Inside Cancer Careers Podcast
Inside Cancer Careers is a podcast that explores and illuminates the exciting world of cancer research training to bring a new generation of investigators into the field. Using a human-interest angle, trainees share their personal experiences throughout their journey, including when they take the leap to an independent position. We will also bring you the insights and advice of established investigators and professionals in the cancer field. Driven by collaboration, the Inside Cancer Careers podcast uncovers emerging trends and technologies in cancer research, examines how researchers can succeed in a high-pressure and competitive environment and delves into the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace.
If you or someone you know would like to be a guest, contact NCIICC@mail.nih.gov.
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*NEW* Episode 17: NCI Tech Transfer Center: Innovation through Collaboration
In this episode of Inside Cancer Careers, we will learn about the NCI Technology Transfer Center (TTC) from Dr. Laura Prestia and Dr. Laurie Whitney. Drs. Prestia and Whitney share fellowship training opportunities in the TTC. Later, we will hear from Dr. Trang Vu and Dr. Sabina Kaczanowska, who will share their experiences as Tech Transfer alums and more!
Episode 16: Voices for Equity: Conversations on Cancer Health Disparities
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Brian Rivers, Director of Cancer Health Equity Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Rivers shares the importance of the cancer health disparities research and his journey into the field. Then we hear from Dr. Tiffany Wallace, Program Director at NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) and lead for the Disparities and Equity Program (DEP). Dr. Wallace shares her career path in the field of cancer health disparities research and the programs that support it.
Episode 15: The State of Cancer Training: The CABTRAC Perspective
In this episode, we talk to the leadership of the Cancer Biology Training Consortium (CABTRAC) recorded live at the 2023 Cancer Biology Annual Retreat in Newport Beach, California. We hear from Dr. Mary Reyland, CABTRAC President and Board Chair, Dr. Rolf Brekken, CABTRAC 2023 President-Elect and Secretary, Dr. Dan Welch, CABTRAC Vice President and Treasurer, and Dr. Amy Bouton, CABTRAC Ex Officio Past President. They share their perspectives on the state of cancer training today and more.
Episode 14: Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program
In this episode, Dr. Jessica Faupel-Badger, Acting Director of the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program and Planning Officer for the Division of Cancer Prevention and Dr. Lymarie Maldonado-Baez, Deputy Director of the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program join us to talk about cancer prevention research and the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program (CPFP). We then hear from two CPFP alums, Dr. Leticia Nogueira, Scientific Director of Health Services Research at the American Cancer Society and Dr. Keith Bellizzi, Professor of Gerontology in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut.
Exclusive Episode: Working Together to Break Through
In this exclusive episode, we hear from Dr. Tyler Jacks, Founding Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, David H. Koch Professor of Biology, and President of Break Through Cancer. Dr. Jacks shares his insights on the state of cancer research, the work being done at Break Through Cancer, and more.
Episode 13: Launching a Million Rockets
In this episode, we hear from Nucleate's leadership team, Sonia Setayesh, Alex Kim, and Dr. Geraldine Ezeka. They tell us about their fellow led organization and how it helps early career scientists learn about startups and what it takes to launch science into that marketplace. Later, we hear from Dr. Gleb Kuznetsov, CEO of Manifold Bio. He shares the process for starting up his new company as an early participant of the Nucleate program and his career path from academia to biotech, plus more.
Episode 12: Small Businesses are BIG at NCI
In this episode, we hear from Michael Weingarten, Director of NCI's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Development Center on the various programs and resources available through SBIR. We then hear from Dr. Margaret Jackson, Co-Founder of BYOMass. Dr. Jackson recounts her experience of becoming a scientist and a small business owner. She also provides insightful tips on how to effectively apply for a small business grant.
Exclusive Episode: With Courage the Exceptions Rule
In this exclusive episode, we hear from Dr. Nancy Hopkins, Amgen Professor of Biology Emerita at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Hopkins shares her career path in the early days of the molecular biology revolution, the movement she led to achieve gender equality at MIT and beyond, and more.
Episode 10: Leading and Receiving Training at NIH
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kenneth Gibbs on training opportunities at NIGMS, the importance of finding career success, aligning your values, and more. We then hear from Dr. Petria Thompson and Valeria Velez Galiano on being a postbaccalaureate fellow at NCI and the many opportunities at NIH that support your career journey.
Episode 9: Fellows Who Lead & Pathways to Non-Profit Careers
In this episode, we hear from NIH fellows, Dr. Vasty Osei Amponsa and Dr. Marja Brolinson on resources, leadership opportunities, and more at NIH. We then hear from Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., Director of STEM Initiatives at LUNGevity Foundation who shares his path from bench science to a successful career in non-profit organizations.
Exclusive Episode: Caring for the Whole Person with Wisdom and Focus
In this exclusive episode, we feature Dr. Otis Brawley, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and Professor of Oncology at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Brawley shares with us his career journey into science and his thoughts on the future of cancer research, cancer health disparities, and more.
Episode 8: Computation to Improve Therapy & Finances
In this episode, we discuss how the revolution in computational science is changing with Dr. Peng Jiang from NCI's Center for Cancer Research. We then discuss personal finances for graduate students and postdocs in a conversation with Dr. Emily Roberts of Personal Finances for PhDs.
Episode 7: Grad Studies at NCI and Beyond
In this episode, hear how the National Cancer Institute can support one's graduate studies from Dr. Caitlin Allen and Dr. Samantha Yee, both recipients of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition (F99/K00) Award, and Megan Majocha, who is currently completing her Ph.D. research at NCI while enrolled in Georgetown University.
Episode 6: The Equation for Faculty Success & Cancer Genetics at NCI
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Avery August of Cornell University who shares his insights on how to support early career faculty and build a healthy research culture. We then hear from Dr. Jiyeon Choi of NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics about training and establishing her research team at NCI.
Episode 5: Taking ACTION in Appalachia
In this episode, we hear the amazing story of the very successful Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program from Dr. Nathan Vanderford, an Associate Professor within the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Director of the ACTION program along with two ACTION program alums, Susanna Goggans and Michael Buoncristiani.
Episode 4: A Lab Tea Party & a Career in Cancer Kinases
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Adrienne Boire, a Physician Scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and then we from Dr. Jim Woodgett, a President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, Canada, Senior Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), and Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto.
Exclusive Episode: Curiosity + Strategy = Progress with Dr. Karen Knudsen
In this exclusive episode, we feature Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Knudsen shares with us her career journey into science and the path that led her to her current leadership role at the ACS. She shares her story of finding the right mentor, asking the right questions, and being open to new opportunities.
Episode 3: Starting Your Lab & Repaying Your Loans
In this episode, we first hear from Dr. Simon Schwörer, on how he started his own lab. We then hear from Matthew Lockhart who discusses the NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) along with LRP Ambassador, Dr. Dionna Williams, Hopkins, and LRP recipient, Dr. Arnethea Sutton.
Episode 2: Giving and Getting a Grant
In this episode, we hear from Drs. Hubbard and Johnson Chavarria about being a Program Director and awarding grants. Later we hear from Dr. Dianna Ng, a K08 awardee, who shares her science career journey and the process that led her to successfully receiving a grant.
Episode 1: Discovering Your Professional Motto
In the inaugural episode of Inside Cancer Careers, we are featuring a conversation between Dr. Mary Grace Katusiime and one of her mentors, Dr. Camille Lange. Dr. Lange shares the importance of building a strong professional network and having a personal professional motto throughout your journey.