Dr. Kellie Smith is an Associate Professor of Oncology in the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In this interview, Dr. Smith shares how she came to study science and specialize in T-cell immunology and immunotherapy. She also discusses how she developed an original assay for detecting anti-tumor immune responses in specific types of lung cancer, called MANASCORE. She also shares some details about the goal of comprehensively understanding immunotherapy-resistant immune cells. Dr. Smith reveals the basic thought process that led her to a focus on integrating multi-omics technologies to study tumor-reactive T cells in the setting of various cancer types, with a specific focus on lung cancer; what brought her to Johns Hopkins, and how remaining at the institution throughout her career been an asset to her research.

In a field that is highly technical and requires sustained, years-long dedication that some people could find draining or otherwise unrewarding — the big Hollywood moments are presumably rare. Dr. Smith describes how she paces herself, determines benchmarks, and frames big-picture questions that structure her work.

Finally, scientists have long worked at the center of the tension between advancing (empirical) knowledge, and the realities of socio-political and cultural pressures. Dr. Smith discusses how scientists should grapple with the current tension.

Episode Resources:

• Profile Page, Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Google Scholar Page
• Keynote Presentation: Immunogenomic Characterization of Tumor-Reactive TIL in Lung Cancers w/ Live Q&A
• Keynote Presentation: Characterizing the phenotype, function, and spatial interactions of tumor-reactive TIL

Connect & explore more: Visit The Life of Her Mind to listen, share, and access links and resources. Check out Labroots scholarship opportunities here. Submit a scientific poster to be featured in our event(s) here.

Dr. Stephanie Poindexter is a biological anthropologist at the University of Buffalo specializing in primatology. Doctor Poindexter conducts field, lab, and desk-based research into how primates use and navigate their habitats. More specifically, Doctor Poindexter investigates primate movement, morphology, and cognition. Of particular interest is the slow loris. Dr. Poindexter investigates how the environment, other animals, and their own cognitive and physical capacities influence the nocturnal slow loris's movement.

In this episode, we learn how Dr. Poindexter loved primates as a child, planned for medical school, then rediscovered and fell in love with primatology as an undergrad. We also learn how Dr. Poindexter came to specialize in the slow loris, and how she expands the scope of thinking about evolutionary drivers of movement and cognition.

Episode Resources:

• Faculty Page, University at Buffalo
• Check out Dr. Poindexter’s conservation work at Project Chimps

Stay up to date on the latest in science at ⁠Labroots.com⁠.

Kinesiology Professor Shilo Nelson’s story highlights the important point that there is no one correct way to approach a career in STEM.

Our conversation covers a range of topics, including the following:

• Prof. Nelson’s experience in the United States Air Force
• How Prof. Nelson parlayed her discipline and physical fitness into a stint as a Seattle Sea Hawks cheerleader;
• The importance of seeing – and taking – opportunities that don’t seem obvious fits with one’s background;
• How Prof. Nelson’s path as a kinesiology major at Eastern Washington University led to body building, work as an aerobics instructor, goat yoga, and more!

Stay up to date on the latest in science at ⁠Labroots.com⁠.