Scientess

Sohini Ramachandran is the Hermon C. Bumpus Professor of Biology at Brown University, where she also holds a courtesy appointment in Computer Science. She is the Founding Director of Brown’s Data Science Institute and has led programs in computational molecular biology and biological data science. Her research applies mathematical and computational approaches to understanding genetic variation, evolution, and complex biological systems.Sohini has been recognized with numerous national awards, including a Sloan Research Fellowship, a Pew Biomedical Scholar award, and the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE). She directs Brown’s NIH T32 Predoctoral Training Program in Biological Data Science and serves as a standing member of the NIH Genetic Variation and Evolution study section. Beyond research, Sohini is celebrated for her teaching, receiving the Henry Merritt Wriston Fellowship and the Philip J. Bray Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Physical Sciences.Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Pat Conrad is a Professor Emerita in Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at the University of California, Davis, and a globally recognized leader in the study of parasitic diseases and how they affect humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Pat was an early creator and adopter of One Health, which emphasizes that the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems is deeply interconnected. Through this lens, her work addresses global challenges, integrating veterinary, medical, and environmental perspectives to improve disease prevention, management, and education worldwide. Conrad has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including election to the National Academy of Medicine, Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology, and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She has also received lifetime achievement awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the UC Davis Chancellor’s Office. Her work continues to impact global health policy, research, and education, inspiring scientists and students alike.Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe is a soil biogeochemist and ecologist whose research explores how soil processes regulate Earth’s climate. She is a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and the Ted and Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology at the University of California, Merced. Her work investigates how environmental changes such as wildfire, drought, and erosion influence carbon and nitrogen cycles.Asmeret served as Director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2022 to 2024, overseeing national research programs, funding initiatives, and 28 scientific user facilities. She has been recognized for her contributions to global environmental assessment, including work on the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and is a passionate advocate for women in STEM, co-leading programs to improve inclusion and equity in the geosciences.Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Bobbi Peckarsky is an Honorary Fellow in the Biology Department and an Adjunct Professor of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She is also Professor Emeritus of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, where she spent over 25 years studying the fascinating interactions between stream-dwelling organisms and their environments. She was the first female faculty member hired in Cornell’s Entomology Department, in 1979.Bobbi research focuses on predator-prey dynamics, invertebrates as indicators of water quality, and how disturbance and climate change affect freshwater ecosystems. She has conducted extensive field studies on stream ecology at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and has been recognized internationally for her contributions to ecology. Beyond academia, Bobbi has championed the health of freshwater ecosystems by serving on several environmental boards and advisory councils.Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Rita Colwell is a pioneering environmental microbiologist recognized for her study of how global infectious diseases spread through water sources. Her research has profoundly changed our understanding of diseases like cholera. She also uncovered critical links between climate, environmental change, and the spread of waterborne diseases. Beyond the lab, Rita has broken major glass ceilings: she served as the first female director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, was the 2010 recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize, and won the U.S. National Medal of Science in 2006. Her memoir, A Lab of One’s Own, chronicles her career. Fun fact- a mountain in Antarctica, the Colwell Massif, is named after her!Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.

Welcome to Scientess, a podcast for women about the joy of science, and why women might want to consider a career in science. I’m your host, Karen Levy. I am a Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health. On the show, I’ll be talking to women with successful careers in science about how they did it, why they did it, and what they love about the work that they do. I’m excited to share with you the stories of these incredible women. The first episode of Season 1 drops on April 6, 2026, and episodes will be posted weekly after that.Support the showFor bonus content, check out our website www.scientess.org and follow us on Instagram @scientesspodcast. You can support the show at ko-fi.com/scientess.