The Research Her

The Research Her highlights Black women researchers and research topics relevant to wellbeing. Essentially, it's your source for sisterly science. We dive into biology, sexuality, behavioral and physical science, and everything in between. Research Scientist, Dr. Elissia Franklin, is a chemist and educator who brings the realness to keep us improving ourselves and our science. You're guaranteed to love it here!

Chemicals in Cosmetics: Understanding the Risks 10/31/2023

70. Take a walk with me down memory lane and to our next chapter 07/15/2021

69. THOT Things: History of the Hoe, Pleasure Activist, and Controlling Black Women’s Bodies 06/17/2021

68. Single in Science: The stories of singleness are not monolithic 06/08/2021

68. Single in Science: The stories of singleness are not monolithic The narrative about being single is often seen as monolithic. Every single person is expected to want a relationship. There are stereotypes about educated Black women and their desires. In this episode, we two Black women share their story. In this episode we discuss: Family and friends putting pressure on single women to find partners Women's desire to be married or single long term Priorities when pursuing one's profession and dating. More About Beverly Hutcherson As a Biologist, Beverly seeks to apply her knowledge in efforts that bridge that gap between the biomedical community and the public. Having navigated a variety of clinical laboratory, academic research, outreach and allied health care positions, she is excited to share her expertise in supporting the next generation of STEM and clinical health care workers. Academically Beverly holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Marquette University, graduate training in Sustainability Leadership and Social Innovation from Edgewood College and is completing her Master of Science in Reproductive Endocrinology Physiology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Wisconsin National Primate Center, Beverly is investigating Anti-Mullerian Hormone’s role in inhibiting meiotic progression in the follicles of human and non-human primates with polycystic ovary syndrome. Professionally Beverly, along with a small team built UW Health’s first workforce development department where they designed and implemented programs to prepare and train people in a variety of health care careers. At the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, she functions as a strategist who designs and implements projects and programs that diversify pathways to STEM and healthcare and works closely with senior leaders across the UW System. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, a first generation college student, Beverly has overcome many seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This has motivated her to lift as she climbs. Beverly is the advisor for the UW-Madison chapter of AHANA- MAPs Pre-Health Society and has been involved with restorative justice efforts for young people, community health education, and served on the Dane County Food Council looking to create policy recommendations to reduce food waste and increase equity and access for underserved populations. Beverly also serves on the executive board as the secretary of Operation Fresh Start. Beverly is part of the founding design team and current administrative director of UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health’s primer k-15 outreach program, The Ladder, resulting in her 2018 Wisconsin Women in Government Rising Star Award. She is the recipient of the Honored Instructor Award from UW Madison, Issac Coggs Award from the Beta Omicron Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi, the 2017 Outstanding Woman of Color Award for UW-Madison and the 2019 Whole Hearted Service Award from the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Connect with her: Instagram: Twitter: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Ways to subscribe to The Research Her podcast Have feedback? Download the FREE "The Research Her" APP on iOS and Android (to directly send feedback) /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/19395290

67. How to Attract and Retain Black Women in the Teaching Profession with Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson 05/12/2021

67. How to Attract and Retain Black Women in the Teaching Profession with Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson As we continue our conversation after Teacher Appreciation week and celebrate Mental Health Aware Month this May we discuss recruiting and retention in the teaching profession with Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson who dives into the topic of teacher's mental health and how to create better spaces for teachers. Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson received her Interdisciplinary Doctorate in Educational Leadership degree, summa cum laude, in 2003 from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture at Texas A&M University in September 2004 and teaches courses, as a clinical professor, in the teacher education and multicultural/urban program areas. In 2018, Dr. Hill-Jackson was appointed by the Office of the Dean as the Director of Educator Preparation and School Partnerships. And in June 2019, Hill-Jackson was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Educator Preparation and School Partnerships. Dr. Hill-Jackson is a nationally and university-recognized educator having garnered: 2007 Maybelline / People Magazine Women Who Empower Through Education Award; the 2008 Texas A&M University (TAMU) Association of Former Students Award for Distinguished Teaching; 2008 Transfer Camp Namesake (TAMU); 2010 Student-Led Award for Teaching Excellence (SLATE) at TAMU; 2010 Outstanding Panhellenic Professor; 2011 National Society of Collegiate Scholars Inspire Integrity Top 10 Finalist award; Honorary Guest Coach for the Texas A & M University Women’s Basketball Team, 2011 NCAA Champs, at the McNeese U. Home Game 2011; 2013 Upton Sinclair award; 2015 Aggies Commit to Transforming Lives Administrative Fellow; and the 2016 Educational Institution Image Award by the Edwards Ministerial Association. Dr. Hill-Jackson developed three new graduate courses including one that is integral to the Educational Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction program. Dr. Hill-Jackson’s teaching philosophy is best explained with her simple quote, “students first through action research.” Dr. Hill-Jackson’s books include: Transforming Teacher Education: What Went Wrong with Teacher Training and How We Can Fix It (Stylus, 2010); Better Principals, Better Schools: What Star Principals Know, Believe, and Do (IAP, 2016); Better Teachers, Better Schools: What Star Teachers Know, Believe, and Do (IAP, 2017); Teacher Confidential: Personal Stories of Stress, Self-Care, and Resilience (iUniverse, 2018) and; What Makes a Star Teacher: 7 Dispositions That Support Student Learning (ASCD, 2019). Dr. Hill-Jackson’s research interests include: critical teacher education, transformative/servant leadership, service-learning/community education, ethnography, gifted education, culture + curriculum, and STEM education for underserved learners. Early in her career, Dr. Hill-Jackson received the prestigious American Educational Research Association / Spencer fellowship for her qualitative dissertation and was conferred with the LEAD Poisoning Star Award for her research in community education. In 2013, Hill-Jackson won a Traditional Core Fulbright Award and was hosted by the Center for Critical and Cultural Theory at the School of English Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales. Hill-Jackson received a 2018-2019 Melbern G. Glasscock NTT Faculty Research Fellowship. /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/19065122

66. Faculty Perceptions of Persistence Among African American Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses at Community Colleges w/ Dr. Arianna Stokes 05/04/2021

66. Faculty Perceptions of Persistence Among African American Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses at Community Colleges w/ Dr. Arianna Stokes We are revisited by the wonder of the show. She educates us on her dissertation titled "Faculty Perceptions of Persistence Among African American Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses at Community Colleges" and much more. In this episode, we discuss Challenges faced by online learners Disparities in distant learning The benefits of community college More about Dr. Arianna Stokes Dr. Arianna C. Stokes is a two-time graduate of Jackson State University, where she received a B.S in History Education and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education. She fulfilled a lifetime dream of becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Upon completion of her B.S., she had an opportunity to teach in the Jackson Public School district in Jackson, MS. That further ignited her career in education. Her knack for technology led her to a Web Director Appointment by the administration. While committing to the duties aligned with these roles, Dr. Stokes simultaneously pursued a Master's Degree in Educational and Instructional Technology from Belhaven University. In May of 2018, she received an M.Ed. from Belhaven University, which shifted her career focus and interest to distance education, instructional design, and using technology tools to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. With a strong interest in online learning and educational technology, Dr. Stokes began pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Higher Education immediately following the completion of her Master's Degree. Her doctoral research study focused on African American students in distance education and faculty perceptions of student persistence. In the summer of 2020, Dr. Stokes chaired the 8th Annual Graduate Research Conference for Jackson State University’s Executive Ph.D. program where she presented her research findings. Following the completion of her doctoral degree, Dr. Stokes began a career in higher education with a state agency as a Professional Development Specialist for the division of eLearning and Instructional Technology. Currently, she provides technical support, professional development, and instructional technology resources to a consortium of faculty and staff from over 10 community colleges and other partners. Connect with her: Instagram: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Ways to subscribe to The Research Her podcast Have feedback? Download the FREE "The Research Her" APP on iOS and Android (to directly send feedback) /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/18348758

65. Do vaccines work after virus mutation? w/ Virologist Natasha Duggan 03/05/2021

65. Do vaccines work after virus mutation? w/ Virologist Natasha Duggan With all the talk and skepticism about vaccines, it is a great time to take a sit back and evaluate the science of vaccines. Today, we have the pleasure of learning from Natasha Duggan. Natasha is a virologist whose work is centered around understanding antibodies for potential HIV treatment. In this episode, we discuss: -Why vaccines work after virus mutation -The clinical trial process and how the COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out -The types of vaccines, their structures, and how they are studied More about Natasha Natasha was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and immigrated to The United States at the age of 3 with her mother. She completed her grade school education in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In her last two years of high school, she participated in Project SEED where she gained her first exposure to laboratory-based sciences volunteering in a Biochemistry lab at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After high school, she moved to San Francisco, California, and received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Francisco. In college, she spent her summers working in an epigenetics laboratory at Duke University examining environmental exposures and DNA methylation. Following college, Natasha spent the next three years working in a laboratory at the University of Virginia studying angiogenesis in diabetic individuals. Deciding to continue her education she moved to New Orleans and attended Tulane University School of Public Health where she received a Master of Science in Public Health with a focus in Tropical Medicine. At Tulane, her work focused on examining and identifying salivary proteins found in mosquitos infected with the dengue virus. From here she went on to the University of Miami where she is currently completing her Ph.D. in Cell Developmental Biology. Her work focuses on isolating neutralizing antibodies against HIV and SIV as potential tools for HIV vaccine development. /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/18195137

64. Forensic Science Professor and Science Education PhD Student w/ Professor Kelly Knight 02/24/2021

63. Settling for less in romantic relationships out of fear of being single 02/08/2021

63. Settling for less in romantic relationships out of fear of being single Let's start a conversation. Let’s talk about settling for less out of fear of being single. Dr. Stephanie S. Spielmann explores the dynamics of romantic relationships. One topic that she has probed is the idea of settling for less out of fear of being single. In this episode, we discuss: The idea of losing oneself in a relationship and dealing with behaviors that cross your boundaries The way that family reacts to a divorce and people viewing singleness as a plague or contagious What limits our abilities to exist as ourselves in romantic relationships. The sacrifice of pursuing a doctoral degree over love About Jasmine James Jasmine James is a twenty-six-year-old educator from Chicago, IL. Her praxis is centered around trauma-informed learning as well as anti-racist education. Understanding the impact of community educators, she has chosen to teach and live in the community she was raised in. She has had the pleasure to teach fourth and sixth grade over the past five years. Due to her community connections as well as her undying love and passion for finding solutions to the issues that plague her neighborhood daily, she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Community Psychology with a focus on how ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) impact students psychological ability to excel in traditional school settings. Jasmine's love for her community is also why she founded the NFP organization, Black Girl BeYOUtiful which seeks to be a healing and safe space for Black girls ages eight to twenty-one who have experienced trauma. She serves in many roles with her favorite being “mama” to her adorable one-year-old son Logan. Her lifelong goal is to create a freedom school where Black and Brown students, regardless of their backgrounds, can achieve their dreams and goals no matter how big. Connect with Jasmine James: Instagram: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Show source: *Note* I am not an expert in this field. All literature interpretations are from my perspective and do not always reflect the intention of the authors. Ways to subscribe to The Research Her podcast Have feedback? Download the FREE "The Research Her" APP on iOS and Android (to directly send feedback) /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/17859530

62. Well Paid Women are Less Satisfied in Relationships w/ Dr. Dominique Barnes-Walker 01/25/2021

62. Well Paid Women are Less Satisfied in Relationships w/ Dr. Dominique Barnes-Walker In today’s conversation with Dr. Dominique Barnes-Walker, we discuss the impact of the Strong Black Woman Archetype on romantic relationships. The Strong Black Woman Archetype is a culturally relevant term to describe Black woman's perceived roles, expectations, and experiences. In addition, we discuss how one’s income correlates with relationship satisfaction. An interesting finding is that endorsing the Strong Black Woman Archetype limits one’s ability to heal and impacts mental and physical health. In this episode we discuss: The characteristics of the Strong Black Woman Archetype How endorsing the archetype impacts relationship satisfaction The relationship between income and contentment in romantic More About Dr. Dominique Barnes-Walker Dr. Dominique Barnes-Walker is a mother, educator, researcher, and licensed therapist. Dr. Dom grew up in Chicago and is a first-generation college student. She attended The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she obtained her Bachelor of Social Work then continued to earn her Master of Social Work. She holds a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy from Adler University in Chicago. As a clinician, Dr. Dom has experienced working with individuals, adults, children, including adolescents in the juvenile probation system, couples, and families. Much of her work is with couples and families. Dr. Dom is very passionate about empowering her clients to make meaning of their experiences by gaining an understanding of themselves to create new preferred stories about their lives. In addition, to talk therapy, she incorporates play therapy interventions with children, trauma-informed cognitive behavior therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Dr. Dom teaches post-secondary education and researches Black women and families. Specifically, her research focuses on The Strong Black Woman Archetype, which is a topic greatly related to the mental wellbeing of many of us. The Research Her podcast and was delighted to learn about her research focus and the Strong Black Woman back in 2018. In this episode, we talk more about her finishing her Ph.D. during the pandemic. We dive into her dissertation titled " Examining the Endorsement of the Strong Black Woman Archetype on Romantic Relationship Satisfaction" and the result of her study. Connect with her: Instagram: LinkedIn: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Ways to subscribe to The Research Her podcast Have feedback? Download the FREE "The Research Her" APP on iOS and Android (to directly send feedback) /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/17588048

61. Winner of the Black Women in Graduate School Therapy Fund w/ Camille Mosley 01/18/2021

60. Amplifying Black Voices in Astronomy 01/04/2021

60. Amplifying Black Voices in Astronomy Today’s conversation with Ashley Walker discusses the complexities of Saturn’s icy moon, Titan, different space missions, and promoting more Black and Brown people to be in these same spaces during planetary atmospheres. Walker is the co-founder of Black in Chem and tells us the ups and downs with Chemistry and Engineering News. In addition to Black in Chem, she also explains being a part of the Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy, being the first all people of color committee in CSMA’s history. Lastly, Walker talks about the making of a People of Color planetarium coming soon to Chicago! In this episode we discuss: Aerosol analogs The Stratosphere Black in Chem Future of Black Women in Astronomy More About Ashley Walker Ashley L. Walker is an astrochemist, planetary scientist, and science communicator from the south side of Chicago, IL. She received her B.S. in Chemistry with an Astrochemistry emphasis from Chicago State University. Ashley has interned at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University while studying the ice chemistry of early planet formation and understanding the prebiotic chemistry on Saturn’s moon, Titan. She was a post-baccalaureate scholar at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the Spice Lab. In the Spice Lab, she specialized in the cloud chemistry of planetary atmosphere on Saturn's moon, Titan. She has been featured in an array of interviews which includes Faces of NASA, Scientific American, BBC America’s “Space Week”, and Katie Couric’s “Thank-you Notes”. She advocates for students and highlights Black junior scientists during Black History Month. She is also the founder of #BlackInAstro week, co-founder of #BlackInChem week, and a committee member for both the Women Of Color Project and the American Astronomical Society Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy. Connect with her: Instagram: Twitter: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Ways to subscribe to The Research Her podcast Have feedback? Download the FREE "The Research Her" APP on iOS and Android (to directly send feedback) /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/17411357

E59. Black Women, Sex & The Lies Our Mothers Told Us w/ Dr. Hareder McDowell (REVIEW) 12/28/2020

E58. Impact of Strong Black Woman Stereotype w/ Dominique Barnes-Walker, LSW, MSW (REVIEW) 12/23/2020

E58. Impact of Strong Black Woman Stereotype w/ Dominique Barnes-Walker, LSW, MSW (REVIEW) Bio is from the time of the interview: Dominique Barnes-Walker is a Licensed Social Work and, an Individual, Couple, and Family Therapist. Dominique works with a wide variety of individuals in therapy but loves working with people of color. She endorses several other skills within the field and as a research assistant, she focuses on engaging Black families in therapy. She has been my hero since the day we officially met. I spoke to her about her research when I was thinking about launching The Research Her podcast and was delighted to learn that her research focuses on the Strong Black Woman Complex which is a topic greatly related to the mental and emotional wellbeing of many of us. She has been such a bright person in my life so it was an honor interviewing her for the show. Dominique grew up in Chicago and is a first-generation college student. She attended The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Social Work then continued on to earn her Master of Social Work. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Adler University and her dissertation topic is titled "The Impact of Strong Black Woman Stereotype on Romantic Relationships" Heard of the Strong Black Woman Stereotype? I learned so much about it and it impacts our well-being when interviewing this week’s guest. In episode 13, we have Dominique Barnes-Walker, a Licensed Social Worker and, an Individual, Couple, and Family Therapist. Dominique grew up in Chicago and is a first-generation college student. She attended The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She then continued on to earn her Master of Social Work. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Adler University and her dissertation topic is titled "The Impact of Strong Black Woman Stereotype on Romantic Relationships" To learn more, check out the link in bio to listen to the episode. Connect with Dominique: Linkedin: Instagram: Connect with Elissia: Website: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Show sources: /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/17226599

E57. No Basic Vaginas. How to Avoid Bacterial Vaginosis w/ Dr. Ruthie Arumala (REVIEW) 12/17/2020

E56. Mommy and Me. Two black women discuss research, education and growth w/ Dr. Erica Jordan (REVIEW) 12/09/2020

E55. The relationship between breast cancer and antiperspirant (REVIEW) 11/30/2020

E54. Melanated Skin Needs (Toxin-Free) Sunscreen Too (REVIEW) 11/23/2020

E53. Do your hair products have harmful chemicals that are unlabeled? (REVIEW) 11/20/2020

E52. Clean for wellness with these tips for cleaning (REVIEW) 11/17/2020

51. Why black students who pursue online degrees drop out and stop out w/ Dr. Arianna Stokes (REVIEW) 11/02/2020

50. Black hair products cause failed drug tests (REVIEW) 10/26/2020

49. Owning Your Imposter Status: Biomedical Scientist Turned Education Researcher w/ Dr. Kilan Ashad-Bishop 10/13/2020

49. Owning Your Imposter Status: Biomedical Scientist Turned Education Researcher w/ Dr. Kilan Ashad-Bishop Title: Owning Your Imposter Status: Biomedical Scientist Turned Education Researcher Subtitle: The Power of Work Outside of Lab While Pursuing Your PhD Dr. Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop is a biomedical scientist and advocate for inclusion who has carved her niche at the intersection of science, health, and social change. She is a proud alumna of Morgan State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology, and the University of Miami, where she earned her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology. Dr. Kilan is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development and the Director of College Access for Breakthrough Miami. Black woman researcher who inspires Dr. Kilan: In this episode, we discuss: The importance of participating in activities and finding a passion outside of your Ph.D. studies despite societal norms. How to secure letters of recommendation when you have a challenging relationship with your research advisor. Her experience getting a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology and transitioning to a postdoc in Education and Human Development Connect with her: Website: Instagram: Twitter: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: More about Dr. Kilan Dr. Kilan's professional experience spans academic research, policy, and the nonprofit and private sectors, but her goal remains to improve the health and well being of communities of color. Dr. Kilan is an outspoken advocate for equity and inclusion in health, science and society and the responsibility of science (and scientists) to advance positive social change. She is a regular volunteer and advisor to various K-12 and collegiate STEM programs designed to mentor, uplift, and support the next generation of scientists. In this interest, Dr. Kilan co-founded STEMNoire, a research and wellness community for Black women in STEM. Her advocacy efforts are interdisciplinary, as she also serves as the Vice Chair of the City of Miami Climate Resilience Committee, where she leverages her research background and community outreach to advance policies that prioritize low-income communities in resilience planning. /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/16375748

48. Food Addiction vs. Food Relationship & Why More Research Needs to be Done To Diagnose w/ Dr. Ebony 10/05/2020

From Black Girls Guide to Grad School to Hooded A Guide to the PhD w/ Dr. Malika Grayson 09/28/2020

From Black Girls Guide to Grad School to Hooded A Guide to the PhD w/ Dr. Malika Grayson Raised in Trinidad and Tobago, () is a STEM speaker, engineer, and author who has her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University where she became the 2nd black woman in Cornell’s history (and 1st Black American) to receive her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. She is inspired by another great sister of ours . On this episode, we discuss How Dr. Grayson's got started on her book The origin of her blog Black Girls Guide to Grad School being on outlet for the trauma experienced while working on her Ph.D. Her experience leading students for the first time and feeling intimidated. Being supported by Black women and men as she transitioned into her small university. Dr. Grayson also leaves us with these three tips to guide us through grad school: Leverage your undergraduate experience or take undergraduate courses Get a study group that you can depend on Find a mentor who does not look like you Listen for more about Dr. Malika Grayson Dr. Malika Grayson's Book: More about Dr. Malika Grayson As an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Alumna Scholar, Dr. Grayson has been the recipient of many awards including the Zellman Warhaft Commitment to Diversity Award, National Society of Black Engineers – Mike Shin Award for Distinguished Member of the Year, Adelphi University’s Top 10 Alumni Under 10 and BEYA STEM’s Modern Day Technology Leader. Since her Ph.D., Malika has been working in the defense industry as a systems engineer and most recently, an application portfolio manager. Malika is a STEM advocate and is passionate about increasing the number of minority women who pursue advanced degrees. Her passion can be seen through her blog (@blackgirlsguide2gradschool) where she reviews personal statements and scholarship essays free of charge. She has reviewed over 100 essays and has mentored a number of women through the essay writing process. Through her LLC Steminist Empowered, she has shared her journey as a black woman in STEM on a number of platforms and collaborates frequently with universities to speak on topics including Impostor Syndrome, Activating Your Network, and Mentor/Sponsor Relationships. Malika is also a 40 Under 40 Youth Influencer in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago for her work in STEM. Her graduate school experiences are further highlighted in her book ’ launched September 30th. Connect with her Website: Website: Instagram: Twitter: LinkedIn: Connect with me Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/16172120

46. Feeling Proud of Being Black Contributes to Better Mental Health with McKenzie Stokes 09/22/2020

Why Black Women Don't Choose STEM Fields with Raven the Science Maven. E45 09/16/2020

Why Black Women Don't Choose STEM Fields with Raven the Science Maven. E45 We often ask those who are in STEM why they chose their field, but we don't ask why people didn't choose STEM. Research often focuses on understanding younger people's decisions related to STEM. Adults are often left out of the conversation. Raven Baxter decided that she would probe this idea during her PhD studies. Black women rarely see themselves represented as scientists in the media. Raven the Science Maven showed women her video "Big Ole Geeks" and got their response. She wanted to know whether Black women would have been more likely to choose STEM and feel more represented. In this episode, we learn about this study. We also talk about why twerking is important for Black women. Raven got pursued two PhD programs at the University of Buffalo. We discuss how Raven decided to go from studying Cellular and Molecular Biology to working on a PhD in Science Communication. During her time working in an industry laboratory, she was faced with racial charges, which really inspired her to find the perfect research environment for her. She speaks about her accomplishments as a STEM-themed music creator. More about Raven Raven Baxter is a nationally acclaimed science communicator and molecular biologist who works to progress the state of science culture by creating spaces that are fun, educational, and real. She is recognized as a global influencer in Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2020. She is known for her unique style of combining science, music, and cultural awareness as an entertaining content creator and musician as . She creates that teaches and empowers both students and professionals in STEM and beyond. Raven to students, educators and leaders about the importance of STEM diversity and innovation in science education. Raven is the founder of , a science advocacy organization that embraces a diverse and accomplished membership of scientists, engineers, and tech professionals that serve the next generation of STEM as leaders and mentors. She is also the founder of BlackInSciComm, an organization that works to build relationships in the science community, equipping others with the knowledge and resources necessary to share science with the world in their own flavor. Connect with her: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Website: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/15986783

E44. Physics of Cockroaches, Cocoa, Bumblebees, and Trees. The Power of Plant Physiology w/ Teressa Alexander 09/09/2020

E44. Physics of Cockroaches, Cocoa, Bumblebees, and Trees. The Power of Plant Physiology w/ Teressa Alexander Please fill out ! () In the episode, Teressa Alexander shares her journey from being an associate degree student to a Ph.D. student. She talks to us about her many research endeavors. After working for a challenging advisor, she knew what to look for as she searched for more research opportunities. She talks to us about how in one of her studies one of her test subjects started giving birth in the midst of an experiment. She talks to us about how an email got her at Harvard doing research and he difficult time getting into graduate school. ABOUT HER Teressa Alexander is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in plant physiology at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. Teressa did her undergraduate degree in physics at Morgan State University while working in research labs studying cancer biology and insect biomechanics. After graduation she spent two years as a research fellow at Harvard, discovering a passion for plant physiology. Her desire to work on tropical plant models drew her to the West Indies. Here, she focuses on linking genotypic differences to drought tolerance in Cacao trees (Theobroma cacao) under climate change. Teressa has always had a strong desire to contribute to the significant upliftment of women and girls in science, build a network of Caribbean STEM professionals, and engage Caribbean youth in STEM. She co-founded , a scientific research conference and retreat for women within the African diaspora. Further, in an effort to amplify Caribbean voices in STEM and inspire Caribbean youth, she founded . Alexander also hopes through the communication of her scientific research, she can educate persons on the importance of farmers and the effects of climate change on this generation. Connect with her: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: Connect with me: Website: TikTok: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: /episode/index/show/organicallli/id/15906290

E43. Contributing to Black Women's Wellbeing (Quarterly Check-in) 09/04/2020

E42. Switching STEM Fields from Chemistry to Biomedical Engineering w/ Dr. Korie Grayson 08/24/2020

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