American Physiological Society

What Running Taught this Researcher About Building a Research Career Nathaniel Jenkins, PhD, on what running taught him about persistence, mentorship and building a program from scratch. By Nathaniel Jenkins, PhD I came to running the same way I came to my current research program: without a road map and with a lot of doubt. I was a baseball player most of my life, and when I hung up the glove, I spent the next 10 years training in the weight room where I was comfortable.

You already know how to think like a scientist. But as a graduate student, postdoc or early-career researcher considering an industry role, success will depend on more than strong research skills. You are expected to: Design efficient, decision-focused experiments. Work with large, complex datasets. Understand how discoveries translate into therapies. Collaborate across teams and functions. Communicate insights clearly to diverse stakeholders. These are not always part of traditional academic training.

Help build excitement for the 2026 Comparative Physiology Conference. Download official social media badges to let your network know you’re presenting, attending or submitted an abstract. Tag APS and use #Comparative2026 so we can share your posts!

From the Lab to Leadership: Meet APS' New CEO Erika Shugart, PhD, FAAAS, earned a PhD in biology before building a career in science communication and policy. By Amanda Bertholf, MA Erika Shugart grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a town built for science. Originally established as a production site for the Manhattan Project, it has been home to world-class research ever since. Shugart’s father was an ecologist. Her friends’ parents were scientists.

What Nearly 50 Scientists Have Learned About Building a Career APS members share what they wish they'd known about mentorship, leadership and building a sustainable career in science. Cultivating a successful career in physiology takes more than scientific knowledge and a passion for uncovering the unknown. Interpersonal skills, leadership traits, and the ability to push through or pivot when times get tough are just a few of the many qualities necessary to help you build a rewarding career.

APS chapters are independent non-profit organizations that serve to promote physiology research, education and outreach at a local and regional level. Chapters affiliate with the American Physiological Society to mutually promote growth and participation in their society activities. The APS Chapter Network Group is a peer-based community that connects chapter leaders to foster collaboration, strengthen chapter success and support effective chapter operations.

Why This Scientist Has Spent 40 Years Studying the Kidney David Pollock, PhD, FAPS, now leads APS' journal Function and still finds the kidney fascinating. By Melanie Padgett Powers “Your kidney is just 0.5% of your body weight but receives nearly 25% of your cardiac output. And did you know the kidney also controls blood pressure?” Renal physiologist David M. Pollock, PhD, FAPS, explains kidney function as a great professor does, with the expectation you’ll find it as fascinating as he does.

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Why Scientists Must Keep Fighting for Federal Research Funding APS Chief Science Advisor Dennis Brown, PhD, FAPS, makes the case for continued science advocacy, even as federal research budgets face deep cuts. By Dennis Brown, PhD, FAPS I’ll be honest with you. There are days when it feels like I’m shouting into a very large, very indifferent room, so why do it at all? I moderated a panel at the U.S. Capitol in March.

About This Rule and APS’ Comments The American Physiological Society has submitted formal comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to its proposed rule revising the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (Docket No. OMB-2026-0034).