How to be a Scientist, with Bobby Kasthuri

Roy Bahat talks with neuroscientist Bobby Kasthuri, a University of Chicago professor known for his work mapping the brain, about the real mechanics of a career in science. They cover the full arc: from deciding to become a scientist in the first place, to finding ideas worth pursuing, to navigating the tenure clock and beyond. Bobby gets candid about the money side (how scientists fund their research and what they actually get paid), the controversial role of self-promotion, and why so many published research papers turn out to be wrong. They also dig into the emotional reality of scientific life: the idealism, the disappointments, and what keeps you going. Plus, dinosaurs.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Preview

00:01:51 – Big Dino

00:05:41 – Introductions

00:12:29 – Choosing science as a vocation

00:24:13 – Idea

00:51:31 – Investigation

1:23:44 – Communication

1:36:09 – Career progression

2:05:29 – The scientific system

2:35:22 – Parting thoughts for new scientists

2:40:35 – Bobby’s students

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