WHEN IN STEM

Can L’Oréal really fund your scientific research? 👀
In this episode of When In STEM, we’re breaking down what fellowships like L’Oréal For Women in Science can actually do for your career and why choosing the right lab and mentor can matter more than your CV.
Today’s guest is Dr. Sydney Aten, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School, neuroscientist studying circadian rhythms and fertility, and a 2025 L’Oréal For Women in Science Fellow. Sydney shares her honest journey into neuroscience, how early research experiences shaped her path, and what she’s learned about mentorship, lab culture, and leadership as a woman in STEM.
We talk about
• Why she applied for the L’Oréal For Women in Science fellowship
• What fellowships offer beyond funding and why recognition matters
• How to know if a postdoc is right for you
• Choosing the right PI and lab environment
• Mentorship and leading as a woman in STEM
• Navigating research careers without a “perfect” path
If you’re a student, early-career scientist, or someone questioning academia, postdoc life, or research fellowships, this episode is for you.
Submit your questions/scenarios for Career Corner 👇https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-57wMEkBTFQ954QJrlZp9MP0ZPKK3Urmn8rPvS6Yfq42qlA/viewformSTREAM WHEN IN STEM : https://liinks.co/when.in.stem.podcast ♡ Stay Connected:♡ Subscribe to my channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@labskillsacademy2979♡Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labskillsacademy/ ♡Follow me on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@labskillsacademy💌 For business inquiries: [email protected]ᵔᴗᵔ Hello ᵔᴗᵔ I’m Marie, a scientist, content creator, and podcast host passionate about helping students and early-career researchers navigate the world of STEM a. On this channel, I share tips, advice, and insights to help you thrive in your PhD journey and beyond.♡ Want even more insights? Tune in to my podcast, WHEN IN STEM, where I interview scientists, educators, and industry leaders about careers in STEM, research advice, and personal growth strategies. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts!Join me as I break down these insights, share personal experiences, and offer strategies to make your STEM journey smoother, and a lot more rewarding.

This episode explores the diverse career paths available to pharmacists with a PharmD degree, emphasizing the growing demand for pharmacists in various sectors of healthcare. The host discusses the misconceptions surrounding the role of pharmacists, highlighting that their expertise extends beyond traditional patient-facing roles. The conversation covers various career options, including clinical roles, systems operations, pharma and biotech opportunities, and public health impacts, encouraging listeners to explore their interests and the flexibility of their career paths.Each year, there are 14,000+ pharmacist job openings in the U.S., and as healthcare becomes more complex, pharmacists are more essential than ever. Yet so many students and early-career pharmacists feel boxed into one path.This episode is for you if:- You’re in pharmacy school and questioning your options- You have a PharmD and feel stuck- You’re curious about non-traditional STEM careers- You want proof that there’s more than one way forwardRetail Pharmacy with Elissa Hanna:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PR6yFvXHzq6FmqC8bpF8z?si=l4UK41gOS4-63gZyv4XI7wA Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Student with Kami Fleming: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MKDeOLqHJ5tUOoHWTu9b8?si=XBxHDJ5fTBic8iO6b84A0wA Pharmacist’s Path Into Biotech with Rachel Hawley: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jDbI2iUhUW221Ru3nnLqG?si=c0668bf6b86d480dChapters00:00 The Growing Demand for Pharmacists02:48 Exploring Career Paths with a PharmD05:58 Setting the Stage: Understanding the Role of a Pharmacist09:12 Diverse Patient-Facing Roles in Pharmacy11:45 Pharmacy Roles in Systems and Operations14:59 Pharma and Biotech Opportunities19:05 Impacting Public Health with a PharmD21:04 Exploring Non-Traditional Roles23:01 Finding Your Path in PharmacySubmit your questions/scenarios for Career Corner 👇https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-57wMEkBTFQ954QJrlZp9MP0ZPKK3Urmn8rPvS6Yfq42qlA/viewformSTREAM WHEN IN STEM : https://liinks.co/when.in.stem.podcast
♡ Stay Connected:♡ Subscribe to my channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@labskillsacademy2979♡Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labskillsacademy/ ♡Follow me on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@labskillsacademy
💌 For business inquiries: [email protected]ᵔᴗᵔ Hello ᵔᴗᵔ I’m Marie, a scientist, content creator, and podcast host passionate about helping students and early-career researchers navigate the world of STEM a. On this channel, I share tips, advice, and insights to help you thrive in your PhD journey and beyond.♡ Want even more insights? Tune in to my podcast, WHEN IN STEM, where I interview scientists, educators, and industry leaders about careers in STEM, research advice, and personal growth strategies. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts!Join me as I break down these insights, share personal experiences, and offer strategies to make your STEM journey smoother, and a lot more rewarding.

In this episode of When in STEM, I chat with Rachel Hawley, PharmD, about redefining what a pharmacy career can look like beyond clinical settings. Rachel gets real about her journey, from inpatient pharmacy experiences to the shift into medical affairs and biotech, the skills that matter most, what her fellowship actually taught her, and what it is like working as a Medical Outcomes Science Liaison today.If you are a pharmacy student, early career professional, or curious about alternative pathways in STEM, this one is for you.
🎧 What You Will Hear:✨ Why clinical pharmacy was not the final destination.✨ How Rachel built confidence and connections in industry.✨ A behind the scenes look at her role and what matters most.✨ Practical career and mindset advice for your own transition.📸 Follow Rachel on InstagramChapters:00:00 Journey into Pharmacy: The Beginning03:04 Hands-On Experience: Community and Inpatient Pharmacy06:05 The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Practice08:53 Transitioning to the Pharmaceutical Industry11:45 The Role of a Pharmacist in Diverse Settings14:56 Understanding Fellowships in Pharmacy18:11 Skills and Experiences Gained from Fellowships20:46 Current Role: Medical Affairs in Biotech23:59 Work-Life Balance in a Demanding Career26:52 The Importance of Networking and Social Media30:00 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome32:57 Advice for Aspiring Pharmacists36:08 Career Corner: Listener Questions38:46 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsSubmit your questions/scenarios for Career Corner 👇HERESTREAM WHEN IN STEM ON ALL PLATFORMS ♡ Stay Connected:♡ Subscribe to my Youtube channel♡Follow me on Instagram♡Follow me on Tiktok💌 For business inquiries: [email protected]ᵔᴗᵔ Hello ᵔᴗᵔ I’m Marie, a scientist, content creator, and podcast host passionate about helping students and early-career researchers navigate the world of STEM a. On this channel, I share tips, advice, and insights to help you thrive in your PhD journey and beyond.♡ Want even more insights? Tune in to my podcast, WHEN IN STEM, where I interview scientists, educators, and industry leaders about careers in STEM, research advice, and personal growth strategies. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts!Join me as I break down these insights, share personal experiences, and offer strategies to make your STEM journey smoother, and a lot more rewarding.

What does a day in the life of a pharmacy student on rotations actually look like? In this episode of When in STEM, I sit down with Kami to break down her real routine, from clinical rotations and hands-on learning to studying, staying organized, and managing the mental load that comes with pharmacy school.

Kami shares what surprised her most about pharmacy school, how she balances rotations with coursework, and the mindset that helps her push through long days. We also talk honestly about burnout, motivation, and how she’s exploring different career paths within pharmacy while still in school.Whether you’re considering pharmacy school, currently on rotations, or just curious about what pharmacists-in-training really do day to day, this episode offers a transparent and relatable look at student life.

Connect with Kami:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kamifleming
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamipharmacy/?igsh=OHk4bmt2YzYyc2U3#
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kami.fleming
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:02 Journey into Pharmacy School
08:02 The Broad Spectrum of Pharmacy
11:49 Study Techniques and Learning Styles
15:50 Daily Life in Pharmacy Rotations
19:53 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
23:51 Balancing Life and Pharmacy School
25:03 The Importance of Practical Experience
27:45 Overcoming Challenges in Pharmacy School
31:12 Understanding Pharmacy Education
34:20 The Role of Pharmacists in Healthcare
38:45 Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
41:04 Preparing for Pharmacy Licensure Exams
44:01 Networking vs. Grades in Pharmacy School
46:34 Finding Your Path in Pharmacy

Submit your questions/scenarios for Career Corner 👇https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-57wMEkBTFQ954QJrlZp9MP0ZPKK3Urmn8rPvS6Yfq42qlA/viewformSTREAM WHEN IN STEM : https://liinks.co/when.in.stem.podcast ♡ Stay Connected:♡ Subscribe to my channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@labskillsacademy2979♡Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labskillsacademy/ ♡Follow me on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@labskillsacademy💌 For business inquiries: [email protected]ᵔᴗᵔ Hello ᵔᴗᵔ I’m Marie, a scientist, content creator, and podcast host passionate about helping students and early-career researchers navigate the world of STEM a. On this channel, I share tips, advice, and insights to help you thrive in your PhD journey and beyond.♡ Want even more insights? Tune in to my podcast, WHEN IN STEM, where I interview scientists, educators, and industry leaders about careers in STEM, research advice, and personal growth strategies. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts!Join me as I break down these insights, share personal experiences, and offer strategies to make your STEM journey smoother, and a lot more rewarding.

In this episode of When in STEM, I sit down with Elissa Hanna, a retail pharmacist, to uncover the real story behind life in community pharmacy. She shares her path from education to earning her PharmD, the challenges she faced along the way, and what led her to retail pharmacy. We dive into what a day in her life looks like, what it truly means to hold a PharmD, and how pharmacists impact patient care beyond prescriptions.Whether you’re a pharmacy student, considering a PharmD, or just curious about the realities of retail pharmacy, this conversation offers a candid look into the profession: the struggles, the rewards, and everything in between.