In this episode of HOOS in STEM, we speak with Kent Yagi, UVA Professor of Physics, whose work explores the deepest mysteries of gravity and spacetime. From Einstein’s century-old prediction of gravitational waves to their first detection in 2015, Yagi has been testing general relativity at cosmic scales. His discoveries connecting neutron stars, black holes, and the ripples of spacetime are helping redefine our understanding of the universe itself.
Nov 14, 2025•41 min
In this episode of HOOS in STEM, we speak with Anton Korinek, UVA Professor of Economics and Public Policy and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in AI. A decade into exploring AI’s long-term impact, Korinek has been at the forefront of understanding how artificial intelligence could reshape our societies, and our lives.
Oct 17, 2025•46 min
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Madhav Marathe, Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of UVA’s Biocomplexity Institute. Dr. Marathe leads one of UVA’s most interdisciplinary research hubs where mathematicians, epidemiologists, social scientists, and AI systems work together to simulate the complex systems that shape our lives.
Oct 03, 2025•40 min
In this episode of HOOS in STEM, we spoke with Jennifer Morse, UVA Professor of Mathematics, whose path to combinatorics defied expectations. Raised on a dairy farm in Vermont, Jennifer’s journey took her from liberal arts studies to eventually earning a PhD in mathematics. Now, as one of the field’s top researchers, she’s preparing to lecture at the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians.
Sep 19, 2025•35 min
In this special bonus episode, we share a live story told by Professor Scott Acton, chair of UVA’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Recorded at Carr’s Hill as part of our ongoing collaboration with The Story Collider, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of a scientist’s journey. With humor, vulnerability, and insight, Scott Acton reflects on the experiences that shaped his path in STEM
Aug 22, 2025•12 min
Dr. Sontheimer is the department chair, professor, mentor, biotechnology founder, and textbook author behind a recent revolution in the emerging field of cancer neuroscience: a series of breakthrough discoveries that have catalyzed the ongoing translation of scientific research to successful clinical trials. From the evolutionary roots of binocular vision to recording single membrane ion channels over millionths of a second, Prof. Sontheimer has followed his curiosity to reshape our understandin...
Aug 08, 2025•53 min
Dr. Kemi Jona, UVA’s Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation, sits down with us to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and the workplace. We explore the future of education in a post-AI world, and the steps the university is taking to champion lifelong, accessible learning. Reflecting on his expertise in computer science and education, Dr. Jona shares insights into the future of what learning may look like.
Jul 03, 2025•50 min
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mark Esser, the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer of UVA’s new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. Dr. Esser, a renowned expert in immunology and vaccine development, shares his journey from AstraZeneca to leading this ambitious institute. With a vision to revolutionize healthcare and accelerate the development of life-saving treatments, Mark discusses fostering innovation, attracting biotech companies to Virginia, and the future of personali...
Jun 12, 2025•41 min
To celebrate their graduation from UVA, student producers Katie Nichols and Reeya Verma interviewed four exceptional Hoos in STEM. They welcome astrophysicist, historian, and Rhodes Scholar Sam Crowe; neuroscientist and President of the Raven Society, Campbell Coleman; mathematician and Marshall Scholar Catherine Cossaboom; and computational biologist and Davis Prize for Peace awardee Deniz Olgun. Congratulations to these fantastic four and to all of UVA’s accomplished Class of 2025!
May 09, 2025•44 min
This Spring, UVA welcomed the Story Collider team back to Charlottesville for the third year running. During a special recording at Carr's Hill, four UVA STEM leaders told personal stories about their lives, their careers, and how personal stories and scientific inquiry intertwine. We hope you'll head over to Story Collider to hear from Scott Acton, Chair of UVA's Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and Stephanie Rowley, Dean of the School of Education and Human Developm...
Apr 25, 2025•23 min
In this episode, we’re diving into the groundbreaking research of UVA’s 2024 Edlich-Henderson Innovators of the Year: Professors Silvia Blemker and Craig Meyer from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Their award-winning work is revolutionizing the way we analyze MRI data, creating 3D visualizations of musculature and providing insights that could transform athletic recovery. Whether you’re recovering from injury or optimizing performance, their work offers a new path to maximize recovery ...
Apr 04, 2025•34 min
We are lucky to be joined by yet another one of UVA’s own 2025 PECASE recipients, Sally Pusede, an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences. Although she has been officially honored for advancing the analysis of satellite remote sensing data for the resolution of neighborhood-level pollution across the country, we also discussed her work with political scientist Kim Fields, as co-directors of the Repair Lab, to combat environmental justice issues in local VA communities and ult...
Mar 21, 2025•36 min
Three faculty members of the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, James (Jimmy) Burns, Coleen Carrigan, and Liheng Cai, join the show to discuss their research and the path that led them to become honorees of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. The PECASE Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. From studying the culture within engineering, redefining our under...
Mar 06, 2025•46 min
How can we ensure that the AI we build is trustworthy? Responsible? An agent of the great and good, even as their rapidly increasing capabilities continue to astonish us? Thanks to the generous support of UVA Darden alum David LaCross, the LaCross Institute for Ethical AI in Business at Darden has been created to address these very concerns. We invited the Institute’s co-directors, Professors of Business Administration Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Rajkumar Venkatesan, to discuss the future of this ...
Feb 14, 2025•37 min
Scientists have begun to leverage the power of AI to help us better understand the formation and dynamics of the universe. Paul Torrey is a computational astrophysicist with a research focus on the formation and evolution of our cosmos. Torrey’s research group builds, runs, and analyzes large-scale cosmological simulations that allow us to examine in a new way our assumption of the universe.
Jan 31, 2025•42 min
Only about a decade ago did scientists discover the immense potential of leveraging the immune system to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Professor of Neuroscience John Lukens played an integral part in that movement, and he continues to push the field forward today as the inaugural director of UVA’s Harrison Family Translational Research Center in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Nov 29, 2024•43 min
This week, we dive into the heart of UVA’s chemistry department with Jill Venton, its chair and the Thomas Jefferson Professor of Chemistry. She tells us about the fascinating study and synthesis of the molecular building blocks of our universe: from star formation to nanoparticles for clean energy applications, and borrowing fluorescent molecules from fireflies to illuminate our own biological processes. We also discuss her lab’s research on brain chemistry and the future of neurochemical treat...
Nov 15, 2024•34 min
On this episode, we welcome Phil Potter, a professor of politics and public policy in the Batten School. We discuss the past, present, and future of national security, as well as UVA’s $20 million contract from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to launch a National Security and Data Policy Institute with Phil Potter as its founding director.
Nov 01, 2024•36 min
On this episode, we welcome Scott Acton the chair of UVA’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Arriving at UVA in 2000, Scott has worked on countless projects and seen first-hand how the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering has changed over time. We discuss Scott's career and research, as well as that of the department he leads, and the many ways they strive to advance technology.
Oct 18, 2024•30 min
On this episode, we welcome Madhur Behl and Amar Kulkarni of the Cavalier Autonomous Racing Team. Abbreviated as CAR, the team is a research group at UVA that has been competing in the Indy Autonomous Challenge since 2019. After becoming the first American team to win the Indy Autonomous Challenge, the two have their sights set on the future. We discuss Madhur’s role in leading the underdog team to victory, and how this unique opportunity guides Amar’s PhD research.
Oct 04, 2024•41 min
In this panel, four trailblazing academic leaders discuss how their institutions are each boldly taking on the future. UVA President Jim Ryan moderates the conversation with visiting presidents Michael Crow (Arizona State University), Harriet Nembhard (Harvey Mudd College), and Santa Ono (University of Michigan). In this wide-ranging and provocative discussion, the presidents address the future of teaching, how to optimize interdisciplinary collaboration, the role of higher education in addressi...
Sep 13, 2024•54 min
On this episode, we welcome Lori McMahon, UVA’s new Vice President for Research. She arrived on Grounds in June, armed with an impressive track record as a neuroscientist, dean, and previous Vice President of Research. We discuss her approach to supporting research at UVA as well as her research as a neuroscientist.
Aug 30, 2024•26 min
UVA just opened the doors to the nation's first School of Data Science. The new school, funded by an extraordinary $120 million gift from Jaffray and Merrrill Woodriff and the Quantitative Foundation, will offer undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees. On this episode of Hoos in STEM, Data Science professors, Prince Afriyie and Brian Wright, tell us all about the process of designing the curriculum for this industry-leading school, and what their first cohort of undergraduate students can ...
Jul 12, 2024•35 min
Back in April, UVA was excited to welcome the Story Collider team to Charlottesville for the second year running. During a special recording at Carr's Hill, four UVA STEM leaders told personal stories about their lives, their careers, and how personal stories and scientific inquiry intertwine. We hope you'll head over to Story Collider to hear from Madhur Behl, head of UVA's Autonomous Racing Team; and Hoos in STEM is very excited to share the other three stories from some familiar guests! Here'...
Jun 14, 2024•42 min
Time for HOOS in STEM to celebrate our graduating scientists! In this episode, producers Reeya Verma and Catherine Cossaboom interview fourth-year Hoos Vy Le (a published organic chemist and exemplar of the USOAR program), Grant GianGrassio (a biologist and Rhodes Scholar who founded the Virginia Medical Review), Sam Goldberg (a published mathematician who has proved striking theorems related to prime numbers), and Alex Walsh (a swimming Olympic medalist, world champion, and computer scientist)....
May 10, 2024•32 min
Dr. Scott Doney is a superstar environmental scientist, the Kington Professor in Environmental Change at UVA and Assistant Director of Ocean Climate Science at the White House. In this Earth Day episode, he sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss the devastating effects of climate change on the world's oceans and our coastal environments, a well as the latest approaches to fight the climate crisis--including the recent U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan, a roadmap to harnessing the power of the o...
Apr 19, 2024•33 min
Dr. George Bloom is a renowned cell biologist whose longtime focus has been deciphering the cellular processes at the heart of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, such as the buildup of amyloid-β peptides and tau protein tangles. In this episode, he sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss our understanding of Alzheimer's mechanisms, the current state of treatment, recent advances in diagnostic technology, and the future of research into neurodegenerative disorders.
Apr 12, 2024•34 min
Dr. Mona Sloane is a superstar sociologist studying the intersection of technology and society. She leads the Co-Opting AI series, as well as UVA's Sloane Lab , which studies AI ethics, policy, and transparency. In this episode, she sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss the ethics of generative AI, the "social infrastructure" being created by AI, and how that infrastructure influences our society. As of release (April 5th, 2024), the Sloane Lab is looking for a postdoc to conduct qualitativ...
Apr 05, 2024•38 min
Dr. Karen Kafadar is a renowned statistician who has worked across the country in government, industry, and academics. In this episode, she sits down with host Ken Ono to discuss her long history of statistics: from early mentors to her work in forensic science and her time growing UVA's Department of Statistics as Chair. They also discuss how UVA's statisticians can be found everywhere --from space travel to medicine to AI--and the role of statistical expertise in a changing world.
Feb 23, 2024•33 min
This week, Professor Mar Hicks of UVA's School of Data Science and Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures," join host Ken Ono to discuss the remarkable women whose contributions to STEM have been forgotten--from biologists to code-breakers to the "human computers" whose computations helped America win the Space Race. That's why they're announcing the launch of the Human Computer Project Census --an effort to document the names and stories of NASA's human computers. And they're looking f...
Feb 09, 2024•30 min
