💡 How can exposure, mentorship, and community turn early curiosity into lasting careers in science?

In this episode of ⁠Science with Impact⁠, we are joined by Dr. Checo Colón-Gaud, Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for the College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University.

Dr. Colón-Gaud shares how early research experiences, mentorship, and professional societies shaped his path. He reflects on the transformative role of NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), the creation of the Instars program, and how it grew into EMERGE, an NSF-funded initiative now embedded into the Society for Freshwater Science.

This episode is a reminder that exposure opens doors, but belonging keeps people in the room.

🤔 Who is this for?

1. Undergraduate and post-bac students curious about how immersive research opportunities (like REUs) can shape careers and open new doors in science.
2. Faculty, PIs, and society leaders looking for practical models to broaden participation, diversify membership, and sustain initiatives over time.
3. STEM mentors and administrators committed to building programs that go beyond access to create belonging, confidence, and leadership opportunities.

Dr. Checo Colón-Gaud unpacks the value of hands-on research, the creation and growth of the Instars and EMERGE programs, and the strategies needed to sustain diversity initiatives in professional societies. He offers lessons on how scientists and organizations can create lasting impact.

🔑 Key Takeaway: Representation doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built through exposure, mentorship, and programs that sustain momentum. By planting small seeds and nurturing them into lasting initiatives, we can diversify science and create pathways that weren’t visible before.

⌚️ Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Science Careers

01:03 Welcome to the Podcast

01:25 Meet Checo Colon Gaud

03:14 Checo’s Journey into Science

10:27 Undergraduate Research Experiences

14:29 Building Impactful Programs

19:04 The Instar and Emerge Programs

22:01 Sustaining Diversity Initiatives

36:26 Challenges and Mentorship

38:40 Connecting Science and Music

📣 Guests

Dr. Checo Colón-Gaud — Aquatic Ecologist, Professor of Biology & Associate Dean, College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Southern University;

Host:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠., is the founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science with Impact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we partner with research organizations to translate STEM advancements into measurable societal benefits beyond academia.

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