My Fave Queer Chemist

Bec Roldan & Geraldo Duran

About

Chemistry! Queerness! The Trials and Tribulations of Graduate School! MFQC spills the tea on it all. Join Bec and Geraldo twice a month as they interview LGBTQ+ chemists on their research interests and experiences with identity, challenges, and achievements in the chemistry field. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll learn all the ins and outs of queer culture. Follow us on twitter at @MFQCPod or send us an email at myfavequeerchemist@gmail.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mfqc/support

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59 episodes

Ethan Chavarin, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

This week on the show we chatted with Ethan Chavarin (he/him), an undergraduate researcher in the Stieber lab at Cal Poly Pomona. We discussed surviving the pandemic as an undergrad, finding support for undergrad research, & more! To connect with Ethan you can follow him on Twitter @ethan_chavarin and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

41m
Feb 03, 2023
Matthew Welmers, INX Int. Ink Co. & oSTEM

This week on the show we chatted with the Matthew Welmers (he/they), a research scientist at INX Int. Co. and VP of Projects & Programs at oSTEM. We discuss Matthew's journey to oSTEM, all that they've accomplished since taking up leadership roles at oSTEM (including running many national oSTEM conferences!), how he juggles all his responsibilities, and more! To connect with Matthew you can follow them on Twitter @williamthebard and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time, happy holidays, and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

43m
Jan 13, 2023
Dr. Eden Tanner, University of Mississippi

This week on the show we chatted with the Dr. Eden Tanner (she/her), an Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). We discuss Eden's journey to Ole Miss, which spans living in three different countries, her time in LGBTQ+ Choruses as a postdoc, and what led her to choosing Ole Miss to start her academic career. She tells us about what starting a lab during a global pandemic has taught her and what her goals for her new lab are. To connect with Eden you can follow her on Twitter @EdenTanner and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time, happy holidays, and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

38m
Dec 16, 2022
Dr. Austin Graham, University of California, San Francisco

This week on the show we chatted with the Dr. Austin Graham (he/him), a postdoctoral fellow in the Gartner lab at UCSF and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. We discuss Austin's time leading the ROLE Model Program as a graduate student at UT-Austin, the challenges of graduate student-led initiatives, the importance for undergraduate research, the UC Academic Workers strike, & much more! To connect with Austin can follow him on Twitter @austinjgraham and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time  and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

50m
Dec 02, 2022
MFQC Check-In: 3rd Year of Graduate School with Sarah Champagne

After a brief hiatus, we're back baby! This week on the show Bec and Geraldo welcome back friend of the pod, Sarah Champagne (they/them), a graduate student in the Narayan lab at the University of Michigan. We reflect on our 3rd year of graduate school, all that we've accomplished so far, the transition into being a 4th year grad student, and more! We chat about the ups and downs and EVERYTHING in between. Follow us on Twitter @MFQCPod. And remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. Warning: this episode does contain some explicit language and is also a bit more chaotic than our other interviews. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

42m
Nov 04, 2022
Dr. Nancy Williams, Claremont McKenna/Scripps/Pitzer Colleges (with Guest Host, Kareesa Kron)

Welcome to the last week of our Pride Summer Special!! This week on the show, we welcomed MFQC newcomer Kareesa Kron (they/them) as our guest host! Kareesa chatted with Nancy Williams (she/her), a Chemistry Professor at the Keck Science Department at Claremont McKenna, Scripps, and Pitzer Colleges. They discussed Nancy’s path through academia and her process of coming out as a trans woman after becoming a tenured faculty member at the Claremont Colleges. She explores her increasing involvement in DEI committees as the Claremont Colleges evolve to be more diverse and accepting to queer students. She also discusses her active involvement in deep canvassing through the LA LGBT Center and the Trans Chorus of LA and how she has built community in these spaces. This episode is benefitting the LA LGBT Center (chosen by our guest host, Kareesa) and the GoFundMe fundraiser is LIVE (https://gofund.me/726c9923) and will close 9/10. To connect with Nancy you can follow her on Twitter @NancySBWilliams (and us @MFQCPod). We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

49m
Sep 02, 2022
Dr. Brennan Kessenich, National Park Service (With Guest Host Filipe Cerqueira)

Pride Month may be over but MFQC Pride Summer is still underway! Welcome back for Week 4, y'all! This week on the show we welcomed back Filipe Cerqueira (he/him) to the MFQC studio as our guest host! Filipe chatted with Dr. Brennan Kessenich (they/them), a chemist who now works for the National Park Service. IBrennan and Filipe discussed navigating the chemistry field as a queer person, how disabilities play at that intersection, scotch tape, and cat whiskers! This episode is benefitting the Marsha P. Johnson Institute (chosen by our guest host, Filipe) and the GoFundMe fundraiser is LIVE (https://gofund.me/76674d41) and will close 8/26. To connect with Filipe you can follow him on Twitter @FilipeHutchens (and us @MFQCPod). We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfqc/support

31m
Aug 18, 2022
Dr. Vanessa Ralph, Chemistry Education Researcher

Pride Month may be over but MFQC Pride Summer is still underway! Welcome back for Week 3, y'all! This week on the show we welcomed back Stephanie Berg (she/her) to the MFQC studio as our guest host! Steph chatted with Dr. Vanessa Ralph (she/ella), a chemistry education researcher. They discussed how different aspects of identity impact their chemistry education research, the current climate of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) research in science education spaces, and more. Vanessa also shares tips and literature to help new education researchers (and everyone!) thoughtfully and equitably approach DEI work. This episode is benefitting Black and Pink (chosen by our guest host, Stephanie) and the GoFundMe fundraiser is LIVE (https://gofund.me/ef7aa275) and will close 8/5. To connect with Stephanie and Vanessa you can follow them on Twitter @ssnorkles and @vanessachemedu (and us @MFQCPod). We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

26m
Jul 29, 2022
Viktor Belay, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine

Pride Month may be over but MFQC Pride Summer is still underway! Welcome back for Week 2, y'all! This week on the show we welcomed MFQC newcomer Cassie Chartier (she/they) as our guest host! Cassie chatted with Viktor Belay (he/him), a PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine and Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They discussed science communication in the time of COVID, Viktor's journey to Tiktok, how scicomm and scipol intertwine, and much more! This episode is benefitting the Ali Forney Center (chosen by our guest host, Cassie) and the GoFundMe fundraiser is LIVE (https://gofund.me/fa594ef4) and will close 7/14. To connect with Cassie and Viktor you can follow them on Twitter @cassie_chartier and @BelayViktor (and us @MFQCPod). We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

31m
Jul 08, 2022
Avery Tytla, University of California, Berkeley (with guest host, Sky Cochrane)

Happy Pride Month, y'all and welcome to Week 1 of our MFQC Pride Summer Special! This week on the show we welcomed back Sky Cochrane (first on the show in S1:EP10) as a guest host! Sky chatted with Avery Tytla (she/her), a PhD candidate in the Francis lab at the University of California, Berkeley. They discussed Avery's journey coming out, breaking down the barriers of access to academia, Avery's career trajectory, and much more! This episode is benefitting the LGBT Center of Raleigh (chosen by our guest host, Sky) and the GoFundMe fundraiser is LIVE and will close 6/30. To connect with Sky and Avery you can follow them on Twitter @SkyCochrane1 and @avtytla (and us @MFQCPod). We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

26m
Jun 24, 2022
Dr. Nate Cardin, Harvard Westlake School

This week on the show we chatted with the Dr. Nate Cardin (he/him), a high school chemistry professor at Harvard Westlake School in Los Angeles. We discuss Nate's journey to becoming a high school teacher, stigma around non-traditional careers in the chemistry field, how he's learned to be an ally through teaching, queer crossword puzzles, and so much more! To connect with Nate can follow him on Twitter @naytnaytnayt and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time for the start of our Pride Summer Series and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

48m
May 20, 2022
Dr. Camille Bishop, National Institute of Standards and Technology

This week on the show we chatted with the lovely Dr. Camille Bishop (she/her) who currently serves as a NRC postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NRC). We discuss graduate research, how she ended up NIST, science communication training for scientists, gay sports and much more! To connect with Camille can follow her on Twitter @glassic_chem and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

26m
May 06, 2022
Dr. Michelle Bushey, National Science Foundation

This week on the show we chatted with the lovely Dr. Michelle Bushey (she/her) who currently serves as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF). We discuss her career in academia at Trinity University, her decision to pursue her dream of working at the NSF, what working in public service looks like for her and much more! To connect with Michelle, you can email her at mbushey@nsf.gov and you can follow us on Twitter @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

39m
Apr 08, 2022
Tom Pospiech, University of California, San Francisco

This week on the pod, we chat with Tom Pospiech (he/him) a graduate student in the Southworth lab at the University of California, San Francisco. We discuss his work with science policy, creating boundaries in graduate school, prioritizing mental health and more! You can follow Tom on Twitter @ATompiech and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

48m
Apr 01, 2022
Dr. Christian Malapit, Northwestern University

This week on the show Bec and Geraldo talk with Dr. Christian Malapit (he/him), an Assistant Professor in Chemistry at Northwestern University. We chatted about navigating graduate school as an international student, landing a job in academia and starting a lab from the ground up, mentoring the next generation of scientists and so much more! We'll see y'all next week! Follow Christian on Twitter @CAMalapit and us @MFQCPod!

42m
Mar 11, 2022
Dr. André Isaacs, College of the Holy Cross

We're back with season 3 of MFQC!! We're so glad to be back, we've got a great season planned for y'all! This week on the show Bec and Geraldo talk with Dr. André Isaacs (he/him), an Associate Professor in Chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross. We chatted about changing the way we teach to create more equitable classrooms, queering chemistry, becoming TikTok famous, and so much more! We'll see y'all next week! Follow André on Twitter (& TikTok!) @drdre4000 and us @MFQCPod! 

44m
Feb 18, 2022
Stephanie Berg, University of Nebraska

This week on the pod, we chat with Stephanie Berg (she/her) a 3rd year graduate student in the Moon lab at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. We discuss her chemistry education research, what creating an equitable learning environment for students looks like, and more! You can follow Stephanie on Twitter @ssnorkels and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

28m
Nov 19, 2021
Dr. Lisa Pecher, Angewandte Chemie

This week on the pod we took a little virtual trip over to Germany to chat with the lovely with Dr. Lisa Pecher (she/her) who currently serves as an Editor at Angewandte Chemie. We discuss her process coming out as transgender, finding her way to the editing and publishing field, and her current DEI initiatives within the journal community (and much more!). You can follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaPecher and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. CORRECTION: At 26:32, the following was said: "And then they just called me. They didn't even put out a job ad because I had already applied a couple of months before." This was incorrect and misremembered. Wiley-VCH did put out a job ad for this position, which was not seen by Lisa because she was approached directly by the company. Lisa clarified this point after the interview had been recorded.

50m
Nov 09, 2021
Dr. Matthew Leech, University of Greenwich

This week on the pod we skip on over across the pond to hat with Dr. Matthew Leech (he/him) a postdoctoral fellow in the Lab lab at the University of Greenwich. We discuss how Twitter has opened up Matt's eyes to a lot of issues, finding community in graduate school and as a postdoc, how the chemistry community is changing in the UK and more! You can follow Matthew on Twitter @MattTheChemist and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

29m
Oct 11, 2021
Dr. Laura Haynes, University of Michigan

After a brief summer hiatus, we're back! And we've got some great stories lined up for y'all!! This week on the pod, we chat with Dr. Laura Haynes (she/her) a postdoctoral fellow in the Ginsburg lab at the University of Michigan. Laura shares with us her personal journey through academia so far, which has largely been influenced by family and location, which is often not talked about. She also shares with us her experience getting pregnant in a queer relationship and being pregnant as a postdoc. You don't want to miss this one! You can follow Laura on Twitter @LMHaynes and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday.

38m
Sep 24, 2021
Pride Summer Finale: An Evening with Carolyn Bertozzi

Welcome back to My Fave Queer Chemist, y'all! This week, Bec & Geraldo share the recording of our fourth and final Pride Summer event, a live discussion with the incredible Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi. We were able to raise $360 for Gender Spectrum, an organization that is working to advocate for and support transgender youth in this country. Thank you so much to everyone who has attended, donated to and supported all of our Pride Summer events. We were able to raise $1600 for trans-led orgs in this country and we wouldn't have been able to do it without y'all. Be on the look out for what we have planned in the coming months for the show and follow us on our Twitter @MFQCPod! See y'all next time! 

1h 1m
Jul 23, 2021
Pride Summer Panel #3: LGBTQ+ in Academia

Welcome back to My Fave Queer Chemist, y'all! This week, Bec & Geraldo share the recording of our third Pride Summer event, a Live Panel discussion about LGBTQ+ in Academia. We featured four incredible scientists doing great work in the fields of biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. We also raised $400 for the Trans Lifeline, an organization that is working to advocate for and save the lives of transgender people of color in this country. Our Pride Summer FINALE will be Next Wednesday, July 14 which will feature the incredible Carolyn Bertozzi as our guest! This event will be benefitting Gender Spectrum so stay tuned, we’ll be tweeting more information about this in the next couple of days. Stay up to date on all of our Pride events on our Twitter @MFQCPod!

1h 15m
Jul 08, 2021
Pride Summer Panel #2: LGBTQ+ in Industry

Welcome back to My Fave Queer Chemist, y'all! This week, Bec & Geraldo share the recording of our second Pride Summer event, a Live Panel discussion about LGBTQ+ in Industry. We featured four incredible scientists doing great work in the chemical industries AND we raised $700 for the Trans Women of Color Collective, an organization that is working to advocate for and save the lives of transgender people of color in this country. All pride summer, we’ll be hosting other great events that highlight LGBTQ+ scientists in a variety of fields. Each episode will raise funds for a different organization in the United States that is working to save the lives of transgender adults and youth, which feels especially necessary given the huge number of anti-trans legislation that have been proposed in countless states in this country this year. Next Thursday, July 1 we’ll be having our third panel “LGBTQ+ in Academia” benefiting the Trans Lifeline so stay tuned, we’ll be tweeting more information about this in the next couple of days. Stay up to date on all of our Pride events on our Twitter @MFQCPod!

1h 13m
Jun 25, 2021
Pride Summer Panel #1: LGBTQ+ in SciComm / SciPol

Welcome back to My Fave Queer Chemist, y'all! This week, Bec & Geraldo share the recording of our first Pride Summer event, a Live Panel discussion about LGBTQ+ in Science Communication and Science Policy. We featured four incredible forces in the field of SciComm and SciPol and raised $140 for the Transgender Law Center, an organization that is working to advocate for and save the lives of transgender people in this country. All pride summer, we’ll be hosting other great events that highlight LGBTQ+ scientists in a variety of fields. Each episode will raise funds for a different organization in the United States that is working to save the lives of transgender adults and youth, which feels especially necessary given the huge number of anti-trans legislation that have been proposed in countless states in this country this year. Next Thursday, June 17 we’ll be having our second panel “LGBTQ+ in Industry” benefiting the Trans Women of Color Collective so stay tuned, we’ll be tweeting more information about this in the next couple of days. Stay up to date on all of our Pride events on our Twitter @MFQCPod! 

1h 9m
Jun 10, 2021
Irving Rettig, Portland State University

This week on the pod, we chat with Irving Rettig (he/they) a 5th year graduate student in Theresa McCormick's lab at Portland State University. We discuss his incredible trans advocacy work in the American Chemical Society, their own department, & beyond. This work has manifested itself as leading the charge of trans-inclusive name change policies within academic publishing. You can follow Irv on Twitter @irv_does_chem and us @MFQCPod. We'll see y'all next time and remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. 

46m
Apr 30, 2021
MFQC Check-In: 2nd Year of Grad School

This week on the show Bec and Geraldo reflect on the last year of graduate school and we've navigated their 2nd year in the middle of a pandemic! We chat about the ups and downs and EVERYTHING in between. Follow us on Twitter @MFQCPod. And remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. 

33m
Apr 16, 2021
Kat Magnone, Miami University

This week on the pod, we chatted with the lovely Kat Magnone (they/them), a graduate student in the Yezierski lab at Miami University where they work on chemistry education research. We talk about what Kat wishes people knew about chemistry education research, how to create inclusive classrooms, Kat's graduate school experience so far, and much more! You can follow Kat on Twitter @KatMagnone and us @MFQCPod. And remember, Black Lives Matter today and everyday. *Note: This episode was recorded in September of 2020.

34m
Mar 26, 2021
Devin Swiner, Ohio State University

This week on the show Geraldo and Bec talk with the incredible Devin Swiner (she/her), a 5th year graduate student in the Badu-Tawaih research group at Ohio State University. Devin is wrapping up her PhD and beginning at Merck chemistry soon! We discuss how to be a good mentor, uplifting Black voices in the chemistry field, the many MANY accomplishments of Devin's career and so much more! You don't want to miss this one! If you want to support our show, head to the linktree in our twitter @MFQCPod to learn how to! Follow Devin on Twitter @Devin_Eleven. And remember, Black lives matter today and everyday. See y'all next time! 

35m
Feb 26, 2021
Samantha Mensah, University of California, Los Angeles

This week on the show, Geraldo and Bec talk with Samantha Mensah (she/her), a graduate student in the Weiss and Andrews labs at UCLA. We discuss her work with #BlackinChem as one of the co-founders and incoming president, as well as her passion for science policy and how she's celebrating Black History Month. You can follow Samantha on Twitter @blackinthelab and us @MFQCPod. See y'all next week! 

20m
Feb 11, 2021
Dr. Benny Chan, The College of New Jersey

We're back with season 2 of MFQC!! We're so glad to be back, we've missed y'all so much!  This week on the show Bec and Geraldo talk with Dr. Benny Chan (he/they), who currently serves as the Department Chair for the Chemistry Department at The College of New Jersey and was nominated as the NOGLSTP Educator of the Year in 2019. We talk about his current research, his role as department chair and what it means to redefine undergraduate STEM education within the lense of DEI. Remember, Black lives matter today and everyday. We'll see y'all next week! Follow Benny on Twitter @drbennyc and us @MFQCPod

1h 2m
Jan 28, 2021