Voices of Excellence

Voices of Excellence

Interviews with researchers at The Ohio State University

Episodes

September 3, 2025 29 mins
Bryan Carstens, Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, discusses his research on phylogeography, molecular ecology, and systematics. Carstens’ lab uses genetic data to understand the evolutionary history of animals. A bat biologist by training, he delves into fieldwork processes, the importance of museum collections, and technological advancements like DNA sequencing and AI in his […]
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Roman Suer, Arts Scholars Program Manager and recipient of the 2025 Barbara and Sheldon Pinchuk Arts – Community Outreach Award, discusses his award and the details and objectives of the Arts Scholars Program. Suer received the Pinchuk Arts Community Outreach Award for his work on a high school arts incubator project. The program provides applied […]
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Dehua Pei, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, discusses his groundbreaking research on how biomolecules, particularly large proteins, traverse cell membranes. This fundamental question has significant implications for drug discovery. His team has identified a new mechanism they call vesicle budding and collapse (VBC) and is exploring its potential to deliver therapeutic agents for diseases […]
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July 23, 2025 34 mins
Sultana Nahar, research professor in the Department of Astronomy and 2025 recipient of the William Fowler Award for Research from the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society, discusses her innovative research in atomic astrophysics, including her notable contributions to the NORAD atomic database and the book Atomic Astrophysics and Spectroscopy. She explores […]
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Ashley Hope Pérez, Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Studies, discusses her latest book, Deformative Fictions: Narrative Ethics and Cruelty in Twentieth-Century Latin American Literature. Pérez explores difficult and uncomfortable narratives in literature and explains how these fictions challenge readers and why such narratives are important. She and host David Staley discuss her experience […]
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Kate Shannon, Associate Professor of Art and the Ohio State University 2025-26 Artist Laureate, focuses on photography, and digitally manipulating and recontextualizing existing photographs to explore their connection to time, history, and the digital age. Shannon is fascinated with the physical deterioration of photographs and how it contributes to their stories. Host David Staley and […]
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Ken Fujita, Professor of Psychology, researches self-control in the Ohio State University Motivation and Cognitive Science Laboratory. He explores how motivation and cognition intersect to affect decision-making and behavior, such as the influence of thinking patterns on desires, as famously shown by the marshmallow test (can a child resist eating a marshmallow for 15 minutes?). […]
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June 25, 2025 30 mins
Christa Teston, the Andrea Lunsford Designated Professor of English, discusses her book Doing Dignity: Ethical Praxis and the Politics of Care. Teston argues that dignity is not an inherent trait but a practice that depends on situations and can be taught. She supports her argument with ethnographic research and interviews with healthcare professionals during the […]
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June 18, 2025 29 mins
Dr. Jason Rawls, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies, discusses his approach to education, which uses hip hop culture to connect with students. He talks about how he went from being a business major to an educator by emphasizing the importance of authenticity and building strong connections through hip hop. Rawls describes the elements of […]
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Björn Köhnlein, Associate Professor of Linguistics, studies sound systems in languages. He and host David Staley discuss how speech melodies and intonational patterns distinguish between statements and questions and the challenges of historical linguistic studies. Köhnlein shares his journey into linguistics, his fascination with generative grammar, and his current research projects, including the surprisingly complex […]
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Roger Beebe, Professor of Art and Theater, Film and Media Arts at Ohio State University, describes his artistic practice of experimental filmmaking and expanded cinema, including his use of found images and multi-projector performances. Beebe’s work seeks to transform traditional film screenings into live events. Beebe shares his creative process, touching on innovative projects like […]
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Amy Brunell, Professor of Social Psychology at The Ohio State University, researches narcissism in social contexts. In this interview, she discusses with host David Staley the clinical definition of narcissism versus its understanding from a social psychology perspective and details the three different types of narcissism. Brunell describes how narcissistic traits manifest in individuals, the […]
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Eric Schoon, Associate Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University, discusses his research interests, such as how social scientists produce knowledge and what makes something have legitimacy. He touches upon his work on linear regression in the book Regression Inside Out, co-authored with David Melamed and Ronald Breiger, and shares insights from interviewing ethnographers […]
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Dominik Stecula, Assistant Professor of Communications, discusses his research on political and science communication, focusing on where the public gets its information and the impact of various media types on public attitudes and behaviors. He studies the evolving landscape of media from traditional news to social media, the influence of podcasts such as “The Joe […]
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Dr. Jada Wiggleton-Little, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, discusses her extensive research on pain communication. She explores subjects like social biases and perceptions of pain, pain as a bodily command, and the implications of pain communication in the management of pain in medical and personal settings. Wiggleton-Little shares insights from her own life and education that […]
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 Trevon Logan, the ENGIE-Axium Endowed Professor of Economics, and Benton Wishart, a recent Ohio State economics alumnus and Dr. Logan’s research assistant, discuss their research into white women’s involvement in the slave trade during the antebellum era. Their work, titled Her Property Transactions: White Women and the Frequency of Female Ownership in the Antebellum Era, […]
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February 5, 2025 32 mins
Jaime Sabel, Associate Professor in Molecular Genetics and Director of the Center for Life Sciences Education (CLSE), discusses the CLSE’s role in housing the biology major and collaborating with other life sciences departments. Her FRAMER and MASTER educational scaffolds support students’ metacognitive skills to enhance their understanding of complex biological concepts. Sabel also highlights her […]
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Pranav Jani, Associate Professor of English, researches the literatures, cultures and history of current and formerly colonized people. His current book project examines the 1857 Rebellion in British India, and he describes the historical context of the rebellion, its depiction as the Sepoy Mutiny by imperialist narratives, and provides an in-depth analysis of the underlying […]
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January 22, 2025 31 mins
Dr. Paul Martini, a Professor of Astronomy and Physics at The Ohio State University, joins host David Staley to discuss the expanding universe, dark energy, and the role of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project in advancing research. Dr. Martini also talks about the importance of custom-built instruments in astronomy, the use of machine […]
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Paleoclimatologists Ellen Mosley-Thompson and Lonnie Thompson continue their discussion with host David Staley on the imminent challenges and possible solutions to climate change. They emphasize the importance of collective action, innovative technologies, and political will in combating environmental issues. They highlight practical actions individuals can take, such as voting and reducing energy consumption, and discuss […]
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