Episode Details

You signed up for wildlife science to work with animals—then discovered most of the job is working with people. In this episode, Katie sits down with Dr. Anna Chalfoun in Pinedale, Wyoming, to unpack the soft skills that quietly drive great science: building a healthy lab culture, mentoring with intention, and navigating conflict without burning bridges. From her unexpected pivot into conservation biology to her current role as a co-op unit scientist, Anna shares candid lessons you can use whether you’re a new professor, a grad student searching for the right advisor, or a professional trying to make your team work better.

Conflict is inevitable, so we share tools that work. Anna’s favorite: pause, breathe, get curious. It’s a simple reset that replaces knee-jerk fixes with better questions and clearer agreements. By the end, you’ll have a playbook for aligning your lab with your values, supporting students as they grow from learners to colleagues, and sustaining your own energy for the long haul. If you care about wildlife, mentorship, and doing science that lasts, this conversation will sharpen the way you lead and learn.

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