What does a data scientist do? How does the work environment in a start-up contrast with that in academia? What challenges await those who switch scientific disciplines? How to stay involved with the scientific community beyond academia?

The typical academic path involves numerous transitions—changing projects, labs, and institutes. Mobility is not only encouraged but often rewarded, as seen in grant criteria. While such changes can broaden your scientific perspective and expose you to different work cultures, they also come with various difficulties and challenges.

Our guest, Ryan Cubero, is no stranger to significant changes. He moved from the Philippines to Italy to further his education, shifted his scientific focus from Physics to Biology and then to Neuroscience, and most recently transitioned from academia to a start-up company as a data scientist.

In our conversation, Ryan reflects on his journey, beginning with his seemingly fate-driven decision to study Physics. This was followed by his venture into the complex world of Biology, prompted by an autoimmune disorder diagnosis. Throughout, he identifies an underlying pattern behind his decisions. Ryan candidly discusses the challenges he faced during his many transitions: feelings of isolation, hesitancy to ask for help, and the struggle to learn new scientific languages and concepts.

Later, Kasia and Ryan delve into the questions they pondered when considering leaving academia. Ryan shares his methods for staying connected with science, explains how his passion for home microscopy began, and offers advice to others seeking to change their lives or careers. The conversation is rich with book recommendations, laughter, and important insights into research culture.

It will feel like you’ve joined us with a cup of your favorite drink—so sit back, grab your tea, coffee, or matcha latte, and enjoy. Welcome, Ryan Cubero!

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If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Find Ryan on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Ryan Cubero comes from the Philippines, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physics. He then moved to Trieste, Italy, to obtain a Diploma in Condensed Matter Physics at the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). His growing interest in Biology led him to pursue a PhD in Statistical Physics, focusing on mRNA interaction, through a joint project between ICTP and the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in Trondheim, Norway. Subsequently, he joined the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) as a postdoctoral fellow, a position he held until July 2023.

Currently, Ryan is a Data Scientist and Bioinformatician at QUANTRO Therapeutics, a start-up dedicated to discovering and developing novel therapeutics that target disease-causing transcriptional programs in cancer and other diseases.

In his free time, Ryan is a passionate microscopist and actively participates in Citizen Science initiatives. During our conversation, he discusses Crowd Preprint Reviewing, an initiative spearheaded by ASAPBio review (check it out!)

Ryan’s book recommendations:

- When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut

- When Einstein Walked with Gödel by Jim Holt

- The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee

- The Spike by Mark Humphries

- Birth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure by Cedric Villani -----------

Follow Science on Trial [and Error] on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Look for Kasia's BookTube channel Reading In-Between ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Music and Sound Engineering: Lukasz Kowalski

contact: scienceontrialanderror@gmail.com

What does a CSO of a biotech company do on a day-to-day basis? How much truth lies behind the common stereotypes about working in the biotech industry? What can make you stand out as a candidate for a biotech industry job?

Step into the dynamic world of biotech with our latest episode as we debunk common myths and uncover the realities of working in this vibrant industry. Our guest is Peggy Sotiropoulou, an accomplished cancer immunology researcher from Greece. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at T-Knife Therapeutics. Few years ago, Peggy decided to leave her tenured academic position of Research Associate Professor and make the leap to the industry.

In our conversation, she explained what was most relevant in her informed decision process and how she explored the different options. Peggy shares her insights on what it truly means to be a CSO, revealing the intricacies of developing scientific strategies and navigating the hiring process. She candidly provides her invaluable insights and advice presenting the unique benefits and opportunities that the biotech industry offers, both for scientific research and professional growth.

In this engaging conversation, Peggy and Kasia explore the nuances of transitioning from academic research to the industry world, shedding light on the lessons academia can learn from biotech. From Peggy's unexpected beginnings as a travel magazine writer to her current role as a leader in biotech, her story is a testament to ambition, resilience, and foresight. But our discussion doesn't stop there. Stay tuned as we explore Peggy's insights on women in leadership roles, the future of the therapeutic industry, and even touch upon our favourite Greek filmmaker. Join us as we journey through Peggy's remarkable career and gain a deeper understanding of the biotech landscape. Get ready for an episode packed with insights and inspiration you'll be glad you didn't miss. Enjoy and welcome Peggy Sotiropoulou!

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If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Find Peggy on LinkedIn⁠.

Peggy Sotiropoulou obtained her PhD degree at Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center in Athens, Greece. She then progressed through 2 postdoctoral positions moving from Athens to Brussels spanning short 4 years. After that she secured a tenured position of Research Associate Professor at FNRS (Funds for Scientific Research) in Brussels leading a team investigating Cancer initiation, growth and resistance to therapy. However, she decided to leave her academic position and transitioned to industry. Spending 3 years at Celyad Oncology, she swiftly ascended from R&D Manager to the role of Head of R&D. Today she is the Chief Scientific Officer CSO at T-Knife Therapeutics, a biotech company dedicated to pioneering novel cancer therapeutics, particularly supercharged TCR-Ts T-cell receptor therapies.

Peggy’s movie recommendation: movies of Yorgos Lanthymos

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If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Look for Kasia's BookTube channel Reading In-Between ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Music and Sound Engineering: Lukasz Kowalski

What does a Human Factors Engineer do? What can lead to a decision to exit academia, and what can drive someone to share their transition publicly? What are the do's & don'ts of job hunting?

Our guest is Ashley Ruba - an American researcher, currently working as a Human Factors Engineer at Arthrex. Ashley is also a founder of After Academia, a coach and a career strategist advising fellow PhDs seeking to transition out of academia and supporting them in launching fulfilling non-academic careers.

In this episode, Ashley provides a glimpse into her daily life and work experiences. She demystifies the world of UX Research and shares the true story behind the origins of Human Factors Engineering. Ashley and Kasia discuss the often-ignored toll of academic careers on mental health. From the pressures and toxic culture of academia to the self-rediscovery found in leaving, Ashley shares the challenges she faced for speaking out during her transition and navigating the subsequent backlash.

But this conversation isn't just about career choices - keep listening till the end where it gets even more personal and insightful. In a candid moment, Ashley reveals her recent autism diagnosis and the impact it had on her perception of self and interactions with others. Together, Kasia and Ashley engage in a heartfelt dialogue about destigmatizing health issues and advocating for workplace accommodations, emphasizing that no job is worth sacrificing mental health. As the conversation unfolds, Ashley reflects on her aspiration to write a memoir, tracing her path of growth, self-discovery, and the embrace of a growth mindset.

Tune in as Ashley offers invaluable resources, identifies common pitfalls to avoid, and imparts strategies for navigating career transitions. As Ashley said: You have all the answers that you’re looking for. Get out of your own way! Enjoy and welcome Ashley Ruba! -------------

If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Find Ashley and sign up for her newsletter through her website, but also on LinkedIn⁠, Twitter (X) and ⁠Instagram⁠.⁠

Ashley earned her MS and PhD in Developmental Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle, followed by a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She decided to leave her academic career a little bit over 2 years ago. Frustrated by the job insecurity and political nature of academia, she decided to speak out rather than quietly fade away like so many others. Ashley’s candid posts detailing her career transition went viral, sparking conversations and requests for advice from hundreds of individuals in similar situations. She then briefly worked in Consulting before starting as UX Researcher at Meta.

Today, Ashley not only navigates her own career path but also extends a guiding hand to fellow PhDs. She is the founder of After Academia, a platform dedicated to offering coaching, strategic advice, and support to those seeking to transition out of academia and into fulfilling non-academic careers.

Ashley’s book recommendations: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao; $100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No by Alex Hormozi -------------

Follow Science on Trial [and Error] on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

Look for Kasia's BookTube channel Reading In-Between ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Music and Sound Engineering: Lukasz Kowalski