Podcasts

This episode features Dr. Zahra Sotoudeh, an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona.  Dr. Sotoudeh has published two books and 12 journal articles, has held several leadership positions in her field of study, and has implemented new pedagogies like active learning techniques and flipped classrooms in the Aerospace Engineering Department. Her PhD specializes in computational nonlinear aeroelasticity and her research interests are in developing computational methods for studying the vibrational behavior of structures in a wide range of frequencies. She has developed programs and methods using Finite Element Method (FEM) and Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) to study high-aspect-ratio flying wings, and helicopter rotor blades structural dynamics. She has also studied energy harvesting from smart material.

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This episode features Dr. Peter Arensburger, Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Arensburger works at the interface between molecular biology and computer science. As a bioinformatician his research involves using computer program to search insect and spider DNA genomes for new patterns and features. One such feature are “transposable elements," DNA sequences outside of genes that are able move around the genome, inserting themselves into new locations. Understanding how transposable elements are able to do this, as well as describing the variety and diversity of such elements (there are a lot of them) is an important step in genetic engineering and understanding how genomes are structured.

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This episode features Jennette Ramirez, a Cal Poly Pomona alumna (Class of 2019) who earned her degree in Gender, Ethnic, Multicultural Studies (GEMS). While at Cal Poly Pomona, she spent her time working at The Pride Center and conducting research as a McNair Scholar. She will be attending the University of Southern California this fall, pursuing a Ph.D. in American Studies and Ethnicity. Her research focuses on counternarratives of state violence using her developing Beautiful Monster Theory. Jennette is also an active member of the community, working as the Social Media Director for the Pomona Community Farmers Alliance, a food justice and community-centered collective in the local area.

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This episode features Janam Dave, an MS graduate student in the Biological Sciences department at Cal Poly Pomona. As an undergraduate student, he double majored in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at CPP (Class of 2018). His research with faculty mentor Dr. Adler-Moore focuses on finding better treatment options for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a serious lung disease that currently causes 50-90% mortality in patients. Janam is investigating aerosol drug delivery as a treatment option and built an aerosol delivery system that can help generate small, inhalable drug particles that reach the deepest parts of the lung. His research indicates that this form of treatment is promising and may reduce the high rate of mortality seen in patients. Recently, Janam earned first place at the 2019 California State Research Competition for his MS thesis research. He looks forward to completing this work, graduating with his MS this year (2020), and then pursuing a PhD in Biology.

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This episode features Dr. Jessie Vallejo, an Assistant Professor in Ethnomusicology and Director of Mariachi Ensembles in Cal Poly Pomona's Music Department. Her research focuses on a hemispheric approach to Amerindian studies, Indigenous cultural-linguistic revitalization projects, and mariachi music. Dr. Vallejo has also co-produced, annotated, and provided photography for Smithsonian Folkways’ 2013 release ¡Así Kotama!: The Flutes of Otavalo, Ecuador. In addition to her research and teaching, Jessie is an active freelance violinist in the Los Angeles area. She received her Ph.D. from UCLA’s Ethnomusicology Department in 2014.

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This episode features Dr. Mary Yu Danico, a Professor in the Psychology and Sociology Department at Cal Poly Pomona. Danico has a PhD in Sociology and has over 20 years of experience investing in student success. She is interested in understanding the ways in which generations of color responds to social-cultural-political issues facing the global and local communities.  

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This episode features Dr. Randy Stein, an Assistant Professor in the International Business and Marketing Department at Cal Poly Pomona. Stein has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and his specialties are consumer behavior and marketing research.  He studies how preferences are shaped by how people reason about what’s true and what’s false. 

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This episode features Julie Shen, the Business and Computer Science Librarian at Cal Poly Pomona. Shen has an MS in Library and Information Science, an MA in English, and over 20 years of experience working with college students. She is interested in the confluence of information and human behavior.

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