How can mentorship, collaboration, and balance shape not just scientific careers, but whole communities of future researchers?
In this episode of the Science with Impact Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Valeria De La Rosa-Reyes, a Puerto Rican anatomist, professor, and neuroscientist researcher at the University of Puerto Rico–Bayamón.
From her early curiosity on her grandmother’s farm to leading her own lab, Dr. Valeria shares how mentorship, resilience, and joy have guided her journey in STEM. She reflects on why good collaborators are essential in the first years of a career, how undergraduates can take ownership of real research, and why balance and authenticity matter just as much as publications.
Dr. Valeria also discusses how she integrates cutting-edge datasets—like those from the Allen Institute—into her classroom, making complex neuroscience research accessible to her students. Along the way, she shares practical advice for aspiring scientists, stories of impactful mentors, and how humor and connection can reduce anxiety and fuel learning.
This episode is filled with insights on leadership, motivation, and the joy of scientific discovery.
🤔 Who is this for?
- Graduate and early-career scientists navigating the pressures of funding, collaboration, and building a sustainable career.
- Undergraduate educators and mentors who want practical ways to bring research into the classroom and spark curiosity.
- Scientists committed to broader impacts—those interested in how mentorship, collaboration, and joy can shape resilient research communities.
📋 What is it about?
Dr. Valeria De La Rosa-Reyes shares how resilience, mentorship, and joy have shaped her path as a scientist and educator. She reflects on the power of early research experiences, the value of supportive collaborators, and the responsibility of fostering the next generation of scientists. From integrating Allen Institute datasets into her classroom to building mentorship networks that empower undergraduates, Dr. Valeria offers practical lessons on how researchers can create careers that are balanced, impactful, and deeply human.
🔑 Key Takeaway: Science isn’t one-size-fits-all. By embracing storytelling, metaphors, and audience-centered communication, researchers can make complex ideas resonate, reconnect with their own sense of wonder, and show people that there’s a kind of science for everyone.
⌚️ Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and Importance of Good Collaborators
00:49 Welcome to the Podcast
01:05 Meet Dr. Valeria
02:47 Dr. Valeria's Journey into Science
04:39 The Joy of Teaching
06:22 Challenges and Advice for Early Career Researchers
08:03 Building a Community of Mentorship
10:35 Collaborators: Good vs. Bad
12:44 Introducing Undergraduates to Research
14:37 Exciting Experiences at the Allen Institute
23:33 Impactful Mentoring Experiences
25:25 Humor and Bonding in the Lab
27:18 Conclusion and Next Guest
📣 Guest:
Dr. Valeria De La Rosa-Reyes | Anatomist, Neuroscientist, and Professor, University of Puerto Rico–Bayamón
🎙️ Host
Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., is the founder of Science with Impact, where we partner with research organizations to translate STEM advancements into measurable societal benefits beyond academia.
🙌🏽 Want to collaborate?
If you know of a research organization seeking support in:
- Measuring (program evaluation, statistics/data analysis, and reporting) or
- Communicating (illustration/animation, data visualization, and presentations)
the impact of their STEM research, click the button below to connect them with Dr. Rosa.
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Thank you for all you do to broaden the societal impacts of STEM research.
Sincerely,
The Team at Science with Impact
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