Fail-Safe Science Repository
Studies have shown that graduate students commonly feel as though successful scientists rarely experience challenges or failures. Fail-Safe Science is an initiative designed to normalize experiencing and overcoming challenges in science graduate programs. Below are videos of different scientists discussing the hurdles they encountered during their PhD programs, how they coped with the challenges, and what advice they have for current graduate students.
Search the repository by type of challenge and learn from successful scientists who have overcome obstacles throughout their graduate careers.
Explore our companion podcast.
Welcome to the Fail-Safe Science podcast, a collection of scientists sharing candid stories about challenges they faced in graduate school, how they overcame them, and advice for current students.
Fail-Safe Science Repository
Dr. Gwen Iacona
Challenge Type: Qualifying/Comprehensive/Prospectus exam or defenseDr. Gwen Iacona is an Assistant Research Professor at Arizona State University, where she serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes. She also serves on the advisory board for the National Parks Service, where she promotes data-driven ecological decision-making.… Read more
Dr. Ajay Jagadeesh
Challenge Type: Finishing the dissertation, Model calibrationDr. Ajay Jagadeesh is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Structures within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His dissertation research focused on “Pervious concrete pavement non-Darcy permeability and skid resistance analysis… Read more
Dr. Simona Kraberger
Challenge Type: Presentation; Public speakingDr. Simona Kraberger is currently an assistant research scientist at Arizona State University. Her dissertation research focused on the global dynamics of mastreviruses which are a group of agriculturally important plant infecting viruses. Now, her work focuses on evolution and ecology of… Read more
Dr. Ramesh Laungani
Challenge Type: FieldworkDr. Ramesh Laungani is an Associate Professor at Marist University in the School of Science in the department of Environmental Science and Policy. His dissertation research focused on nitrogen and carbon cycling in grasslands. Now, his work with undergraduates primarily focuses on the ecological… Read more
Dr. Max Liboiron
Challenge Type: Navigating department/university cultureDr. Max Liboiron is currently a Professor in Geography at Memorial University in Canada, where they run the CLEAR lab. Their dissertation research focused on the emerging state of plastic pollution as a field, and their work now focuses on creating tools… Read more
Dr. Paige Madison
Challenge Type: Navigating feedback on writing, Qualifying/Comprehensive/Prospectus exam or defenseDr. Paige Madison currently works for Complexly as a script editor for PBS Eons. She is also a science writer, most recently working with National Geographic. In addition, she is writing her first book, which is due to be… Read more
Dr. Kat Magnone
Challenge Type: Qualifying/Comprehensive/Prospectus exam or defenseDr. Kat Magnone is an adjunct Chemistry instructor at Cincinnati State. Their dissertation research studied high school students learning about sodium chloride dissolution using molecular level animations. In this video, Kat discusses their experience failing their qualifying exams on their… Read more
Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud
Challenge Type: Going on the job market, Not meeting personal expectationsDr. Ahmed Mahmoud is a postdoc in the Nai-Kong Cheung Lab at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York. His dissertation research focused on cancer plasticity in colorectal cancer, and his work now focuses on target radio therapy in prostate cancer. In this video, Ahmed… Read more
Dr. Upma Manral
Challenge Type: Fieldwork, Finances, Navigating limited mentorship, Writing the dissertationDr. Upma Manral is a conservation ecologist working at the intersection of research, policy, and on-ground practice, largely focused on human–wildlife interactions and landscape-level conservation across different regions in India. Her dissertation research focused on the Indian Himalayan… Read more