Stories_insci

All posts by Stories_insci

My life in butterflies: How a childhood hobby shaped my career

Citizen scientists — as biologist Caren Cooper writes in her book, Citizen Science — can be anyone, often not trained as a scientist, who collaborates with trained researchers in “collective scientific endeavors.” It can be a way for people to develop hobbies, learn new...

/ June 6, 2019

The Journey Continues: Finding My Questions in Science

If it had not been for my friends and the little voice inside telling me to focus on why I had started research in the first place and to keep going, I would have almost certainly given up. - Yasmine...

/ June 5, 2019

Lima Beans: An Epiphany

Dr. Mages: I look down at the seedlings in my hands.  Then I say, “These seedlings are a bit like the children you’ll teach.  Each will develop a little differently and each at a different pace.”

/ June 5, 2019

My Passion for Microbes

Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu is a Lecturer at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in Nigeria where he teaches microbiology to undergraduate students. He is also an ‘associate’ Development Knowledge Facilitator (DKF) for the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria. He...

/ May 26, 2019

Marisa Carrasco: Official and Unofficial Stories

Dr. Carrasco is a Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU. She grew up in Mexico City and earned her Licentiate in psychology, specializing in experimental psychology, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She writes: "Juggling research,...

/ May 4, 2019

Robert Froemke: The Official and Unofficial Stories

Dr. Froemke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at the NYU School of Medicine. His lab researches how biological systems adapt and learn to improve behavior. The story below was originally published on Growing up...

/ April 22, 2019

Science – A Poem

Jim is the CEO of NeuroLex which is focused on making voice computing accessible to everyone. Below is a poem he wrote for Stories in Science.

/ April 20, 2019

Finding Myself Between Cacti in Mexico

"Being a research professor is not a 9-5 job. The work is never finished and there is always the next question. That is the fun of doing science."

/ March 25, 2019

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Around half of all Ph.D. students across fields don’t complete their program. I never thought I would be one of them.

/ March 19, 2019

Cave Critters are Cool! – Faces of Fieldwork

I find that subterranean systems are useful models in addressing foundational questions in ecology and evolutionary biology, and that the organisms that inhabit such systems are wonderfully unique. Being able to study these animals and provide a platform for their...

/ March 15, 2019

I am a Neuroscientist in Training: Explore My Developing Neural Story

"My parents never finished college, so I know how privileged I am to study at a renowned institution like Harvard. Although I never saw becoming a scientist as a possibility, I now understand I have always had the curiosity, creativity,...

/ March 14, 2019

An Immunologist’s Perspective

Dr. Viki Male started her scientific career as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, where she worked on the development of NK cells in the human uterus before moving to Imperial College London to find out how NK...

/ March 11, 2019

Keep Pushing Forward

Hello! My name is Barakat Oyiza Abubakar. I am a 14 year old girl from a family of 6. I live with my mum and 5 siblings in Abuja, Nigeria. I would tell other girls that no matter the situation...

/ March 8, 2019

Ibn Al Haytham: The Father of Modern Optics

Though he wasn’t always successful and did not even start as a scientist by profession, his scientific legacy stands. Ibn al Haytham is one of many non-western scientists whose work has significantly contributed to building science as we know it...

/ February 18, 2019

A Day in the Life of One Scientist

Caroline received her B.S. from Brown University in 2006. She began studying the molecular and cellular basis of behavior in the context of the developing frog brain while pursuing her M.S. at the University of Michigan. She earned her Ph.D....

/ February 4, 2019

#PhDart – How Does Evolution Give Rise to New Behaviors?

Caroline received her B.S. from Brown University in 2006. She began studying the molecular and cellular basis of behavior in the context of the developing frog brain while pursuing her M.S. at the University of Michigan. She earned her Ph.D....

/ January 30, 2019

#PhDart — Flower Development Matters

Being a plant lover since I was little, I have always been fascinated by the enormous diversity of floral architectures. Now in the Kramer lab at Harvard University, I began to explore this diversity by asking how Aquilegia species build their flowers....

/ January 29, 2019

Debts and Lessons (in Science)

Colm P. Kelleher is a postdoc at Harvard University specializing in biophysics and soft matter physics. As well as research, Colm is interested in science communication and education. In this article, he writes about about the importance of mentors and...

/ January 21, 2019

But You Are A Girl!

Sophie Farr: "In a society where most famous celebrity women are known for makeup and fashion, most girls think they can’t get anywhere as a woman unless they want to do fashion or art. I want that to change."

/ January 8, 2019

Alice Augusta Ball: Chemical Drug Pioneer

Historians of African-Americans in science tend to focus on figures like Benjamin Banneker and George Washington Carver. But there are so many more.

/ December 9, 2018

Unsung: William Claytor

The third African-American to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics struggled his entire career against the barriers of institutional racism.

/ November 27, 2018

On Being Queer in STEM

Ive Velikova hosts Science With Ive, an educational YouTube channel that tackles quirky science questions. Her curiosity and evidence-based research lets you laugh and learn alongside her with each video. The story below was originally published on Sister, a new media platform aimed...

/ November 1, 2018

Using the ‘fear of missing out’ to my advantage in science

Priscila is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University (OSU). She was born and raised in a rural town in Puerto Rico. She is interested in science communication, biomedical and plant research. She...

/ October 30, 2018

PhD or Family? Does it have to be one or the other?

Aditi Deshpande is a scientist at Allena Pharmaceuticals in Newton, MA. She is a biochemist and a chemical engineer by training. Dr. Deshpande is motivated to transform emerging science into products suitable for commercial development and also bring first-in class...

/ August 24, 2018

From Juvenile Detention to Neuroscience

Raul Ramos shared his inspiring personal journey into science with high school students from Waltham High School as part of the series, The Brandeis MRSEC and WHS present: Science Pizza Talks. AAAS provided additional support for this event.

/ August 22, 2018

Loss, Love, and Science

Dr. Asuri is a Health Policy Analyst and Health Researcher at BC Public Service in Canada. She is a bio-medical scientist by training. She has experienced the thrill of directly watching human cells divide and has observed changes in patient...

/ August 3, 2018

Never Cease from Exploring

Dr. Caroline S. Turner: "Indeed, the journey toward accomplishment and achievement in any endeavor is not done in isolation but with the support of others willing to travel with you, providing encouragement along each step of the journey, helping you...

/ June 30, 2018

Barriers Are Meant To Be Broken

Taylor Richardson: "But here I am and what I know is that I want to be, no scratch that, I will be a scientist, engineer and an astronaut. I know that everything that has happened to me in my past...

/ June 24, 2018