Science Superhero

IN A TIME of hectic schedules, information overload, and outright disinformation, it isn’t always easy to discern what the best—and healthiest—choices are for not only ourselves but our families.

Or at least it wasn’t until metabolic science researcher, biomedical PhD, and local mom of four Madina Sokolov launched Hormones & Neurons, a delightfully inspiring, sometimes whimsical, always edifying channel designed to take science out of the ivory tower and make it fun, accessible, and actionable for everyday people.

AQUA Pinecrest recently chatted with Sokolov about her childhood in post-Soviet Uzbekistan, discovering a love for science, the fun and wildness of juggling professional lab life and motherhood, and why she chose to take her crusade for clarity to social media.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, during uncertain post Soviet times. My mother moved my grandmother and me to Moscow, while she herself went to the United States searching for a better future and a way to support us. In that reality, people were simply trying to survive, not dream, so I never imagined I would become a scientist.

Do you remember the first bit of science that piqued your interest?

I was always interested in medicine, but with gaps in my early education and constant movement between countries, becoming a doctor seemed out of reach. When I finally joined my mom in the U.S. at age 19, I didn’t speak any English. I went to language school during the day, worked in the evenings as a waitress, and started community college. That’s when I took biology, chemistry, and physics: the foundational sciences to cover my gaps in primary education. At first, I was miserable and my grades suffered, but a few semesters later I turned into a straight-A student.

After three semesters at community college, I was accepted to the University of Michigan, one of the top universities in the U.S. That was the moment I finally felt solid ground under my feet. It was the first time I believed I could achieve something real, and that my dream of medicine might actually come true.

How did you end up transitioning to research science? 

You learn what you like and don’t like from experience. I never imagined myself as a scientist. I didn’t even know what research was until I tried it. I was a pre-med student, volunteering in a hospital as well as a lab—and very quickly realized that the lab, not the hospital, was my comfortable place. I didn’t have a specific goal of curing a certain disease or targeting a specific field. Biology in general was fascinating to me: how genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology come together to create complex physiology! I was drawn to the world driven by curiosity rather than profit…Today, I study how nerves regulate glucose metabolism and how manipulating these circuits might help treat diabetes and obesity.

Why did you choose to launch Hormones & Neurons?

This is my midlife experiment! I avoided social media completely for about a decade. But recently, with so many new weight-loss medications and a flood of confusing information online, I felt a responsibility as a scientist to help people understand what’s happening inside their bodies: People deserve clarity. And if scientists don’t step into that space, someone without expertise will.

Was there a learning curve to getting on camera and putting yourself out on this kind of platform?

I feel comfortable on camera, but I’m extremely careful with what I say. I’m also shy about what my academic colleagues might think—academia can be traditional, and social media isn’t always taken seriously. I interact with high-quality scientific and medical information every day, and I’m still learning how to communicate it clearly and responsibly. I genuinely welcome feedback on what I share and suggestions for topics people would like to learn about next.

You’re a professional woman with a demanding job and four children. How do you juggle the lab and motherhood?

Motherhood taught me patience, resilience, and time management—skills that translate directly into being a good scientist. Experiments rarely cooperate, and neither do toddlers, so you quickly learn to adapt. I also get a tremendous amount of help from my mom, my husband, and honestly even from my kids. We’ve learned to manage it together as a family.

At the same time, motherhood has also shaped the way I think about science itself. Scientists can sometimes get lost in jargon and biochemical pathways and forget the bigger picture. Explaining science in simple words to my children is my reality check: if I can make a concept understandable to a child, then I truly understand it myself and can see why it matters. And children ask the most thoughtful questions—often the ones adults never think to ask.

What’s next?

My dream is to continue bridging scientific research with real-world health solutions. I hope to eventually lead my own research program studying how the nervous system controls metabolism and to translate those discoveries into new therapies for metabolic disease.

I’m also excited to grow Hormones & Neurons as a platform for education— especially for women navigating metabolic health, motherhood, and modern medicine. Long-term, I see myself at the intersection of academia, entrepreneurship, and science communication.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER