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Joshua Adams-Miller: I Expect More of Myself

November 29, 2019

Joshua Adams-Miller has never seen college in his future, until he receives encouragement from an unexpected source.

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In Engineering Tags Joshua Adams-Miller, scientist origin story, education, college, love, career, engineering, Boise State, Season 9

Charlotte Istance-Tamblin: I Get It Now

January 25, 2019

In following her dream of studying chemistry, Charlotte Istance-Tamblin sees how to break the toxic patterns in her relationships.

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In Chemistry Tags Charlotte Istance-Tamblin, chemistry, scientist origin story, relationships, Season 9, breakup, love, inequality

Guizella Rocabado: I Will Leave No Stone Unturned

January 18, 2019

When Guizella Rocabado leaves her home in Bolivia to pursue her education in the United States, her plan hits an unexpected snag.

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In Science Education Tags Guizella Rocabado, immigration, SACNAS, education, moving, scientist origin story, Season 9

Michelle McCrackin: I Could Have Been Her

January 4, 2019

Miserable at her corporate job, Michelle McCrackin begins to dream of a career in wildlife biology.

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Tags Michelle McCrackin, scientist origin story, career, biology, Season 9, education

Kevin Burgio: My Good Will Hunting Moment

December 28, 2018

On the eve of his first big talk at a major international conference, ecologist Kevin Burgio discovers there’s something seriously wrong with the clothes he’d planned to wear.

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In Science Communication Tags Kevin Burgio, cats, graduate school, ecology, conference, career, scientist origin story, impostor syndrome, Season 8

Rose DF: Dreaming of Science

September 21, 2018

In the midst of homelessness and abuse, Rose DF dreams of a life in science.

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Tags Rose DF, career, diversity in STEM, scientist origin story

Samuel Achilefu: Hope for an End

August 31, 2018

Samuel Achilefu's experiences growing up during the Nigerian Civil War inspire his passion for science.

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In Engineering, Health and Medicine Tags Samuel Achilefu, Nigeria, war, childhood, scientist origin story

Evelyn Valdez-Ward: An Undocumented Scientist

August 31, 2018

When Evelyn Valdez-Ward discovers that she's undocumented, she fears her dreams of becoming a scientist are over.

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In Biology Tags Evelyn Valdez-Ward, plants, scientist origin story, undocumented, immigration

Herman B. White: What Tuskegee Taught Me

August 24, 2018

Herman B. White leaves his hometown of Tuskegee behind to pursue physics -- but his Alabama roots help him make a surprising connection later in his career.

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In Physics, Science Communication Tags Herman B. White, Tuskegee, hometown, scientist origin story, science communication, Alabama, the south, physics, policy

Elisa Schaum: The black sheep

May 18, 2018

An aspiring scientist brought up in a family of artists, Elisa Schaum feels like a black sheep.

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In Biology Tags Elisa Schaum, family, college, art+science, career, scientist origin story, Season 8

Katy Rodriguez Wimberly: Changing My Life for Science

May 5, 2017

After being discouraged from pursuing science, Katy Rodriguez Wimberly searches for her place in the military and as an actor.

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In Physics, Astronomy Tags Katy Rodriguez Wimberly, physics, astronomy, scientist origin story, veteran, school

Nneze Akwiwu: The First Female President Of Nigeria

April 22, 2016

A chance conversation gives Nneze Akwiwu a chance to study in the United States.

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In Biology Tags Nneze Akwiwu, immigration, moving, Nigeria, women in STEM, education, scientist origin story, career

Amanda Stockton: The Girl With The Big Nose

April 1, 2016

Growing up on a cattle ranch, Amanda Stockton dreams of searching for life elsewhere in the universe.

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In Chemistry Tags Amanda Stockton, scientist origin story, college, Oklahoma, career, Season 6

Abhishek Shah: Waste Disposal

January 29, 2016

Abhishek Shah takes a simple job to pay for school--toxic waste disposal.

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In Engineering Tags Abhishek Shah, biomedical engineering, engineering, medicine, career, immigration, education, moving, scientist origin story

Rachel Pendergrass: A Bad Day at the Museum

December 4, 2015

Rachel Pendergrass gets her dream job: talking to visitors in an aquarium, but dealing with the questions are not what she expected.

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Tags Rachel Pendergrass, scientist origin story, aquarium, marine biology, season 5

Virendra Singh: Farm To School

June 12, 2015

Virendra Singh is responsible for carrying on his family's farm, but he begs his parents to be allowed to go to school.

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Tags Virendra Singh, education, immigration, engineering, career, scientist origin story, season 5

Stephon Alexander: Physics Dreams

August 15, 2014

Physicist Stephon Alexander feels overwhelmed until the father of quantum gravity himself helps him find inspiration in his subconscious.

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Tags Stephon Alexander, physics, season 4, scientist origin story, hero

Daniel Miller: Black Holes

August 8, 2014

At four years old, Daniel Miller became one of the youngest people in the state of Texas ever to testify in court -- against his own mother, for sexual assault. As an adult, he struggles for stability, but finds hope in physics.

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Tags Daniel Miller, season 4, physics, scientist origin story, abuse, childhood, addiction, drug addiction, drugs

Jodi Beggs: Kindergarten tycoon

June 26, 2014

Jodi Beggs's mother greatly underestimates how well her kindergartener understands economics.

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Tags Jodi Beggs, season 4, scientist origin story, economics, social science, childhood

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