Psychology In Action Podcast

We are back! For Season 2 of the Psychology in Action Podcast, we are interviewing graduate students to discuss their ongoing research and lives at school. For our first episode, we interviewed João Guassi Moreira, MA, CPhil, a soon-to-be doctor working with Dr. Jen Silvers at UCLA. We discuss some of João's awesome projects, his views on mentorship, the future of science, and much more. A great scientist, an even better guy -- this was a treat!

For our fifteenth episode, we sat down with Dr. PJ Lamberson (UCLA) to discuss mathematical modeling. How does a virus like COVID-19 spread, and what can we do to slow it down? How different is the spread of "viral" information on social media? Dr. Lamberson digs into the nuts and bolts, explaining how we can use models to understand the things that happen in our everyday lives.

For our fourteenth episode, we sat down with Dr. Diana Tamir (Princeton), Dr. Katie Young (King's College), and Dr. Livia Tomova (MIT) to discuss all things COVID-19. How do our brains process social isolation? How different are our social worlds during this crisis? What are the measurable effects of COVID-19 on our mental health? These researchers are leading the charge -- come hear what they have to say!

Applying for the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)can be a really stressful time! As the deadline approaches, PIA's own Stacy Shaw and Mark Straccia discuss some tips and tricks for strengthening your application (0:50). Then, Ben sits down with Dr. Janet Tomiyama, a reviewer for the NSF GRFP, to discuss her insights into the review process and what to watch out for (32:30). Whether you are currently applying for this award, thinking about maybe applying in the future, or simply want some insights into the grant review process, this episode is a great listen for scientists from any field.

For our twelfth episode, we sat down with Dr. Janet Tomiyama to discuss dieting, weight stigma, and how stress physiology impacts our health. Why doesn't dieting work? Is stress eating a real thing? How do social pressures affect our bodies and make weight loss even more difficult? And why does our society we even care about weight loss when it's so loosely related to overall health outcomes? Whether you know it or not, you've almost certainly considered the topics of Dr. Tomiyama's research. And like her, maybe some day you, too, can jump-start your research career with a quote from Oprah.