Diverse Routes: Career Journeys in Science & Medicine

Cassie Briggs
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  • Careers
  • Updated Biweekly

With so many career options in science and medicine it can be hard to know which path to take. Join the founder of Success in Science Career Coaching and published scientist Dr. Cassie Briggs as she interviews a diverse range of inspiring professionals - from physician assistants to hydrogeologists - who share their unique career journeys. If you are a student or early career professional exploring career options, navigating opportunities and obstacles along your career journey, or looking for advice on how to land your dream job in science or medicine, this is the podcast for you!

  1. 5d ago

    National Geographic Explorer & Environmental Strategist | Dr. Abbey Boone

    Episode Highlights: A career that doesn’t make you choose between “artist” or “scientist” Why a non-linear path isn’t a red flag on the job market How AI might replace the parts of your job you hate Timestamps: 0:29 - What is an Environmental Strategist? 1:09 - What does a typical day look like? 7:42 - What do you enjoy? 8:52 - What do you dislike? 11:19 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 13:23 - What were your career milestones? 19:13 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Dr. Abbey Boone is a scientist and National Geographic Explorer working at the intersection of climate data and decision-making. She's a former staffer for the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, where she led the nation’s most comprehensive federal plastics legislation, clean energy efforts, and policies to protect our planet. Now in tech, she builds tools for NASA, NOAA, and beyond—turning complex environmental data into insights people can actually use. With her cross-disciplinary experience, she's able to connect the dots between science, tech, policy, and PR, to help people understand the planet is changing and how to actually do something about it. Connect with Abbey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbeyboone  Extended Interview: ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes  Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠ Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    National Geographic Explorer & Environmental Strategist | Dr. Abbey Boone

  2. Aug 25

    Science Filmmaker & Food Systems Researcher | Dena Seidel

    Episode Highlights: The surprising reason scientists should let filmmakers into their labs What it's really like filming science in Antarctica and at deep-sea volcanoes The hidden challenge of running a grant-funded research lab Timestamps: 0:44 - What is a Science Filmmaker and Food Systems Researcher? 4:45 - What does a typical day look like? 13:56 - What do you enjoy? 25:43 - What do you dislike? 32:33 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 33:42 - What were your career milestones? 41:18 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Dena Seidel is an interdisciplinary social scientist and Emmy Award winning science filmmaker who combines Anthropology, science storytelling and ethnographic documentary filmmaking as part of science communication, STEM learning and food systems research. Seidel is the director/producer of several original long form documentaries featuring Rutgers scientists on journeys of discovery. She is the Founding Director of the Rutgers Center for Digital Filmmaking during which time she designed Rutgers BFA in Digital Filmmaking and she also served as the Director of Digital Storytelling  in the Rutgers English Department. Seidel has a Masters Degree in Anthropology with years of experience learning from Pacific indigenous cultures. Seidel has spent years working in Micronesian island nations with cultural leaders supporting community led sustainable development projects. She has developed innovative International and university programs combining anthropology, filmmaking/storytelling and sustainable development including traditionally based food systems and interdisciplinary education. Seidel designed the impactful Science-in-Action Storytelling™ model and oversees Rutgers Immersive Learning through Science Storytelling Research Lab found that was recognized by a 2025 New Jersey State Senate Resolution for increasing public trust in science. Connect with Dena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dena-seidel-4859b645/  Recommended Resources From Dena: storytellinglab.rutgers.edu  Extended Interview: ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes  Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠ Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    Science Filmmaker & Food Systems Researcher | Dena Seidel

  3. Jul 28

    From Chemist to Consultant & Coach | Dr. Chrissy Stachl

    Episode Highlights: How a chemistry PhD led to an unexpected career in coaching. How she knew it was time to leave her traditional STEM path. The surprising connection between figure skating and her career today. Timestamps: 1:01 - What is an Organizational Change Consultant & Somatic Empowerment Coach? 6:36 - What does a typical day look like? 7:47 - What do you enjoy? 10:08 - What do you dislike? 14:00 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 25:19 - What were your career milestones? 28:00 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Dr. Chrissy Stachl is a somatic empowerment coach, trauma-informed practitioner, and organizational change consultant based in Oakland, CA. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, a background in neuroscience and medicine, and 600+ hours of somatic coaching training—a combination that lets her bridge intellectual rigor with body-based, emotionally attuned support for her clients in a way that's genuinely rare. Through her coaching practice, Chrissy works 1:1 with high-achieving adults who look successful on paper but feel quietly disconnected, overextended, or unfulfilled inside. Her work is not mindset coaching—it's embodied identity empowerment. Together with her clients, she unwinds patterns of over-functioning and self-abandonment, rebuilds the capacity to feel joy and desire, and supports a return to internal authority rather than external validation. Through Reflecting Equity, her organizational consulting practice, Chrissy supports STEM organizations in creating cultures that can actually hold the discomfort that real culture change requires—integrating nervous system literacy and relational safety into equity and culture work. Her career has never been linear, and she wouldn't want it to be. Every pivot—from pre-med to chemistry, from academia to consulting, from consulting to coaching—has been an integrity-driven recalibration toward work that honors both the body and the mind. She brings all of it into the room. Connect with Chrissy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissystachl/  Learn more about Chrissy’s Services: https://www.reflectingequity.com/  https://chrissystachl.com/  https://elifesciences.org/articles/71583 https://www.reflectingequity.com/resources https://chrissystachl.myflodesk.com/reic Extended Interview: ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes  Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠ Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    From Chemist to Consultant & Coach | Dr. Chrissy Stachl

  4. Jun 30

    Science Writer - Christina Nunez

    Episode Highlights: What science writers actually do all day How freelancers land clients without constantly pitching themselves The hidden role science writers play in securing research funding Timestamps: 0:30 - What is a Science Writer? 2:09 - What does a typical day look like? 12:37 - What do you enjoy? 15:27 - What do you dislike? 20:06 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 24:45 - What were your career milestones? 38:32 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Christina Nunez is an independent writer and editor specializing in science. She got her start in newsrooms and eventually began covering energy and climate at National Geographic. In 2016, she launched her own business and went full-time freelance. Her clients include government agencies, media outlets, companies, and nonprofits. Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-nunez-writer-editor/  Resources: https://www.christinanunez.me/  Extended Interview: ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠ Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠ Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    Science Writer - Christina Nunez

  5. May 26

    Food Scientist - Karen Thang

    Episode Highlights: Why food science might be one of the most recession-proof STEM careers How to know if you chose the right career path What first-generation students aren’t told about choosing a major Timestamps: 0:32 - What is a Food Scientist? 1:57 - What does a typical day look like? 9:09 - What do you enjoy? 12:40 - What do you dislike? 16:44 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 20:20 - What were your career milestones? 28:36 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Ambitious and passionate food scientist with 11 years of diverse experience in product development. Passionate in creating and launching innovative, emerging, delicious food and beverage products that meet consumer's lifestyle choices, needs, and challenges. Highly skilled in developing new products that meet various dietary claims and restrictions while also ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory standards are met. Collaborative team member adept at working with cross-functional teams and external partners to launch new products, reduce costs, and improve existing commercialized products.  Connect with Karen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thangkaren/  Resources from our Guest https://www.masterclass.com/classes/people-intelligence  My Food Job Rocks podcast by Adam Yee  Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠ Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    Food Scientist - Karen Thang

  6. Apr 28

    Application Scientist - Renata Saha

    Episode Highlights: The shocking truth about the transition from academia to industry How she built her own startup in undergrad Navigating the hidden VISA gauntlet international STEM grads face in the US job market Timestamps: 0:27 - What is an Electrical Engineer/Materials Scientist? 7:32 - What does a typical day look like? 9:58 - What do you enjoy? 15:57 - What do you dislike? 20:43 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 29:12 - What were your career milestones? 31:54 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Renata Saha is a Senior Scientist focused on the development and translation of technologies for wearable and implantable medical devices. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where her research centered on neural interfaces, micromagnetic neurostimulation, and experimental neurotechnology. Renata’s work sits at the intersection of materials science, medical device engineering, and translational research, with an emphasis on bridging early-stage innovation to scalable, manufacturable healthcare solutions. Her experience spans industry research and development, academic research, and collaboration with clinicians and startups. She is particularly interested in the future of neurotechnology, nano-enabled medical devices, and the practical challenges of translating cutting-edge research into real-world clinical impact.  Connect with Renata on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renata-saha/  Resources from our Guest https://sites.usc.edu/carss/ https://cne.umn.edu/ https://open.spotify.com/show/7eJGUJczDkCqaoRtYEoZeQ Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠ Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠ Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

    Application Scientist - Renata Saha

  7. Mar 31

    Medical Illustrator I Avesta Rastan

    Episode Highlights: How to get paid to learn about cutting-edge science (without running experiments) Why you might not have to choose between art and science after all The day-to-day of freelance work (it might surprise you) Timestamps: 1:33 - What is a medical illustrator? 4:25 - What does a typical day look like? 6:44 - What do you enjoy? 14:43 - What do you dislike? 17:27 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 22:01 - What were your career milestones? 24:40 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Avesta Rastan is a freelance medical illustrator and animator from Vancouver, Canada, with an Master of Science in Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto. Her scientific illustration work has been featured by NASA, BBC, and UNESCO, as well as published in academic journals such as Nature, Cell, and JAMA. Recently, she founded Biophile Media – an online platform for educational visuals and creative storytelling that demystifies science, health, and climate research.  Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠ Avesta’s Instagram - @azuravesta and @biophile.media Avesta’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/avestarastan/  Avesta’s Substack - https://azuravesta.substack.com/  Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

    Medical Illustrator I Avesta Rastan

  8. Feb 24

    Chemist | Dr. Colleen Kelley

    Episode Highlights: Why college freshmen struggle with chemistry (and why it’s not their fault) How an unfulfilled childhood career dream can still put you on the right path What it’s really like to take an Army ROTC scholarship as a first-generation student Timestamps: 0:40 - What is a chemist? 2:14 - What does a typical day look like? 3:44 - What do you enjoy? 5:23 - What do you dislike? 23:47 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations? 30:57 - What were your career milestones? 33:55 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional? About Our Guest: Dr. Colleen Kelley is a chemist, educator, and molecular literacy advocate dedicated to making chemistry fun, accessible, and meaningful for learners of all ages. A retired University of Arizona chemistry professor with over 30 years of teaching experience, Colleen is the creator of a children’s chemistry comic book series designed to build foundational fluency with atoms, molecules, and the periodic table. Her work was featured in the PBS short documentary Comic Book Chemistry, which won an Emmy in 2023, and later inspired her 2025 TEDx talk, Molecular Literacy for Ages 8–108. Colleen holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Penn State University, conducted postdoctoral research in France as a Chateaubriand Fellow under Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn, and has published four textbooks, more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, and presented her work internationally. Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠ Colleen’s Website - https://kidschemicalsolutions.com/ Colleen’s TedX Talk - https://youtu.be/OwQfs0pIO-I?si=pbHRmJzppTjWtKtz  Looking for career support? Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching

    Chemist | Dr. Colleen Kelley
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With so many career options in science and medicine it can be hard to know which path to take. Join the founder of Success in Science Career Coaching and published scientist Dr. Cassie Briggs as she interviews a diverse range of inspiring professionals - from physician assistants to hydrogeologists - who share their unique career journeys. If you are a student or early career professional exploring career options, navigating opportunities and obstacles along your career journey, or looking for advice on how to land your dream job in science or medicine, this is the podcast for you!

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