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826: Visualizing Molecules to Understand Links Between Structure and Function - Dr. Beth Stroupe

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Release Date: 08/18/2025

839: Managing Ant Infestations and Invasions and Studying Ant-Pathogen Interactions - Dr. Scotty Yang show art 839: Managing Ant Infestations and Invasions and Studying Ant-Pathogen Interactions - Dr. Scotty Yang

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Chin-Cheng “Scotty” Yang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech. Scotty’s research focuses on ants. He’s interested in understanding their fascinating biology and how they respond to pathogens, as well as finding better ways to control ant infestations and invasive ant populations. When he’s not working, Scotty spends most of his free time with his two kids, and he especially enjoys playing and coaching basketball. He’s a passionate fan who even adopted the name of his basketball hero, Scottie Pippen. He received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees...

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838: Examining Interactions Between Changes in Earth's Environments, Extinction Events, and Evolution of Life - Dr. Jonathan Payne show art 838: Examining Interactions Between Changes in Earth's Environments, Extinction Events, and Evolution of Life - Dr. Jonathan Payne

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Jonathan Payne is a Professor and Chair of Geological Sciences at Stanford University. He also holds a courtesy appointment in Biology, is a Member of Stanford’s interdisciplinary biosciences institute Bio-X, and is an Affiliate of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Jonathan studies the history of life on Earth. He is interested in the interactions between the changes in earth’s environments and the evolution of life on Earth. In particular, Jonathan focuses on large extinction events like asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions, and how these impacted life in the...

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837: Developing Novel Nature-Inspired Drug Delivery Systems - Dr. Kathryn Whitehead show art 837: Developing Novel Nature-Inspired Drug Delivery Systems - Dr. Kathryn Whitehead

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Whitehead is an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University where she also holds a courtesy appointment in Biomedical Engineering. Katie received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and her PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Afterwards, she conducted postdoctoral research in the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. Katie has received numerous awards and honors, including the DARPA Young Faculty Award, the DARPA Director’s Fellowship, the...

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836: Investigating the Impacts of Emotions on Behaviors, Thoughts, and Decisions - Dr. Heather Lench show art 836: Investigating the Impacts of Emotions on Behaviors, Thoughts, and Decisions - Dr. Heather Lench

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Heather Lench is Professor in Psychological and Brain Sciences and Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs at Texas A&M University. Heather’s research focuses on emotions, and how emotions affect people, their thinking, and their behavior. She is particularly interested in anger and boredom. In her free time, Heather enjoys exploring a variety of hobbies, and her favorite pastimes continue to change over time. She loves going scuba diving, painting, reading, long-distance running, and glassblowing. A few years ago, she also began to experiment with building things with power...

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835: Dedicated to Clinical Care and Conducting Research to Combat Childhood Cancers - Dr. Uri Tabori show art 835: Dedicated to Clinical Care and Conducting Research to Combat Childhood Cancers - Dr. Uri Tabori

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Uri Tabori is a Staff Physician in the Division of Haematology/Oncology, Senior Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program, and Principal Investigator of The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Uri is also a Professor in Paediatrics and Associate Professor in the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. Uri works as a physician treating kids with cancer, particularly brain tumors. Through his research, he is working to identify drugs and make new discoveries that may cure cancers or improve...

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834: Examining the Genetics and Molecular Biology of Brain Aging in Humans and Non-Human Primates - Dr. Elaine Guevara show art 834: Examining the Genetics and Molecular Biology of Brain Aging in Humans and Non-Human Primates - Dr. Elaine Guevara

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Elaine Guevara is a Lecturer in Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University. She teaches biology and conducts research on the evolution of primates using molecular approaches. One area of Elaine's research examines the evolution of brain aging and how brain aging differs between humans and our primate relatives, including certain species of lemurs. When it’s time to relax, Elaine loves to read. She is particularly fond of Golden Age mysteries, similar modern mystery authors, investigative journalism, history, and social science content. In addition to reading, Elaine enjoys biking,...

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833: Researching Alternative Splicing for Gene Regulation in the Immune System - Dr. Kristen Lynch show art 833: Researching Alternative Splicing for Gene Regulation in the Immune System - Dr. Kristen Lynch

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Kristen Lynch is a Professor and Chair of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania. Kristen’s research focuses on alternative splicing. Her lab is investigating how cells decide when to use an entire portion of the DNA instruction manual versus when to exclude parts of the instructions that are not useful or would be harmful. In particular, Kristen is interested in alternative splicing in the immune system and what happens when cells are faced with an immune challenge. When she’s not at work, Kristen loves being outdoors. She spends her free time kayaking, paddle...

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832: Recovering Rare and Endangered Butterfly Populations through Conservation Corridors and Other Strategies - Dr. Nick Haddad show art 832: Recovering Rare and Endangered Butterfly Populations through Conservation Corridors and Other Strategies - Dr. Nick Haddad

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Nick Haddad is a Professor in Integrative Biology at Michigan State University and a Senior Terrestrial Ecologist at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. In addition, Nick is the author of the recently released book The Last Butterflies: A Scientist's Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature. Through his research, Nick searches for the rarest butterflies in the world and works to understand what factors cause the decline of these butterflies and what we can do to conserve them. Outside of work, Nick has been enjoying renovating his home with his wife who is a historic...

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831: Unearthing Ancient Fossils to Reveal the History of Life on Our Planet - Dr. Louis Jacobs show art 831: Unearthing Ancient Fossils to Reveal the History of Life on Our Planet - Dr. Louis Jacobs

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Louis L. Jacobs is Emeritus Professor in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences and President of the ISEM at SMU. As a vertebrate paleontologist, Louis studies the fossils of animals with backbones. His goal is to understand their evolution and how it fits together with the earth and the environment to present a holistic picture of our world. When he’s not working, Louis loves to look at rocks, tend to orchids, bind books, and spend quality time with his grandchildren. They are insatiably curious and interested in everything, including rocks, fossils, and space. He received...

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830: Physicist Figuring Out How Materials Deform and Fail - Dr. Karen Daniels show art 830: Physicist Figuring Out How Materials Deform and Fail - Dr. Karen Daniels

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Karen Daniels is a Professor in the Department of Physics at North Carolina State University. Karen’s lab investigates the physics of how materials change state (e.g. from solid to fluid), how they deform, and how they may ultimately fail. She studies these questions across a variety of length and time scales, from microscopic phenomena that occur in less than a second to shifts in land that occur on geologic timescales and may lead to landslides. Travel is a passion for Karen. While traveling, she loves hiking on mountain trails, eating delicious food, discovering new foods that she can...

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Dr. Beth Stroupe is a Professor in the Department of Biological Science and the Institute of Molecular Biophysics at Florida State University (FSU). She is also Director of the Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program there. Research in Beth’s lab focuses on understanding what molecules and proteins look like. This is important for better understanding how these molecules work, both from a basic science perspective and with an eye towards controlling molecules for clinical applications. They use a variety of different techniques that allow them to visualize these very tiny molecules. When she’s not working, Beth and her partner enjoy spending quality time with their two cats, as well as growing black-eyed peas and other vegetables in their garden, kayaking, hiking, and exploring the great outdoors. Beth completed her undergraduate training at Wake Forest University where she majored in chemistry and minored in music. She was awarded her PhD in biochemistry from the Scripps Research Institute. Afterwards, Beth conducted postdoctoral research at Brandeis University before joining the faculty at FSU where she is today. In our interview, Beth shares more about her life and science.