Un-Hidden Curriculum
a podcast providing tools, tutorials, and truth-telling for the next generation of scientists
Let’s get curious together.
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Ready to dive in? Click on an episode below to start watching now!
Episode 8. Stop Losing Data: Your Ultimate Guide to File Organization.
Struggling to find your files? Drowning in version numbers and missing data? In this episode of Un-Hidden Curriculum, we break down how to organize your research data like a pro—from file naming conventions and metadata to data dictionaries and README best practices. Whether you’re working with behavioral data, brain imaging, or anything in between, these tips will help you create data you can understand and trust—even months (or years) down the line.
Episode 7. How a Teen’s Email Sparked an MD/PhD Journey.
How far can one email take you? For a 14-year-old, a single message sparked an MD/PhD journey into medicine, research, and the world of preterm brain development. In this episode, guest Madelyn Nance helps us explore the twists, challenges, and rewards of becoming a physician-scientist—what it really takes to make it through the application process, the realities of training in a dual-degree program, and why anyone would choose to spend 8+ years earning two degrees instead of one. Whether you’re dreaming of science, medicine, or both, this story will inspire you to take your own bold first step. Perfect for premeds, early trainees weighing medicine vs. research, or anyone who cares about our youngest generation.
Episode 6. Electrodes, Magnets, & Lasers, Oh My!
Think brain scans can read your mind? Think again. This episode of Un-Hidden Curriculum breaks down the essential tools in cognitive neuroscience—from EEG, fMRI, and fNIRS to MEG, PET, and TMS.
You’ll discover: • What each brain imaging method really measures (and what it can’t) • The key trade-offs in spatial vs. temporal resolution • How scientists choose the right tool for different populations, settings, and questions • Common myths about glowing brain scans and “mind reading”
Whether you’re a neuroscience student, early-career researcher, or just curious about how we peek inside the brain without cracking open the skull, this episode gives you a clear, myth-busting guide to the technologies shaping modern brain science. Tune in to expand your neuroscience toolbox and see how these tools bring the brain into focus.
Episode 5. So you want to be a neuroscientist?
In this episode, we break down the major types of neuroscience–from molecular and systems to cognitive and clinical–exploring the big questions each subfield tackles and what a typical day looks like for researchers in each area. Whether you love coding, working with people, or diving into brain scans, there’s a neuroscience path for you. Tune in and start picking your brain path today!
Episode 4. Too Many Tabs, Too Little Time: How to Do a Lit Review Without Losing Your Sanity (or Your Sources).
Writing a literature review—or not even sure what one is? This episode breaks it down: how to search smarter, read faster, stay organized, and avoid the most common mistakes. Whether you're working on a thesis, grant, or manuscript, you’ll get tools, tricks, and real talk to keep your sanity (and your browser) intact.
Episode 3. Vibe Check your Lab Culture.
Not all labs are created equal. In this episode, we break down what lab culture actually is, how to spot red flags, and how to have a research experience that slays. Whether you’re choosing your first lab or stuck in one that’s draining your will to science, this episode’s for you. We’re talking PIs, power dynamics, peer support, and what makes or breaks the vibe. Tune in and learn how to protect your peace and your passion for science.
Episode 2. How the science sausage gets made.
Textbooks and journal articles show a tidy version of science. Real research? Messy, iterative, and full of failure. In this episode of Un-Hidden Curriculum, we unpack what actually happens behind the scenes of a research study—from figuring out how to ask the right questions to designing flawed experiments, wrangling messy data, and navigating inevitable setbacks. You’ll learn why failure isn’t just normal but necessary, how science actually moves forward, and what no one tells you about timelines, funding, and the not-so-glamorous middle of doing science.
Episode 1. They don't teach THIS in science class.
Starting your research journey can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Meghan Puglia pulls back the curtain on the “hidden curriculum” — the unspoken rules, essential skills, and mindset you need to succeed as a scientist. Learn the five key traits of successful researchers and get practical tips to navigate academia with confidence and clarity.