Rachael Kostelecky on Herpes Viruses and Infectious Disease

Dr. Abby Gillespie on Teaching Science in Jails

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Abby Gillespie, who is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Joe Nassour’s lab. She shares her interests in telomeres, especially their role in aging and protecting chromosomes, how she ended up at CU Anschutz, and her past outreach activities in jails. We talk about how her research regarding telomere shortening and repair didn’t necessarily match with preconceived notions, demonstrating science is an ever evolving platform. Additionally ,we learn about how she got involved in jail outreach, what activities typically occur, and the impact her work has had on those that are currently incarcerated. This is a great episode for those interested in combining interests in Academia with something more academia adjacent, specifically looking at science policy as an interesting career path.   Date Recorded: April 21, 2026  🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:   https://www.vera.org/ [https://www.vera.org/]  https://clas.ucdenver.edu/communication/cu-denver-prison-education-program [https://clas.ucdenver.edu/communication/cu-denver-prison-education-program]  https://tjpcolorado.org/ [https://tjpcolorado.org/]  https://www.denverjusticeproject.org/ [https://www.denverjusticeproject.org/]  https://nassourlab.com  https://jailoutreach.biosci.ucsd.edu/ [https://jailoutreach.biosci.ucsd.edu/]    🎙️ Other episodes you may like:     Neel Mukherjee: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2tBo070C6q1rW1DSlg6Xux?si=6a194f68d6144ff5 Dominic Shayler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/211aKD8sWnwKowzKHxZRkE?si=sIfK4Ey8R9CfC5tAsh54_Q ✨ Connect With Us:   * Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sciencebridgepod/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sciencebridgepod.bsky.social]    * Visit our Linktree here [https://linktr.ee/sciencebridgepod]   * Project Bridge Colorado Website [https://www.cuanschutz.edu/services/project-bridge]   * Follow Project Bridge Colorado on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/projbridgeco/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/projbridgeco.bsky.social]   * Email us at sciencebridgepod@gmail.com [sciencebridgepod@gmail.com] if you have any inquiries   🎵 Credits:   * Hosts: Jon Woodward and Natasha Shrivastava  * Editor: Jon Woodward  * Music By: Jeff Westcott   * Cover Art By: Johnathan Biffar   Disclaimer:   The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Science Bridge, Project Bridge Colorado, or CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The information provided is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific guidance.

Neel Mukherjee: The RNA Puppeteer

In this episode Dr. Neel Mukherjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, shares his journey into academia and his philosophy surrounding scientific communication. He found an early interest in RNA biology and has remained in the field. Dr. Mukherjee shares his insights into communicating his research effectively to all audiences, specifically through the use of puppets.     Date Recorded:  4/14/2026    🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:   https://www.mukherjeelab.org/ 🎙️ Other episodes you may like:    Cassie Minne: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4LEl2fkT06Ru8e4Jg2fPtF   ✨ Connect With Us:   * Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sciencebridgepod/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sciencebridgepod.bsky.social]    * Visit our Linktree here [https://linktr.ee/sciencebridgepod]   * Project Bridge Colorado Website [https://www.cuanschutz.edu/services/project-bridge]   * Follow Project Bridge Colorado on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/projbridgeco/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/projbridgeco.bsky.social]   * Email us at sciencebridgepod@gmail.com [sciencebridgepod@gmail.com] if you have any inquiries   🎵 Credits:   * Hosts:  Ginny Fogg and Grace Rodenberg   * Editor:  Preston Stafford  * Music By: Jeff Westcott   * Cover Art By: Johnathan Biffar   Disclaimer:   The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Science Bridge, Project Bridge Colorado, or CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The information provided is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific guidance.

Rachael Kostelecky on Herpes Viruses and Infectious Disease

In this episode, we catch up with PhD candidate Rachael Kostelecky. Rachael is in the last few months of her PhD at Anschutz and has lots of wisdom to share. She shares with us the skills she has found to be most helpful in a PhD, how to navigate through hard times, and how she found herself in a molecular biology PhD program. We dive into the biology behind herpes viruses, specifically how they work, the difference between latent and active infections, and how her research involves the study of immune cells. We also chat about the importance of science communication and how Rachael has used these skills in various steps in her career. This is a light and fun episode you won’t want to miss!   Date Recorded: April 10, 2026    🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:   Rachael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-kostelecky-71278a152/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-kostelecky-71278a152/]      🎙️ Other episodes you may like:      Sam Greenfield- https://open.spotify.com/episode/11yUKklA4TZYCGdo4VpDRn [https://open.spotify.com/episode/11yUKklA4TZYCGdo4VpDRn]  Cassie Minne- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4LEl2fkT06Ru8e4Jg2fPtF    ✨ Connect With Us:   * Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sciencebridgepod/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sciencebridgepod.bsky.social]    * Visit our Linktree here [https://linktr.ee/sciencebridgepod]   * Project Bridge Colorado Website [https://www.cuanschutz.edu/services/project-bridge]   * Follow Project Bridge Colorado on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/projbridgeco/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/projbridgeco.bsky.social]   * Email us at sciencebridgepod@gmail.com [sciencebridgepod@gmail.com] if you have any inquiries   🎵 Credits:   * Hosts: Lauren Dunn and Preston Stafford   * Editor: Breanna Bishop  * Music By: Jeff Westcott   * Cover Art By: Johnathan Biffar       Disclaimer:   The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Science Bridge, Project Bridge Colorado, or CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The information provided is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific guidance.

Meet the Hosts Pt.3: “The Girls”

Meet the newest hosts of the Science Bridge podcast- Bre, Grace, and Natasha (aka the Girls)! They are first year PhD students from Pharmacology, Human Medical Genetics, and Molecular Biology programs at CU Anschutz. Tune in and hear about their scientific journeys, passion for science communication, and the turbulent 2025 PhD admissions cycle. They all come from unique backgrounds, experiences, and parts of the country, but they relate in their joy for scientific inquiry and desire to communicate their science to broader audiences. Stay tuned for future episodes hosted by Bre, Grace, and Natasha!   Date Recorded: 4/6/26    🎙️ Other episodes you may like:    Ep #10: Meet the hosts pt2: “The Boys”  Ep #1: Meet the Hosts    ✨ Connect with Us:   * Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sciencebridgepod/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sciencebridgepod.bsky.social]    * Visit our Linktree here [https://linktr.ee/sciencebridgepod]   * Project Bridge Colorado Website [https://www.cuanschutz.edu/services/project-bridge]   * Follow Project Bridge Colorado on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/projbridgeco/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/projbridgeco.bsky.social]   * Email us at sciencebridgepod@gmail.com [sciencebridgepod@gmail.com] if you have any inquiries   🎵 Credits:   * Hosts: Bre Bishop, Grace Rodenberg, and Natasha Shrivastava  * Editor:  Grace Rodenberg * Music By: Jeff Westcott   * Cover Art By: Johnathan Biffar   Disclaimer:   The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Science Bridge, Project Bridge Colorado, or CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The information provided is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific guidance.

Blood, Cancer, & Collaboration with Dr. Cailin Collins

In this episode, we sit down with physician-scientist Dr. Cailin Collins to explore how her work bridges the gap between the lab and the clinic. Dr. Collins shares her journey through MD-PhD training and how it shaped her passion for a career that combines patient care with scientific discovery. Focused on hematologic malignancies, she discusses the unique opportunity to treat patients in the clinic while simultaneously advancing research in the lab. She also reflects on the collaborative environment at the University of Colorado, where a strong emphasis on patient-centered care drives both clinical practice and innovation. Date Recorded:  3.23.2026    🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned:    * www.thecollinslabcu.com  🎙️ Other episodes you may like:    Dr. Bruce Mandt:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gczcHa3mwk9mjM9E0hpOD?si=f18801200bf74c0d [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gczcHa3mwk9mjM9E0hpOD?si=f18801200bf74c0d]  Dr. Joanne Cole: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IO1vwVY1duM2PM8vs0QC7?si=d678f12ad1cf4cd4    ✨ Connect With Us:   * Follow The Science Bridge Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sciencebridgepod/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/sciencebridgepod.bsky.social]    * Visit our Linktree here [https://linktr.ee/sciencebridgepod]   * Project Bridge Colorado Website [https://www.cuanschutz.edu/services/project-bridge]   * Follow Project Bridge Colorado on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/projbridgeco/] & BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/projbridgeco.bsky.social]   * Email us at sciencebridgepod@gmail.com [sciencebridgepod@gmail.com] if you have any inquiries   🎵 Credits:   * Hosts: Jeremy Fleck, Ginny Fogg  * Editor:  Lauren Dunn * Music By: Jeff Westcott   * Cover Art By: Johnathan Biffar     Disclaimer:   The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Science Bridge, Project Bridge Colorado, or CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The information provided is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific guidance.