Kyle Timmer is on a mission to help your body heal faster after an injury.

A PhD student in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Illinois, Kyle took home the grand prize at Research Live!, a fun, fast-paced competition where graduate students showcase their research. Research Live! challenges participants to give a three-minute research talk that explains their project to a general audience. Dazzling both the audience and judges, Kyle showcased his work, "A Biomimetic Scaffold to Improve Rotator Cuff Shoulder Repair." His new approach, which uses structures that mimic natural tissue to enhance healing, could revolutionize how doctors treat shoulder injuries, potentially shortening recovery time and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.

Fresh off his win, Kyle joined GradLIFE podcast host John Moist to discuss the art of science communication, working with stem cells, the ins and outs (and highs and lows) of lab work, and more.

Listen to the full conversation on the GradLIFE podcast, available here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the complete GradLIFE Podcast on Buzzsprout to listen to our back catalog.