About the Podcast
Building Up the Nerve is a podcast for neuroscience trainees and scientists that takes you through topics from the life cycle of a grant to demystifying scientific research at all career stages. We know that navigating your career can be daunting, but we’re here to help—it’s our job!
Co-hosts: Drs. Lauren Ullrich and Marguerite Matthews
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Email us with questions or suggestions at NINDS Nerve Pod.
Season 1: The Life Cycle of an NINDS Grant
The first Season of Building Up the Nerve takes you through the life cycle of a grant from idea to award at NINDS with the people who make it happen.
Season 1 Trailer
Episode 1: Get to know NINDS
Episode 2: The grant cycle
Episode 3: Initiating the research idea
Episode 4: Preparing the application
Episode 5: Receipt and referral
Episode 6: Scientific review
Episode 7: Program recommendation
Episode 8: Council review
Episode 9: Resubmission
Episode 10: Issuing the grant award
Episode 11: Monitoring grant performance
Episode 12: Managing the NINDS portfolio
Season 2: Building a Grant Application
The second season of Building Up the Nerve takes you through the components of a grant application with successful awardees.
Season 2 Trailer
Episode 1: Plan before you build
Episode 2: Building a target for your aims
Episode 3: Building a biography
Episode 4: Building a science story
Episode 5: Building your team
Episode 6: Building a fan base
Episode 7: Building up resilience
Season 3: Mentoring in Science
The third season of the Building Up the Nerve helps you strengthen your mentoring relationships with tools and advice from both trainees and faculty.
Season 3 Trailer
Episode 1: What is a mentor?
Episode 2: How to find a mentor
Episode 3: How to work with a mentor
Episode 4: Adaptive mentoring
Episode 5: Transitioning out of a mentoring relationship
Episode 6: Becoming a mentor
Episode 7: Structural interventions around mentoring
Season 4: Demystifying the Hidden Curriculum
The fourth season of Building Up the Nerve demystifies the unwritten rules, or “hidden curriculum,” of scientific research at every career stage.
Season 4 Trailer
Episode 1: Demystifying undergraduate research
Episode 2: Demystifying postbaccalaureate research
Episode 3: Demystifying the doctoral application process
Episode 4: Demystifying the doctoral training
Episode 5: Demystifying the postdoctorate
Episode 6: Demystifying clinician-scientist careers
Episode 7: Demystifying the tenure-track application process
Episode 8: Demystifying the early career faculty stage
Episode 9: Demystifying the mid-career faculty stage
Episode 10: Demystifying scientific careers
Bonus: All About Grants – What Early Career Researchers Should Know (Part 1) – the Hidden Curriculum with Drs. Lauren Ullrich and Oliver Bogler
Bonus: All About Grants - What Early Career Researchers Should Know (Part 2) – Discovering Strengths to Advance Your Research Career with Drs. Marguerite Matthews and Ericka Boone
Season 5: Scientific Communication
The fifth season of Building Up the Nerve tackles how to communicate science to different audiences, in different formats, and across various situations.
Season 5 trailer
Episode 1: Composing Scientific Narratives
Episode 2: Thriving in Team Science
Episode 3: Collaborating with Partners in Research
Episode 4: Crafting Effective Presentations (To watch this episode with ASL interpretation, visit our Youtube page)
Episode 5: Securing Funding for Research
Episode 6: Writing Impactful Publications
Episode 7: Engaging with Non-Scientists
Episode 8: Establishing Your Professional Identity