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

Dr. Lisa Whitenack is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Biology and Geology at Allegheny College. Through her research, Lisa aims to better understand how animals work from a mechanical perspective. She studies how sharks have used their teeth over their 400 million years of evolution, how salamanders jump, and how stone crabs perform pinching movements. When she's not at work, Lisa loves getting creative with a variety of crafts such as crochet, cross-stitch, and painting. She also enjoys refereeing roller derby, hiking, and spending time with her family. She received her B.S. in geology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, her M.S. degree in geological sciences from Michigan State University, and her Ph.D. in integrative biology from the University of South Florida. Lisa served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tampa for about a year. She conducted postdoctoral research in geology at the University of South Florida before joining the faculty at Allegheny College. Lisa has been named Volunteer Partner of the Year by the Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance for her science outreach efforts. In our interview, Lisa shares more about her life and science.

Dr. Ada Tang is a physical therapist, an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, and a Clinician-Scientist with the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation. Ada and her research team are assessing the impacts of exercise on the cardiovascular health of people with stroke, as well as other populations, and they are working to develop safe and effective exercise programs for people with stroke. Sport and exercise have always been important in Ada's life. In addition to studying exercise in the lab, Ada loves being active outdoors. She spends her free time hiking, enjoying nature, and traveling. Ada is also an avid sports fan, and she enjoys watching sporting events, particularly Toronto Raptors basketball games. Ada completed her BSc in Physical Therapy, MSc in Rehabilitation Science, and PhD in Medical Science from the University of Toronto. Afterwards, she was awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia before joining the faculty at McMaster University. In our interview, Ada shares more about her life and science.

Dr. Jeffrey Gardner is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Jeffrey's research focuses on understanding how bacteria break down and use carbohydrates for energy. This process plays an important role in the environment through recycling plant material, it has commercial applications in producing renewable fuels and developing enzymes for products like detergents, and it helps bacteria in our gut digest dietary fiber. His work highlights how the breakdown of carbohydrates by bacteria is essential for the planet, the economy, and human health. In his free time, Jeffrey enjoys revisiting classic video games from the 1980s and 1990s that he grew up playing. He especially likes role-playing and adventure games that emphasize exploration and discovery. The original Legend of Zelda Nintendo game holds a particularly special place in his heart for its open-world exploration and nostalgic appeal. He received his BS in bacteriology and his PhD in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Afterwards, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center before joining the faculty at UMBC. He has been recognized with various awards and honors throughout his career, including a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Early Career Research Award, a TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative Award, a UMBC Mid-Career Faculty Excellence Award, and a UMBC Up-and-Coming Inventor Award. In this interview, he shares more about his life and science.

Dr. Jessica Tracy is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Emotion and Self Laboratory at the University of British Columbia. In addition, she is a University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business Distinguished Scholar and author of the book Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. Jess conducts research in the field of social and personality psychology. Her lab focuses on better understanding the self-conscious emotions we feel when we are evaluating ourselves. Some examples of self-conscious emotions are pride and shame. In her free time, Jess enjoys being outdoors in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of her favorite outdoor activities are hiking, running, visiting the beach, and skiing. Jess received her B.A. in psychology From Amherst College, and she was awarded her M.A. and PhD in social-personality psychology from the University of California, Davis. After a brief postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis, Jess joined the faculty at the University of British Columbia in 2006. Jess is a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. She has also been the recipient of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Salary Award, the University of British Columbia Killam Research Prize, the Outstanding Early Career Award from the International Society for Self and Identity, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Career Salary Award. In our interview, Jess shares more about her life and science.

Dr. Franklin West is an Associate Professor in the Regenerative Biosciences Center at the University of Georgia. In the lab, Franklin and his team are developing and testing stem cell therapies to treat stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). They use induced pluripotent stem cells, which are cells that can be reprogrammed to develop into any kind of cell in the body. Traveling is a passion for Franklin. Though he had to cancel his trip to Seoul, South Korea planned for this summer, he is looking forward to his next big travel adventure. In the meantime, Franklin has been having fun taking care of his garden at home. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Morehouse College and was awarded his Ph.D. in stem cell biology from the University of Georgia. Franklin then worked as an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Georgia for a few years before joining the faculty there in 2010. He received the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science's Young Alumni Award in 2019 and recently received the University of Georgia Alumni Award "40 Under 40" distinction. Franklin was also named an "Emerging Scholar" in 2012 by Diverse Magazine and among the "Top 40 Under 40: Georgia's Best and Brightest" by Georgia Trend Magazine. In our interview, Franklin will share more about his life and science.