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. 4h ago

    August 2026 Updates from the Team and Temporary Hiatus

    Hello Fail-Safe Science listeners! We don’t have a new episode dropping this week, but we still wanted to pop on, check in with you all, and provide some updates from the Fail-Safe Science team. Listen to learn more! Transcript: Here Email address: failsafescience@gmail.com  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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  Social Media Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fail_safe_science?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=fc54864f-2496-4afa-959d-fab901d05844&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaeAVedEe6qNQk5VAnCzXKMNeH7pQuSNMIBWT4lYjz2gZ3_euZt59QZThTFEZQ_aem_JWRNHqF3mwIFPyah-W81-w

  2. Aug 17

    Episode 48: Dr. Upma Manral

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Upma Manral, a conservation ecologist working at the intersection of research, policy, and on-ground practice, largely focused on human–wildlife interactions and landscape-level conservation across different regions in India. Her dissertation research focused on the Indian Himalayan landscape on several aspects of livelihood security of forest-dependent, traditional communities, and her work now involves leading and contributing to a national-level initiative to conserve sloth bears and strengthen co-existence and interface management. Here, Upma talks about the frustrations of things in grad school, whether it be fieldwork or funding, just not going according to plan. Though this time period was challenging and stressful for Upma in many ways, it also taught her how to become more resilient and adaptable, and that sometimes even if you want to push more, that is not always the answer. With self-care and support from the people around her, Upma was able to persevere despite the inevitable uncertainties of her work. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Upma Manral Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bhGJ3kQAAAAJ&hl=en  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

  3. Aug 10

    Episode 47: Dr. Eric Riggs

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Eric Riggs, Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. His dissertation research focused on the experimental mineral physics and mechanics of deep-focus earthquakes, but his work now, and for most of his career, has focused on discipline based education research and geoscience education, most recently on workforce development and science policy. Here, Eric discusses what it was like to be at the end of his graduate school career, job offer in hand, only to get edits back from a reviewer on a paper that caused him to question everything about one of his chapters. However, after taking the time to regroup and redo experiments, Eric came out of the experience with a stronger dissertation chapter and lessons about how you can rise back from failure with hard work, determination, and community both inside and outside of your own lab. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Eric Riggs Faculty Profile: https://www.humboldt.edu/cnrs/people/eric-riggs  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

  4. Aug 3

    Episode 46: Dr. Tanya Gupta

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Tanya Gupta, an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department & Neuroscience Program at Santa Clara University. Her dissertation research focused on how the brain tracks the passage of time, specifically how the region of the brain called the hippocampus is involved in that process, and her work now focuses on the prefrontal cortex circuits, as well as decision-making and complex behaviors, with an interest in how brain activity changes when we change how we have to behave. Here, Tanya shares about her struggles with the very last experiment for her dissertation, and how despite all of the love and care she put into its design and implementation, the experiment failed. While coping with the emotions of this experience was difficult at the time, Tanya has since learned how important it is to recognize signs of burnout and take care of yourself so that you can be the best scientist, and all-around human, you can be. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Tanya Gupta Faculty Profile: https://www.scu.edu/cas/psychology/faculty-and-staff/tanya-gupta/  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1 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

  5. Jul 27

    Episode 45: Dr. Rianne Stowell

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Rianne Stowell, a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience (SMD) at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. Her dissertation research focused on microglial roles in the adolescent visual spectrum, specifically how Noradrenergic signaling altered both microglial dynamics as well as critical period plasticity. Her work now still focuses on microglia, but instead in the adolescent frontal cortex, looking at how microglia affect the rewiring and plasticity of dopamine circuits. Here, Rianne explains what it was like to navigate grant rejection when applying for the same one three times. Though it wasn’t always easy to sit with the feelings and the feedback, Rianne moved forward through the processes of revisions and resubmitting by allowing herself permission to feel sad and frustrated, but then still pick herself back up and take action in her personal and professional life to care for herself and move forward. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Rianne Stowell Faculty Profile: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112364684-rianne-d-stowell  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

  6. Jul 20

    Episode 44: Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud, a postdoc in the Nai-Kong Cheung Lab at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York. His dissertation research focused on cancer plasticity in colorectal cancer, and his work now focuses on target radio therapy in prostate cancer. Here, Ahmed discusses what it was like for him to spend all of graduate school working towards the job he thought he wanted, only to realize when he got there that it was not the best fit for him. While he couldn’t change the tunnel vision that impacted his graduate school experience, Ahmed could still reflect on his past to decide how he wanted to move forward, which included reaching out to his support system of friends, peers and mentors. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Ahmed Mahmoud Postdoctoral Profile: https://www.mskcc.org/research/ski/labs/members/ahmed-mahmoud  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

  7. Jul 13

    Episode 43: Dr. Lara Ferry

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Lara Ferry, a President’s Professor and the Vice President of Research at Arizona State University, sitting within Knowledge Enterprise. Her dissertation research focused on the functional morphology of shark jaws, and her work most recently has focused on the material properties of cartilage and bone, and how those elements in an organism behave and shape the way we see structures. Here, Lara revisits her experience of failing her candidacy exams, and the struggles of having to think on her feet and answer questions from her committee in real time. Utilizing the stages of grief, Lara learned how to process these hard emotions, rather than suppress them, and was able to move forward a tougher and stronger person. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Lara Ferry Faculty Profile: https://search.asu.edu/profile/1621931  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

  8. Jul 6

    Episode 42: Dr. Ajay Jagadeesh

    In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ajay Jagadeesh, a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Structures within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His dissertation research focused on “Pervious concrete pavement non-Darcy permeability and skid resistance analysis using XRCT-based numerical modeling”, and his work now focuses on Engineering Education and Structural Engineering. Here, Ajay talks about his struggle to finish a numerical model for his dissertation project, which included barriers that ranged from people refusing to share data with him, as well as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite these ups and downs, Ajay allowed himself time to process his anger and frustration into problem solving, journaling, and self reflection. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Ajay Jagadeesh Faculty Profile: https://www.tudelft.nl/staff/a.jagadeesh/  Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  Nominate a scientist for the repository: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevRFJqi8zYb1HTa_ppo2s6H962Ks_NgYSe1sQwbvE8KRU9ng/viewform?pli=1  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

    Episode 42: Dr. Ajay Jagadeesh
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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
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fail-Safe Science