academia on fire

Living in the oasis of the 5th year in a neuroscience PhD

Hello ebc listeners– Are you still there? We certainly hope so, and we really miss y’all! Welcome to season 5! It’s been a long minute since we have posted, excuse us as we are both in the middle of some pretty intense times in the PhD :) However, the mics are scorching hot again, with some brand new updates and insights. In today’s episode, Avery and Yassine talk about some confusions that have crept up during the middle of their 5th years. These include communication and clarity in team-oriented conversations, putting together manuscripts, and prioritizing difficult tasks. This then leads into a conversation on the more exciting aspects of science and research, unpacking the big and small moments that keep one going despite failures. Finally, we talk about our evolution in our expertise within our fields of social cognition and migraine, respectively, and make predictions of where these fields are headed in the future. Bonus: we talk about post-doc transitions and coming up with new research projects, questions, and incorporating new techniques. You don’t want to miss out! Get connected with us: Contact us for educated thoughts or general confusions at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com [educatedbutconfused@gmail.com] & follow us on instagram @ebcpod [https://www.instagram.com/ebcpod?igsh=MXd3OGVtNXF4ZjUyeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] :) Support us by joining our patreon! patreon.com/educatedbutconfused [http://patreon.com/educatedbutconfused] Resources— Books mentioned: Native Sun by Richard Wright [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15622.Native_Son] Research studies: “Virtual Embodiment of White People in a Black Virtual Body Leads to a Sustained Reduction in Their Implicit Racial Bias [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27965555/]”

academia on fire

Is science even real anymore? What is real? And do people still believe in science? Just when we thought grad school couldn’t get more chaotic, the NIH funding landscape threw us a curveball. This week, Avery and Yassine dive into the messy realities of pursuing science in uncertain times, from funding struggles to the bigger question of how we connect research to real-world impact. We also check in on our PhD journeys... and yes, we have updates on Avery’s dating life too. 🧠 -As always, stay educated and seek confusion! Connect with us: 📩 educatedbutconfused@gmail.com [educatedbutconfused@gmail.com] 💸 Support: patreon.com/educatedbutconfused [http://patreon.com/educatedbutconfused]

Fourth Year Confessions: Grants, Goals, and the Glorious NeeDoh Gumdrop

It's Year 4 for the Educated But Confused podcast! Join Yassine and Avery for personal and professional updates, a deep dive into the challenges of transitioning after grant work or big deadlines, and the inside scoop on fourth year. Plus, we're spilling the tea and de-stressing with NeeDoh Gumdrops. As always, stay educated and seek confusion! Get connected with us: Contact us for educated thoughts or general confusions at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com [educatedbutconfused@gmail.com] Support us by joining our patreon!patreon.com/educatedbutconfused [http://patreon.com/educatedbutconfused]

Mentorship & Legacy with Dr. Daniel Tranel: A Standing Ovation

Hello, listeners— It is with the deepest honor, respect, and gratitude that we, Avery and Yassine, bring you this truly special episode. Our guest is none other than Dr. Daniel Tranel—Professor of Neurology, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Senior Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship, and Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Iowa. These titles barely scratch the surface of his contributions to science and mentorship, for which we owe him immense gratitude. Join us in this meaningful conversation as we celebrate Dr. Tranel’s impact on the scientific community, unpack his 2024 Carver College of Medicine Distinguished Mentor Award, explore his passion for mentorship, discuss the importance of scholarship, reflect on major scientific milestones, and gather invaluable advice for students. And if that wasn’t special enough—this episode was recorded to the minute on Dan’s birthday. Enjoy the magic of the Iowa Vibes! -As always, stay educated and seek confusion! Get connected with us: Contact us for educated thoughts or general confusions at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com [educatedbutconfused@gmail.com] & follow us on instagram @ebcpod [https://www.instagram.com/ebcpod?igsh=MXd3OGVtNXF4ZjUyeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] :) Support us by joining our patreon!patreon.com/educatedbutconfused [http://patreon.com/educatedbutconfused]

gritty but berated

In today’s episode, Yassine and Avery wrap up their third year of grad school, reflecting on key lessons learned and setting intentions for the year ahead. Join us as we look back, plan forward, and embrace the chaos and clarity of academic life. —As always, stay educated and seek confusion! 💡 Get in touch: 📩 Email us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com [educatedbutconfused@gmail.com] 🎙️ Support the show: Join our Patreon at patreon.com/educatedbutconfused [http://patreon.com/educatedbutconfused]