateur/expérimentateur de l'apprentissage et du savoir.

Olivier a commencé sa carrière professionnel il y a 20 ans. D’abord comme pâtissier-chocolatier, il est ensuite devenu technicien de la construction puis moniteur auto-école. C’est en se questionnant sur ce qu’était l’apprentissage et pour aider au mieux les élèves qu’il a découvert la psychologie. Tout en continuant à travailler à temps plein, il a commencé son parcours universitaire à distance. Après une licence et un master en psychologie du développement, il est devenu psychologue dans l’Éducation Nationale. Aujourd’hui, il est en doctorat en neuropsychologie de l’enfant en parallèle de son activité de psychologue à l'école.
Avec Olivier, on a parlé, entre autres :
de la curiosité d’aller explorer de nouvelles voiesde comment identifier et améliorer ses points forts, les points d’appui du changementde l'importance de se faire plaisir en visualisant son objectif et de se protéger des peurs des autresTu aimes Papa PhD ? Laisse-moi un commentaire > ici < - une courte phrase suffit ! Et inclus ton identifiant Twitter – comme ça je pourrai te remercier personnellement !
Merci Olivier !
Si cet entretien avec Olivier Cadeau t'a plu, fais-lui en part en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessous et en lui laissant un message sur LinkedIn :Clique ici pour le remercier sur Linkedin !Clique ici pour partager avec David le principal message que tu retiens de cet épisode !Si tu trouves de la valeur dans le contenu que je t'apporte chaque semaine, clique sur l'un des boutons ci-dessous et renvoie-moi l'ascenceur :)










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Deviens supporter sur Patreon !


Ou paye-moi un café :)

Tu aimeras aussi ces épisodes :
Martin Carli – La vulgarisation grand public : PapaPhD.com/242Bruno Lamolet - Écrire la science pour tous : PapaPhD.com/237Rémi Quirion – Projeter les jeunes chercheur.e.s dans des carrières d'avenir : PapaPhD.com/203Nathalie Ouellette – L'astrophysique à la portée de tous : PapaPhD.com/nathalie-ouellette/

PhD Dojo – A PhD and Then What? with Gad Sabbatier

Welcome to another collab episode of the PhD Dojo with The 2nd Lab.
In this new episode of the PhD Dojo, Gad Sabbatier and I chart the current PhD job market.
Join us in this new Dojo and write us if you have a PhD job to add to the list!
This episode’s resources:
The 2nd Lab | Twitter
The 2nd Lab | LinkedIn
The 2nd Lab | Website
If you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me :)
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
PhD Dojo - What Should I Invest In If I Want a Private Sector Job?
PhD Dojo – Becoming an Entrepreneur During Your PhD
PhD Dojo – How to Gain Confidence for Job Interviews
PhD Dojo – First Year PhD - Show Up and Avoid Tunnel Vision
As always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week and if you're not a nerd like me and don't want to delve into Podcast 2.0, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)
Support the show on Patreon !
Or buy me a coffee :)

Supporting and Inspiring Graduate Students with Emma Brodzinski

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD!This week, I'm bringing you an inspiring conversation with someone who runs another great podcast for graduate students - Emma Brodzinski from the PhD Life Raft podcast – to share he passion for supporting and inspiring graduate students in their academic journey.

Dr Emma Brodzinski is the host of The PhD Life Raft Podcast. She is Research Associate in the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance at Royal Holloway, University of London and practices as a therapist registered with HCPC. She is an experienced PhD Supervisor and Examiner and has also acted as viva committee independent chair. Emma runs a range of courses and events as well as providing well-being support programmes for doctoral training programmes. Most importantly she is a mum to 13 year old triplets, cats Fred and Ginger, and Amber the guinea pig!
What we covered in the interview:
The importance of support and community in graduate schoolBuilding a network and a PhD board of directorsPreparing for the end of your PhD journeyMaintaining a sense of self in graduate schoolAchieving honorable closureEmbracing personal growth and change along the way
This episode’s resources:
The PhD Life Raft | WebsiteThe PhD Life Raft | PodcastThe PhD Life Raft | YouTube
Thank you, Emma Brodzinski!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Emma, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:Send Emma Brodzinski a thank you message on Linkedin!Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!

Leave a review on Podchaser !


Support the show !

You might also like the following episodes:
Alexandra Howson – A Career in Continuing Medical EducationKate Dahl – Reinventing Yourself after AcademiaMerle van den Akker – Debunking PhD MisconceptionsSirisha Kuchimanchi – Navigating Manufacturing and Engineering as a WomanAs always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)

Support the show on Patreon !


Or buy me a coffee :)

L’astrophysique à la portée de tous avec Nathalie Ouellette

Bienvenue à ce nouvel épisode d'Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD !
Cette semaine, j'ai le grand plaisir de t'apporter ma conversation passionnante avec Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette.
Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette est astrophysicienne, communicatrice scientifique et amoureuse de l'espace! Après avoir obtenu son doctorat en 2016, elle s'est lancé dans la communication et la gestion de projets scientifiques. Elle intervient fréquemment dans les médias canadiens comme analyste et contributrice sur tout ce qui touche à l'espace. Elle organise et participe également à des événements de rayonnement scientifique d'échelle locale à internationale, afin d'encourager l'intérêt et la participation des jeunes et du grand public aux sciences spatiales et d'accroître la culture scientifique au Canada.
Avec Nathalie, on a parlé de :
La passion de Nathalie pour la vulgarisation en science
La communication scientifique, une mission de plus en plus importante et valorisée
Le trajet académique et professionnel de Nathalie: du milieu muséal jusqu'à son poste à l'iREx et la communication pour le téléscope James Webb au Canada
L'apprentissage du fonctionnement des institutions à travers les entrevues professionnelles
L'astronomie et la nature - une passion de longue date
Trouver des mentors - approcher les gens qui t'inspirent sans peur
Les ressources de cet épisode :
Astro Panda | Site Web
Institut iREx | Site Web
Tu aimes Papa PhD ? Laisse-moi un commentaire > ici < - une courte phrase suffit ! Et inclus ton identifiant Twitter – comme ça je pourrai te remercier personnellement !
Merci Nathalie !
Si cet entretien avec Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette t'a plu, fais-lui en part en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessous et en lui laissant un message sur LinkedIn :
Clique ici pour la remercier sur Linkedin !
Clique ici pour partager avec David le principal message que tu retiens de cet épisode !
Si tu trouves de la valeur dans le contenu que je t'apporte chaque semaine, clique sur l'un des boutons ci-dessous et renvoie-moi l'ascenceur :)

Don sécuritaire sur PayPal

Deviens supporter sur Patreon !
Ou paye-moi un café :)
Tu aimeras aussi ces épisodes :
Martin Carli –
La vulgarisation grand public : PapaPhD.com/242
Bruno Lamolet - Écrire la science pour tous : PapaPhD.com/237
Rémi Quirion – Projeter les jeunes chercheur.e.s dans des carrières d'avenir : PapaPhD.com/203
Olivier Bernard – Déboulonner la pseudoscience : PapaPhD.com/olivier-bernard/

A Career in Continuing Medical Education with Alexandra Howson

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD!
This week, I'm talking medical writing, specifically continuing medical education, with my guest, Alexandra Howson. With Alex, we look back on her career journey after her PhD and we explore her expertise in making the PhD to CME career transition.
Get your pen and paper out! You'll be wanting to take notes!
Alexandra Howson is a medical writer, educator, and podcaster. A former trauma operating room nurse, Alex was faculty at the universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland for a decade, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the sociology of the body, gender, and health. She left academia in 2004 and subsequently built a thriving freelance medical writing business in the USA that specialized in creating content for continuing education in the health professions. Alex now shares her deep expertise in health care and education with new-to-the-field medical writers. Through courses, coaching, and community, she teaches writers how to confidently create education content for health professionals and build a sustainable CME/CE writing niche.
What we covered in the interview:
Alex's journey from research to medical writing
Disidentifying with being an academic
The complexity of medical writing
Using your transferable skills for medical education
Day-to-day tasks in CME
The importance of building relationships for finding clients
Advantages of defining a niche: energy conservation, building authority
Making CME writing sustainable
This episode’s resources:
Write Medicine | Website
Write Medicine Podcast | Spotify
Thank you, Alexandra Howson!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Alexandra, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Instagram:
Send Alexandra Howson a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Olivier Bernard – Debunking Pseudoscience
Kate Dahl – Reinventing Yourself after Academia
Merle van den Akker – Debunking PhD Misconceptions
Sirisha Kuchimanchi – Navigating Manufacturing and Engineering as a Woman
As always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)
Support the show on Patreon !
Or buy me a coffee :)

PhD Dojo – Zotero versus Mendeley avec Sarah Perrier (Rediffusion)

Pendant mon doctorat, j'ai découvert et utilisé Mendeley pour gérer mes références.
Dans cet épisode du PhD Dojo, un trésor de la voûte Papa PhD, Sarah Perrier et moi parlons de Zotero, de comment elle l'utilise, et nous allons partager avec toi des conseils et un « tip » qui t'aidera à optimiser l'utilisation de ce type de logiciel (pas juste Zotero) dans la gestion des références pour ta thèse.
Bonne écoute ! Et bons partages ;)
Les ressources de cet épisode :
David Mendes | LinkedIn
David Mendes | Instagram
Sarah Perrier | LinkedIn
Sarah Perrier | Instagram
Plog de Thèse | Podcast
Envoie-nous tes commentaires !
Si cet épisode t'a plu, fais-nous en part en cliquant sur les liens ci-dessous et en nous laissant un message :
Clique ici pour remercier Sarah Perrier sur Twitter !
Clique ici pour partager avec David le principal message que tu retiens de cet épisode !
Contribue à la production de Papa PhD sur Patreon !
Ou ravitaille David en café :)
Tu aimeras aussi ces épisodes :
Comment se légitimer au doctorat en SHS - Arthur Lin : PapaPhD.com/223
Quels chemins mènent au doctorat : PapaPhD.com/132
Spécial Halloween -  : PapaPhD.com/136
La vulgarisation grand public - Martin Carli : PapaPhD.com/martin-carli

Debunking Pseudoscience with Olivier Bernard

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD!
This week, I'm delighted to bring you my recent conversation with Olivier Bernard, a.k.a. the Pharmafist! Together, we talked about his passion for science communication and, in particular, about his mission to debunk pseudoscience.
Olivier Bernard has been a pharmacist since 2004 and is a Fellow of the Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec since 2022. He holds a master's degree in pharmacogenetics research. Since 2012, he has been involved in science popularization, as author and illustrator of the Le Pharmachien website and books of the same name.
He has received the Prix Innovation from the Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec (2015) and the Prix Marc Lebel from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval (2022) for his work in popularizing science. In 2019, he received the John Maddox International Award in London for defending science in the face of adversity, in connection with his work on the issue of injectable vitamin C in Quebec. From 2016 to 2022, he scripted and hosted the TV documentary series Les Aventures du Pharmachien on Radio-Canada. Since 2020, he has been producing a podcast –  Dérives – on Radio-Canada OHdio, whose first season, entitled "Le rituel de sudation", won a gold medal at the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2021.
What we covered in the interview:
Understanding dangerous trends in self-improvement and spirituality
Pros and cons of using humor in healthcare communication
Pharmacists can be influential in communication science to the public
Engaging anti-vaccine beliefs: Listening, empathizing, finding common ground
The importance of allowing yourself to accept opportunities despite imposter feelings as a young professional
Connecting with younger researchers, learning from past mistakes
This episode’s resources:
The Pharmafist | Website
TV show – « Les aventures du Pharmachien » (French) | Tou.tv
Thank you, Olivier Bernard!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Olivier, let him know by clicking the link below and leaving him a message on Instagram:
Send Olivier Bernard a thank you message on Instagram!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
Leave a review on Podchaser !
Support the show !
You might also like the following episodes:
Jacob Kendall – The Stuff You Don't Plan for But Should
Kate Dahl – Reinventing Yourself after Academia
Merle van den Akker – Debunking PhD Misconceptions
Sirisha Kuchimanchi – Navigating Manufacturing and Engineering as a Woman
As always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :)
Support the show on Patreon !
Or buy me a coffee :)

Déboulonner la pseudoscience avec Olivier Bernard

Bienvenue à ce nouvel épisode d'Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD !Cette semaine, j'ai le grand plaisir de vous apporter ma conversation récente avec Olivier Bernard, a.k.a. le Pharmachien ! Ensemble, on a parlé de sa passion pour la communication scientifique et, en particulier, de sa mission de déboulonner la pseudoscience.

Olivier Bernard est pharmacien depuis 2004 et Fellow de l’Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec depuis 2022. Il est détenteur d’une maîtrise en recherche dans le domaine de la pharmacogénétique. Depuis 2012, il s’implique en vulgarisation scientifique, en tant qu’auteur et illustrateur du site web Le Pharmachien et des livres du même nom.Il a été récipiendaire du Prix Innovation de l’Ordre des Pharmaciens du Québec (2015) et du Prix Marc Lebel de la Faculté de Pharmacie de l’Université Laval (2022) pour son travail de vulgarisation scientifique. En 2019, il a reçu à Londres le Prix international John Maddox pour avoir défendu la science dans l’adversité, en lien avec son travail dans le dossier de la vitamine C injectable au Québec. De 2016 à 2022, il a scénarise et animé la série documentaire télé Les Aventures du Pharmachien à Radio-Canada. Depuis 2020, il réalise le balado Dérives sur Radio-Canada OHdio, dont la première saison, intitulée « Le rituel de sudation », a remporté une médaille d’or aux New York Festivals Radio Awards 2021. 
Avec Olivier, on a parlé de :
La passion d'Olivier  pour la communicationDe son cheminement vers la vulgarisation à travers la recherche scientifiqueDu rôle des influenceurs de santé  dans le contexte actuelDu mélange de chance et de travail dans le parcours d'OlivierDes défis qu'a présenté la pandémie à la communauté de communication scientifiqueDe l'importance de valoriser la communication académique
Les ressources de cet épisode :
Le Pharmachien | Site WebÉmission télé « Les aventures du Pharmachien » | Page Tou.tvTu aimes Papa PhD ? Laisse-moi un commentaire > ici < - une courte phrase suffit ! Et inclus ton identifiant Twitter – comme ça je pourrai te remercier personnellement !
Merci Olivier Bernard !
Si cet entretien avec Olivier Bernard t'a plu, fais-lui en part en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessous et en lui laissant un message sur LinkedIn :Clique ici pour le remercier sur Twitter !Clique ici pour partager avec David le principal message que tu retiens de cet épisode !Si tu trouves de la valeur dans le contenu que je t'apporte chaque semaine, clique sur l'un des boutons ci-dessous et renvoie-moi l'ascenceur :)










Don sécuritaire sur PayPal



Deviens supporter sur Patreon !


Ou paye-moi un café :)

Tu aimeras aussi ces épisodes :
Martin Carli – La vulgarisation grand public : PapaPhD.com/242Bruno Lamolet - Écrire la science pour tous : PapaPhD.com/237Rémi Quirion – Projeter les jeunes chercheur.e.s dans des carrières d'avenir : PapaPhD.com/203Vikie Pedneault – Mobiliser par l'humour : PapaPhD.com/vikie-pedenault/