People Behind the Science Podcast - Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Al Robichaud is Chief Scientific Officer at Sage Therapeutics. The team at Sage Therapeutics is focused on delivering new medicines for people with central nervous system disorders, such as depression. The compounds they have developed modulate the activity of receptors in the brain that respond to specific neurotransmitters. Outside of science, Al has been an avid scuba diver for most of his life. He particularly enjoys exploring the ocean in the Caribbean with his family.

Dr. Christine Drea is the Earl D. McLean Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology, Professor in the Dept. of Biology, University Program in Ecology, and Duke Institute for Brain Sciences at Duke University. She is investigating genetic, behavioral, cognitive, sensory, and endocrine mechanisms involved in social interactions in socially complex, female-dominant animals such as hyenas, lemurs, and meerkats. Her hobbies outside of science include gardening, playing and walking with her two dogs, and traveling.

Dr. Paul Cannon is the Parkinson’s Disease Program Manager at 23andMe. He is working with patients, genetic data, and other self-report data to understand genetic mutations linked to Parkinson’s disease, risk factors, and other comorbidities in Parkinson’s disease. Paul also enjoys traveling to visit new places in countries or parts of countries that are not necessarily considered typical tourist destinations. In addition, he likes to hike, watch cricket matches, and watch Premier League Soccer games.

Dr. Cori Richards-Zawacki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology at the University of Pittsburgh. Cori studies topics in ecology, evolutionary biology, behavior, and conservation in frogs. When she’s not working and doing research, Cori enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two young daughters. She likes to play soccer, hike, mountain bike, and other outdoor activities.

Dr. Jim Doherty is Chief Research Officer at Sage Therapeutics. At Sage, Jim and his colleagues are focused on developing new treatments for different brain disorders including psychiatric, neurodegenerative, and movement disorders. Outside of science, Jim enjoys traveling, seeing cool new sites, and exploring the history of different places with his wife and two kids. He also enjoys participating in a variety of team sports like golf, softball, and ultimate frisbee leagues.

Dr. Neil Solomons is Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. Neil is developing a drug to treat lupus nephritis, a disease in which inflammation of the kidneys can cause kidney failure, need for dialysis, or kidney transplant. There are no FDA-approved therapies for this disease. Outside of research, Neil is an obsessive soccer fan, and he has avidly watched English Premier League games since he was a child. He also enjoys playing the guitar and spending time with his family.

Dr. Anne Fung is the Global Development Lead for the Port Delivery System with Ranibizumab and Lucentis at Genentech, as well as a practicing retina specialist and researcher in the San Francisco area. She is working on a tiny implant that slowly releases medicine to treat macular degeneration. Outside of science, Anne loves practicing yoga, as well as reading, listening to podcasts, and listening to audiobooks on a variety of topics including business, organizations, and psychology.

Dr. Karl Heilbron is a Scientist I in Statistical Genetics at 23andMe. He focuses on identifying genetic variants that are associated with diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Once variants are identified, he conducts more targeted analyses to better understand the genetic basis of disease. When he’s not working, Karl enjoys staying active by playing soccer and other sports. In addition, he has been having fun staying in touch with old friends by playing Dungeons and Dragons together online.

Dr. Jennifer Wargo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a Stand Up To Cancer researcher. She is a physician scientist, so she splits her time between patient care and doing research to find better ways of treating cancer. When she’s not doing research or treating patients, Jennifer enjoys spending quality time with her family. Some of their favorite activities include walking, biking, hiking, and visiting the beach.

Dr. Brian Goode is a Research Scientist at the Fralin Life Science Institute at Virginia Tech, formerly the Biocomplexity Institute. Brian’s research examines how data-driven and theoretical models can be applied to the real world. His goal is to make the best models, identify the considerations needed to apply these models to reality, and determine how the models can be used to help craft interventions and policies. Lately, Brian spends his weekends with his wife repairing and preparing their sailboat.

Dr. Edith Widder is Co-Founder, CEO, and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), a conservation nonprofit. ORCA aims to find upstream solutions to the pollution problems that are plaguing our oceans. They use science-based approaches to determine where pollution is coming from and what can be done to stop it. When Edie isn’t doing science, she loves immersing herself in nature through hiking and kayaking. She also enjoys visiting museums, especially art museums.

Dr. Annaliesa Anderson is Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Bacterial Vaccines within Vaccine Research and Development at Pfizer Inc. Liesa is working to develop new vaccines that prevent infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Outside work, Liesa loves spending time at home with her husband, 16 year old son, 12 year old daughter, and their new dog. She also enjoys being outside, visiting the Jersey Shore beaches, taking exercise classes with her husband, and being a girl scout leader.

Dr. Denver Lough is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of PolarityTE, a biotech company developing methods for patients’ own cells to regenerate functionally-polarized tissues. They developed novel methods to induce regeneration across the full spectrum of tissue types by understanding the environment and interactions needed for tissues to orient, self-organize, and develop. Denver also enjoys spending time with his wife and watching his 3 children discover new things about the world.

Dr. Karen Strier is the Vilas Research Professor and Irven Devore Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is improving our understanding of the biological basis of human behavior, evolution, and adaptation by studying an endangered primate, the northern muriqui, in its natural habitat. Outside of science, Karen enjoys being outside, going for walks in nature, cooking delicious multi-course meals for her friends and family, reading, and hanging out with her cats.

Dr. Eric Pop is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering at Stanford University. He is interested in applying materials with nanoscale properties to engineer better electronics such as transistors, circuits, and data storage mechanisms. Eric is also investigating ways to better manage the heat electronics generate. When he’s not working, Eric enjoys snowboarding up in the mountains of California, traveling, playing soccer, and watching soccer.