A Chat with Uma Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

On episode 27 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full experience of developing a fully independent research project inspired by my lived experience as a patient. I share the full story of how this project was born, and how this idea developed into a full research project that has resulted in presentations, awards, published abstracts, acceptance into Ph.D programs, and an upcoming publication. I discuss the experience of forging my own path as a single-author presenter as a student, and how I navigated various scenarios through this journey. I reflect on how this project provided novel avenues for my advocacy as a patient, and how I bridged my identities as a researcher, patient, & advocate as a result. This episode provides tangible tips and resources for pursuing one's own independent research project, empowering anyone listening to forge their own path and believe in what's possible for them.



Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):



(00:00:00) Checking in with ya'll!



(00:10:20) Introduction to the episode

Contextual episodes:


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠24. Nontraditional Students: My Experiences, Advice, & Reflections From My Nontraditional Academic Path⁠
⁠25. From College Dropout to Graduate Student: Navigating Graduate School Applications & Admissions as a Nontraditional Student⁠
⁠19. Disability Isn't A Dirty Word: The Realities of Being Disabled and Navigating Discrimination, Erasure, & Ableism⁠



(00:19:25) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF's OCD Con 2023 Keynote Address


Link to watch
⁠⁠⁠Video + event recording repository⁠⁠⁠ of many past events



(00:21:56) UPCOMING EVENTS:


IPN Psychedelic Personal Statement Workshop: Tues. 11/7, 7pm ET | Register here
Wonderland Miami - "So, You Want To Join The Psychedelic Field?": Sat. 11/11, 3-4pm ET | Register here: code IPN20 for 20% off
ABRCMS 2023 - Navigating Disabilities in Higher Ed panel: Fri. 11/17, 11:15am | Register here



(00:25:22 ) Context & background behind the inception of my independent research project


Where I was at academically at the time
My lack of research & presentation experience at the time
My "blissful ignorance" of the process



(00:38:30) How the project developed and evolved into posters, presentations, and awards


Considering myself as a patient related to psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD
Realizing the gap in the literature & field
How my lived experience with comorbid OCD & PTSD inspired this research question
Getting a single-author publication abstract accepted
Winning PsychedelX 2022
Presenting posters at numerous conferences as the sole author
Winning awards and grants
Giving talks at international conferences



(01:00:25) How the project expedited my academic timeline, changed the course of my career, and contributed to getting into my Ph.D program


The difference between my "traditional" research experience versus my independent research project
How connecting with researchers at conferences inspired me to include this project in my applications
Why I ended up getting into a Ph.D program largely because of this project



(01:22:56) Key takeaways and tangible tools to develop & pursue your own independent research project





Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com
Video + event recording repository⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Upcoming Events
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support my work: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee

On episode 26 of A Chat with Uma, I dedicate a full episode to OCD awareness, in honor of OCD Awareness Week 2023. I provide a full primer on OCD 101 - all about what OCD is NOT, and what it IS. I share my full OCD story of onset, symptoms, misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, incorrect treatment, and what evidence-based treatment has looked like. I speak at length about my non-linear path within treatment, normalizing the coexistence of both suffering and recovery at once. I dismantle misconceptions and bust pervasive myths about what OCD is considered to be by popular culture, and discuss the repercussions of misinformation around OCD. Above all, I provide empowerment, validation, and hope around the OCD experience through speaking openly and honestly about all facets of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.



Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):



(00:00:00) Intro, overview, why I am recording this episode today



(00:13:04) UPCOMING EVENT: Made of Millions OCD Socratic Seminar: BIPOC Representation in the OCD Space


Mon. 10/9, 8 ET
Livestream on @MadeOfMillions TikTok + replay on IG



(00:14:21) UPCOMING EVENT: ⁠IOCDF⁠ Live Stream Panel - Diversity Starts With UsTues. 9/26, 7 ET


Thurs. 10/12, 7pm ET
Link to attend



(00:15:13) UPCOMING EVENT: IOCDF Advocate Instagram Live


Sat. 10/14, 12pm ET
Attend: @IOCDF Instagram Live



(00:15:55) UPCOMING EVENT: OCD Gamechangers: Live Advocate Virtual Event


Sat. 10/14, 7:30pm ET
Attend: OCD Gamechangers YouTube or Facebook Live





(00:17:04) UPCOMING EVENT + ANNOUNCEMENT: Online OCD Conference - KEYNOTE ADDRESS!


Sat. 10/21, 6pm ET
⁠Register here⁠



(00:18:16) ANNOUNCEMENT: Joining OCD Wisconsin's Board of Directors



(00:20:25) What OCD is NOT:


A choice
An adjective
A quirk
Ego-syntonic (it's ego-DYStonic)
Nobody "is a little OCD" or "has a little OCD"
Why misrepresentation of OCD leads to misdiagnosis & mistreatment



(00:38:18) What OCD actually IS:


DSM-5 definition of "obsessions"
DSM-5 definition of "compulsions"
OCD themes & subtypes
Taboo obsessional themes within OCD
Mental compulsions & rituals
The shame of OCD
Why rationality, logic, & reason do not permeate the "OCD brain"
How OCD is fully ego-DYStonic
The doubting disease
Anxiety vs. OCD



(00:54:22) My FULL OCD story


What OCD looked like for me in childhood
How it fully took over by adolescence
How I hit rock bottom in early adulthood and lost all functionality
How I finally received a diagnosis at 22
13 years of no diagnosis or treatment
22 years of misdiagnosis
12 years of incorrect treatment
25 years without proper intervention
Finding evidence-based treatment at 25
Contextual episodes:


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



(01:33:24) What evidence-based treatment & recovery has looked like for me


My experience of comorbid OCD & PTSD



(01:45:02) Reconciling the time lost to misdiagnosis & lack of treatment


How OCD led me to join a religious cult at 14
Grief and loss



(01:55:04) Rapid-fire final OCD myth busting:


OCD is NOT an anxiety disorder (& is not treated as such)
OCD is NOT "just" a form of anxiety (disgust, guilt, shame, just-rightness, etc.)
OCD is NOT a form of trauma
OCD is NOT a form of PTSD (& is not treated as such)
OCD is also a neurodevelopment disorder



Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Video + event recording repository
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Tik

On episode 25 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full journey of applying for graduate school as a non-traditional student with a very divergent & complicated academic + personal history. I share my experience in full detail of applying for clinical psychology Ph.D programs earlier on in my academic journey, and how + why I ultimately chose to pursue my masters in neuroscience. I discuss how vastly different my experience was as a student whose path was so divergent from anyone around me, and the resulting confusion about my future & chances due to having no basis + reference point about my own journey. I explain how I navigated the ambiguity of applying to Ph.D programs with my unique journey, and why I ultimately decided to try. I speak at length about every detail of my application experience as a non-traditional student: including disclosure in personal statements, my CV, internet/social media "outing," recommendation letters, interviews, and more. This episode serves to provide evidence & hope that pursuing academic endeavors as a non-traditional student with a divergent past IS possible. I share all of my advice, empowerment, experiences, and honest reflections from my experiences in the hopes that others feel valid & hopeful about forcing their own paths with their unique lived experiences.



Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):



(00:00:00) Intro & overview of episode



(00:07:48) Update: ⁠Video + event recording repository⁠ of many past events



(00:10:18) UPCOMING EVENT: Hosting IOCDF's Community Conversations - Tues. 9/26, 7 ET


Link to attend



(00:11:35) EVENT REPLAY: Co-hosted IOCDF's Community Conversations with Tom Smalley


Link to watch



(00:12:23) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF Diversity Roundtable on Suicide Prevention - with Dr. Darlene Davis Goodwine, Krista Reed, & Erika McCoy


⁠Link to watch⁠



(00:14:08) UPCOMING EVENT: Online IOCDF OCD Conference 2023 & ticket giveaway!


Register here
Email for ticket giveaway: hello@umarchatterjee.com



(00:16:55 ) Brief background from my undergraduate degree & considering next steps

Contextual episodes:


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠



(00:23:33) Applying to grad school the first time


Psychology Ph.D programs & my neuroscience M.S. program
How & why I chose the neuroscience M.S.
The major influence my non-traditional path played in this application cycle



(00:32:46) Starting my masters degree in neuroscience


My extremely unique experience as a non-traditional student
The prescribed, typical path around me vs. my very divergent path
Confusion around what was possible for my future



(00:41:55) The wide range of evaluations & judgments I received due to my unprecedented, non-traditional academic path



(00:45:48) How and why I decided to apply to Neuroscience Ph.D programs, in spite of the odds; How I "broke the rules" of the typical application process



(00:51:38) How I specifically chose schools, programs, and mentors as a non-traditional student



(01:02:53) How I "broke the rules" in navigating disclosure + talking about my non-traditional path as an applicant


Statements & essays
My CV
My exposure & disclosure on the internet + social media
What I shared vs. what I didn't share



(01:16:48) Recommendation letters:


How I chose recommenders
How I asked recommenders
How I shared my history/past with them
The resources I created to optimize my chances as a non-traditional student



(01:26:36) Ph.D Interviews: how they went, how I navigated disclosure, the results of my applications, closing out the episode





Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On episode 24 of A Chat with Uma, I share a comprehensive overview of my experience and journey as a non-traditional question - informed and shaped by the many questions from listeners & this community on this topic! I first operationally define the concept of a non-traditional student, sharing the various contributing factors that give rise to holding this identity. I share my full timeline and trajectory as a non-traditional student, explaining the circumstances that contributed to my divergent journey. I speak to the unique barriers and obstacles that I faced as a non-traditional student in returning back to school, as well as further goals and aspirations that required disclosure of this identity/label. I share at length about the unique stigmas, judgments, and misperceptions placed on non-traditional students and the ways that I have navigated them so far. This episode serves to provide a voice to students who hold this title and reframe the way that we view divergent journeys. This episode also provides a safe and supportive space to validate and empower people from different walks of life to pursue this path with hope, pride, and ownership of their identities and lived experiences.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Hello, check-in, overview of episode

(00:07:05) Update: ⁠⁠Video + event recording repository⁠⁠ of many past events

(00:10:35) Update: You can now support my work on ⁠⁠Ko-Fi!⁠⁠

(00:13:11) What is a non-traditional student? Definition, conceptualization, orientation to episode

(00:16:26) The background and story of how I became a non-traditional student
- Severe mental and physical chronic illnesses
- Failing out of school after 2 years with a 1.83 GPA
- My 2nd degree in music school
- Losing my voice to cancer
- How I went back to my first degree as a non-traditional student
- Contextual episodes:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠

(00:25:06) Officially becoming a non-traditional student, how I decided to go back to school

(00:32:17) Completing my undergraduate degree, how I ended up pursuing my master's degree and now my Ph.D

(00:49:06) Speaking to the stigmas, misperceptions, barriers, and unique experiences of non-traditional students

(00:56:08) Lack of consent in disclosure and privacy of identity and related experiences, diagnoses, and circumstances for non-traditional students

(01:00:51) Lessons learned, final reflections, and future explorations and episodes on this topic


Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support my work: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠
Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠⁠


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/umarchatterjee/message

On episode 23 of A Chat with Uma, I provide an honest and unfiltered life update in light of many recent major life changes. I share openly and honestly about the difficulties I faced in moving to Wisconsin, and all that has transpired in this adjustment period. I speak about the struggles that contributed to my experience, as well as the steps I took to work through them. I talk through my most recent psychedelic experience and its contribution to the upward spiral that I have embarked upon since moving to Madison. I share from the heart about my recovery and healing process, and how it has looked far different than I ever expected. I share updates on my current treatment process, and I talk through the start of my Ph.D in neuroscience. Overall, this episode opens a window into the complexity and ever-evolving journey of recovery, discovery, healing, and growth that I am on, with the hope of creating a space for you to allow and accept the true nature of your own life experience with honesty and compassion.



Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):



(00:00:00) Hello, check-in, overview of episode



(00:06:29) Update: Video + event recording repository of many past events



(00:08:53) Update: You can now support my work on Ko-Fi!



(00:11:21) Background on episode: where I was at our last life update/check-in




Contextual episodes:


⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠
02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠05. Yes, I've Done Psychedelics: From Psychonaut to Researcher⁠⁠⁠
⁠06-07. The Ketamine Diaries - OCD, PTSD, Depression, & Chronic Pain: ⁠⁠Part. 1⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠



(00:18:47) Recap of this past summer and my state of being since graduating in May



(00:23:52) Reflections on my fear of fear, and working to accept my reality



(00:33:16) Recap of moving from Dallas to Madison



(00:39:57) My most recent psychedelic experience: why I did it, and all that resulted



(00:50:05) Reflections and updates on recovery, growth, and change post-session; Reflections on how living in Madison is unexpectedly supporting my healing



(00:58:46) Updates on where I am with therapy/treatment; Embarking on new treatment for my comorbid OCD & PTSD



(01:05:07) Updates on starting my Ph.D in Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Major changes I am making to my life & way of operating



(01:14:24) Final thoughts, reflections, calls to action, and hopes for the future



Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support my work: https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee
Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/umarchatterjee/message

On episode 22 of A Chat with Uma, I speak with Dr. Elizabeth Berry! Elizabeth Berry, Ph.D is a neuroscientist, addiction researcher, science communicator, artist, and digital creator. Dr. Berry just received her Ph.D in Cell Biology with a specialization in neuroscience from New York Medical College this past May. For her dissertation project, she focused on opioid addiction and the impact it has on specific neurons in the brain called orexin neurons. She is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Leonard’s lab, the lab she did her dissertation in, furthering the research she pursued during her PhD. In the future she hopes to work in an industry position as a scientist on neurodegenerative diseases. She is also the creator behind @nature.neuroscience.phd, her widely-regarded science communication and digital art platform.



In this episode, we discuss the following topics (+ timestamps):



(00:00:00) Introduction of episode & Dr. Elizabeth Berry



(00:04:07) Dr. Berry's journey to becoming a neuroscientist


Lifelong love for nature
Starting in plant science & microbiology
The personal experience that led her to pivot into neuroscience
Masters degree to join Ph.D program



(00:19:59) All about Dr. Berry's Ph.D experience


How she chose her lab & addiction neuroscience research
Her learning differences/challenges & how she overcame them
How she taught herself neuroscience after not having a neuro background
How her outdoors upbringing influenced the way she learns today



(00:31:49) Dr. Berry's addiction neuroscience research


Orexin/hypocretin neurons
Opioid addiction
Findings from her thesis work
All about whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology



(00:44:19) Dr. Berry's reflections on work/life balance as a researcher


Struggling to find balance
Relationships and family
Taking care of yourself mentally & physically
Boundaries vs. acceptance in different situations
How to navigate the toxicity of comparison & competition in grad school
How to manage overwhelm
Finding presence amongst chaos



(00:59:08) All about Dr. Berry's massively successful science communication platform


How she began her scicomm account
How art helped her learn neuroscience
Bringing together her artistry with her science
Sharing her personal journey
Normalizing the human experience
How her scicomm is received by different populations



(01:08:38) All about Dr. Berry's career plans


Why she chose to do a postdoctoral fellowship
How she plans to pivot into industry
Why she is choosing to leave academia and join industry
The harsh reality of survivorship and living conditions within academia
Balancing passion for research with respecting your health + boundaries



(01:20:52) How Dr. Berry has utilized movement as a vital self-care tool through her intensive schedule



(01:25:01) DEEP rapid-fire final questions with Dr. Berry, and closing out the episode!


Her guidance on finding + being your full, unique self



Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Berry:


Instagram: @nature.neuroscience.phd
Website
ResearchGate
Twitter: @NatureNeuroPhD
LinkedIn
YouTube



Connect with me!


My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/umarchatterjee/message