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Every scientist has stood in a crowded conference room rehearsing a question they’re too nervous to ask. The expert they admire is right there, but the fear of sounding unprepared wins. Yet one well-timed question can unlock clarity, accelerate a stalled project, or even spark a collaboration. In this episode, JB pulls the curtain back on the mindset and tactics he’s used for years—including the exact line that makes intimidating conversations surprisingly easy. It’s a masterclass in asking better questions in science, not as a skill you’re born with, but one you can intentionally build. Curiosity as the Engine Behind Asking Better Questions in Science JB’s story makes one thing clear: asking better questions in science starts long before the conference hallway. It starts by noticing what grabs your attention, what sparks those quiet “aha” moments during a lecture or when reading a paper, and what you can’t stop thinking about afterward. Throughout his training, he treated curiosity not as a trait but as a deliberate method. When an idea clicked, he paused, dissected it, and followed the thread. That discipline—paying attention to the internal spark—became the foundation of his scientific communication style and the steady confidence he brings into every discussion. Following curiosity is the first step toward asking better questions in science. When curiosity becomes intentional, questions become easier, sharper, and more useful. The One-Line Icebreaker That Makes Asking Better Questions in Science Easy At conferences, most early-career scientists freeze. JB short-circuits that anxiety with a single line he’s used for years: “Hi, I’m JB. I’m running into a problem and I know you work on something similar — can I pick your brain for one minute?” This opener works because it’s honest, specific, and respectful. You’re stating your purpose without hedging, signaling awareness of the other person’s expertise, and framing the conversation as short and attainable. And once the ice breaks? One minute becomes ten. Ten becomes an idea, a solution, or a collaborator. This is the practical side of asking better questions in science: not the wording, but the willingness to start. That first sentence is often the only barrier between you and the insight you need. Overcoming the Fear That Blocks Asking Better Questions in Science The biggest obstacle isn’t lack of knowledge—it’s fear. Fear of sounding inexperienced. Fear of asking something “basic”. Fear of wasting someone’s time. JB dismantles that fear with a refreshing truth: not knowing something isn’t a flaw—it’s common ground. Entire rooms full of scientists wonder the same things you do. Asking better questions in science requires accepting that uncertainty is part of the process, not a personal failing. When you articulate a question out loud, the assumptions become visible. The problem sharpens. The path forward emerges. Silence, by contrast, protects your ego but slows your research. As JB puts it, the cost of not asking is much higher than the cost of momentary discomfort. Why Asking Better Questions in Science Improves the Work Itself For JB, questions fuel the way he designs chemical probes, collaborates with biologists, and navigates technical barriers. His tools exist because he constantly asks: What limitation is chemistry solving here? What limitation is biology solving? What are we missing because we aren’t looking at the system correctly? This cross-functional back-and-forth is exactly how breakthroughs happen. In his collaboration with David Hodson, every major leap—from early ligand design to GPCR visualization tools—started with someone asking a question neither side could answer alone. Asking better questions in science isn’t a soft skill. It’s an R&D accelerant. It shortens feedback loops. It reveals flaws early. It stops wasted experiments. And it transforms collaborators into co-problem-solvers. Better questions lead to better data, faster decisions, and fewer wrong turns. Building a Scientific Career Through Asking Better Questions in Science Late in the conversation, JB offers advice that should be printed on the badge of every first-time conference attendee: Be curious. Ask questions. Engage with people regardless of their seniority. This mindset shapes careers far more than publications alone. Throughout his own journey—from organic chemistry to chemical biology to GPCR imaging—every pivotal step was rooted in conversations he initiated by asking better questions in science. Your next collaboration, job, or insight might already be within reach. It may just require walking across the room and asking one thoughtful question. The scientist who asks the best questions builds the strongest network—and the most resilient expertise. This conversation is part of a three episode series produced in collaboration with our partners at Celtarys Research . For more insight and nuance, listen to the full episode with JB.  🎧 Listen to the full episode https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/chemical-probes-for-gpcr-imaging-and-internalization If JB's story resonates 🎧 Listen to part 1 of this series with Dr. David Hodson

Hi GPCR Fanatics,   This week’s insights will help you avoid wasted time, poor forecasts, and stalled programs. Let’s get you moving with confidence. 🔍 Quick Wins This Week 🔹 Tell us what matters → News Survey Your 1-minute feedback shapes what we spotlight next week. Help us help you. 🔹 Elevate your strategy → Building clarity in GPCR drug discovery Even the strongest GPCR programs stall—not from bad data, but from buried decisions; Yamina's Corner helps teams cut through the noise and build clarity that drives action. 🔹 Innovate faster → Celtarys’s newest GPCR tools Explore new screening tools purpose-built for speed and signal specificity. 🔹 Spot the opportunity → Why Catalio is betting big when others pull back Amid biotech slowdowns, Catalio’s contrarian investments offer insight into what’s next. Terry's Corner - New Course on Pharmacologic Models The latest Terry’s Corner unlocks clinical forecasting tools few scientists truly master.   ✅ Avoid costly errors:  Master vital models to confidently forecast outcomes, before it’s too late. ✅ Future-proof your career: Conquer complex laws and understand where receptor theory is going next. ✅ Premium Members:  Access your exclusive discount in the full newsletter   Secure Your Access Now ➤ 🗣️ “Thank you for bringing this (Principles of Pharmacology I) course with Dr. Kenakin. I wish Dr. GPCR the best for the sake of promoting more educational opportunities that are sorely needed in the field” — Dr. GPCR University Learner Dr. GPCR Podcast - Surviving Discovery’s Gauntlet Dr. Sokhom Pin delivers brutally honest insights.   Break stagnation:  Apply lessons from BMS, Novartis, Cerevel & more. Find your edge:  Dodge the traps that derail real drug discovery careers.   Listen Now – Real Lessons from a GPCR Expert ➤ The future of GPCR isn’t waiting. Get ahead, stay relevant, and lead—starting today.   The Dr. GPCR Team Read Full Edition ➤

Gunnar Schulte of Karolinska Institute makes the case that frizzled receptors are GPCRs — through G-protein the first small molecule shown to activate frizzled 6. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Gunnar About the Guest Gunnar Schulte is a professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Gunnar Schulte Gunnar Schulte is a Professor in receptor pharmacology and research group leader for the Gunnar Schulte on the web Schulte Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar Orcid YouTube Dr.

About the Guest Dr. J. Gutkind attributes to the team, not the weather. Silvio Gutkind on the web Dr. J Silvio Gutkind on LinkedIn Gutkind Lab – UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Gutkind Lab publications Gutkind Lab on Pubmed Gutkind Lab on Twitter UCSD Moores Cancer Center Dr.

Silvio Gutkind on keeping a cancer research lab running at 10% occupancy, why rotation students act like About the Guest Dr. Silvio Gutkind on the web Gutkind Lab – UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Gutkind Lab publications More Publications from the Gutkind Lab on Pubmed Dr. J Silvio Gutkind on LinkedIn Gutkind Lab on Twitter UCSD Moores Cancer Center Dr.