Ep.3 – Grad student life, journal publishing and diatoms with Dr. Melina Luethje (Paleolimnologist)

What’s a “Paleolimnologist”?! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Melina Luethje, a recent PhD grad from Nebraska, about paleolimnology, the interesting life of diatoms, and what it’s like to go through grad school. Join Julie’s World for additional content! Go to https://www.patreon.com/juliesworld

• What is ‘paleolimnology’? (0:43)
• Why Dr. Melina decided to pursue a PhD (2:02)
• Why the focus on paleolimnology? (4:08)
• Talking about the struggles of grad school (5:48)
• How advisors work (9:40)
• Funding in grad school (10:52)
• How publishing works (12:16)
• The pressure to publish (12:59)
• Popular journals in science (14:01)
• The pay-to-play format for academic journals (15:05)
• The perceived normalcy of the journal industry (16:48)
• Adjusting to life after schooling (18:42)
• Thinking about the future during the pandemic (19:48)
• Dr. Melina’s dream job (20:53)
• The R1, R2, R3 system (22:55)
• What Dr. Melina tells people she does for a living (25:17)
• What is a diatom? (27:24)
• Interesting features of diatoms (29:28)
• The scientific process (32:33)
• Algae produce the air that we breathe (33:56)
• Are diatoms older than dinosaurs? (35:26)
• Freshwater and marine diatoms (36:16)
• Are there diatoms in space? (36:53)
• The habitats that diatoms live in (37:36)
• Six years of work on one topic (39:18)
• Why studying past lakes is important (41:21)
• Climate change (43:25)
• CO2 levels today (45:29)
• A scientist’s perspective on science denial (46:40)
• Public understanding of science (49:50)
• Dr. Melina’s passion for cooking (52:05)
• The dream to live off-grid (55:04)
• Closing remarks (59:39)

Follow Dr. Melina on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhD_Goddess

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