
So You Got A Lifesci Degree
By So You Got A Lifesci Degree
A podcast about careers you can pursue after a lifesci undergrad 🎓Each episode, we interview a guest about their career, then discuss our thoughts. New episodes biweekly on Sundays!

21: Museum Curation (with Dr. Sebastian Kvist)
21: Museum Curation (with Dr. Sebastian Kvist)
So You Got A Lifesci DegreeJul 12, 2021
00:00
39:39

24: The Episode to End All Episodes
24: The Episode to End All Episodes
Here is the FINAL episode of So You Got A Lifesci Degree!! Farida and Lisa reflect on their podcasting experiences and play a second round of "How Well Do You Know Your Co-host."
Episode transcript
Resume Worded
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Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Aug 23, 202142:57

23: Science Writing (with Dr. Anna Clemens)
23: Science Writing (with Dr. Anna Clemens)
This week, we talk to Dr. Anna Clemens about the field of SCIENCE WRITING!! Anna is a scientific writing coach who has herself been published in popular science magazines like Scientific American, and has helped researchers get published in high-profile journals like Nature Communications. Anna tells us about the different forms of science writing, the realities of being a freelance science writer, and things to remember in your own writing!
Episode transcript
Resume Worded
Anna's free 1-hour interactive training for researchers
Anna's Twitter: @scientistswrite
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Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Aug 09, 202138:16

22: Midwifery (with Dr. Elizabeth Darling)
22: Midwifery (with Dr. Elizabeth Darling)
Today's episode is about MIDWIFERY!!! We chat with Dr. Elizabeth Darling, a registered midwife and the Assistant Dean of Midwifery at McMaster University, about the details of this growing profession. What is a midwife? Is that different from a doula? What is it like being on call? We have answers!
Episode transcript
Resume Worded
Roof squirrel
McMaster Midwifery Research Centre
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Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Jul 25, 202150:50

21: Museum Curation (with Dr. Sebastian Kvist)
21: Museum Curation (with Dr. Sebastian Kvist)
This week's guest is Dr. Sebastian Kvist, an Associate Curator at the Royal Ontario Museum AND an Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto! Sebastian has been working as a curator at the ROM for over six years, and is in charge of the invertebrate collection. During this time, he has developed quite the collection of knowledge about, well, collection and knowledge!
Episode transcript
Resume Worded
Grad squirrel
Kvist lab site
ROM online invertebrate collection
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Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Jul 12, 202139:39

20: Space Life Science Research (with Dr. Gioia Massa)
20: Space Life Science Research (with Dr. Gioia Massa)
Our episode this week is with Dr. Gioia Massa, a Project Scientist at NASA Kennedy Space Centre! Gioia has worked at NASA for the past 10 years, improving the cultivation of crops in space for future missions. She talks to us about the branches of space life science research, the challenges of growing plants in space, and how she landed a sweet job at NASA!
Episode transcript
Resume Worded
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
May 31, 202149:43

19: Environmental Law (with Dr. Dianne Saxe)
19: Environmental Law (with Dr. Dianne Saxe)
This week's episode is with Dianne Saxe, an internationally recognized environmental lawyer and Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario. Dianne has over 40 years of experience in environmental law, working for both the Government of Ontario and her own law boutique. She tells us about what it really means to be an environmental lawyer, and offers an honest opinion about job availability in the field.
Episode transcript
Hexagons are the Bestagons
Saxe Facts
Vote for dianne
Green Economy Heroes podcast
Resume Worded
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
May 17, 202144:44

SAMPLE MINICAST: Honeypot ants & ant beetles
SAMPLE MINICAST: Honeypot ants & ant beetles
SURPRISE!!! We're releasing one FREE MINICAST for your sampling pleasure!
Our minicasts are 5 - 10 minute BONUS episodes released alongside each main episode! In them, we chat about our "shenanigan" of the week - squirrel stories, electrocution by grape, captcha struggles, and more!
If you'd like to gain access to ALL our minicasts (and also support the show) you can become a Patreon member for $1/month!
Click here to support us! We would appreciate it so much! :)
May 09, 202108:20

18: Biomedical Product Management (with Tashfina Rabbani)
18: Biomedical Product Management (with Tashfina Rabbani)
Join us this week for a lovely chat with Tashfina Rabbani, a Senior Product Manager of the Rare Diseases Portfolio at Ipsen! Tashfina tells us about her experience in devising marketing strategies for pharmaceutical products. What even is product management? Why is there a photo of a woman in a sunflower field on the back of my toilet stall? We have the answers!
Squirrel video
M. Biotech Program
Bum Run
Resume Worded
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Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
May 03, 202155:28

17: Sustainability Program Management (with Eric Meliton)
17: Sustainability Program Management (with Eric Meliton)
This week's episode is with Eric Meliton. Eric was the program manager at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for seven years, and has recently transitioned to being the Manager of Sustainability at Laurier University. He talks to us about working with businesses to implement sustainable policies and his experience in wastewater management (yummy)!
Episode transcript
Cloudberry photos
Eric’s Twitter
Eric’s LinkedIn
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Alpaca tours
Alpaca products
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Facebook
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Instagram
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Apr 19, 202150:31

16: Undergraduate Course Coordinator (with Alastair Tracey)
16: Undergraduate Course Coordinator (with Alastair Tracey)
Join us this week as we chat with the one and only Alastair Tracey! Alastair is the Level II Undergraduate Coordinator in the Department of Biology at McMaster University. Listen to discover the method behind the madness of undergraduate course coordination!
Episode transcript
Alex Honnold swinging
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Alpaca tours
Alpaca products
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Facebook
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Instagram
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Apr 05, 202139:40

15: Half Birthday Extravaganza
15: Half Birthday Extravaganza
A special episode this week! In honor of the podcast's half birthday, Lisa and Farida play a game of "How Well Do You Know Your Co-host". Who is most likely to laugh at the wrong moment? Lock themselves out of the house? Become ruler of the world? Lisa and Farida have the answers!
Episode transcript
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Alpaca tours
Alpaca products
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Facebook
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Instagram
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Mar 22, 202139:39

14: Specialist Pharmacist (with Rishika Sharma)
14: Specialist Pharmacist (with Rishika Sharma)
This week we chat with Rishika Sharma, a Specialty Pharmacist at Bayshore Healthcare. Rishika edumacates us on how specialty pharmacists focus on medications for certain groups of illnesses, such as cancer. Unlike your local neighborhood pharmacist, Rishika spends little time interacting with patients behind the counter, and more time fulfilling complex prescriptions!
Episode transcript
Study bunny
Study bunny IG
Study bunny FB
Study bunny Twitter
Alpaca tours
Alpaca products
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Facebook
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Instagram
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Mar 08, 202135:23

13: Environmental Economist (with Ben Moy)
13: Environmental Economist (with Ben Moy)
This episode we chat with Ben Moy, an Economist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Ben performs economic analysis of policies implemented by the ECCC. He's currently working on policies involved in a post-pandemic "green recovery" plan!
Episode transcript
Climate change song
Climate change comic
Study bunny
Study bunny IG
Study bunny FB
Study bunny Twitter
Alpaca tours
Alpaca products
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Facebook
Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch Instagram
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Feb 22, 202156:23

12: Professor Shenanigans (with Doc Roc)
12: Professor Shenanigans (with Doc Roc)
This week we chat with Dr. Jonathan Stone (a.k.a. Doc Roc), an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University. Doc Roc tells us stories of his adventures in Sweden, a misrepresentative tardigrade species, and peeing on sea urchin wounds!
Episode transcript
Study bunny
Study bunny IG
Study bunny FB
Study bunny Twitter
Tardigrade paper
Support us on Patreon
Rate us on Apple Podcasts
Check out our Anchor webpage
Email us at soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Feb 08, 202159:08

11: Sweet Prince of Careers (with Jared Kunar)
11: Sweet Prince of Careers (with Jared Kunar)
This episode, we chat with Jared Kunar from McMaster University's Science Career and Cooperative Education Office (SCCE). Jared tells us about how he helps students develop job search techniques, create targeted resumes and cover letters, and figure out where the heck their life is going!
Episode transcript
SCCE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcmasterscce/
SCCE Website: https://science.mcmaster.ca/scce/
SCCE drop in hours and live chat: https://science.mcmaster.ca/scce/contact/drop-in-advising.html
Cost of hiring: https://toggl.com/blog/cost-of-hiring-an-employee
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Jan 25, 202145:14

10: Reshaping health technology (with Nisha Almeida)
10: Reshaping health technology (with Nisha Almeida)
This episode, we chat with Nisha Almeida about her role as a Research Scientist at McGill University's Health Technology Assessment Unit. Nisha tells us about how she helps hospital administration evaluate the value of new health technologies and interventions using the best available scientific evidence. We also talk about conflicting goals between physicians and the importance of end-of-life care.
Episode transcript
Health Technology Assessment Unit Website: https://muhc.ca/tau/page/what-is-tau
The Checklist Manifesto: http://atulgawande.com/book/the-checklist-manifesto/
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Jan 10, 202157:48

9: Biotech Startups (with Gayathri Vijayakumar)
9: Biotech Startups (with Gayathri Vijayakumar)
This week, we chat with Gayathri Vijayakumar about her work at Scribe Therapeutics, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company. Gayathri explains how she is exploiting viral mechanisms to create targeted CRISPR therapeutics. We also talk about startup culture and the biotech industry as a whole!
Episode transcript
Brittany M Art website: www.brittanymart.etsy.com
Brittany M Art Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Brittany M Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanymart_
Gayathri’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gayathri_Vijayk
Hatching Twitter: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313043/hatching-twitter-by-nick-bilton/
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Dec 28, 202001:07:30

8: Genetic Counselling (with Jacqueline Leonard)
8: Genetic Counselling (with Jacqueline Leonard)
This episode, we chat with Jackie about her role as a genetic counsellor at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia! Some of what she says may surprise you - such as how just how much "counselling" can go into the job sometimes. Plus, we talk about her work involving intersex genetic etiologies and differences in sex development.
Episode transcript
Brittany M Art website: www.brittanymart.etsy.com
Brittany M Art Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Brittany M Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanymart
Direct Subscription Doctor Model Article: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2020/11/09/direct-primary-care/
Diagnosis on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80201543
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Dec 14, 202001:16:04

7: Teaching High School Math (with Talia Asa)
7: Teaching High School Math (with Talia Asa)
Join us this week as we talk to Talia Asa, a math teacher at Abbey Park High School. Talia edumacates us on the different kinds of teachers in Ontario, and how to become one yourself! Plus, philosophical ramblings about the life-long impacts a teacher can have on you.
Episode transcript
Brittany M Art website: www.brittanymart.etsy.com
Brittany M Art Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Brittany M Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanymart_
Not overthinking: www.notoverthinking.com/competitiveness-and-mimetic-traps/
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Nov 30, 202001:11:15

6: The Case Against a PhD
6: The Case Against a PhD
A SPECIAL episode this week, in which Farida presents the case AGAINST a PhD (for certain situations). Come learn about opportunity costs, the availability of academic positions, and the desirability of PhD holders!
Episode transcript
Cal Newport's books: https://www.calnewport.com 80,000 hours site: https://80000hours.org/
Jason Brennan book: https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/good-work-if-you-can-get-it.
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Nov 15, 202041:08

5: Pharmaceutical Company Director (with Rizwana Islam)
5: Pharmaceutical Company Director (with Rizwana Islam)
This week we speak to Rizwana Islam, a Director at Takeda, an multinational pharmaceutical company. Rizwana tells us about the types of positions available in the pharmaceutical industry and how to get your foot in the door!
Episode transcript
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Nov 01, 202001:03:00

4: Research Proposals Facilitator (with Sibat Anam)
4: Research Proposals Facilitator (with Sibat Anam)
This episode, we talk to Sibat Anam, a Research Proposals Facilitator at Ryerson University. This is a great example of a job for lifesci undergrads that neither of us knew existed! Sibat helps faculty members obtain grants, write research proposals, and commercialize their research. We also chat about how he got hired over a crowd of PhD-holders!
Episode transcript
Sibat's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sibatanam/
NSERC: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/ug-pc/usra-brpc_eng.asp
Simon Clark video: https://youtu.be/qLLKfmn4gp4
Drawdown book: amazon
UN Carbon offset platform: here
Honnold foundation: https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Oct 18, 202001:06:05

3: Medical Illustration and Web Development (with Jessica Zhang)
3: Medical Illustration and Web Development (with Jessica Zhang)
This week’s guest is Jessica Zhang, a freelance medical illustrator and front-end web developer based in Toronto. Jessica currently works at Klick Health, a marketing agency and commercialization partner for life science brands. We talk about what working as a medical illustrator is like, the kinds of positions available in the field, and how she transitioned to web development!
Episode transcript
Correction: The Juno coding program runs from 10 AM to 6 PM (not 8AM to 6PM as mentioned in the episode)
Jessica’s front-end web development: Codedbyjessica.com
Jessica’s medical illustration work: medartbyjessica.com
Biorender: https://biorender.com/
COVID-19 visualization: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/2020/06/deces-morts-covid-19-coronavirus-provinces-repartition-visualisation-3d/index-en.html
Blanket trick: https://youtu.be/bfshM4HiCkE
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.co
Oct 04, 202049:46

2: Physiotherapy and Clinic Management (with Janna Marvyn)
2: Physiotherapy and Clinic Management (with Janna Marvyn)
This episode is with Janna Marvyn, a clinic manager and physiotherapist at Pillars of Wellness in Burlington, Ontario. Janna describes what it means to be a clinic manager, and tells us about her work with adults and children undergoing physical rehabilitation for neurological injuries. We also chat about cool new technologies in the field of physio!
Episode transcript
Janna’s clinic: http://www.pillarsofwellness.ca
Weekend Wednesday: https://youtu.be/ALaTm6VzTBw
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Sep 20, 202001:13:58

1: Market Access in Pharma (with Kara Griffiths)
1: Market Access in Pharma (with Kara Griffiths)
Our first episode is with Kara Griffiths! Kara is a Senior Manager of Market Access at Gilead Sciences, where she works to get pharmaceuticals covered under insurance policies. We chat about what her role entails, the morality of pharmaceutical companies, and the Master of Biotechnology program at the University of Toronto!
Episode transcript
Master of biotechnology program at UofT: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/programs/biotechnology/
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Webpage: https://anchor.fm/soyougotalifescidegree
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Rate us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/so-you-got-a-lifesci-degree/id1531348565
Music copyright notice: No Regrets (2015) - Royalty-Free Music by https://audiohub.com
Sep 07, 202059:44

Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to So You Got A Lifesci Degree, a podcast about the careers you can pursue with an undergrad degree in lifesci! This show is co-hosted by Lisa Shen, a Molecular Biology and Genetic student at McMaster University, and Farida Rahman, a Biology student at McGill University. Each episode, we’ll be interviewing a different guest about their job - interspersed with life shenanigans and squirrel stories! We’re so glad you found us, and hope that you have a wonderful listening journey.
Episode transcript
Email: soyougotalifescidegree@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soyougotalifescidegree?fan_landing=true
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34RgnnlAuW5wOGLKTnxwI1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0esZWtAuGy2sP15dzGMbKg/featured
RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3465c500/podcast/rss
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soyougotalifescidegree
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SoLifesci
Sep 07, 202001:37