Podcast: The Tattooed Physicist, 6

The Tattooed Physicist is a podcast hosted by Rosa Wallace, a physics student at University of Colorado Denver. This episode: Office Hours with Dr. Avery 

This episode features Dr. Azure Avery, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physics department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. It was great to get her perspective as the only female professor in the department (CU Denver and Metro State combine all physics classes) and as someone who went through her physics undergrad as an older student. I hope you all enjoy hearing about her journey to becoming a physics professor!

Rosa and Dr. Avery discuss:

• Get ready for REUs and CUWiP (Research Experience for Undergraduates, conference for undergraduate women in physics)!
• Dr. Avery takes her own path to physics
  • B.S. in Psychology from Mississippi State University
  • Not finding that je ne sais quoi in corporate life…
  • Returning to school for Physics at MSU Denver
• Internships open doors: Raytheon and the SQUID Lab at CU Denver
• Choosing your path with career stability and family in mind
• The awesomeness of having other women in your cohort
• Graduate school at the University of Denver
  • Approaching graduate study as an older student: school IS work
  • Connection to National Renewable Energy Laboratory through a professor at DU
• Post-doc at NREL: research with carbon nanotubes
• The field of physics always presents new challenges
• Returning to MSU Denver as a professor
  • The power of making and maintaining good relationships
  • The experience of being the only female faculty member
  • Balancing a new job and a new baby
  • The importance of having a supportive partner
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• The importance (and occasional necessity) of student self-advocacy

From Rosa: “This podcast series is intended to provide an inclusive view of the profession and practice of science (with a physics focus). Here, science is for everyone, regardless of background or identity, and the podcast will hopefully provide a good-humored but realistic view of the current state of the field. It is my wish that the experiences and views expressed will help inform and guide others taking this path, enlighten those that simply take an interest, and entertain everyone else.”

We will post The Tattooed Physicist podcasts as they come online as a lagniappe for science-minded folks. When you visit the link, push the Play button under the title to hear the podcast.

http://tattooedphysicist.podbean.com/e/episode-6/