Best UC San Diego Health Podcasts (2025)

1
Maternal and Infant Health 49:22

1M ago49:22

49:22

Experts discuss recent advances in how maternal health and immune function during pregnancy affect infant development and long-term outcomes. Research focuses on immune adaptations, complications like preterm birth, and neuroimmune pathways, using techniques such as mass cytometry, spatial proteomics, and chemogenetics to identify biomarkers and me…

1
Aging and Menopause 46:08

1M ago46:08

46:08

Explore key aspects of aging and menopause, focusing on women’s health and how biological changes impact overall well-being. Experts discuss current research on healthy aging, including the role of physical activity, brain health, and hormone changes during menopause. They highlight how sex differences affect diseases like Alzheimer’s and emphasize…

1
Fertility and Infertility 27:39

1M ago27:39

27:39

Experts highlight innovative research and clinical advances in fertility and infertility. Speakers share new ways to improve IVF outcomes using liquid biopsy and RNA analysis, aiming to predict embryo quality without invasive tests. They also explore how imaging technologies can better detect and monitor reproductive cancers, helping tailor treatme…

1
#92 – What's the REAL purpose of science research? Knowledge? Training opportunity? Intellectual property? 58:03

2M ago58:03

58:03

My down-the-hall colleague Marc Porosoff and I sit down to discuss the public perception of scientific research done in universities and its value to society. Want more of Marc? He is the co-host of PodCAT, available on your favorite podcast apphttps://open.spotify.com/show/0tzTnMlZNcgBQfVUbvgchA

1
#91 – Health and wellness for grad students (panel discussion) 49:47

2M ago49:47

49:47

I was invited by the School of Medicine and Dentistry to participate in a panel discussion on Health and Wellness for Graduate Students. The panel was organized by Jeff Koslofsky, who has a large catalogue of excellent resources for graduate students in the sciences, engineering, and medicine.Original postings here so you can subscribe/follow: http…

1
#90 – When a scientist gets an award from the White House: Personal reflections 21:52

2M ago21:52

21:52

The story behind my trip to Washington DC in 2019 to get an award from the White House (PECASE, class of 2017). Intersection of science, politics, and personal beliefs. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

1
#89 – How to get RICH with a PhD 18:19

2M ago18:19

18:19

There are no get rich quick schemes, but if you have a PhD or are getting one, you knew that already. However, there are some ways of developing financial security that are open to PhDs that may not be so available to others, even though you spent most of your 20s earning very little income. In this quick monologue, I say some things that may be co…

1
#88 – Cuts to federal grants for science & engineering research in universities: Reactions of 2 professors 39:28

3M ago39:28

39:28

I don't usually make videos/podcasts specific to a time, but given the magnitude of the crisis in academic research, I made an exception. To try to add light to the heat, I took some time to chat with my colleague, Prof. Marc Porosoff, co-host of the PodCAT also at the University of Rochester, to discuss our reactions to cuts in federal funding for…

1
#87 – Federal research funding: How $10 million becomes $100 million 13:06

3M ago13:06

13:06

There is a lot of incorrect information out there on the role of research funding in the economy. Does it waste money or create it? Here, I use some data and back-of-the-envelope projections from my own lab at UC San Diego and University of Rochester to argue that a $10M investment in the form of grants & contracts will generate many hundreds of mi…

1
#86 – How professors manage their grant funding 36:31

8M ago36:31

36:31

I was given the opportunity to give my thoughts in an interview on the topic of managing finances at the lab and department level.

1
#85 – Diet and exercise for grad students, postdocs, & early career researchers--fitness for nerds ;) 26:04

12M ago26:04

26:04

As I've gotten older, more and more people make light (in a good way) about my apparent healthy habits (if only they knew the truth!). Herein, I describe the advice I would give, and which I might even follow myself (on a good day).

1
#84 – Changing your PI / advisor: How you know you may have to do it and how to find a new one 24:17

12M ago24:17

24:17

Thoughts based on my years counseling students on changing your PhD advisor or PI and where you can find resources to assist in the transition.Darren Lipomi, PhDProfessor and Chair, Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of RochesterFormerly UC San Diego

1
#83 – How all engineering fields converge to "nano" (2 of 2) 30:49

12M ago30:49

30:49

This is a reading of Chapter 1, second half, on the connection between Nanoengineering and all the other fields of engineering: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and bioengineering. Footnotes, figures, and problems for this chapter can be obtained from my book, Introduction to Nanoengineering, which I coauthored with Robert S. Ramji. …

1
#82 - Nanoengineering: At the Center of It All (1 of 2) 36:26

12M ago36:26

36:26

Part 1 of 2 of Chapter 1 of my book, an annotated fireside reading. Available in hard copy with footnotes, figures, and 150 solved problems, here https://a.co/d/4FZ73Z9

1
#81 - What is research and advice to undergraduates 42:33

12M ago42:33

42:33

My thoughts on what research is, what function it serves in society, how it is differentiated from "science," and how undergraduate students can obtain research positions at a university.

1
#80 - Why I wrote the book Introduction to Nanoengineering and how to use it - my attempt at narration 14:32

12M ago14:32

14:32

In this video, I give an annotated reading of the introduction to my book, co-authored with Robert Ramji, Introduction to Nanoengineering.

1
#79 - What is an R1 university? Mission, revenue sources, personnel 47:14

1y ago47:14

47:14

Beyond finance, what actually IS a research university? What is its place in society? What is its mission and mandate? Where do you fit in?

1
#78 - How a University is Financed: Research, Grants, Endowment, Salary, Tuition, Overhead 50:05

1y ago50:05

50:05

This is a talk I felt compelled to give after the grad student / postdoc strike in the University of California in the fall of 2022. There was so much I didn't understand about university finance. In an effort to learn more, I decided to put together this talk and share it as a professional development seminar to PhD students, postdocs, and faculty…

1
#77 - Managing your relationship with your PI / PhD advisor in graduate school 17:51

1y ago17:51

17:51

A few uncategorized tips for working with your PI in grad school.

1
Nurturing Beginnings: Human Donor Milk 29:53

1y ago29:53

29:53

Explore the University of California Health Milk Bank with Dr. Julia Cormano and Dr. Lisa Stellwagen. Discover the practicalities of donor milk processing and its significant impact on NICU infants' health and their families' lives. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39083]By UCTV: UC San Diego

1
What is a Milk Bank? 8:19

1y ago8:19

8:19

When babies, especially those in the NICU, can't breastfeed directly from their mothers, breast milk remains essential for their nutrition and immune support. This is where milk banks step in. Discover the process by which milk banks collect, screen, process, and distribute human breast milk to babies in need, especially premature infants or those …

1
The Science of Human Milk 15:17

1+ y ago15:17

15:17

Julia Cormano, M.D., F.A.C.O.G, speaks with Lars Bode, Ph.D., about the significance of human milk, highlighting its diverse benefits for infants and mothers. They explore its unique properties and practical implications for healthcare and society on a global scale. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39317]…

1
#76 - How to write proposals for fellowships and grants 1:02:05

2y ago1:02:05

1:02:05

Topics include generating ideas, finding the right funding agency, working with program managers, the grant proposal as an experiment in psychology, what goes on behind closed doors, and how to write concisely and convincingly.

1
Breastfeeding: Common Questions 24:00

2y ago24:00

24:00

Why won't my baby latch? Is my baby getting enough to eat? The early days of breastfeeding are filled with so many questions. Nancy White, RN, IBCLC, a board certified lactation consultant, joins Julia Cormano, MD, FACOG, to talk about basic techniques, the ins and outs of latching, and how to overcome challenges as you start your breastfeeding jou…

1
Centering Pregnancy: Group Prenatal Care and Support for New Parents 25:00

2+ y ago25:00

25:00

Prenatal care in a group setting offers many advantages - deeper connection to your care team, friendships with other expectant parents, empowerment through education - hand in hand with individualized medical care for you and your baby. Vanessa Wright, CNM, WHNP-BC, sits down with a group of new moms who share their experiences with the Centering …

1
What Does It Mean To Be Advanced Maternal Age? 5:46

2+ y ago5:46

5:46

Many women are becoming pregnant later in life. Providers use the term “advanced maternal age” (AMA) to describe a pregnancy in a person greater than 35 years old. Dr. Julia Cormano explains how being AMA can impact your pregnancy and the steps you can take to optimize your health. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38253]…

1
Postpartum Birth Control Options 3:59

2+ y ago3:59

3:59

It may seem surprising to start thinking about birth control even while you’re pregnant, but there’s no better time than now to start planning if and when you’d like to be pregnant again. Dr. Julia Cormano outlines birth control options from the pill to tubal ligation. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38257]…

1
What is a High Risk Pregnancy? 2:56

2+ y ago2:56

2:56

Having your pregnancy labeled as “high risk” can be frightening, but doesn’t need to be. Dr. Julia Cormano explains common reasons a pregnancy could be considered "high risk," the types of care available, considerations for delivery and more. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38255]…

1
#75 – Hip Hop Scientist Maynard Okereke: Engineer to Science Communicator, Musician, & Video Personality 45:21

2+ y ago45:21

45:21

I spoke in this episode with Maynard Okereke. Maynard is a trained civil and environmental engineer who has developed a second career in scientific communication for young people and particularly young people of color. He arrived at this interest from previous careers in engineering and then acting and music. He is also a seasoned entrepreneur, for…

1
#74 – Applying to Grad School: How to write a winning Statement of Purpose & explain a lower GPA 33:19

2+ y ago33:19

33:19

In this video, I discuss how to write an effective and engaging statement of purpose, how to structure your essay, and how to use your writing to compensate for potentially weaker sections of your application. Thanks to the California Forum for Diversity in Graduation Education for the Invitation to give this talk. This work was supported by a gran…

1
#73 – How do you know when you have enough data to publish? Plus, how to manage conflict with co-authors 49:40

2+ y ago49:40

49:40

In this talk, I discuss strategies for research and writing, how to know how much you should put in a paper, how to manage conflicts with co-authors, and how to respond to reviewers. Darren Lipomi, PhD Professor and Associate Dean for Students Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego lipomigroup.org…

1
#72 - Should humans be modified? How about plants or animals? The Environment? Q&A on bioethics 20:08

2+ y ago20:08

20:08

This is an unusual episode for me. Rather than responding to questions about graduate school, in this video, I responded to an interviewer performing an ethnographic survey about how researchers in bioengineering and bioengineering-adjacent fields view certain controversial subjects like human modification. 0:50 Would you be in favor of a prenatal …

1
#71 - Ask a professor: how to vet applicants, deal w/ criticism, strategy in academia, & research funding 15:01

2+ y ago15:01

15:01

0:00 How do you get your research published in high-impact journals? 2:05 Grad students and postdocs are busy. How do you vet undergraduate researchers so that they are productive and not breaking equipment? 3:56 I noticed that you had a mini MBA on your resume. How valuable do you think business training is in academia? 6:25 Can you describe ways …

1
#70 – What I wish I knew before becoming a professor: How to combine research, teaching, and service 46:39

2+ y ago46:39

46:39

The pillars of academia--research, teaching, and service--often seem like very separate activities. However, it can be really rewarding to find ways to make connections between these areas to get more out of parts of academic life that may seem mundane. Here are some thoughts I collected and delivered at the Asian American Association for Scientist…

1
#69 - How I run my lab: check ins, hiring students, and promoting good culture and climate 19:28

3y ago19:28

19:28

0:00 What does your group work on? 2:20 How is your work funded? 3:25 Is there one project or grant you’re especially excited about? 4:13 How many students are in your group? 4:25 Is that typical? 4:54 How do you communicate with your lab members? 6:01 The roundtable sounds like great idea, does that work well? 7:44 How long have you been doing the…

1
#68 - Managing Stress, Burnout, Anxiety, & Metal Health Challenges in Grad School in Academic Research 22:02

3y ago22:02

22:02

In this episode, I collected my responses to questions I received on a panel discussion hosted by the American Chemical Society. I redacted any names and read the questions myself. Here is the list of topics with timestamps. 0:28 What is your background and how did you become interested in mental health of academic researchers? 2:00 Is there someth…

1
#67 – My appearance on the Teach the Geek Podcast: My Academic Path, Postdocs & Public Speaking 30:29

3y ago30:29

30:29

This episode is a crossover with the Teach the Geek Podcast, hosted by Neil Thompson, engineer, author, podcaster, and speaking coach. Here, we discuss my academic path and approaches to public speaking. You can learn more about Neil at teachthegeek.com and askuncleneilbooks.com.

1
#66 – Darren discusses Code Breaker (Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR)–What Walter Isaacson gets right/wrong on scientific research 51:34

3y ago51:34

51:34

This is a bit of an unusual book review for the book The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. I'm going to focus on Walter Isaacson's portrayal of how scientific research happens in academic settings and provide some context for the comments he makes on scientists, the scientific method, the role of competi…

1
#65 – From the Caribbean to Computation: Chemistry, Engineering, & Nanoscience. Prof. Tod Pascal, UCSD 54:58

3y ago54:58

54:58

In this episode, I sat down with my colleague, Prof. Tod A. Pascal, of the Department of NanoEngineering and Chemical Engineering at UC San Diego. Tod developed an interest in computational materials science at a young age while growing up on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. During his schooling, he spent significant time in Houston, New Yor…

1
#64 – Is Organic Chem Necessary for Engineering? Chemistry vs. Chemical Eng, Flipped Classrooms & Teaching 33:00

3+ y ago33:00

33:00

In this episode, I cover a range of topics having to do with the role of organic chemistry in chemical and engineering education. I also share my thoughts on flipped classrooms, active learning, peer instruction, and other teaching methodologies.

1
#63 – Mentoring undergraduate researchers 46:21

3+ y ago46:21

46:21

Studies show that engagement in undergraduate research is one of the surest predictors of retention and success of students in science and engineering. Unfortunately, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars assigned to mentor these students rarely receive training. In this episode, I discuss strategies you can use to mentor undergraduate resear…

1
#62 – Raychelle Burks: Science of crime investigation, consulting for Hollywood, & inclusive teaching 1:06:31

3+ y ago1:06:31

1:06:31

In this episode, I sat down with Prof. Raychelle Burks of American University to discuss her career as a crime scene investigator, new approaches to field analytics, her side gig as a script consultant for movies, and approaches to inclusive teaching and mentoring. This episode is cross-posted with IDEAs in STEM Ed. Please consider subscribing ther…

1
#61 – How to ask for letters of recommendation for grad school, research positions, scholarships, & jobs 38:24

3+ y ago38:24

38:24

Everything I know about writing, reading, and being asked for letters of recommendation. Excuse the sound quality of this Covid-era recording. I was speaking through a mask to a group of IDEA Scholars at UC San Diego. Learn more at jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/idea.

1
#60 – Harvard Mechanics Prof. Zhigang Suo, master scientific storyteller 56:20

3+ y ago56:20

56:20

This is a bonus episode from my new podcast, IDEAs in STEM Ed. I never charge for any of my content and don't monetize (though YouTube may), so if you've found this useful, please consider subscribing to the "IDEAs in STEM Ed" podcast on Spotify or Apple (https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnj0T4yiFbehk5eTtBF50?si=8080602ae33e4952), and to the IDEA Eng…

1
#59 – Eric Mazur: Flipped Classrooms, Peer & Active Learning, Textbooks vs Videos, & Remote Education 52:33

3+ y ago52:33

52:33

My guest today is Eric Mazur, professor of physics and applied physics at Harvard University. He is also a creator and entrepreneur in the area of technological resources for classroom teaching. He is known for his research in ultrafast optics and condensed matter physics, and also for his extensive work in the teaching methodology known as Peer In…

1
n=49 All the latest on COVID-19 and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding 33:04

3+ y ago33:04

33:04

Despite strong recommendations from the CDC, pregnant people in the U.S. continue to show low vaccination rates against COVID-19. It's been a tough choice for many parents or soon-to-be parents, so in this episode, we dig into the details. UC San Diego Health experts Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, and Lars Bode, PhD, al…

1
#58 – Bonus: Malika Jeffries-EL on being an insider, outsider, and improving access to STEM education 48:41

3+ y ago48:41

48:41

This is a bonus crossover episode to get some visibility for my new interview podcast, IDEAs in STEM Ed. If you've reached this episode, please do me a big favor and search for "IDEAs in STEM Ed" and subscribe! Everything I put up I do for free, and this will help me a ton. Thanks! Malika Jeffries-EL is a professor of chemistry and Materials Scienc…

1
#57 – Bonus episode: Andrea Armani on Role Models, Effective Teaching, Grad Student Recruiting, & Project Selection 57:05

3+ y ago57:05

57:05

This is a bonus crossover episode to get some visibility for my new interview podcast, IDEAs in STEM Ed. If you've reached this episode, please do me a big favor and search for "IDEAs in STEM Ed" and subscribe! Everything I put up I do for free, and this will help me a ton. Thanks! In this episode of IDEAs in STEM Ed, Darren Lipomi sits down with P…

1
#56 – Thinking Like a Nobel Prize Winner: Into the Impossible with physicist Brian Keating 59:14

4y ago59:14

59:14

My guest in this episode--my first ever livestream--is my UCSD colleague, Professor Brian Keating. Brian is a Chancellor’s distinguished professor of physics at UC San Diego, co-director of the Arthur C Clarke Center for the imagination, host of the Into the impossible podcast, YouTuber with 30k subscribers, and writer of the scientific memoir “Los…

1
n=48 Funding fairness: Racial disparities in research grant funding 26:41

4y ago26:41

26:41

Academic scientists rely on grants to fund their research, and the largest funder of biomedical research is the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Unfortunately, many of the racial inequities in academic science have trickled their way into this grant funding process. As it stands, applications from African-American or Black scientists are l…

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