Fail-Safe Science

failsafescience

Hello! Welcome to the Fail-Safe Science podcast. Fail-Safe Science is a video repository of successful scientists sharing stories about challenges they experienced during graduate school, how they overcame them, and advice they have for current grads. Ultimately, we created this repository to help science graduate students realize that they are not alone in the challenges they face.  To accompany the repository, each week we will be dropping an audio-only podcast version of one of the videos. Check back each week to listen to the latest featured scientist!

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 41: Dr. Robin Costello

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Robin Costello, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Her dissertation research focused on the ecological causes and adaptive consequences of social behaviors in forked fungus beetles. Now, she conducts biology education research focused on how we can improve undergraduate biology courses. Here, Robin talks about a field season that went wrong for her after she finished her qualifying exam. Despite obstacles, Robin was able to persevere with the help of therapy and community, and learned that failure is often an important part of the process in research. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Robin Costello Faculty Profile: https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/biological-sciences/faculty/faculty-directory/costello.html  Lab Website: https://www.costello-lab.com/home  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing  Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    15 min

  2. Jun 22

    Episode 40: Dr. Kendra Chritz

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kendra Chritz, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Kendra’s dissertation research was on using geochemistry, particularly light stable isotopes, to explore the diets of ancient peoples of eastern Africa during the period of transitioning from hunting and gathering to maintaining livestock, or food production. She also used stable isotopes to understand environmental changes occurring that could help contextualize that human diet switch. Today, she is still a stable isotope geochemist, and runs the Stable Isotope facility at the Pacific Center for Isotopic and Geochemical Research. Here, her research group uses different geochemical tools to explore things like environment, diet, and food webs in the past, mostly focusing on the long term period of mammal evolution, but is also still doing some work on ancient peoples, archaeological peoples, and hominids. Here, Kendra shares what it was like navigating her lab experiments after the breakdown of their mass spectrometer, and how she learned that sometimes, the most important lessons and problem solving you can learn are in times of failure, rather than times of success. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Kendra Chritz Faculty Profile: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/people/kendrachritz  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing  Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    21 min
  3. Episode 39: Dr. Ella Wang

    Jun 15

    Episode 39: Dr. Ella Wang

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ella Wang, an Instructional Assistant Professor at Chapman University in Orange, California. Ella’s dissertation research focused on investigating the role of Local and Crystallography Symmetries in Solid-State Coordination Complexes to Target Magnetic and Optical Properties. Currently, her work focuses on improving the student experience in general chemistry and inorganic chemistry courses. Here, Ella opens up about what it was like to transfer labs in graduate school after her primary advisor left the university. Through this experience, Ella learned how to utilize university resources, as well as the importance of reaching out to people and seeking help. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Ella Wang Faculty Profile: https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/yiran-wang.aspx  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing  Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    17 min

  4. Jun 8

    Episode 38: Dr. Ángel Garcia

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ángel Garcia, an assistant professor at James Madison University. Ángel’s dissertation research focused on exploring how reliable is culturally-framed geological knowledge about karst, and his work now focuses on multiple aspects of cave and karst science. Here, Ángel talks about how he felt when he failed his comprehensive exams on his first try. However, despite obstacles Ángel was able to move forward in his degree with the support of community and better communication with his committee. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Ángel Garcia Faculty Profile: https://www.jmu.edu/geology/people/all-people/garcia-angel.shtml  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    11 min
  5. Episode 37: Dr. Kristen Vogt

    Jun 1

    Episode 37: Dr. Kristen Vogt

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kristen Vogt, a Scientist at OverT Bio in New York. Kristen’s dissertation research focused on reducing off-tumor toxicities associated with CAR T cell therapy, and her work now focuses on developing universal cellular therapies for solid tumors. Here, Kristen recounts an authorship dispute she had on one of the projects she worked on during her PhD. Despite being demotivated at first, Kristen learned how important it is to stand up for yourself, and how a combination of both a belief in yourself and support from others can help you get through challenging times. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Kristen Vogt OverT Bio Website: https://overt.bio/about  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    12 min

  6. May 25

    Episode 36: Dr. Danna Staaf

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Danna Staaf, an author, science communicator, and marine biologist. Danna’s dissertation topic was the reproduction and early life of Humboldt squid, or as she likes to summarize it, “squid sex and babies.” Now, she writes popular science books for adults and for children, gives public lectures, and draws funny educational comics. Here, Danna talks about what she considers a moral failure related to how it felt for her to sacrifice so many squid for her dissertation research. Though it was difficult for her to reconcile the importance of both the lives of animals and scientific research itself, Danna was able to navigate through her PhD with the help of meditation and journaling, and the experience has informed how she talks about animals and their deaths today in her roles as both a science communicator and parent. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Danna Staaf Website: https://www.dannastaaf.com/p/home.html  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    23 min
  7. Episode 35: Dr. Corrado Nai

    May 18

    Episode 35: Dr. Corrado Nai

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Corrado Nai,  a science writer working as a freelancer, currently based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Corrado’s dissertation research focused on microbiology, specifically on a special type of fungi that can live in the desert, called black fungi. His work now focuses on creating a graphic novel about the forgotten woman who introduced agar to the laboratory, Fanny Angelina Hesse, which he hopes will be published in 2026. Here, Corrado recounts his experience starting in one PhD program and switching to a different one, and how that impacted his future career path as well as his views on science culture as a whole. However, despite the challenges, Corrado learned how to have a long-term perspective on work and life, and the importance of exploring your options in graduate school. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Corrado Nai Patreon: www.patreon.com/corradonai  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    15 min

  8. May 11

    Episode 34: Dr. Ellie Aerts

    Trigger warning: This episode discusses domestic violence. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ellie Aerts, a postdoc in reproductive neuroendocrinology at Oregon Health and Science University. Ellie’s dissertation research focused on the neural circuitry controlling the timing of puberty onset, and her work now focuses on the connections between meal timing and fertility. Here, Ellie shares about the really difficult experience of leaving an abusive relationship and almost failing a class during her first year of graduate school. Through various ups and downs, Ellie learned that with support and taking care of what she needed to in her personal life, she could navigate through the hurdles of the PhD. Let’s listen! *If you or someone you know is in need of support for domestic violence, there are resources available to you. In the U.S., you can dial 1-800-799-SAFE for the National Domestic Violence Hotline for free, confidential, 24/7 service. For more location, national, or international resources, check out the NO MORE Project global directory at https://nomoredirectory.org or reach out to someone you trust for support. You are not alone. Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Ellie Aerts University Profile: https://www.ohsu.edu/iracda/scholars  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0

    17 min
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About

Hello! Welcome to the Fail-Safe Science podcast. Fail-Safe Science is a video repository of successful scientists sharing stories about challenges they experienced during graduate school, how they overcame them, and advice they have for current grads. Ultimately, we created this repository to help science graduate students realize that they are not alone in the challenges they face.  To accompany the repository, each week we will be dropping an audio-only podcast version of one of the videos. Check back each week to listen to the latest featured scientist!

Information

  • Creator
    failsafescience
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fail-Safe Science