Let's Talk Chemistry- a science podcast by ChemTalk

Drug discovery is already an incredibly difficult and tedious process, but what happens when there’s little financial incentive to develop the medicine at all? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Poorvi Iyer and Nina Deng talk with Dr. Michael Pollastri, senior vice provost and academic lead of the Roux Institute at Northeastern University. From his time as a bench chemist at Pfizer to his current role leading academic research on diseases affecting some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, Dr. Pollastri discusses the realities of neglected diseases and the role academic labs play in addressing gaps in global healthcare research. We hope you enjoy!

Organic chemistry has a reputation for being one of the most challenging college courses—but what if it could also be interactive, accessible, and even fun? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Jasmine Winter, hosts Jasmine Winter and Elizabeth Li share the story of Dr. Neil Garg, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Garg discusses his journey from discovering his passion for organic chemistry as an undergraduate to earning his PhD at Caltech and building a career that bridges both research and education. Dr. Garg’s career is built on challenging the status quo, from breaking a 100 year-old rule in chemistry known as Bredt’s rule, to developing innovative tools to help students better visualize and understand molecular structures. Dr. Garg emphasizes teamwork, intellectual curiosity, and making science approachable for learners of all ages. We hope you enjoy!

On the surface, food science may sound simple. But once you dive deeper, you’ll discover a world of innovation, challenges, and incredible scientists behind the food you find on grocery store shelves. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Elizabeth Li and Poorvi Iyer discuss our interview with Dr. David Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts and most cited author in food science. Dr. McClements talks about how next generation plant based foods are being developed to be more sustainable and healthy, while being able to successfully replicate meat products using reverse engineering. He then goes on to discuss his thoughts on highly processed foods, how to eat mindfully, as well as a few books of his that are all about the fascinating science behind food we eat everyday. We hope you enjoy!

Often in crime shows and movies, we usually skip to the result of forensic testing. But have you ever wondered how investigators get those results? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Amber Bakkum and Mehreen discuss our interview with Dr. Bruce McCord, Analytical and Forensic Chemistry Professor at Florida International University and deputy editor for the journal ELECTROPHORESIS. Dr. McCord talks all about his work on drug analysis, explosive detection, and DNA analysis, including a new way of identifying forensic DNA by capillary electrophoresis and detecting dangerous substances like fentanyl using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Jonathan Sessler, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, is no stranger to taking an active role in directing his own path. Being a three-time Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer survivor, Dr. Sessler’s battle with cancer inspired him to research porphyrins, a class of pigments which are essential for biological processes like oxygen transport. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Jasmine Winter, hosts Neel Youts and Jason Lu discuss our interview with Dr. Jonathan Sessler, from unique upbringing growing up in a family of scientists to his pioneering work on creating expanded porphyrins called texaphyrins and co-founding Pharmacyclics, a successful biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of cancer therapies. We hope you enjoy!

Nobel laureate Dr. Benjamin List is one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cologne. On top of that, he is known for pioneering a brand new field of chemistry, organocatalysis, which is now used in nearly all pharmaceutical industries. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Jasmine Winter and Elizabeth Li dive into our interview with Dr. List as he shares his journey to earning the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, his recent investigations into a unique way of splitting CO2, and more. We hope you enjoy!

What are the advantages and limitations of organic materials, inorganic materials, or hybrid materials that combine both? How do the properties of these different materials influence their applications in academia and industry? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Aanya Santosh, and Elizabeth Li delve deeper into these questions and more with Dr. Seth Marder, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Marder shares his work on characterizing the optical and electrical properties of chiral materials, as well as some valuable insights on collaboration and creativity. We hope you enjoy!

Nobel laureate Dr. Morten Meldal, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, revolutionized the field of chemistry with his pioneering work on click chemistry—earning him the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts dive into our interview with Dr. Meldal, exploring his journey from molecular modeling to groundbreaking discoveries in peptide synthesis and bioorthogonal chemistry. Dr. Meldal shares insights into the applications of click chemistry in drug development, material science, and even green chemistry solutions. From his experiences at the Carlsberg Laboratory to the moment he received the Nobel Prize, Dr. Meldal reflects on his career, collaborations, and the future of chemistry. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Tashica Amirgholizadeh is a patent litigator at Gilead Sciences who combines her passion for chemistry with the law. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and her JD at the University of California Berkeley School of Law. She shares her unique career journey and her responsibilities at Gilead. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Adina Paytan, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz, is an ocean chemist who works on various topics—including earth materials and biogeochemical processes. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts John Strojny and Jasmine Winter discuss our interview with Dr. Adina Paytan. She shares her career journey and passion for climate science. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Christopher Hendon, Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry at the University of Oregon, is an expert in both computational chemistry and the science of coffee. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts discuss our interview with Dr. Christopher Hendon. He shares his tips on merging his diverse interests, in the art of espresso, and the electrical properties of coffee extracts. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Hendon, you can reach him by email at chendon@uoregon.edu.

What are heavy elements? What is a neutron flux? Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Shoenzart, Professor of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines, is an expert in radiochemistry and transuranium elements. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts talk about our interview with Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Shoenzart. He tells us about the Valley of Death, applications of radiochemistry, and advice to future chemists. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Shoenzart, you can reach him by email at tschoenzart@mines.edu.

With great powers comes great responsibility. Gene editing is a powerful tool in the realm of biomedical advances. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Erin Suh and Alexander Seo talk about their interview with Dr. Bomyi Lim, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Her lab studies the regulation of chemical kinetics in biological systems. We hope you enjoy! If you would like to know more about Dr. Bomyi Lim, you can check out her research here or reach her by email at bomyilim@seas.upenn.edu