The STEAM Success Blueprint

An Interview with A Mentor- Dr. Robert Langer, Sc.D. (MIT Institute Professor) on aspects of the Future of Diabetes Medicine Research
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Diabetes therapy is entering a new phase. For decades, the central challenge was how to deliver insulin more safely, more intelligently, and more responsively.
The research work by Dr. Langer has produced a generation of technologies aimed at making therapy more autonomous: glucose-responsive insulin systems, microneedle patches, implantable rescue devices, lipid nanoparticles, and mRNA-based approaches to protein replacement.
At the same time, a separate revolution emerged from pharmacology. GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, and now triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonists have changed expectations for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

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Music by ANDRII KORNIEV from Pixabay
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Views of this interview reflect those of my guest and I. They don't constitute medical or professional advice. We disclaim any loss in any way.

An Interview with A Mentor- Chancellor Gary May, 7th Chancellor of University of California, Davis- Recorded in 2026

INTERVIEW OVERVIEW
⁠Chancellor Gary S. May⁠
⁠7th Chancellor, University of California, Davis⁠
 
KEY FIGURES
•      433 underrepresented students earned Ph.D.s in science and engineering at Georgia Tech — most in the nation
•      73% of SURE program participants went on to graduate school
•      200+ technical publications; 15 book contributions; 1 patent
•      $13.2 billion annual economic contribution to California
•      40,000+ students enrolled at UC Davis
•      $1 billion+ in annual sponsored research
 
Some of the questions in this interview included: 
Background: Created the Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Science (SURE) program backed by NSF. Founded FACES and the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring with NSF and Sloan Foundation grants. Produced the most Ph.D.s among underrepresented groups in science and engineering in the nation.
 
Q3. SURE sent 73% of participants to graduate school. What design principles separate a research experience that genuinely transforms a student from one that's merely decorative on a résumé?
 
Q4. Through FACES and the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring, 433 underrepresented students earned Ph.D.s — the most in the nation. If a provost called you tomorrow wanting to replicate that, what's the one structural element they cannot skip — and the mistake institutions most often make?
 
Background: Steve W. Chaddick Chair, Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dean, Georgia Tech College of Engineering — largest and most diverse engineering school in the nation (400+ faculty, 13,000 students). Executive Assistant to President G. Wayne Clough. Elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 2018.
 
Q5. You went from the Chaddick Chair to dean of the largest, most diverse engineering school in the country while sustaining 200+ publications. How did you manage the scholar-administrator tension, and what did serving as executive assistant to President Wayne Clough teach you about executive leadership before you ever held the title?
 
Q6. Leaders keep emerging from your Georgia Tech orbit including President DesRoches at Rice, Isbell at UIUC,  President Ayanna Howard now at Spelman,  President Blake at Georgia State, Provost Beyah as provost. Coaches have coaching trees — you have a leadership tree. Was this the product of a deliberate, repeatable system for developing leaders, or a culture that leadership simply grows in?
 
Q7. Often a mentor sees leadership potential in someone before they see it in themselves. When you spot that raw material in a young faculty member or administrator, what exactly are you looking for — and how do you have the conversation that plants the seed of "you could run an institution one day"?

 
Background: 7th Chancellor, UC Davis (2017–present). Four colleges, six professional schools, 40,000+ students, $1B+ in annual sponsored research. Ranked 3rd best public university in the United States (Wall Street Journal/College Pulse, 2024). Ten-year strategic plan: To Boldly Go.

Music by Nikita Kondrashev from Pixabay

[Re-Aired] Mastering Science Communication with Simar Bajaj, Multi-Award-Winning Science Journalist
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In this remixed fireside chat from 2023, we sit down with Simar Bajaj then a Harvard undergraduate student and now: a Stanford medical student, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Oxford Marshall Scholar, and Harvard University graduate. Join us as we discuss Simar's incredible achievements in science communication, the perseverance his field demands, and the sheer hard work behind producing top-tier journalism. As a current award-winning former New York Times reporter and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Simar shares invaluable insights from his experiences writing for major outlets like NPR, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, as well as publishing first-author research in premier medical journals. This is truly a must-listen episode!
Connect with Simar:
Website: https://www.simarbajaj.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simar-bajaj/

Disclaimer:The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guest(s). This episode is designed to provide educational and intellectually stimulating support for peer pharmacists in training. It is not intended to serve as medical advice or recommendations. For personalized medical guidance, please consult your local board-certified physician, PA, NP, or pharmacist.

A Highlight on Mentorship: An Episode with Key Academic Mentors
--Please note: The views of this podcast represent those of my guest(s) and I. These are not for professional or medical consultation or advice. We disclaim any loss in any way. Please see a state and board-certified health professional for medical advice and consultation.

The Blueprint: Dr. Cray Noah, MD Returns- 2.0 (UCLA/Harvard/Georgia Tech)
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Innovation isn't accidental; it's designed. Welcome to The Blueprint, a show committed to inventing the future and closing the gap between aspiration and achievement. We deconstruct the mechanics of success in modern science to provide access to the insights that matter most.
On this episode with Dr. Cray and Chadwin Hanna (MD-PhD Student at University of Florida), we sit down again in December 2025, five years after his initial guest appearance with Dr. Cray Noah, a General Surgery Resident at UCLA and an emerging leader at the intersection of engineering and medicine. A graduate of Harvard Medical School and a summa cum laude Biomedical Engineer from Georgia Tech, Cray has a track record of moving technical ideas from concept to clinical practice.
We dive deep into his journey, and have real conversations on wellness, success and the journey of being a surgery resident.
Also, this conversation includes:
The Future of Transplants: His current feasibility study using hematopoietic stem cells to eliminate long-term immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients.
From the GT environment to the operating room, this is a masterclass in navigating—and leading—the next era of discovery.
Definitely an episode worth listening to.
Please note: The views of this podcast represent those of my guest and I, and do not constitute medical advice, suggestions, or opinions. We disclaim any loss in any way.

Music is open source.