Latest Instead Podcast Episode Explores Researcher Beginnings

The latest episode of the Instead podcast, produced by the Utah State University Office of Research, features six different USU researchers sharing their journeys. The compilation episode, titled "Where researchers come from: How six people turned an interest into a profession," highlights the successes, struggles, passions and influential mentors that led the episode guests down their career paths.

Among those highlighted in the episode is Joe Wilson, an associate professor in the Department of Biology who studies the evolution, ecology and conservation of bees and wasps. His passion for animals as a child led him to spend a lot of time outside looking at nature, where he realized most of the creatures he saw were insects.

"I started learning about the insects because that's what I had in the backyard," Wilson said. "I was kind of a bug geek from a young age."

Other episode guests were also interested in the world around them long before a research career.

Janice Brahney, an associate professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences, remembered having a passion for science growing up, going so far as to regularly cut out Discover Magazine articles. Even though she first felt discouraged by higher education, Brahney eventually got on the path to research after a gentle push from a friend and a geology professor who told her she was “clearly a scientist.”

Similarly, Alexis Ault, an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences, credited the impact of role models. Ault originally wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who were physicians. After arriving at college, though, she “floundered for a long time.” It wasn't until her first geology class that she caught the vision of what she wanted to do.

“I would not be where I am today without mentors and role models,” Ault said.

Also highlighted in the episode are Jeannie Thomas, Justin Jones and Judy Smith. All six guests also have full-length episodes of Instead, available on the Instead website or on Apple, Google, Spotify and other podcast players.

Instead is produced by the USU Office of Research and hosted by Wyatt Archer. Each episode features conversations with Utah State University researchers who are working to address Utah's — and the world's — challenges.