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The Incubator At The Bench
At the Bench is a podcast series produced by The Incubator and hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Crouch, Dr. David McCulley, and Dr. Misty Good. This series is dedicated to exploring the lives and work of neonatal physician scientists. Each episode features in depth conversations with neonatologists who have chosen careers rooted in discovery science, offering listeners a closer look at what it truly means to be “at the bench.” Through thoughtful discussion, the hosts explore how these clinicians found their path into research, the scientific questions that drive their work, and the challenges and rewards of balancing clinical care with life in the laboratory. The series provides insight, inspiration, and practical perspective for trainees, early career investigators, and anyone curious about the role of physician scientists in advancing neonatal care.
The Incubator At The Bench
#017 - Following the Why: Building a Career at the Intersection of Science and Care
In this episode of At the Bench, Drs. Misty Good and Betsy Crouch welcome Dr. Amélie Collins, an R01-funded neonatologist and associate professor at Cincinnati Children’s. A classically trained immunologist turned hematopoietic stem cell biologist, Dr. Collins shares her journey from philosophy major at the University of Chicago to leading a research program focused on fetal myelopoiesis in the context of maternal inflammation.
She discusses her training path through MD/PhD at NYU, her formative time in the labs of Dan Littman and Emmanuelle Passegué, and the critical mentorship moments that shaped her career. Dr. Collins offers an honest look at the challenges and joys of long training, pivoting research directions, and starting an independent lab. She reflects on the intersection of science and clinical care, grant writing as a creative exercise, and the importance of celebrating effort and submission, not just success.
We also dive into her Cell paper on the extrinsic regulation of emergency myelopoiesis in the fetus, the role of maternal IL-10, and how her lab is exploring how hematopoietic stem cells mature and retain memory of early-life exposures.
Dr. Collins leaves listeners with powerful advice: “Do it because you love it. This career demands a lot, including your time, energy, and weekends. But if you love it, it’s worth it.”