2024 Podcasts

Careers in Research: How to be In the Know as an Undergraduate | Professor Rachel Austin

Weinsaft, Eliana

In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Eliana Weinsaft (BC’27) spoke with Professor Rachel Austin from Barnard College’s Chemistry Department about her research journey, and what students should keep in mind if considering a career in science or research. Professor Austin gives insight into opportunities within the institution and describes her experience with discovering her research focuses throughout her career.

Professor Rachel Austin is the Diana T. and P. Roy Vagelos Professor of Chemistry at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of metal ions and metalloproteins in biological reactions, as well as developing catalysts for use in environmental applications. She is a current editorial board member for the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, an editorial review board member for the Frontiers in Microbiological Chemistry, and the past chair for the 2010 Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry Gordon Research Conference.

At Barnard, Professor Austin teaches several courses in the Chemistry department, as well as running and working in the Austin Laboratory, which has received funding from the NSF, NIH, Pfizer, and other research organizations, as well as a Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award. In this podcast, Professor Austin delves into her experience as a chemist and a science researcher, and shares words of encouragement to undergraduates who wish to pursue research as a career.