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Chemistea: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Lucy Yang
Some of the best scientific collaborations and ideas were born over a cup of tea or coffee. Join us for a virtual teatime as we discuss the ups and downs of one's journey to a scientific career, the "tea" of overcoming inevitable failure, with a splash exciting research endeavors.
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- Jan 7, 202248 min
PFAS, Environmental Chemistry, and how You can be a Greener Chemist - a chat with Dr. Shira Joudan
Dr. Shira Joudan is a currently a postdoctoral researcher in environmental chemistry at York University in Toronto. She completed her PhD in the department of chemistry at the University of Toronto in 2020, and in 2023 will start as an assistant professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Her research focuses on the fate of organic contaminants in the environment, and how transformation reactions impact how humans and ecosystems are exposed to potentially toxic chemicals. For the past 7 years, a major focus has been PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Shira is also interested in green chemistry and previously attended the ACS Green Chemistry Summer School. Outside the lab she likes live music, canoeing, and doing fun things with her friends. Episode Links (discussed in podcast) 1.) "Dark Waters" film (available on Hulu) 2.) "The Devil We Know" documentary (available on Netflix) 3.) Exposure by Robert Bilott 4.) Green Science Policy Institute 5.) Kimberly-Clark glove/PPE recycling Dr. Joudan's Favorites 1.) Favorite Snack? - pickles! 2.) Song to get you hyped - "Rumors" by Lizzo & Cardi B 3.) What's on your watchlist? - Big Mouth 4.) Favorite Vacation Spot - friend's family cottage in Muskoka, Ontario -- Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Dec 17, 202152 min
NOBCChE, Solid State Chem, and Spiderman Shenanigans - a chat with Dr. Isaiah Speight
Dr. Isaiah Speight (he/him) is currently a NIGMS postdoctoral fellow at University of California, Irvine in the lab of Prof. Vy Dong. His postdoctoral work focuses on developing new technologies to enhance peptide synthesis. As a native of the Hampton-Roads area of Virginia, Isaiah earned his B.S. in chemistry in 2016 from Norfolk State University. During this time, he did research with Prof. Olufemi Oyesanya in the area of polymer synthesis, and with Prof. Steven Townsend in advanced carbohydrate synthesis. Isaiah then moved to Nashville, where he completed his Ph.D. in 2021 from Vanderbilt University with Prof. Timothy Hanusa. During his time as a Ph.D. student Isaiah developed new mechanochemical methods for making inorganic and organometallic reagents ranging from calcium complexes and mercury metal organic frameworks to Grignard reagents from fluorinated compounds. In addition to his bench work, Isaiah works very closely with the National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers initially serving on the Executive Board as their National Student Representative and currently as their Western Regional Director. In these roles, Isaiah works to continue to create communities for black scientists to thrive in as well as build connections to create new opportunities for these students to be successful in. You can follow Dr. Speight on twitter @IR_SP8. Link to NOBCChE's website Dr. Speight's Favorites 1.) Favorite Comfort Food: A good burger 2.) Song to get you hyped: "Super" by Cordae 3.) What's on Dr. Speight’s watchlist? Restart the new season of Haikyuu, season 2 of Demon Slayer, Hawkeye as the episodes release. 4.) Favorite Spiderman movie moment? Into the Spider-Verse when Miles finally grows into himself and “what’s up danger” starts playing! ---- Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Sep 24, 202152 min
Small businesses and cosmetic chemistry: a chat with Asia Fee of Alchemist Asia
Asia Fee (she/her) is a Chemist, who received her BS in Chemistry from California State University, Channel Islands. Asia spent her time as an undergrad dedicated to anticancer research and a lab internship with Parker Hannifin, where she was promoted to a Lab Technician amidst the pandemic and got to help aid in research and lead projects independently. She had a sudden life event which led her to move to Alaska! She now works remotely as a Cosmetic Chemist & Founder of Alchemist Asia, STEM Personnel, and a Content Creator! You can find Asia on twitter @NoelaniAsia and you can follow Alchemist Asia @AlchemistAsia. WANT 15% OFF ON A CHEMISTEA PURCHASE THROUGH 9/26/21? USE THE CODE "CHEMISTEA" FOR 15% OFF ON YOUR ORDER! Asia's Links: Alchemist Asia Store Alchemist Asia Email for Contact: asiafee@alchemistasia.us Alchemist Asia Facebook Alchemist Asia LinkedIn Asia Fee Chemistry Blog Remote STEM Opportunities Guide Asia Fee LinkTree Test Tube Tea Infuser --- Asia's Favorites Favorite product/look: My current favorite (personal) products are the Test Tube Lip Gloss and Green Wittig Matcha Mask! My current look for when I have meetings and only 15min or less to spare is very minimal. I use ChemBaddie's Brow Soap for my brows; our Flux Face Tint for my lips, eyes, and cheeks and blend out, mascara, and then top off with our Test Tube Lip Gloss! It's quick, and makes a huge difference for when I have last minute Zoom calls! Favorite Comfort Food: Quick Chinese dishes! Whether it's spicy ramen or a fried egg over rice, the simplest and quickest are delicious and remind me of being home with my mom and sisters. Dream vacation spot: New Zealand or Iceland! I lean more towards New Zealand because I was in the process of studying there, but my course was canceled a week before the original quarantine in 2020. I loved learning Te Ara (the education) and culture of the Maori. What’s on your watchlist? Crazy Rich Asians (whenever, whenever!), Spirited Away, The Duff, or anything with Adam Sandler! --- Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Sep 17, 202151 min
Mental health, Mpro, and starting graduate school: a conversation with TJ Cross
In this episode, we discuss topics which may be triggering for some listeners. Please use the following time stamps to navigate away from the sections that may be triggering: 15:52-17:08 (mentions of depression, substance abuse); 20:59-23:00 (mentions of depression) TJ Cross (he/him) is an incoming graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles. During his (long) undergraduate career, he has switched majors, attended community college, and completed his undergraduate education during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the University of California, Irvine. Between three institutions, he has garnered three associates degrees, a bachelors in science in Chemistry, an honorable mention for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, and the 2020 American Institute of Chemists Student Award. During his last year at UCI, TJ joined Professor Rachel Martin’s biochemistry research lab two days after the pandemic shut down all in person classes and research. In the span of three months, his first author paper studying mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) was accepted to Biochemistry, being published in September 2020. Since then, he has been continuing to research the implications of mutations on not only Mpro but also other enzymes. He is currently performing summer research with Professor Anastassia Alexandrova at UCLA, examining the electric fields exerted by enzymes on their active site. You can follow TJ on Twitter @dz_lmnz. Link to Alex Lang's Website for NSF-GRFP resources mentioned in episode: alexhunterlang.com TJ's Favorites 1) My favorite study snack: Rick Martinez's (Bon Appetit) brown butter toffee cookies. When we make them, the whole batch is gone in a matter of minutes (and who doesn't like getting work done on a sugar high). 2) Song to get you hyped: I usually listen to Soundcloud sets from EDM DJs. My current fixation is Gryffin's "ELEVATE RADIO 017" mix; with a combination of remixes and slammin bass, it never fails to get me pumped up. Illenium also has some great hits on his phoenix radio sets, also on Soundcloud. 3) What's on TJ's Watchlist? I recently binged "The Blacklist" on Netflix... I would recommend it for being cheesy and easy to watch. I'm currently watching Gilmore Girls, also on Netflix; it's perfect for it's quick paced, witty humor, though many of the references are dated since it was an early 2000's show. 4) Dream Vacation Spot: My dream vacation spot is one from my childhood actually! It's a sleepy little town called Albion in northern California, near Mendocino. There's a campground by the Albion river that my family and I always used to go to when I was a kid. It has a huge rock on the beach that's super fun to climb, and not too far there are a ton of shops in neighboring towns. I highly recommend it for a visit! Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Sep 10, 202141 min
On representation, education, and d-Orbital Games: a chat with Dr. Zach Thammavongsy
Dr. Zach Thammavongsy, Ph.D (he/him) is a Laotian American chemist interested in chemical education and inorganic chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine in 2019, and received his Master and Bachelor of Science from Western Washington University. Currently, Dr. Thammavongsy is a Grand Challenge Initiative postdoctoral fellow at Chapman University where I teach science reading/writing and conduct research in the field of main group chemistry. He is currently seeking a tenure track position where I am able to teach, mentor, and cultivate young chemistry learners both in- and outside- of the classroom. Dr. Thammavongsy is also the founder of d-Orbital Games, where he sells chemistry-based pins and board games. Outside of the lab and classroom Zach likes to watch anime shows/movies, discover new food places with his wife, design games/pins, play board games with friends, and talk with younger people about their goals. You can follow Zach on Twitter @zacharythammav1. Zach's Favorites Favorite board game?: This is a tough choice. I would say my favorite board game to play right now is “Patchwork,” but I usually play party games, or games that involves a larger crowd (8 or more). Favorite comfort food?: Any food that my mom makes is my favorite comfort food. Laotian dishes are so delicious, especially when the dishes are made by my super talented mother. What’s on your watchlist?: As of right now, I am eagerly awaiting for the new Demon Slayer season to release. Though this isn’t part of the question, my booklist consist of The KingKiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. I been waiting 10 years for the last book in the trilogy to drop. Lastly, the Chemistea podcast is on my playlist. I’m excited to listen to all the weekly episodes. Song to get you hyped: Motivational music on Youtube. Where there is a motivational speaker providing general encouragement. Just like I encourage my students, I find it energizing to have someone encourage me (even if it is some strange voice on youtube). Episode Links: d-Orbital Games: https://www.dorbitalgames.org/ Want $15 off your next d-Orbital Games purchase? Use the code Chemistea04 will give a $15 discount for the first TWO individuals who redeem the code! Get your deal before it's gone! Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Sep 3, 20211h 6m
Frontline COVID-19 research, fitness, and a new chapter in an academic career: a Chat with Dr. Alana Ogata (University of Toronto)
Dr. Alana Ogata, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Throughout her academic career, she has received seven fellowships and published 19 papers in high-impact journals, such as NanoLetters and JACS, providing important contributions to the fields of electrochemical biosensors, non-classical nucleation and growth, and disease diagnostics. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow under Dr. Reg Penner at UC Irvine, she developed a new electrochemical biosensor named the virus bioresistor (VBR), capable of label-free and rapid protein detection for point-of-care applications. During a four-month NSF GROW fellowship in South Korea, Dr. Ogata fabricated highly-porous carbon nanofibers via electrospinning and integrated the nanofibers with the VBR platform to develop a tear-based glucose sensor, as described in Analytical Chemistry. In her six-month postdoctoral position with Dr. Joe Patterson at UC-Irvine, I learned and executed cryotransmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) to study the formation of protein-metal-organic-framework (p-MOF) composites, earning a front-cover featured publication in JACS. As an NIH T32 postdoctoral fellow at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she led a project on the detection of COVID-19 viral antigens in collaboration with researchers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. Within a six-month period, she co-wrote and received a grant for COVID-19 research, developed ultrasensitive viral antigen assays, tested COVID-19 patient samples, and published two manuscripts – one as first author in Clinical Chemistry. In addition, Dr. Ogata initiated and executed a study on vaccinated participants and led the design of sample collection, assay development, and sample analysis in collaboration with researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This study resulted in a first author publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases, and presents the first evidence of SARS-CoV-2 protein production from mRNA vaccination. Outside of lab, she enjoys working out and enjoying happy hour with friends. You can follow Dr. Ogata on Twitter @OgataAlana. Link to Dr. Ogata's Faculty Research Page: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/cps/people/alana-ogata Prof. Ogata's Favorites: Favorite Workout Song: "Get Me Bodied - (Move Your Body rework)" by Beyonce Favorite snacks: Popcorn and a matcha latte Favorite places to visit in Canada: Downtown Toronto, visiting the fun bars, fun restaurants What's on her Watchlist?: Modern Family; The Chair Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Aug 27, 202134 min
The importance of mentorship, equity, rest, and more: A chat with Alissa Matus
Alissa Matus (she/her) is a rising 4th year graduate student and NSF-GRFP fellow, doing organometallic and inorganic chemistry in the Yang group at UC Irvine. As a Latina and Black woman she is driven by her desire to help others like her, from historically excluded groups, explore their passions for science and research. Mentorship has been key to her journey through higher education, and she wants to return the favor by being the best mentor she can be! When she is not in the lab, doing electrochemistry or battling impostor syndrome, she can be found listening to music, staring at cute dogs, spending time with friends, or some combination of those three! You can follow Alissa on Twitter @lissathechemist. Alissa's Favorites 1. Favorite writing snack: My favorite writing snack is cheese and sour cream ruffles. Easy to eat and lots of salt!! 2. What's on Alissa's Watchlist? Most of my watchlist is anime at the moment... but Shang-Chi is on top and I cannot wait to see it when it's out!! 3. Song to get you hyped: "Amateurs" by Sleepy Tom and Lights. The chorus goes, "I've been having the time of my life, and love is how we make it work," and to me, although grad school has challenged me in ways I didn't know were possible, I am happy to be here and it's because I'm surrounded with love. 4. Dream vacation spot: Hawaii - I've wanted to explore every island since I was a baby. I'm praying I can go soon, and be a responsible tourist! Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
- Aug 20, 202119 min
Mentorship, Outreach, and too much Boba Tea: A chat with Erin Joy Araneta
Erin Joy Araneta (she/her), an undergraduate chemistry major at University of California, Irvine, has many titles to her name. She is the Younger Chemist Chair of the Orange County American Chemical Society, the founder of Theory of Joy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the students and families of Kanaynayan Community Learning Center in the Philippines, and the author of the children's book Chemist Clara Paints the Lake through which she hopes to inspire more children to be curious about the chemical and natural sciences. At UCI, Erin is an undergraduate research in Professor Jenny Yang's laboratory, where she studies carbon capture with amine molecules. Outside of lab, you can find Erin working with her nonprofit, planning her next vacation, or exploring the outdoors, whether it is hiking, paaddleboarding, or camping. Erin is also one of my dearest friends, and we sat down for a chat over some boba tea after a day in our labs. We talk about the importance of good mentorship, ways undergraduates can get involved in science outreach, and her new Chemist Clara books to be published in the near future! You can learn more about Theory of Joy, Erin's nonprofit here and purchase her Chemist Clara books here. You can also find the link to the ACS Career Consultants website discussed in this episode here. You can follow Erin on twitter and instagram @chemisterinjoy. Erin's Recommendations Best Orange County Hiking Spot: Red Rock Canyon Park Trail (in Lake Forest, CA) Favorite Study Snack: Peas What's on your Watchlist?: The Good Place Post-Exam Celebration: Eating a hearty meal with friends Chemistea is a chemistry and science podcast founded by Lucy Yang (she/her), currently a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine, studying chemistry and biological sciences. Some of the most famous scientific collaborations and discoveries were born from a conversation over tea, and on her podcast, Lucy aims to combine her love of talking with her love of sharing and hearing stories—stories about others' passion for science, their journeys, and any and all fun shenanigans in between. You can follow Lucy on twitter @isolucyine. She is also the founder of The Kawaii Chemist, a shop where you can find cute chemistry stickers and merch, where 100% of profit goes to charity. You can check out The Kawaii Chemist here, and you can donate to support Kawaii Chemist and the Chemistea podcast here. Thank you listening!
About Chemistea
Some of the best scientific collaborations and ideas were born over a cup of tea or coffee. Join us for a virtual teatime as we discuss the ups and downs of one's journey to a scientific career, the "tea" of overcoming inevitable failure, with a splash exciting research endeavors.
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