Ever rage-quit a health app because the login made zero sense? Enter the healthcare UX (user experience) designer. Part techie, part empath, and full-time digital lifesaver.

On this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we follow the designer on a mission to rescue users from the labyrinth of confusing forms, medical jargon, and clunky buttons. With a toolkit full of sticky notes, empathy, and interface magic, healthcare headaches transform into “Aha!” moments.

It’s detective work, but for apps. Instead of solving crimes, they solve user frustration one swipe at a time.

If you’ve got a creative brain, a problem-solving heart, and a soft spot for clean design? This might just be your new favorite maybe.

Show Notes:

Humanizing Health Tech: Inside Healthcare UX Design

In this episode of Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W. explores the integral role of healthcare UX designers in making health technology more user-friendly and accessible. The episode dives into the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of these digital dream weavers, featuring a real-world example from Alex, a healthcare UX designer at a fast-paced digital health startup. Dr. W. also discusses the interdisciplinary nature of the field, how to get started, and career prospects. Listeners are encouraged to appreciate the design elements in health apps and consider healthcare UX design as a potential career path.

00:00 Introduction to Healthcare UX Design

01:53 Meet Alex: A Day in the Life of a Healthcare UX Designer

03:42 The Importance of Empathy in UX Design

04:35 How to Start a Career in Healthcare UX Design

06:41 Career Insights and Opportunities

07:51 Curious Career Facts and Conclusion

08:51 Sneak Peek: Forensic Entomology

Forget farm-to-table! We are talking space-to-salad.

In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, your professor, mom, and part-time career detective, Dr. W. explores the surprisingly down-to-earth role of a space agriculture scientist. These are the folks figuring out how to grow fresh food where there’s no gravity, no soil, and surely no bees.

Follow a fictional day in the life of Priya, a scientist testing lettuce in low orbit, and get the real scoop on what it takes to turn microgreens into mission-critical tech. From hydroponics to moon radishes, it’s a STEM career that’s weird, wonderful, and wildly futuristic.

If you’ve ever wondered what a botanist would do on Mars, or just want a side of spinach with your stargazing, this one’s for you.

Show Notes:

From Space Stations to Salad Stations: The Science of Space Agriculture

In this episode of Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W introduces the fascinating world of space agriculture. Explore how scientists like Priya are transforming space stations into thriving salad stations by growing food without traditional resources like gravity, soil, or sunlight. Discover the career path of a Space Agriculture Scientist, including the educational requirements, potential earnings, and key skills needed. Learn about the real-world applications of this research, from solving food insecurity to promoting climate-resilient farming, and consider if this interdisciplinary, experiment-heavy career could be your next maybe. The episode wraps up with listener engagement prompts and a teaser for the next episode on improving health app designs.

00:00 Introduction: Astronauts and Salad Bars

01:10 Meet the Space Agriculture Scientist

02:05 A Day in the Life of Priya

03:54 The Science Behind Space Farming

04:35 Career Path and Opportunities

07:00 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Ever watched a video of a cell dividing or a heart valve opening and thought, “Wait…how did they film that?” Spoiler alert: they didn’t! It was animated by someone who speaks both molecule and motion. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we dive into the dazzling world of biomedical animators, the visual translators who turn complex science into stunning stories. Dr. W. unpacks how these science-meets-art professionals blend biology, design, and a whole lot of coffee to help researchers, doctors, and even courtroom juries understand what’s going on inside the human body.

Whether you’re a med school aspirant with a sketchbook, a Pixar fan with a biology minor, or just curious how proteins get cast in digital spotlight, this episode is for you.

Show Notes:

From Med School to Animation: Exploring Biomedical Animation

In this episode of Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W introduces Elena, a fictional character who navigates a path from a pre-med student to a biomedical animator. Elena’s story highlights the intersection of science and art, as she moves from traditional medical ambitions to creating intricate medical animations. Dr. W delves into the educational pathways, job prospects, and real-world applications of biomedical animation, offering a comprehensive overview of this unique and interdisciplinary career. The episode concludes with a sneak peek into the next fascinating career: a space agriculture scientist.

00:00 Introduction to Majors, Minors, and Maybes

00:52 Meet Elena: From Med School Aspirant to Biomedical Animator

02:35 Discovering Biomedical Animation

02:55 The Role and Impact of a Biomedical Animator

03:45 Career Path and Opportunities in Biomedical Animation

05:07 Historical Context and Conclusion