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Chloe Kirk, Ph.D.

Chloe Kirk, Ph.D.

Chloe Kirk, Ph.D.

Chloe Kirk, Ph.D.

  • Home
  • Chloe.the.Scientist
    • Science Reads
    • Research Advice
    • Normalizing STEM
      • Diversity in Science
      • Paths to STEM
    • Guest Features
  • C.V.
  • Contact Me
@ChloetheScientist Europe Featured Travel

Innovation in Norway

@ChloetheScientist Featured Travel United States

Discovered at Microsoft

@ChloetheScientist Featured Research Advice

Get Involved in Undergrad Research

@ChloetheScientist Featured Research Advice

How to Read a Scientific Paper

@ChloetheScientist Featured Research Advice

Why I Chose a Science Major

@ChloetheScientist Featured Research Advice

How to Apply for Graduate School in the Sciences

@ChloetheScientist Research Advice

Planning in Grad School

I’ve always loved planning and organization, and grad school puts everything I know about organization to the test! There’s so much always happening: experiments to plan, experiments happening, data to analyze, papers to read, meetings and classes to attend, and …

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December 9, 2020December 23, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Emma’s Path to Genetics

            As I walked into high school Biology class, I looked down at my Eurkaryotic cell cake and glowed with pride at my baking skills but also my knowledge of the cell and strong desire to learn more. From an …

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November 11, 2020November 4, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Hope’s Path to Orthopedics

Hi! My name is Hope Welhaven and I am a first year PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. I recently graduated from Carroll College in Helena, MT with two degrees …

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October 28, 2020October 28, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Victoria’s Path to Academia

I’m Victoria and currently a third-year Biochemistry Ph.D. student at Florida International University.  I was born and raised in Minks, Belarus. I spent most of my childhood doing rhythmic gymnastics and some horseback riding. I moved to the United States …

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October 21, 2020September 24, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Jenny’s Path to Informatics

How did you get into Science? If you had asked me a year ago, what my career path was going to be, I would have answered ā€˜Research Scientist’. In fact, if you had asked me 5 years ago, I would …

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October 14, 2020September 23, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Taylor’s Path to Nutritional Health

Hi there! My name is Taylor, and I am a third-year Ph.D. graduate student at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I graduated in 2018 from Florida State University with a major …

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October 7, 2020September 18, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Jenna’s Path to Geophysics

Hello everybody! My name is Jenna Faith and I’m currently entering the 4th year of my PhD program at the University of Texas at El Paso. I study geophysics, specifically seismology, or as most probably know it, earthquakes. I received …

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September 30, 2020September 15, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Emmanuella’s Path to Immunology Research

Hi! I am Emmanuella Nnuji-John, a senior Biochemistry undergraduate student at Alcorn State University. My interests intersect immunology and infectious disease/pathology research, and I hope to explore these interests through a biomedical PhD program and eventually in the biopharmaceutical industry. …

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September 23, 2020September 8, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Paths to STEM

Allie’s Path to Toxicology

Hey friends! My name is Allie and I am a PhD Candidate in Toxicology at Texas A&M University. I graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in 2017 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Sustainability. My current research …

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September 16, 2020September 16, 2020
@ChloetheScientist Research Advice

What I Learned my First Year of Grad School

Hello! This blog is a bit more of a heart to heart with myself, but I hope by sharing this it might help at least a couple prospective or first year PhD students like myself. Take notes Take notes all …

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September 10, 2020December 29, 2020

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chloe.the.scientist

Science Communicator
šŸ«–Powered by tea & books, owned by cats
🧬Cover scientists doing cool science
šŸ¤—Biochemistry PhD
šŸ’Œchloethescientist.info@gmail.com

My kids just took their first unit quiz And it wa My kids just took their first unit quiz

And it wasn’t a walk in the park, for any of usšŸ˜‚

It was all about ecology and ecosystems. How animals including humans work with each other to support our environment.

Overall, my kids did well. But I was just proctoring an online multiple choice quiz the school division gave us. 1 question didn’t have a correct answer, and another we ended up just telling kids the answer because even I was between two options šŸ˜‚ Frankly, I don’t think online multiple choice quizzes are good way to measure a student’s mastery of a concept. It’s just how well can they eliminate wrong answers and read through large chunks of text. But this raises the age old question of *how* do you best test a kid’s mastery of a topic? (I don’t have a good answer here but something I defs thinking a lot about)

My kids who didn’t study didn’t get a great grade. It was a good wake up call. Most of my kids have never had to study for a quiz before. I remember the first quiz in middle school where I realized I needed to study (it was math ā˜ ļø). 

It’s also a wake up call for me to remember many of my kids are actively learning right now what it means to be a good student šŸ‘©šŸ¼ā€šŸŽ“ sooo they are all learning about Grit this week as we get ready for unit 2 (have you watched the Ted talk about Grit?! 100/10 🤩) and getting a healthy reminder that you are not the summation of your grades :) the shock on their faces when I told them I failed my first organic chemistry exam šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ 

passion and perseverance get you much further than any standardized test! 

Also, if you’re wondering why the fits are extra colorful, last week was spirit week šŸ˜‚

#scicomm #teachersofig #womeninscience #science #scienceteacher
Summer Science Reads Recap! ✨ If you want to hea Summer Science Reads Recap! ✨ 

If you want to hear my thoughts about each book, keep listening :)

June: The Power of Life by Jessica Riskin (gifted by @riverheadbooks )

July: Disease Knows No Politics by Elias Zerhouni (former NIH Director)

August: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? By Alan Alda (recommend by expert scicommer)

September: Hidden Guests by Lise Barneoud (gifted by @theroyalsociety as 2026 science book finalist)

Which one are you reading first?? #scicomm #sciencereads #science #bookstagram
How I talk about life (on earth) with my kids! šŸ¤—šŸ¤“šŸ‘© How I talk about life (on earth) with my kids! šŸ¤—šŸ¤“šŸ‘©šŸ¼ā€šŸ”¬

This is COLT: Characteristics of Living Things. We are starting off the year in our 🌓EcologyšŸ¦… Unit and, of course, we have to define what makes something alive! 

#teachersofig #scicomm #science #ecology #characteristicsoflivingthings
#ad What does more mechanisms actually mean in our #ad What does more mechanisms actually mean in our laundry detergent? #TideLaundry #TidePartner
We want everyone to care about science! Sciencemax We want everyone to care about science! Sciencemaxxing at the new Aztrazeneca site in Cambridge, MAšŸ‘©šŸ¼ā€šŸ”¬

#scicomm #womeninscience #science #scienceresearch #astrazeneca
On a more positive note, here is what my classroom On a more positive note, here is what my classroom looked like before I added some science magic :):)

#teachersofig #scicomm
#womeninscience #scientist #science
One of my kids asked me this week ā€œhow is being a One of my kids asked me this week ā€œhow is being a teacher?ā€

I answered honestly - it’s rough.

I knew I’d be tired every day, I knew it would be a lot of free labor, using my own resources and extra time to make the kids feel seen and heard. But I wasn’t expecting how draining it would be. 

Teachers give everything during the day. The whole tank. And I’m struggling to figure out how to refill the tank so I can bring the same energy day in day out. Especially when you throw in the behaviors that haven’t been checked despite being in middle school (screaming, hitting, throwing, not knowing how to sit still or be quiet) and a literacy crisis that means in the same class I’m teaching someone who can’t read a sentence and someone who is reading Project Hail Mary for fun. 

I love my kids. I love the teachers I work with. But we are simply dealing with a system that is not preparing kids for the real world. I couldn’t imagine asking my teacher as a kid, bold faced, ā€œhow can I improve my gradeā€ WHEN I HAVEN’T DONE A SINGLE ASSIGNMENT FOR CLASS (mind you, 5 kids have already asked me this). 

There’s only so much teachers can do in a day to get kids ahead. So much of the system relies on parents and a home structure system that simply isn’t there for many of my kids. And even if it is, they don’t seem to grasp the idea of deadlines or consequences because - frankly - I don’t think there are many? At least not in the school system. Being sent to the principal, detention, homework, even point deductions for turning in assignments late are not concepts my kids know.

The short of it is I’m tired. But I’m trying to focus on the small wins instead of spiral into the losses ā¤ļø

#teachersofig #scicomm #womeninscience #scientist #science
Season 2 Reforming Academia coming to you every Tu Season 2 Reforming Academia coming to you every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts! 

Episode 1 starts with a good friend & expert in Open Access Science - JP Flores, PhD. 

#scicomm #reformingacademia #openaccessscience #science #womeninscience
How on earth did I end up here?! I still ask myse How on earth did I end up here?!

I still ask myself this on the daily. Even when I was sharing science online during grad school, I had no clue I’d be able to someday share so many science stories with you guys! 🄰 

it’s an absolute blessing - I can’t believe I’m here, still getting imposter syndrome on the regular, but thank you guys for making my nerdy science dreams come true šŸ™šŸ¤©šŸ¤“ thank you for caring about science, even when trust in science is bleak. Thank you for supporting my crazy side adventures, my unhealthy tea obsession, my need to show you my cats like they are my babies, and for trusting me through the many many career changes šŸ˜‚

Feeling extra grateful as I finish up sharing some of the absolutely insane opportunities I’ve been part of recently. How is this life?!? 

For all my researchers in the trenches right now - YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH!!! ā¤ļøā€šŸ©¹ā¤ļøā€šŸ©¹ā¤ļøā€šŸ”„ You don’t have to stay in research to love science - and we honestly need so many more of you talking about your science to the public!! Come join us šŸ¤—šŸ¤—

#scicomm #womeninscience #phdjourney
First science research gala I’ve ever been to! Sup First science research gala I’ve ever been to! Supporting a great cause - check out A-T Children’s Project to learn more ā¤ļø

#scicomm #Ataxiatelangiectasia #raredisease #research #rarediseaseawareness
This is the mother of Charlotte, a 5 year old with This is the mother of Charlotte, a 5 year old with Ataxia-telangiectasia

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a genetic disease that causes loss of muscle control and balance, cancer, lung disease and immune system problems in children & young adults, shortening their lives. The nonprofit A-T Children’s Project partners with academic and industry investigators worldwide – organizing and supporting innovative research, conferences, clinical teams, data platforms and biomarker development – to optimize disease management strategies, develop new treatments and find a cure.

#scicomm #atdisease #raredisease #research
First gala for Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) ā¤ļø Or First gala for Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) ā¤ļø 

Organized by A-T Children’s Project, this gala is specifically aimed at researchers to share the patient and family stories of those affected by A-T.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a genetic disease that causes loss of muscle control and balance, cancer, lung disease and immune system problems in children & young adults, shortening their lives.

Learn more about rare genetic disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia at the A-T Children’s Project, founded by Brad and Vicki Margus who have two sons with A-T.

#scicomm #raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #science
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