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PODCAST

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

science

All Episodes

18:06

Episode 29: Dr. Jennifer Bekki

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/04/06

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Jennifer Bekki, a Professor in The Polytechnic School within the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University who also serves as the Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence for the Fulton Schools. Her dissertation research focused on modeling and analysis of semiconductor manufacturing, and her work now primarily focuses on understanding the impact of interpersonal and institutional support on the wellbeing and career trajectories of graduate students

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11:36

Episode 28: Dr. Nsa Dada

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/03/30

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Nsa Dada, an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. Her PhD research focused on the interactions between mosquitoes and their associated microbes, specifically those that inhabit domestic water containers. She worked on the container dwelling mosquito Aedes aegypti in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and Laos, where she was interested in understanding the relationship between fecal contamination of those containers and mosquito

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13:56

Episode 27: Dr. Adam Reitzel

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/03/23

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Adam Reitzel, a Professor and the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Adam’s PhD research focused on the ecology and evolution of sea anemones, and his work now focuses on the comparative genomics of marine invertebrates (particularly cnidarians) and mechanisms of animal-environment interactions. Here, Adam discusses navigating fieldwork in graduate school, and the imposter syndrome and challenges that

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14:24

Episode 26: Dr. Karin Ellison

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/03/16

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Karin Ellison, a Clinical Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. She also directs the Ethics Program in the school, and is the Associate Director for the Center for Biology and Society. Her dissertation research focused on the history of Grand Coulee Dam and multiple purpose river development in the 20th century United States, while her work now focuses on research ethics education and practice. Here, Karin shares what it was like to

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14:38

Episode 25: Dr. Caren Quieroz Souza

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/03/09

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Caren Quieroz Souza, a postdoc at Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil. Her dissertation research focused on conservation social science as an interdisciplinary approach for understanding socio-psychological factors related to pollinator conservation, and her work now focuses on understanding the role of citizen science for biodiversity conservation and human-nature connection through inter-transdisciplinary approaches, integrating social psychology and human

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14:23

Episode 24: Dr. Paige Madison

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/03/02

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Paige Madison, who currently works for Complexly as a script editor for PBS Eons. She is also a science writer, most recently working with National Geographic. In addition, she is writing her first book, which is due to be published in 2027. Her dissertation research focused on paleoanthropology, or the science of human origins, specifically looking at controversial fossils in science’s history. Here, Paige talks about the difficulties she had writing and defending

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11:34

Episode 23: Dr. Arvind Varsani

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/02/23

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Arvind Varsani, a molecular virologist and a Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. For his PhD, Arvind focused on designing vaccines for human papillomavirus. Currently, his work focuses on the evolution of viruses across ecosystems. Here, Arvind recounts the challenges he experienced while running experiments in the lab during graduate school, and how he was able to change his outlook on failure. Let’s listen!Transcript:

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21:19

Episode 22: Dr. Alice R. de Moraes

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/02/16

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Alice R. de Moraes, a postdoc at University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil. Her dissertation research focused on stakeholder perceptions and social-ecological dynamics of ecosystem services in a rural setting in southeast Brazil, and her work now focuses on co-producing local solutions for a grounded sociobioeconomy in the Brazilian Amazon. Here, Alice talks about how difficulties with field seasons and lab work added some roadblocks to her PhD, and how she moved

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9:26

Episode 21: Dr. Emily Webb

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/02/09

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Emily Webb, an Assistant Professor of Biology at Rockford University in Rockford, Illinois. Her research in graduate school focused on the physiology of color in birds. In her current position, she primarily focuses on teaching undergraduate biology courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, and Intro Bio. Here, Emily discusses her experience with having a dissertation idea rejected by her committee and how she overcame this challenge. Let’s

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15:14

Episode 20: Dr. Edauri Navarro Pérez

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/02/02

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Edauri Navarro-Pérez, a postdoc at Arizona State University. Her dissertation research focused on roots, specifically how soil restoration treatments, in a greenhouse, affect root development. Now, her postdoc is through ESSA, Earth Systems Science for the Anthropocene, where she does various things including leading a seminar, mentoring an undergraduate, helping organize events for the community and students, and doing research in ecological-human relationships

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14:14

Episode 19: Dr. Ramesh Laungani

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/01/26

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ramesh Laungani, an Associate Professor at Marist University in the School of Science in the department of Environmental Science and Policy. His dissertation research focused on nitrogen and carbon cycling in grasslands. Now, his work with undergraduates primarily focuses on the ecological impacts of biochar, a potential solution to climate change and long term carbon sequestration. Here, Ramesh talks about how he got through an error that cost him a whole field

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12:52

Episode 18: Dr. Gwen Iacona

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/01/19

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Gwen Iacona, an Assistant Research Professor at Arizona State University, where she serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes. She also serves on the advisory board for the National Parks Service, where she promotes data-driven ecological decision-making. Gwen’s dissertation research focused on the costs and benefits of managing protected areas for conservation, and her work now primarily focuses on how we can support conservation

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16:03

Episode 17: Dr. Xyonane Segovia

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/01/12

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Xyonane Segovia, an Assistant Teaching Professor at Arizona State University. Her dissertation research focused on malaria, specifically looking at resistance evolution of the malaria parasite. Now, she’s in a position where she teaches various subjects including evolutionary medicine, global health and biology. Here, Xyonane talks about navigating an experiment failure while working on her Ph.D., as well as how she coped with feelings of imposter syndrome

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16:23

Episode 16: Dr. Hong Wang

Fail-Safe Science ·

2026/01/05

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Hong Wang, a Professor in the Department of Physics at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Her PhD research focused on atomic force microscope imaging of protein and DNA complexes, and her current work focuses on single molecule studies of DNA repair. Here, Hong talks about what it was like for her to navigate pregnancy (with twins) while in graduate school, and how she adjusted her research and expectations for herself leading up to the birth, as well

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3:50

Happy Holidays and 2025 Wrap-Up!

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/12/29

Hello Fail-Safe Science listeners! This is Olivia Davis- one of the co-founders of Fail-Safe Science. We hope you are all getting some much deserved rest and practicing self-care after a long year. We don’t have a new episode dropping this week, but we still wanted to pop on and check in with you all. In the meantime, if you are looking for mental health resources this holiday season, please check out our show notes. If you’d like to catch up on Fail-Safe Science before our new episodes drop, you

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14:30

Episode 15: Holly Molinaro

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/12/22

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Holly Molinaro. Holly is currently a consultant for General Mills and Blue Buffalo dog food company where she assists on understanding animal behavior to create better products. Her PhD research focused on animal emotions, specifically dogs, and her work now is focused on broadly helping people help their animals, whether in zoos, shelters, or industry partners. She has also been working on starting her own consulting firm, Animal Wellbeing Solutions, which focuses

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11:51

Episode 14: Dr. Kat Magnone

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/12/15

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kat Magnone, who at the time of this recording was an adjunct Chemistry instructor at Cincinnati State. Their dissertation research studied high school students learning about sodium chloride dissolution using molecular level animations. Here, Kat discusses their experience failing their qualifying exams on their first try at the second institution they went to for their PhD. They then share how going through this challenge inspired them to change not only their

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13:24

Episode 13: Dr. Raúl Araya-Donoso

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/12/08

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Raúl Araya-Donoso. At the time of recording, Raúl was a Postdoctoral scholar at Arizona State University, but he has since moved on to a Postdoc position at Yale. His dissertation research focused on the genomic and ecological factors affecting speciation rates on lizards, and his ASU postdoc kept exploring that same topic. At Yale, he will be going further on that question, and try to integrate how behavior also plays a role in shaping the evolution of organisms

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17:34

Episode 12: Dr. Kate Weiss

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/12/01

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kate Weiss, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Marist University. Her PhD research focused on understanding how wild carnivores make decisions about what they eat in urban environments. Now, her work focuses on understanding how to promote more sustainable futures for people and wildlife species by incorporating social, ecological, and evolutionary approaches. Here, Kate talks about the obstacles she faced while finishing her dissertation, and how

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12:26

Episode 11: Dr. Mercy Salami

Fail-Safe Science ·

2025/11/24

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Mercy Salami, a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria. Her dissertation research focused on the contribution of wild tree species to food security in northwestern Nigeria. Since then, her research has focused on the issues of development economics. Mercy specifically works on food security, poverty, and gender, specifically among rural areas and marginalized populations. Here, she talks

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