DASL Podcast
The DASL podcast is a project designed by Dr. Silvia Vicenzi to elevate the stories of underrepresented trainees at UCSD who have braved challenges and discrimination in their lives and careers. This platform aims to empower individuals by sharing their experiences and the strategies they used to navigate and overcome such obstacles. The objective is to provide insights and inspiration, with the anticipated outcome being a source of motivation and guidance for trainees facing similar challenges. DASL at UCSD has already made significant contributions to promoting diversity and enhancing rights within higher education. The DASL Podcast represents a forward-thinking approach to storytelling and mentorship that will make a lasting impact on our community. We are extremely thankful to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Diversity Grant for funding the DASL Podcast Series, among many other projects (https://chanzuckerberg.com/). DASL stands for The Diversity and Science Lecture Series (https://www.ucsddasl.com/). Are you interested in sharing your story on the DASL Podcast? Nominate yourself or someone you know to be a guest by filling out our intake form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMipiFRpxpWj_IEDte8mBAKA9n7BCe2ylBLNNY_H6zTE5Ogg/viewform. We’re excited to feature voices that inspire, empower, and contribute to our diverse community.
Episodes
This episode of the DASL Podcast features an inspiring conversation with Swathy Karamchedu — physician, sleep researcher, science communicator, and founder of Sleep Doodles — whose journey spans medicine, research, creativity, immigration, and entrepreneurship across multiple continents. From growing up in India dreaming of becoming a cartoonist to pursuing sleep research in Sweden and Singapore and later building a...
This episode of the DASL Podcast features a conversation with Dr Bharat Kwatra, a computational biologist working at the intersection of cancer genomics, artificial intelligence, and precision oncology. With experience spanning academia, global research collaborations, and innovation-driven projects, Bharat focuses on developing computational tools that improve patient outcomes, particularly for rare and underserved...
This episode of the DASL Podcast features an inspiring and multidimensional conversation with Dr. Bilgenur Baloğlu — scientist, entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Wild Genomics — whose journey spans continents, disciplines, and identities. From growing up in Turkey to building a biotechnology startup in California, Bilgenur’s story reflects what it truly means to navigate uncertainty, embrace curiosity, and c...
This episode of the DASL Podcast features an extraordinary conversation with Dr. Helen M. Berman, a pioneering structural biologist whose visionary work reshaped modern science. As one of the founders of the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and creator of the Nucleic Acid Database, Helen has spent her career building global scientific infrastructure that now underpins everything from structural biology to AI-driven protein p...
This episode of the DASL Podcast features a heartfelt and deeply honest conversation with Saroj Gourkanti, a sixth-year PhD candidate at UC San Diego whose journey through science, identity, and advocacy offers a compelling window into the realities of academic life. From discovering research in high school to building an entirely new project from the ground up, Saroj reflects on how curiosity, mentorship, and commu...
In this episode of the DASL Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dionna Williams, Associate Professor at Emory University, whose research focuses on HIV research and the impact of substance use disorders on treatment outcomes. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Williams shares her journey of navigating academia and building a scientific career defined by resilience, determination, and purpose, emphasizing how mento...
Adriana Elaine Scott, originally from Calexico, California, shares her powerful journey as a first-generation college student who carved her own path through higher education. From navigating the unwritten rules of academia without a roadmap to finding her purpose in supporting students who share similar struggles, Elaine opens up about resilience, identity, and the challenges of growing up in a conservative border ...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Ava Mason, executive director and founder of Treobytes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating career pathways in engineering and technology for students from fourth grade through high school. Ava shares her inspiring journey from studying biochemistry at Purdue University to working in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences, before ultimately pivoting to entreprene...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr Caitlin Aamodt, a postdoctoral researcher whose story exemplifies the power of self-advocacy, scientific curiosity, and personal resilience. Diagnosed with lupus only after years of medical dismissal and misdiagnosis, Caitlin opens up about navigating the isolating journey of living with an invisible chronic illness—and how it ultimately fueled her path into neurosci...
The podcast episode features an interview with Cindy Barba, a scientist and mother whose journey is defined by resilience, determination, and the courage to carve her own path. Growing up in Southern California as the daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants, Cindy shares the challenges of navigating higher education without financial aid, working tirelessly to fund her studies—including running her own clothing ...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Matthew Ellis, a queer, dual-gender scientist and educator whose passion for inclusive, student-centered teaching is driving bold conversations about equity in academia. In this episode, Matthew calls for a much-needed shift in how universities value teaching—advocating for systemic reform that includes fair compensation, tenure-track pathways for teaching-focused f...
The podcast episode features an interview with Sofia Howe, a former student-athlete turned scientist whose journey into STEM is rooted in resilience, mentorship, and a deep commitment to science outreach. Sofia shares how her experience balancing athletics and academics helped her develop the discipline and mental toughness needed to navigate the challenges of graduate school and research. She opens up about a diffi...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, a first-generation Mexican-American scientist who shares how the work ethic passed down from her immigrant parents shaped her approach to both life and academia. Monica reflects on the challenges of being a minority in STEM and how navigating systemic disadvantages helped her develop resilience, adaptability, and deep resourcefulness. She op...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr Christian Cazares, who shares his inspiring journey as an immigrant from Mexico, whose parents juggled multiple jobs to provide for their family, instilling in him a strong work ethic that would drive his academic and professional journey. Christian reflects on how scholarships were pivotal in making higher education possible for him and the importance of taking stra...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Arash Fassihi, a project scientist in the Kleinfeld Laboratory at UC San Diego, where he investigates orofacial movements in rats and explores how the brainstem coordinates complex neural circuitry. In this episode, Dr. Fassihi shares his remarkable academic journey, spanning Iran, Italy, and the U.S., discussing how a pivotal talk on neuronal communication inspired...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr Marta Pratelli, a project scientist in neurobiology at UCSD whose inspiring journey highlights the resilience and adaptability needed to navigate a non-linear path in science.
Marta shares how an unexpected logistical issue prevented her from pursuing psychiatry, leading her to discover her passion for neuroscience. She reflects on the challenges of learnin...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Ghodsieh Ghanbari, who shares her inspiring story of resilience and determination as an Iranian immigrant navigating life and academia in the United States. Ghodsieh reflects on the challenges she faced during the 2017 U.S. travel ban, which forced her to wait in uncertainty despite holding a legal visa for her PhD. She discusses the emotional toll of confronting ba...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr Christopher Anderson, a guest whose inspiring journey challenges the stereotypes often imposed on Black individuals, especially those from families with little exposure to science. Chris reflects on the internalized racism that can discourage Black individuals from pursuing scientific careers and how he overcame these barriers. Silvia and Chris discuss the financial ...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Neha Varshney, a remarkable scientist dedicated to fostering future talent in India. Neha shares her inspiring journey of becoming a mentor, and the profound impact mentorship can have on both the mentor and the mentee. She discusses her involvement in outreach programs for underprivileged children, emphasizing how education and encouragement can change lives. Neha ...
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Ece Bayram, who shares her experiences as a foreigner navigating life and academia. Ece discusses the impact of imposter syndrome and offers insights into developing strong organizational skills and finding effective mentoring. Silvia and Ece also explore the challenges faced in medical school, including dealing with depression and PTSD, and how these experiences ha...
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