Being a chemistry professor is Jen Heemstra’s dream job. How she got there was a bit of a nightmare. But now she’s running her own team at Emory University and has become a social media celebrity by sharing her experiences and leadership advice on Twitter. She credits her personal tragedy and professional setbacks for making her who she is today. In the latest episode of C&EN’s Stereo Chemistry podcast, we spent two days with Heemstra and her team to learn more about her and her approach to graduate education. Heemstra’s adversity has not only shaped her attitude but also how she runs her lab. She’s helping her students develop skills that go beyond the bench—things like how to manage motivation, how to develop research ideas, and how to write grants. Listen now to hear more about Heemstra’s journey and philosophy. Here's a link to Jen’s PhD Balance post on Instagram (PhD Balance was formerly The PhDepression).  Ask Jen a question for her Office Hours column!  Nominate an early-career chemist for this year’s Talented 12 feature.  Music credits: “School” and “Mall” by Komiku are licensed under CC0 1.0.  “Blind” by Meydän is licensed under CC BY 4.0. “The Confrontation” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.  “May the Chords Be with You” by Computer Music All-stars is licensed under CC BY 4.0.  Image credit: Jessica Lily (Jen Heemtra's headshot); Matt Davenport/C&EN (Photo collage)