Interested in a biomedical career in academia, entrepreneurship, science communication, or everything in between? The Tissue Engineering Resource Center (TERC),...
Ep 19. Tissue Engineering Career Conversations featuring Dr. Irene de Lazaro, Assistant Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Our latest episode features Dr. Irene de Lázaro, an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Dr. Lázaro leads the NanoBioEngineering for Tissue Reprogramming and Regeneration laboratory at NYU since 2023. Her team investigates the influence of genetic, biochemical, and mechanical signals on cell plasticity, identity, and function. Their mission is to leverage this understanding, integrating nanomedicine and bioengineering approaches, to develop therapeutic strategies that regulate cell fate—such as promoting tissue regeneration or rejuvenation—or enhance cellular function, particularly in applications like immunotherapies. Dr. Lázaro has a PharmD from the University of Alcalá in Spain and a PhD in Regenerative Medicine from the University College London, before completing her postdoctoral work at the Wyss Institute at Harvard. In this episode, we will hear about Dr. Lázaro’s experiences in pursuing a research career, pursuing opportunities internationally, the obstacles facing early-career researchers, and navigating a work-life balance in the first years of her independent career.
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Ep 18. Tissue Engineering Career Conversations featuring Dr. Brooke Coley, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University
In our latest episode, we feature Dr. Brooke Coley, a bioengineer and social justice scholar. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). She is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Research Advancing Racial Equity, Justice, and Sociotechnical Innovation Centered in Engineering (RARE JUSTICE). Dr. Coley earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering with a concentration in Biomechanics from the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County as a Meyerhoff Scholar. Prior to joining the Polytechnic School, she completed her postdoctoral training at ASU in engineering education. Dr. Coley’s research lies at the intersection of racial equity, mental health and qualitative research methods encompassing critical theory, participation action research, and arts-based research methods. In this episode, we gain insight into Dr. Coley’s career trajectory and how she has dealt with adversity and used her experiences to become an agent of change and advocate for inclusion in all levels of her work. Join us as we learn more about Dr. Coley’s unique academic journey and how she hopes to push the bounds of traditionally heteronormative engineering environments through transdisciplinary approaches.
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Ep 17. Tissue Engineering Career Conversations featuring Dr. Elisa Cimetta, Associate Professor at University of Padua, Italy
In our latest episode, we feature Dr. Elisa Cimetta, an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Padua and Principal Investigator of the BIAMET laboratory (Biomedical Applications of Multiscale Engineering Technologies). Dr. Cimetta obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Padua and conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University, where she co-founded EpiBone, a Columbia University spinoff devoted to producing engineered bone and osteochondral patient-specific tissues. Her journey to academia was marked by innovative research and collaborations, leading her to her current position as a Visiting Research Scientist at Prof. Vunjak-Novakovic’s laboratory. In this episode, we explore Dr. Cimetta’s trajectory, exploring her pivotal moments, research interests, and the challenges and rewards of launching a new research group. Join us as we uncover Dr. Cimetta’s insights on navigating academia and forging a successful career path in engineering and biomedical research.
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Ep 16. Tissue Engineering Career Conversations featuring Dr. Hunter Rogers, Investment Research Analyst
Our new episode features Dr. Hunter Rogers, Investment Research Analyst at a globally and nationally ranked academic medical center. Prior to this role, Dr. Rogers was an Equity Research Associate with a focus on biotech investment opportunities at William Blair. Previously, Dr. Rogers also served as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Northwestern University. Dr. Rogers has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, and a PhD in Life Sciences from Northwestern University. In this episode we discuss with Dr. Rogers his career journey, highlighting the influence of his entrepreneurial experience during his PhD and postdoctoral training in his transition to a career in biotech investment. We talked about the several skills Dr. Rogers sharpened along the way as he also provides us with an insightful glimpse into the world of equity research and biotech investment.
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Ep 15. Tissue Engineering Career Conversations featuring Dr. Tomas Gonzalez-Fernandez, Assistant Professor at Lehigh University
Our latest episode features Dr. Tomas Gonzalez-Fernandez who started his role as an Assistant Professor at the Bioengineering Department at Lehigh University in 2022. Gonzalez-Fernandez received his PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in 2018 from Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Kelly and Fergal O’Brien. After completing his PhD, Tomas joined the Leach lab at UC Davis. During his career he has been honored with prestigious awards and fellowships such as the American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellowship, and the Rising Star in Engineering and Health by Columbia University. In this episode we discuss Dr. Gonzalez-Fernandez’s journey from being a postdoc to becoming an Assistant Professor. We further discuss his experience as being a new PI, his leadership and time management skills and his perspective about academia. We further share here a few very helpful resources we discuss during the podcast:1. Postdoc-Faculty transition seminars/workshops:· UCSF: https://career.ucsf.edu/phds/career-paths/faculty/prepare-explore· Columbia/JHU/Cornell: https://www.bme.cornell.edu/bme/resources/extracurricular-programs/rising-stars-engineering-health2. Faculty Success Program: https://www.facultydiversity.org/fsp-bootcamp3. Grant writing book: https://www.grantcentral.com/workbooks/national-institutes-of-health/4. Gonzalez-Fernandez Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfTGF
Interested in a biomedical career in academia, entrepreneurship, science communication, or everything in between? The Tissue Engineering Resource Center (TERC), located at Columbia and Tufts Universities, is launching a new series, the “Career Conversations” podcast, which welcomes a new guest each episode to discuss their career choices, day-to-day tasks, and the challenges involved. We will talk to some of the most inspiring leaders in bioengineering and begin to understand the many career options available to early-stage scientists. Our goal in this podcast is to help shed light on a wide range of career trajectories, academic and non-academic, that have emerged from the bioengineering community. The podcast is hosted by early career bioengineers and funded by support from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the NIH (grant number P41EB027062). For more information on the Tissue Engineering Resource Center, check out our website, nextgenterc.com
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