Building the Tools That Built Genomics: Dr. Steve Henikoff

JP hosts a roundtable with four early-career scientists launching the Atlas of Inspiring Latin American Scientists, a new project amplifying representation, mentorship, and global collaboration. A powerful conversation about imposter syndrome, visibility, returning home, and why becoming what you don’t see can change an entire generation.

What happens when the academic path doesn’t work out but the love for science never fades? Sheeva Azma shares how she left her PhD, built a career in science journalism and policy, founded Fancy Comma LLC, and found a new way to contribute to science beyond the lab.

From physics to genomics to NASA, Dr. Chris Mason and Dr. Afshin Beheshti share the unconventional paths that led them into space biology. We talk about collaboration, GeneLab working groups, how high school and undergraduate students can join real NASA projects, and why curiosity, not credentials, is the key to discovering life beyond Earth.

HHMI Investigator Steven Henikoff shares the untold story behind BLOSUM matrices, centromere biology, and the early days of computational genomics. From being drafted during Vietnam to shaping how we align every protein sequence today, this episode explores how curiosity, collaboration, and mentorship can shape an entire field.

NYU neuroscientist Shane Liddelow shares his path from a small town in Western Australia to Stanford and beyond: how mentorship shaped him, how he builds lab culture with feedback and trust, and why confidence, community, and clear communication matter as much as grit.

What happens after you submit a paper to a journal like Cell?In this episode, JP talks with two scientific editors from Cell Press about how peer review really works, how editorial decisions are made, and what it’s like to build a career in scientific editing. From presubmissions and reviewer selection to burnout, publishing ethics, and social justice in science, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people shaping the scientific record.

In this special episode, From where does it STEM? co-host Angelique Allen talks with Dr. David Asai about reimagining science education, equity in STEM, and why changing the system means changing what (and who!) we value."

Dr. Melissa Haendel just joined UNC as its newest faculty member, shaking up the world of biomedical data. We talk big data, open science, and how she’s working to make research more connected, collaborative, and impactful.

Corals, symbiosis, and scientific courage—Dr. Mónica Medina dives deep into what it means to study and protect life underwater. We talk about reef conservation, community, and leading with heart in science.This episode was co-hosted with HHMI Gilliam Fellow Danny Olivares-Cordero, a researcher studying coral and coral reefs.

Policy powerhouse, science champion, and advocate for equity—Dr. Keith Yamamoto has done it all. In this episode, we talk about precision medicine, open science, and how bold ideas can reshape the future of research.