In this week&apos;s episode, Kiloni and Khadija are joined by the student leaders from the Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE), Abby Rendos, Natalie Vaisman, and Jillian Rix to discuss how intersectionality plays out in higher education and the impact that the "othering" of some identities can have on Ph.D. students. This episode also examines the existing institutional barriers and the different ways that the BU community can disrupt the inequitable practices and policies that limit students&apos; success.You can find GWISE&apos;s 2020 Climate Survey by following this link: https://www.bu.edu/gwise/.

Vitamin PhD Podcast

Roundtable Discussion on Intersectionality with GWISE

In this week’s episode of Work to Live vs. Live to Work, Kiloni and Khadija are joined by Dr. Dennis Jones PhD, a Professor from the Graduate Medical Sciences Program at Boston University School of Medicine and an active advocate for diversity and inclusion, as well as a student-run organization from the School of Public Health called Students of Color for Public Health. The episode dives into issues surrounding work-life balance in underrepresented populations, and how these issues can shape - and in some cases hinder - matriculation and a positive graduate experience.

Navigating Balance: 'Work to Live' or 'Live to Work'

In the second episode of Season 4, Khadija and Kiloni investigate what “allyship” looks like for BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color - at BU. They are joined by Dr. Monica Wang, the Associate Director of Narrative at the BU Center for Antiracist Research, and Luis D. Ramirez, a first-generation, Afro-Latino PhD Student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience and the President of the Underrepresented Graduate Student Organization (UGSO).You can check out the Science Communication article Dr. Wang mentioned by following this link: https://academic.oup.com/abm/article/54/12/985/6069337

Pathways to Engagement - How to be an Ally

Khadija and Kiloni discuss “how to make you care” about diversity and inclusion for BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color - at BU. They are joined by Táchira Pichardo, the President of the Minority and International Scientist Organization (MISO) from the BU School of Medicine, as well as Vi and Merriam from the College of Arts and Science Anti-Racist Initiative (CASARI) on the Charles River Campus.

Roundtable Discussion with MISO and CASARI

In this episode, we meet our new hosts for Season 4 of VitaminPhD, Khadija El Karfi from the Romance Studies department and Kiloni Quiles-Franco from the BU School of Medicine. Kiloni and Khadija share some information about their exciting new topic for this season, “How can we make BU a safe and welcoming community for our BIPOC students, faculty, and staff?”

Introducing: Your Hosts for Season 4 - Khadija El Karfi & Kiloni Quiles-Franco

In this episode, Maria and Jenna chat with Mandy Pinheiro, MS, about reframing the idea of networking and the development and maintenance of personal and professional relationships. They discuss how to expand your professional circle, overcome the fear of initiating connections, and brand yourself and engage on Academic Twitter. 

Navigating Cultivating Personal and Professional Relationships with Mandy Pinheiro, MS

In this episode, Maria and Jenna chat with Dr. Jen Heemstra about the mentor/mentee relationship. They discuss tips on choosing the right mentor, navigating difficult conversations and “managing up”, and maintaining professional relationships long-term. 

Navigating the Mentor/Mentee Relationship with Dr. Jen Heemstra, PhD

In this episode, Maria and Jenna chat with Dr. Dan Fulford about success in graduate school. They discuss the transition from undergrad to grad studies, making the most out of your grad school experience, how to stay engaged long-term, and the importance of goal-setting. 

Navigating Surviving and Thriving in Grad School with Dr. Dan Fulford, PhD

In this episode, Maria and Jenna chat with Nirali Shah, PT, about work-life balance. They discuss separating work from home, developing a routine that excites you, maintaining relationships, the importance of consistency, and self-care. Nirali Shah is a physical therapist from India, and is currently a third-year PhD student in the Rehabilitation Sciences program at Boston University’s Sargent College. She works with her mentor, Dr. Deepak Kumar, in the Movement and Applied Imaging Lab to examine the use of digital health and to investigate the use of mindfulness for chronic pain in knee osteoarthritis. Nirali’s long-term goals are to advance clinical practice in physical therapy through her research. She received the 2019 Ryan Summer Scholar Award, has been named the 2020 Sargent’s Elizabeth Whitney Post Scholar, and her work has been accepted for presentation at 2019 Osteoarthritis and Cartilage International Conference in Vienna.

Navigating Self Preservation and Finding Your Balance with Nirali Shah, PT

In this episode, Maria and Jenna chat with Michelle Baum, MSW and current MPH student at Boston University, about mental health. They discuss the culture surrounding mental health in academia, how to support someone struggling with mental health, how to support yourself, and the importance of social support. Michelle Baum, MSW is a public health social worker in her last year of graduate school at Boston University finishing up her master in public health. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology and Spanish at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), she moved to Boston to further her education in pursuit of a career at the intersection of public health and social work, focusing on mental health, health equity, and the social determinants of health. While at the Boston University School of Social work, she was involved in a research project investigating the effects of a cell phone app on promoting recovery from substance use disorders in a Latinx Spanish-speaking community in Boston. During the pandemic, she began working as a Care Resource Coordinator and is now working as a University and College Liaison for the Community Tracing Collaborative, the state’s COVID-19 contact tracing program. In her free time she loves to spend time in nature, run, do yoga, cook, watch videos of dogs, and spend time with friends, family, and loved ones.

Navigating Mental Health and Mental Wealth with Michelle Baum, MSW

In this episode, Maria Ayoub and Jenna Zajac, two PhD students in Rehabilitation Sciences at BU's Sargent College, introduce themselves, describe their journey from undergrad to graduate school, and touch on their current work. They also express their motivations in hosting VitaminPhD Season 3 and highlight the themes and topics of the upcoming episodes. 

Introducing: Your Hosts for Season 3 - Maria Ayoub, BS, & Dr. Jenna Zajac, PT, DPT

In the season finale of Vitamin PhD, Sasha Goldman engages in a discussion with three current BU PhD students: Diane Lebo (Biology), Ricky Magner (Mathematics), and Kiloni Quiles-Franco (Molecular and Translational Medicine). During the conversation they discuss how to balance doctoral program requirements, extracurricular activities, and personal needs. They share reflections on valuable experiences they’ve gained through involvement with on campus organizations and activities and talk about some commonalities between their doctoral experiences at BU. 

Roundtable Discussion with BU PhD Students

In this episode Sasha Goldman (Program Manager for PhD Professional Development) talks with Katina Rogers about the state of doctoral education in the humanities, Rogers’ career pathway in Higher Education, her role at the Futures Initiative, and her new book Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and Beyond the Classroom, available from Duke University Press in August 2020. 

Pathways to Graduate Education with Katina Rogers

This episode is a live recording of a conversation between Sarah Hokanson, Dr. Melissa McDaniels, and Dr. Christine in Nashville, which took place during the 2019 Council of Graduate Schools Conference. The conversation focuses on the relationship between PhDs and their mentors, which is central to their success and satisfaction in the graduate school experience. They talk about strategies for identifying a mentor, sustaining a relationship, and what to do when things aren’t working. 

Navigating the Mentor/Mentee Relationship

In this episode, Sarah Hokanson talks with Dr. Adela Penagos who is a Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice in Hispanic Studies and Coordinator of the Upper-Level Spanish Language Program. She is also President of Futuro Enlightened, a consulting firm for students seeking college and graduate school admissions. Sarah and Adela talk about juggling multiple roles across organizations and thinking about alternative pathways to working in Higher Education after the PhD.

Navigating Career Pathways in Higher Education

Vitamin PhD is a "supplement" to doctoral study produced at Boston University. Our podcast delivers career narratives and skills know-how through two formats. In Career Pathways episodes, we help you explore career options by interviewing people who have earned their doctorate and now work in a variety of sectors. In our Navigating Challenges episodes, we discuss issues that can present difficulties in graduate school, and we provide tips to help you succeed.