Titus Talks
By Alexander Titus
Thrown in the mix, we’re gonna talk about all the great things people are doing with their lives and we’re gonna keep a focus on the people who make industries thrive and the world go around.
Whether you’re an undergrad, new grad, grad student, CEO, or an everyday member of a community like me, you’ll love our talks and our guests, and you have to subscribe!
Everyone should join the conversation. Welcome to Titus Talks.
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Titus TalksJan 25, 2022
It’s okay to feel stupid, but don’t you dare stay that way
We are not betting individuals, but if we were, we bet that you have never met an intelligent, humble, creative, and curious individual with the voice of a Madam and whose slogan is “it’s okay to feel stupid, but don’t you dare stay that way.” To conclude Season 2 of Titus Talks, we are delighted to share our conversation with researcher, blogger, podcaster, and author, Kendra Royston.
Kendra completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Stillman College and later received her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a dissertation focus in cancer epigenetics. She went on to continue her post-doc education at the University of Chicago before joining a major pharmaceutical company in their department of Global Scientific Communications. Recently she has assumed higher responsibilities within Clinical Development managing oncology clinical trials as an Associate Director. Kendra is also the founder of Stupid Science Inc., a nonprofit organization that aims to increase diverse representation in STEM fields and careers.
In this episode, we talk about her path to finding meaningful bench to bedside translational research in industry, the ethos behind her 501(c)(3) Stupid Science Inc., the beauty of trial and error, and finding peace with imposter syndrome to focus on being on the cutting edge of discovery.
Her advice for our listeners?
You do not truly ever fail until you stop trying, every setback as a setup for triumph and boldness does not make you angry.
(P.S. If any university is looking for its next president, we recommend giving Kendra a call. That is certainly the world we want to live in.)
- Kendra on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-j-royston-phd-0b216b86/
- Check out Stupid Science - https://www.stupidscienceinc.org/
- Check out the SS Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stupid-scientists-inner-ramblings/id1501524236
The musings of a Waste Water Olympian and the future of biotech
What do the hallmarks of competing in Wastewater Olympics, playing bass in an orchestra, contributing to a tactical military task force, and becoming an expert in China S&T Policy have in common? Anna has lived them all.
Anna Puglisi is the Director of Biotechnology Programs and Senior Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Previously she served as the National Counterintelligence Officer for East Asia, advising senior U.S. and foreign government officials at the highest levels, academia, and the private sector on counterintelligence (CI) issues and in designing mitigation strategies for both the public and private sectors to protect technology. As a member of the Senior Analytic Service, she developed multidisciplinary efforts to understand global technology developments and their impact on U.S. competitiveness and national security. Anna also started a governm6ent-wide working group looking at developments in biological sciences and has worked on several bio-security issues. She has received numerous awards including the FBI Director’s Award for Excellence. Anna holds an MPA, an MS in environmental science, and a BA in Biology with honors, all from Indiana University. She studied at the Princeton in Beijing Chinese language school and was a visiting scholar in Nankai University’s Department of Economics, where she studied China’s S&T policies, infrastructure development, and university reforms. She has also conducted research and worked in technical infrastructure. She is a co-author of the 2013 study “Chinese Industrial Espionage”, a contributing author to “China’s Quest for Technology: Beyond Espionage” and countless other proprietary words.
In this episode, we talk about going to work in a hard hat and steel-toe shoes, compiling expertise that resonates with you in advance of others seeing the value in it, music as a multidisciplinary communication tool for biotechnology, and the more about her vision for the work she is leading at the Center for Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET).
Her advice for our listeners?
Find what really matters to you and make it your guiding star. Take opportunities that will help you grow as a person, grow in your career, and really challenge you in different ways. People make the path and always be kind.
The universal sass of teenagers and our national security
Driving substantive change socially, economically, and politically is grounded in a foundation of national security. Today, we are excited to introduce Schuyler Moore whose passion for women’s education led her to work at an all-girls school in Afghanistan and build a career circling the problem of national security from different perspectives (her website).
Schuyler works at the intersection of national security and emerging technology as a Senior Defense & Foreign Policy Advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was also a member of the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 class. She previously served as the Director of Science & Technology (S&T) on the staff of the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. Schuyler was also a Senior Analyst at an aerospace & consulting firm, with a special focus on defense budget forecasting and emerging technologies. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Technology & Security from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University. Most recently, she just received confirmation that she will be mobilizing with the Navy Reserve to Bahrain to support Task Force 59, which focuses on integrating unmanned systems and AI into the fleet.
In this episode, we talk about the universality of the sassiness of 13-year-olds, abandoning the linear path to crafting a career based on collecting diverse perspectives, combining a willingness to learn with deep humility and the importance of getting comfortable with saying ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I’m not sure’.
Her advice for our listeners? Chase skills, not titles, set yourself up to maximize good luck and mitigate bad luck; and protect your small kernel of idealism which will give you the motivation to keep fighting to effect change, while also staying pragmatic, practical, and happy in the longterm.
We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
What should I do with my life? Why it's elementary my dear Watson!
Our favorite people are existential conversationalists that make the minutes fly by, that love data-driven insights, and who are mission-driven to make the world a better place. Today, we get to introduce you to John Younger, a physician-scientist by training, whose experiential stories about Sherlock Holmes, the meaning of medicine, and having more than one career in a lifetime, certainly affirm why Kathryn wanted to stay in contact after meeting him as an intern almost three years ago. Over the course of this episode, we have a great conversation with him about the hope that times of transition bring, napkin IOUs, and wrestling with the decision-making process around the timeless question: what should I do with my life?
When he’s not writing dynamic pieces for Bioeconomy.XYZ, John is the Managing Director at ArgoPond, LLC, a life science advisory and investment company that provides analytics and diligence services to companies and funds engaging the life science space. He represents ArgoPond as a member of the Life Science Committee of New York Angels, one of the most active angel investment groups in the world. John also sits on the Board of Directors of New View Surgical, a Boston-based start-up creating new visualization tools for minimally invasive surgery.
His advice for our listeners?
There is more than one way to think about hard problems, so don’t change your leadership style and the way you approach problems to fit a mold. And when it comes to opportunities that come your way, take your shot with the hardest swing you can.
We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!
A drunken walk through science and a back-up on a hard drive with Andrew Hessel
If you want to talk about crafting a career that emulates a drunken walk through science and explore the potential of backing up your biology like we back up computers for a reboot in the future, it’s time to meet Andrew. On this episode of Titus Talks, we are super excited to sit down again with Andrew Hessel. Andrew is the co-founder and past-president of Humane Genomics - which engineers synthetic viruses to target cancer cells- and co-executive director of the Genome Project-write (GPW), an international research and development effort that lays the technical and societal foundations for responsible applications of synthetic biology. He was also an Autodesk Distinguished Researcher, where he was part of a multidisciplinary team exploring computer-aided design and manufacturing for biotechnology and nanotechnology R&D.
Today Andrew shares about his newly-released book: The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology. We also discuss our shared passion for the operating system for life, the impending Cambrian explosion of biology, and the importance of looking at life as a non-zero-sum game.
His advice for our listeners?
If you are looking for mission-driven work, pay attention to the programming of life that makes synthetic biology really ignite at the intersection of biology, computation, and automation robotics. And it’s time for humanity to be victorious over viruses.
We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!
Engineering viruses, planning for mars, and traveling the world
For those of you that aren't familiar, phages are viruses that infect bacteria. Phage therapy is a method of using these little viruses to fight off infections that are antibiotic-resistant, or just darn stubborn and won't go away. The advances in synthetic biology lately have been making this more and more possible to use for good purposes.
Like many of my guests, Natalie is a "jump in feet first" kind of person. We get to have a great conversation about how she applied to grad school in a field that she was not quite qualified for, she traveled the world for a year on a budget of $25K, she dove headfirst into management consulting to figure out the business world, and now she's trying to build a company.
Her advice to us all? Find what you love and just do it. You don't have to know everything about what you're doing to start. :-)
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Natalie —
Natalie on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nataliejingma/
Natalie on Twitter: twitter.com/NatalieMaPhD
Natalie's website: nataliejingma.com/ (good article)
Natalie's travel blog: neverendingeverywhere.wordpress.com/
Felix Biotech Website: www.felixbt.com/
Felix Biotech on Twitter: twitter.com/felixbiotech
— Let’s Chat —
THE BLOG: alexandertitus.com/
YOUTUBE: alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
NEWSLETTER: alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/AlexanderTitus
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/1AlexanderTitus
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/1AlexanderTitus
TWITTER: twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
Building a career that spans continents, species, and millennia
Very few of us can say that our careers span continents, species, and millennia but Brandi Cantarel, Associate Director of Bioinformatics at Colossal Biosciences, can. For over 15 years, Brandi has been involved in projects that utilize sequence technology to understand human health, often at the forefront of an emerging field or technology. She leads bioinformatics development of next-generation sequence (NGS) data, including genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics in rare/complex genetic diseases, immunology, infectious disease, and cancer. She has applied precision medicine research in a CAP/CLIA setting, with the development of tools for tumor mutational profiling. Prior, Brandi was a faculty member at the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Bioinformatics, and at the University of Maryland, Institute for Genome Sciences. In 2020, Brandi was named a Highly Cited Researcher by Web of Science.
In today’s episode, we talk about academia from a non-tenure-track perspective, working towards creating a mammoth-elephant hybrid animal, and the nontraditional and awesome ways that biotech startups tackle critical problems with global impact like fighting climate change. (Hint: We say screw it, let’s bring back the mammoth and see what works.) Her advice for our listeners? Focus on the science, raise your voice when you feel like it’s being done incorrectly, and hire people that are better than you and let them shine. And always be kind to people.
We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
*Disclaimer (27:15): The oldest sequencable DNA is 1M year old, not 10K years old. This is not as far back at the mass extinction of dinosaurs (~66 million years).
Getting a little lost to find yourself
If you don’t have anyone in your life challenging you to critically think about what real trust and real transparency look like when dealing with biotechnology that is so intimate and so integral to what makes us human, then it’s time to meet our favorite art entrepreneurs, Gen and Marco.
On this episode of Titus Talks, we are delighted to sit down with Genefer Baxter and Marco Locatelli. Genefer and Marco are Berlin-based artists, designers, and facilitators at Aula Future, a project-based research and STEAM program. Before founding Aula Future alongside Marco Locatelli, Gen worked with new media, curating immersive art experiences in Berlin, Germany where participants could interact with technology-driven installations. Marco received his training in product design, material engineering, and nanotechnology at the Polytechnic University of Milan. Since then, he has gained years of experience in various 3D platforms and has honed skills in designing immersive experiences both digitally and physically. In 2019, Genefer and Marco were selected as artists-in-residence at the Science Center in Philadelphia.
Today they get to share about the creative explosion waiting to happen at the intersection of art, tech, science, and education. We also have a good laugh about stick bugs and the crazy things skydiving instructors say as you jump out of planes.
Their advice for our listeners?
Get a little lost—but not too lost—while never losing your center and the impact that you want to have on the world; to introduce a little art into your thinking to fully embrace your personal philosophical journey.
We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!
The birds, the bees, and the gene deck shuffle
If you ever need to find the visceral and authentic soul in something, look no further than Julian Borra, Founder of Thin Air Factory. Julian is a creative writer working in the commercial communications industry, with a particular passion for using creativity to make complex things simple, most particularly in the sustainability, tech, and science spaces. He has built a career using creative strategy and storytelling to help people and brands find their voice. He’s also the Lead Creative Strategist on Socialising the Genome, a Wellcome Connecting Science & Genomics England Initiative. He even co-authored Liferider, a NYT Bestseller, with Laird Hamilton, a legendary big-wave surfer.
In today’s episode, we have the chance to sit down with one of our favorite individuals to learn from, have a laugh with, and collaboratively dream really big science communications dreams alongside. We’ll discuss his love of uncomfortable places, his journey to helping scientists connect more deeply with the heart of their discovery with campaigns like the Gene Deck Shuffle, and having the humility to accept feedback.
His advice for our listeners? Go back to the old in your lifeline to remind ourselves why we love something instead of always looking to something new for inspiration and always go to the place of most discomfort to find what is revelatory.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
- Find Julian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianborra/
- Check out the Thin Air Factory - https://www.thinairfactory.com/
- Read Julian's articles - https://medium.com/@julian_9032
Life’s about leaning into experiences that scare you and just taking the plunge
The best careers are ones that include twists, turns, barriers, and breakthroughs. And today we get to chat with Michelle Holko, a strategic innovator working at the intersection of biology, technology, and security. She has built a career integrating security into biotechnology and health to promote innovations in biomedical research. In our conversation, we chat about the incredible work she has been able to contribute to over the course of her career.
Subscribe to the Titus Talks newsletter!
Michelle is currently a Principal Architect and Scientist at Google working as the technical lead with the Google Cloud healthcare and life sciences team. Before Google, she served in government as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow (PIF), where she worked with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Defense (DoD) Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP), the NIH’s All of Us Research Program, HHS BARDA, OSTP, and NSC. Whew, that was all at one job!
Prior to joining the PIF program, she worked with DARPA and HHS BARDA, and was a fellow in the 2018 cohort of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Health Security’s Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative where I first met Michelle. Michelle was trained in genomics and bioinformatics, and she has worked on pandemic prevention and preparedness, infectious diseases, cancer, biosurveillance, biosecurity, data science, emerging technologies, health technologies, precision medicine, cybersecurity, and machine learning/artificial intelligence. Basically, if it's been a hot topic, she’s worked on it!
Her advice for our listeners? Lean into experiences that scare you, pay attention to what you don’t like just as much as what you do like, let your good work speak for you, and try to be like water.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
- Find Michelle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-holko/
- Read more about the PIF program - https://presidentialinnovationfellows.gov/
- Check out Michelle's PIF profile - https://presidentialinnovationfellows.gov/fellows/michelle-holko/
The art of polite persistence and the power of a dare
On the inaugural episode of Season 2 of Titus Talks, I’m excited to introduce my co-host for Season 2: Kathryn Hamilton. Kathryn is the Managing Editor of Bioeconomy.XYZ and the Co-Founder of the In Vivo Group. She thrives on working at the intersection of science, business, and art. As a science journalist and zealous storyteller, Kathryn integrates her passion for the scientific method and ethical business practices with crafting narratives that focus on the heart of our collective human experiences.
Today we get to talk about Kathryn’s path to working with Bioeconomy.XYZ, how to articulate a unique career path, and what she is looking forward to in this coming season of Titus Talks.
Her advice in this episode? Find your ‘I dare you to do it’ person and choose how you define yourself carefully as give yourself the space to learn, make mistakes and grow.
Find Kathryn on LinkedIn.
The virologist hunts for a job
Today I get to chat with Allison Bakovic, a PhD student at George Mason University and a virologist in the middle of a pandemic. Not only is Allison working hard to fight COVID-19, but she's starting to hunt for a job after grad school and we get to talk about the search, cool strategies, and some fun advice. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Allison —
- Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakovica/
— Let’s Chat —
- THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
- YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
- PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
- NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
- LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlexanderTitus
- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1AlexanderTitus
- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1AlexanderTitus
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
From Alaska to Mars with Synthetic Biology in between
Patrick wants to retire on Mars. Talk about a great line for what you're goals are in life! In order to get to Mars thought, we need more than just rockets and metal - we need the ability to engineer and sustain life both on the ship and when on the Martian surface. So until we actually start heading to Mars, Patrick spends his time as a leader in the wildly successful synthetic biology company, Ginkgo Bioworks.
Today, we get to sit down and discuss how Patrick grew up in rural Alaska and ended up in Boston as a biological engineer. He's had a phenomenal career ranging from MIT and Harvard, to startups and working closely with the government on issues related to pandemics and biosecurity. He even says his life from the Yukon River Delta has prepared him for retirement on Mars.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Patrick —
- Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-boyle-a790094a/
- Patrick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_maverick_b
— Let’s Chat —
- THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
- YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
- PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
- NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
- LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlexanderTitus
- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1AlexanderTitus
- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1AlexanderTitus
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
Bubble gum brains, tough conversations, and teaching 1st grade over zoom
We're all tired of Zoom meetings, but can you imagine being in 1st grade and trying to learn everything?! Today I get to chat with one of my favorite people, my sister Angie Titus, who is a 1st-grade teacher and is now in the tough place of teaching our future scientists and engineers in the middle of the pandemic.
Angie's always poured her heart and soul into her teaching, but now she's working to teach equity and awareness, group dynamics, how to share, and how to read and do math, all while asking 6-year olds to sit still at a computer screen.
We had a great conversation about a ton of good resources. Angie recommends you check out these books for the best advice on how to be a bubble gum brain, how to have conversations about race, and how to teach your children the art of inquiry through the hearts and minds of little girls exploring the world.
Remember to thank a teacher today. In a world turned upside down, their efforts are going to keep our next generation of scientists, engineers, artists, politicians, and master craftswomen and men on track to make the world a better place.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— Let’s Chat —
- THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
- YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
- PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
- NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
- LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlexanderTitus
- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1AlexanderTitus
- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1AlexanderTitus
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
What do Korea, whiskey, science policy, and the white house have in common? - with Ian Simon
Today I get to have a great conversation with Ian Simon, a virologist turned science policy guru who has worked around the world to improve the way policymakers think about science and technology. Right after finishing grad school, Ian found himself plunging feet first into the world of Korean science, but he approached it with full force.
A whirlwind of time on the Hill and working to support the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) later, we sit down to talk about always taking the opportunity to say yes, and how he ended up an elected official representing 2,000 citizens of Washington, DC.
Ian is a great example of the joys of unexpected opportunities, and he lives a life of saying yes to new experiences. When it comes to science policy, I'm glad we have people like Ian in the mix.
And, fun fact, he used to work with Sara Carioscia!
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Ian —
- Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/IanSimonPhD/
- Ian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IanSimonANC
— Let’s Chat —
- THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
- YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
- PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
- NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
- LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/AlexanderTitus
- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1AlexanderTitus
- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1AlexanderTitus
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
From Ebola in Africa to biotechnology in Washington DC - with Michelle Rozo
Michelle Rozo has had an amazing career. Her passion for science was built from the ground up as a 7-year old studying bugs at summer camp, and now she's a biotechnology leader working in Washington, DC. If you would have asked her a few decades ago where she would end up, however, she never could have predicted it.
Today we get to have an awesome conversation about stretching yourself in your career, taking opportunities when they come up, and always finding a way to fun with what you're doing.
After finishing her PhD at Johns Hopkins, Michelle took a job as a post-doc for the Navy and eventually founder herself managing a clinical trial in Liberia after the Ebola outbreak in 2014-15. She brought the lessons she learned managing diverse teams to Capitol Hill where she worked as a Staffer in the Senate, focused on Pennsylvania healthcare policy. From there, she found herself at the State Department and eventually the Department of Defense as the Principal Director for Biotechnology.
Every step along the way, shes build relationships, had a blast, and took every opportunity to stretch herself outside of her comfort zone.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Michelle —
Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rozo/
Michelle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Michelle_Rozo
— Let’s Chat —
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
Rejected from med school twice & now a founder, a physician, & a family Man - w/ Reza Hosseini Ghomi
Everyone fears rejection. It stings, it can even hurt, and it's embarrassing. But is it the end of the world? Today I get to have an awesome conversation with a great friend of mine, Reza Hosseini Ghomi.
If you took a snapshot of Reza's career, you would rightfully think he is wildly successful. He's been the co-founder of multiple startups, he's a practicing doctor, he has a wonderful family and his life is full of friends. What you wouldn't see is how he was rejected from med school twice after he recovered from cancer early in life.
We all want to be perfect on our first try, but what Reza and I get to talk about is how that's just not realistic. But it is absolutely not the end of the world if you have to try twice, three times, or more. Not giving up is the key, because when you don't amazing things can happen.
The best part is how we met. There I was, staring at a strange man in his underwear in my girlfriend's apartment when...
You'll have to listen to the podcast to get the rest!
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
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— About Reza —
Reza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezahg/
BrainCheck: https://braincheck.com/
Avicenna: https://www.avicenna.care/
His website: http://www.brainmindedmd.com/
— Let’s Chat —
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/alexandertitus
PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/1alexandertitus
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
— The Social Life —
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
Exploring the world of synthetic biology and designer viruses - with Andrew Hessel
The biotechnology industry is booming, and synthetic biology is the hottest topic of the decade. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrew Hessel and chatting about SynBio and the world of designer viruses. In today's world, COVID-19 dominates the discussion about viruses, but in reality, there are countless opportunities to use viruses as everything from new cancer therapies to understanding the human genome.
On top of founding a synthetic virus company, Andrew is also the Founder and Chairman of the Genome Project Write, and complementary synthesis project to the human genome. The goal, write the human genome from scratch. Now we're a long way off before biology can do this, but it's within our grasp.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- About Andrew ---
Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhessel/
Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewhessel
GP-Write: https://engineeringbiologycenter.org/
Humane Genomics: https://www.humanegenomics.com/
His website: https://andrewhessel.com/
--- Let's Chat ---
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://alexandertitus.com/podcast
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
--- The Social Life ---
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences #science #research #DIYBio #CommunityBiology #STEM #Startups
PhD not required, but sometimes it would be nice - with Joe Buccina
People ask me all the time if a biotechnology PhD is required to be successful in the industry. Given I'm only half the conversation, I called a good friend, Joe Buccina, and we had a great conversation about careers in the biotechnology industry, and when and how a PhD benefits you. We also talked about when other routes are useful as well. The key take away, as in many of my discussions, is your network is the most powerful thing you have in your toolbox. Build your community, and they will help build you.
Overall, it depends! I know, I know. That's a hard one, but hopefully, our conversation helps out a bit in the decision process! Either way, Joe's an amazing guy, and I recommend everyone knows him. ;-)
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- About Joe ---
Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-buccina-622a925/
--- Let's Chat ---
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com/
ARTICLE: https://alexandertitus.com/2020/06/16/phd-not-required/
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://alexandertitus.com/podcast
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
--- The Social Life ---
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/1alexandertitus/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1AlexanderTitus
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences #science #research #DIYBio #CommunityBiology #STEM #Startups
The beauty of DIY biology and the biotechnology community with Yong-Bee Lim
The DIY biology community is full of amazing people who are driving the entire field of biotechnology forward with pure curiosity. The group that considers themselves involved with community biology come from all walks of life and nearly every industry. DIYBio is it's often called, is a collection of labs and curious minds that get together to explore the biotech world.
There are people that you meet throughout your life that just leave an impression. Yong-Bee Lim is one of them. I'm excited to share our conversation this week about his work at the intersection of the social sciences, biotechnology, and community biology. This is yet another fascinating career that has wound through national security into community labs across the country.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- About Yong-Bee ---
Yong-Bee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FuturistYB
--- Let's Chat ---
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--- The Social Life ---
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences #science #research #DIYBio #CommunityBiology #STEM #Startups
Vishaal, CEO @ Aanika Bio, talks about how life’s not about what you know. It’s about how you think.
Today I get to talk to Vishaal Bhuyan, who was a history of science major and esoteric finance guru now turned into the snack-pack man and CEO of a biotech company. I know, that's a lot to process. Hang in there! His startup, Aanika Biosciences, creates synthetic biology tools for the supply chain industry and they work with companies ranging from agriculture to diamond distributors. He co-founded Aanika with last week's guest, Dr. Ellen Jorgensen. We find time to talk about careers, cool tech, and receiving feedback in life. Take a look!
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- About Vishaal ---
Vishaal on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VishaalBhuyan
Aanika Bioscience on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aanikabio
Aanika Bioscience on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aanikabio/
--- Let's Chat ---
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://alexandertitus.com/podcast
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
--- The Social Life ---
LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1alexandertitus
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences #science #research #DIYBio #CommunityBiology #STEM #Startups #AnikaBiosciences
Founding DIYBio and growing a biotech business with Ellen Jorgensen
Today I get to talk to Dr. Ellen Jorgensen, who co-founded the DIYBiology movement, inspired the world through her TED talks, and is now the co-founder of a biotechnology company using microbes as tracking tags.
I had the good fortune to get to chat with Ellen and share my approach to life and we bonded over biotechnology, synthetic biology, and traveling to Alaska.
One of the common themes I hear a lot is how people find their way into biotech through exploring the world rather than a simple path everyone follows.
So listen to Ellen’s story and take in all her great ideas!
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- About Ellen ---
Ellen on TED: https://www.ted.com/talks/ellen_jorgensen_what_you_need_to_know_about_crispr
Ellen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/feyscientist
Aanika Bioscience on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aanikabio
Our first conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghlzC0XS1rQ66
--- Let's Chat ---
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://alexandertitus.com/podcast
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
--- The Social Life ---
LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1alexandertitus
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences #science #research #DIYBio #CommunityBiology #STEM #Startups
Biotech, grad school, networking, and putting yourself out there
Sara Carioscia, who joined a triathlon without knowing how to ride a bike, talks about networking and life. Get more great insights @ https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter.
(0:10) She’s also a trailblazer with me kicking off the first episode of Titus Talks!
(0:40) In this episode of Titus Talks, we’re chatting with Sara Carioscia, who’s a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University, an overall lover of life, and a huge proponent of empowering others.
(3:15) Today we’re talking about networking and putting ourselves out there to meet people and grow in our careers. For anyone, whether you’re an undergrad, new grad, grad student, or CEO, meeting new people can be intimidating.
(7:00) One of the big questions we’re tackling is, what if you don’t feel like you have anything to offer to the conversation? Too often we sell ourselves short when we’re out there networking and think we need to be the fanciest person in the room for anyone to take us seriously. The reality is just the opposite.
(15:15) We’re also talking about grad school, life, and our love for biotech. Sara’s a PhD student in the JHU Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics Program (phew, that’s a mouthful) (https://cmdb.jhu.edu/) and is passionate about getting into biotech both in school and throughout her career.
(26:00) On top of it all, Sara is a triathlete, a cyclist, and the kind of person that puts herself out there for adventures. She did, in fact, join the triathlon team in college before she ever knew how to ride a bike! That takes the spirit of trying new things to a whole new level.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
Cheers,
-Titus
--- Let's Chat ---
THE BLOG: https://alexandertitus.com
YOUTUBE: https://alexandertitus.com/youtube
PODCAST: https://alexandertitus.com/podcast
NEWSLETTER: https://alexandertitus.com/newsletter
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LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/alexandertitus
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/1alexandertitus
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/1alexandertitus
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1alexandertitus
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#biotech #biotechnology #biology #lifescience #lifesciences
#triathlon #triathlons #cycling #bikepacking #backpacking
#gradschool #graduateschool #phd #science #research
Welcome to the Podcast!
We’re gonna talk about technology, with a special love for biotechnology, and we're gonna talk about how technology is impacting our careers and our lives.
Thrown in the mix, we’re gonna talk about all the great things people are doing with their lives and we’re gonna keep a focus on the people who make industries thrive and the world go around.
Whether you’re an undergrad, new grad, grad student, CEO, or an everyday member of a community like me, you’ll love our talks and our guests, and you have to subscribe!
Everyone should join the conversation. Welcome to Titus Talks.
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