Shows
BioPODThe forgotten Kingdom: Inside the World of FungiIn this episode, Nitara interviews Dr Ester Gaya, a researcher working at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the Fungi genome project.
2026-01-3038 min
BioPODFertility: Research & ArtIn this episode, Liz talks to Aleksandra Byrska, Gerard Pieper and Geraldine Hartsthorne, about their research on embryo development and IVF and learn more about the glass art exhibition which aims to help fertility patients. Read more about the Fertility Glass Art project here https://biology.ed.ac.uk/new-horizons-ivf-engagement/meet-artists
2025-11-0851 min
BioPODAI in healthcareIn this episode, Analia talks to Ben Glocker from CHAI (Causality in Healthcare AI) Hub, a network of scientists designing the next generation of healthcare Artificial Intelligence.
2025-09-0325 min
BioPODSigns of life: detecting biosignals from fossilIn today’s episode, Nitara chats with Dr. Corentin Loron about how to interpret signatures of life, and what they might tell us about the first life forms. Please respond to our survey so we can find out more about you and what you want to listen to! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqoV4JoROJCfcMtvk4-Wer0uJGpvQfzUj3M4Mz8vx_9ScjKA/viewform?usp=header
2025-07-1822 min
The Wilde Way: Fertility Unfiltered1: 6 Things I Did to Get Pregnant Naturally at 41 (After Years of Trying)Share your TTC story ✨6 Things I Did to Get Pregnant Naturally at 41 (After Years of Trying)✨ Free resources + connect with me: 💖 My Ultimate Preconception Checklist - https://abiwilde.myflodesk.com/preconception-checklist 💖 10 AI Tools to Support Your Hormones, Cycle & Sanity - https://abiwilde.myflodesk.com/ftgqt3aylm 📲 Come say hi on Instagram — @abi.wildeIn this very first episode of The Wilde Way, I’m telling my story — the whole messy, beautiful, WTF-is-happening journey from heartbreak and IVF… to the shock of conceiving my daughter Sadie naturally at 41 (spoiler: I did...
2025-07-1634 minThe Wilde Way: Fertility UnfilteredMy Story: 6 Things I Did to Get Pregnant Naturally at 41My Story: 6 Things I Did to Fall Pregnant Naturally at 41✨ Free resources + connect with me: 💖 My Ultimate Preconception Checklist 💖 10 AI Tools to Support Your Hormones, Cycle & Sanity 📲 Come say hi on Instagram — @abi.wildeIn this very first episode of The Wilde Way, I’m telling my story — the whole messy, beautiful, WTF-is-happening journey from heartbreak and IVF… to the shock of conceiving my daughter Sadie naturally at 41 (spoiler: I did not see that coming).I’m walking you through the six key things I did to actually heal my b...
2025-07-1634 min
BioPODCell clocks: the circadian rhythm of the cellsFrom jet lag to gene expression, your body runs on a schedule — but how? In this episode, Nitara chats with Dr. Priya Crosby about how individual cells keep time, what happens when those clocks fall out of sync, and why understanding circadian rhythms is key to decoding health and disease.Interview and editing by Nitara, art and production by Evangelia
2025-06-1831 min
BioPODFossil detective: piecing together the neurobiology of fossil mammalsIn today’s episode, Nitara chats with Dr. Ornella Bertrand about the evolution of the mammalian brain and inner ear, and how fossil evidence helps piece together this deep evolutionary history. Please respond to our survey so we can find out more about you and what you want to listen to! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqoV4JoROJCfcMtvk4-Wer0uJGpvQfzUj3M4Mz8vx_9ScjKA/viewform?usp=header
2025-05-2733 min
BioPODScience and Policy with Prof. Andrew MillarEver wondered about the intersection of policy and science? Tune in as Markella chats with Professor Andrew Millar about his career and work as the Chief Scientific Advisor on the environment, natural resources, and agriculture for the Scottish Government. Interview and editing by Markella, art by Keiran, and production by Manushri.
2025-04-2938 min
BioPODBecoming your own scientistEver wondered what it’s really like to become an independent researcher—calling the shots on what to study and navigating the highs and lows of doing science on your own terms? In this episode, Matthew Swaffer chats with Liz about starting his own lab, diving into all things cell-size related, and what the transition to leading your own research really feels like.Please fill out our survey so we can hear from you about where to take BioPOD in the future! SURVEY LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqoV4JoROJCfcMtvk4-Wer0uJGpvQfzUj3M4Mz8vx_9...
2025-03-2751 min
BioPODEntrepreneurship Series: ConceptionX, UK’s leading PhD deep-tech venture programmeIn this episode of Biopod's entrepreneurship series, Keshav and Nitara sit down with Dr. Riam Kanso to discuss the journey behind ConceptionX, a deep-tech venture programme to help PhD students fund their entrepreneurial pursuits. Please respond to our survey so we can find out more about you and what you want to listen to! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqoV4JoROJCfcMtvk4-Wer0uJGpvQfzUj3M4Mz8vx_9ScjKA/viewform?usp=header
2025-02-2127 min
BioPODConservation genetics with Dr Alex BallEvery person interested in biology knows that population diversity is important for ecosystems. But do we understand what diversity means? In this episode Markella interviews Dr. Alex Ball from The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland about his work on conservation genetics, which is one of the pillars of conservation biology. He goes in depth about different species conservation in Scotland and elswhere around the world. Interview by Markella. Editing by Manushri and Markella. Artwork by Anna. Produced by Severina
2025-01-2236 min
BioPODUnstable fungal resistanceIn a world where the human population is predicted to reach 10 billion by 2050, we urgently need to find ways to increase crop production. However, it is made more difficult by some species of crop-pathogenic fungi, which can decimate crop yields, and also develop mutations that make them resistant to antifungal compounds. Dr Robin Allshire's group is trying to understand a not-so-well-known form of this resistance which could help farmers and governments tackle the current global food production challenge.Recorded & produced by Anna Motýľová.Edited by Haomiao Cheng.Cover art by Manushri.Follow us...
2024-11-3051 min
BioPODCombining Art & Science: How and WhyVideo version: https://youtu.be/weaFSVsvyBY Anna Motýľová talks with Dr Keira Tucker, manager of ASCUS Art & Science, the first open access lab space in Scotland. They host science workshops for the general public and art exhibitions inspired by science. You will learn about Keira's personal journey as an artist/scientist, as well as 3 weird and wonderful creative projects she has facilitated between artists and scientists from the University of Edinburgh.By the end of this episode, you will have thought about things you never have before. What happens to cancerous organs once they lea...
2024-10-2959 min
BioPODEntrepreneurship series: E.V.A Biosystems ft. Dr. Alex SpeakmanIn this episode of BioPod’s entrepreneurship series, Keshav talks with Dr. Alex Speakman about his entrepreneurial journey of starting E.V.A Biosystems. Alex talks about the help and resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful startups. He also provides helpful information on navigating through the various stages of a startup including ideation, validation and patenting. Interviewed by Keshav, edited by Evangelia, art by Amandine and produced by Keshav.
2024-09-2426 min
BioPODAging sheep: long-term population studies in St KildaAging, or senescence has been a topic of scientific fascination for a long time. Natural populations like the Soay Sheep in St Kilda, a remote scottish island, are ideal to study aging theories in the wild.In this summer episode, Professor Dan Nussey speaks to us about the long running Soay Sheep project and the insights they provide on the study of senescence. Interview by Markella Moraitou. Edited by Flora Caldwell, Art by Severina Marija Pociunaite, Produced by Nitara Wijayatilake.
2024-07-0352 min
BioPODAMR through time with Katerina GuschanskiWe have all heard about the importance of the gut microbiome. But how much do you know about the oral microbiome in our mouths? In the second interview with Dr Katerina Guschanski, Alastair Scott finds out all about how you can use the oral microbiome to study how antimicrobial resistance evolved through time. Dr Katerina Guschanski and her team extract ancient DNA from calcified dental calculus, to study their bacterial composition from before the existence of mass-produced antibiotics.Art by Amandine Hong-Minh, editing by Elena Hartmann, produced by Liz Gaberdiel.
2024-06-1843 min
BioPODPrimate Evolution with Dr Katerina GuschanskiIn this first episode of a two-parter with Dr Katerina Guschanski, Neelakshi Varma finds out about the intricacies and quirks of primate evolution, specifically around guenon monkeys. We also learn about how Katerina accidentally found her way to working with primates, the difficulties and exciting aspects of field work in Madagascar and why you can’t really define a species. Edited by Frankie Swift, artwork by Liz Gaberdiel, produced by Liz Gaberdiel.Check out some more research by the Guschanski lab here: https://www.ieg.uu.se/animal-ecology/Research+groups/guschanski-lab
2024-05-0853 min
BioPODThe world of editingIn this episode of BioPod's publishing series, Severina and Dr Seema Grewal discuss the world of editing for scientific journals. Seema is the Executive Editor for the Journal of Cell Science, and talks through her journey entering publishing, advice for PhD students wanting to enter the industry, and gives helpful tips for those wanting to publish their own papers.
2024-03-1445 min
BioPODEntrepreneurship series: NucBarcoder- Barcoding DNA to identify various species ft. Dr. Wu HuangIn this episode of BioPod’s entrepreneurship series, Keshav and Dr. Wu Huang discuss the journey behind NucBarcoder, a species identification tool hoping to tackle the biodiversity crisis. Wu talks through some of the challenges and rewards of growing a start-up idea and how Edinburgh Innovations from the University of Edinburgh advised and helped throughout the process.
2024-02-1432 min
BioPODScience communication and EducationIn this episode Anna and Andrea Paterlini talks about the approach to education of genetics and his experience developing a course for 2nd year bachelor students. They discuss diversity and inclusion in science and what remains to be done to be scientifically accurate when it comes to these sensitive topics in education as well as everyday life. Andrea also mentions what he and other scientists did to address the statements of the secretary of state for science (which you can find here ). And if anyone is interested, here is the author that Andrea mentioned https://www.adamrutherford.com/allbooks
2024-01-1948 min
BioPODThe ins and outs of scientific publishingWith many PhD students interested in alternative career pathways in science, we are keen to explore and demystify the world of scientific publishing. In this episode, Severina Marija Pociunaite talks to Dr Manuel Breuer, a deputy editor at Springer Nature, about his journey into scientific publishing. In particular, they explore the diversity of the role, how scientific publishing has changed in recent years, and advice for scientists preparing and submitting their manuscripts to improve their chances of acceptance.
2023-12-1142 min
BioPODLet’s chat, meet Prof. Thorunn Helgason, new head of Biology School at the University of EdinburghIn this episode, Haomiao chats with Professor Thorunn Helgason, the head of the School of Biological sciences at Edinburgh University. It’s been a year since Thorunn started her post here in August 2022, let’s meet her and hear how she sees the past academic year in the school, and how she expects the future to happen. And, have you also wondered how was Edinburgh Uni like years ago? Well, Thorunn doesn’t just see the university thriving today, she also witnessed the changes happened since she firstly stepped into Edinburgh Uni as a student. We also asked h...
2023-11-0630 min
BioPODPlant fossils and the story they tell In this episode Neelakshi talks to Dr. Sandy Hetherington about the work in plant paleobotany and evolution. They discuss what are plant fossils, how and where they are formed and what they can tell us about plant history today. Sandy focuses on plant root evolution as part of his research and introduces one of the best-preserved plant fossil deposits here in Scotland, called Rhynie chert Find out more about Dr. Hetheringtons research here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/biology/groups/hetherington
2023-10-0435 min
BioPODIntroduction to RNA Therapies with Prof Amy BuckWith the advancements of RNA synthesis techniques due to the success of the Covid-19 vaccine we are asking what other therapeutic purposes RNA could have. In this episode, Alastair Scott talks to Prof Amy Buck about her somewhat accidental journey to becoming a RNA biologist, her labs current research and her outlook on the field. In particular, they chat about the curious role of RNA as a communicator and signalling molecule. Find out more about Prof Bucks research here: https://www.bucklab.org/
2023-09-0521 min
BioPODPlastic: From Bin to BakeIn this episode, Severina Pociunaite chats to Dr Jo Sadler about how to view plastic as a resource, that can be turned into useful chemicals. Plastic can not only be recycled, but also upcycled: by breaking it down using biotechnology and reusing the carbon to make secondary products. What kind of plastic do microbes like best? And how can the products of digestion be manufactured into something new? They also discuss how Dr Sadler went about setting up her own lab, including the unique challenges she faced during the start-up process.
2023-07-2839 min
Space Café Podcast - Navigating Our Interplanetary AmbitionsBarbara Belvisi - Cultivating Life Beyond Our Planet, CEO & Founder @ Interstellar LabSpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present: The Space Café Podcast #84: Barbara Belvisi - Cultivating Life Beyond Our Planet, CEO & Founder @ Interstellar LabEpisode 084 features a special guest: Barbara BelvisiIn this episode, Markus hosts a fascinating conversation with Barbara Belvisi, the visionary CEO and founder of Interstellar Lab. They delve into the innovative world of bio-regenerative life support systems, space exploration, and the promise of becoming a multi-planetary species.Key Topics:🔹 The mission and vision of Interstellar Lab: Building closed ecological systems...
2023-07-0453 min
BioPODOGI Bio: An Automated Bioreactor Start-UpHow did this Edinburgh Professor move from studying physics to starting a Biotechnology spin-out company? In our new episode, we hear from Professor Teuta Pilizota all about how her past research experiences led her to where she is today, how her research keeps leading her to new technological developments and how this culminated in her starting a biotech spin-out company. Many researchers spent a significant amount of time cultivating microorganisms, so they reach the desired growth phase and density. But what if that whole process could be automated, monitored and measured? This is where the OGI Bio B...
2023-06-2731 min
BioPODCircadian Rhythms with Dr Gerben van OoijenWhy do you think you are awake right now? You might be aware that your circadian rhythm determines your sleep cycle. But how does your body keep time? Can a cell have a clock? And how can this system survive perturbations? Gerben van Ooijen and his lab @vanOoijenLab work on finding out some of the cellular mechanisms that are behind the ability of an organism to keep time. They study modified algae that give off light during some phases of the circadian clock, to shine some light on the particularities of time-regulated genes. We also find out h...
2023-05-3019 min
BioPODGreen Bioactives: A biomanufacturing spin-out companyIn this episode, Apple Chew chats to Professor Gary Loake, a group leader at the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. His group researches the immune responses of plants.Gary is also the founder and chief scientific officer of the biotech startup Green Bioactives. Since plants can produce immune-related products with sometimes useful properties and up to 25% of pharmaceuticals trace back to plant natural products, his company develops a biomanufacturing platform to efficiently churn out valuable products.Check out Green Bioactives here: https://www.green-bioactives.com/
2023-05-0624 min
BioPODCampus Conservation with Dr Sophie HauptWhere do plant scientists get their plant materials from? How do you best grow a new species? In this episode, Haomiao sits down with Dr Sophie Haupt, the manager of the plant growth facility at the University of Edinburgh. As part of the facility team, she supports research and teaching projects by growing all kind of plants in grow domes, glass houses, and of course outside. Sophie is also working on a conservation project on campus, to provide a safe and biodiverse habitat for native wildlife such as hedgehogs to return to campus. As part of this p...
2023-03-2821 min
BioPODPhD Advice from the New Director of Grad SchoolIn this episode, Liz Gaberdiel chats to Gerben van Ooijen, postgraduate advisor and Director of the Graduate School at the University of Edinburgh. They discuss the role of postgraduate advisors and how they can help during PhD studies. We hear what situations postgraduate advisors can help with and Gerben gives us some vital advice on how to maintain a productive, healthy and enjoyable PhD journey. They also discuss his work as the Director of the Graduate Schoo and illustrate the key role he plays in maintaining the high standards of Edinburgh's PhD programmes.
2023-02-2829 min
BioPODPhD Advice from postgraduate administrators Karen and MaireadIn this episode Liz Gaberdiel interviews Karen Woodcock and Mairead Rae, the Postgraduate Programme Administrators of ICB, IQB3 and IEB, IIIR, IMPS, respectively, in the School of Biological Science at the University of Edinburgh. They share their experiences working with postgraduate students, what insights they accumulated from that work and share top tips on a successful PhD. They also introduce a wide range of support they can provide and share useful resources for a successful PhD. Visit and bookmark Institue of Academic Development website https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development Get in touch by email wi...
2023-01-3123 min
BioPODTrash to Treasure with Dr Stephen WallaceFossil fuels are used everywhere, in our clothing, our medicine, and even our cooking. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use another source to synthesise these necessary molecules. Maybe something that’s very abundant and unwanted, such as waste streams from other processes? In this episode, we’re diving into how microorganisms could be useful in synthesising biomaterials. Even better, they can be used to clean up waste products and turn them into something useful. Severina Pociunaite sits down with Dr Stephen Wallace to discuss his work and his goals for a sustainable future. ...
2022-12-2751 min
Podcast do Dr PetEP 44: NATAL PET FRIENDLY: mais segurança pros pets nas festas de fim de anoTudo que a gente quer é que os pets possam participar cada vez mais das nossas vidas, inclusive das festas de fim de ano, mas existem alguns cuidados que temos que tomar!
Árvores, pisca-piscas, enfeites pequenos, certos tipos de comida, fogos, agitação dos convidados, roupinhas de Natal, calor dessa época do ano… Tudo isso precisa de atenção especial para não colocar o pet em risco.
Por isso, neste episódio, você vai encontrar as dicas mais importantes para manter a segurança e bem-estar dos pets nessas festividades, pois com algumas modificações simples no ambi...
2022-12-1514 min
BioPODThe Origins of Antimicrobial ResistanceRight on the heels of the 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, this episode covers a broad overview of the key topics associated with antimicrobial resistance. Rose Doyle from BioPOD teamed up with Carys Redman-White from the new Edinburgh antimicrobial resistance podcast EdiAMR to chat to Dr Brian Wee about his work. We hear his thoughts on the best tools and tactics to combat the rise of antibiotic resistance as well as a deep dive into one decade-long research project about the spread of antibiotic resistance in Kenya. Art by Annis Newman, intro and editing by Severina Pociunaite.If...
2022-11-2925 min
Choses à Savoir SCIENCESQu'est-ce que le Biopod ?Une entreprise innovante vient de présenter un équipement futuriste, qui pourrait bien intéresser l'agriculture de demain ou fournir aux futurs colons de la Lune ou de Mars une partie de leur alimentation.Ce "Biopod", c'est le nom qu'on lui a donné, se présente sous la forme d'un module d'environ 7 mètres de haut et 10 mètres de long. La base, qui repose sur des pieds, est composée d'un matériau ressemblant à celui qu'on utilise pour fabriquer la coque de certains bateaux.La partie supérieure est composée d'une double couch...
2022-10-1202 min
BioPODiGEM2022 Petalution - How to clean our water using synthetic biologyIn this very special episode, we hear from Dev, Charity, and Diana, who are part of a team competing in this years’ iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition. Students from the University of Edinburgh and from the University of Health and Allied Services in Ghana joined forces to develop synthetic biology projects to solve local problems. The local problem they want to tackle? Heavy metal and plastic pollution in water bodies. Detecting pollution in rural areas can be difficult, so the team was working on a cell-free biosensor that can detect a variety of dangerous metals. To then remediate th...
2022-10-1128 min
BioPODBeetlejuices – How beetles take care of their offspringIn this episode, Chris Donohoe (@dono_heptane) chats with PhD students Casey Patmore (@paseycatmore) and Georgia Lambert (@GALambert3) about the fascinating world of the behavioural ecology of burying beetles. They discuss how to "keep calm and carrion" when researching beetles, who need carrion to raise their progeny. What factors affect their parenting behaviour and what can it teach us about the complex responses of insects to effectively care for their offspring?
2022-09-2730 min
ZD Tech : tout comprendre en moins de 3 minutes avec ZDNetCultiver son jardin dans l’Espace, le rêve d’Interstellar LabBonjour à tous et bienvenue dans le ZD Tech, le podcast quotidien de la rédaction de ZDNet. Je m’appelle Clarisse Treilles, et aujourd’hui je vous explique comment Interstellar Lab conçoit l'agriculture du futur avec son BioPod.
Cultiver de la vanille au Canada et des fruits de la passion en Angleterre ? Demain, ce ne sera peut-être plus une idée si farfelue. C’est en tout cas ce qu’imagine la startup française Interstellar Lab, avec son projet hydroponique baptisé BioPod.
En quelques mot...
2022-09-2702 min
BioPODAcademia Through TimeIn this unique episode, Hend and Julie chat with scientists at different career stages and backgrounds about changes that have been happening in Academia over the years. We hear from Prof. Jim Kaufman and Dr Nisha Philip of the Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, and Prof. Loeske Kruuk, and Dr Helen Alexander of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. How was Academia when these scientists began their careers and how have their lived experiences shaped who they are now as academics? What are their thoughts on the “two-body problem” in Academia? What advice can they give to academics who...
2022-08-3050 min
BioPODSpore Wars - Microbial Biotechnology in Space with Dr Rosa SantomartinoIn this episode, Rose Doyle talks to Dr Rosa Santomartino of the UK Centre for Astrobiology about her research that’s “out of this world”. Rosa talks about her journey to become an astrobiologist and what she does as a researcher in Astromicrobiology: the study of microorganisms and their behaviour in an extra-terrestrial environment. We hear about her work on sending microbes to the International Space Station to mine precious metals from asteroids, the excitement and the difficulties of setting up experiments in space. She then discusses the potential—and current limitations—of sending microbes to space. In the coda...
2022-07-2838 min
BioPODBiology Without the Cells with Dr Nadanai LaohakunakornIn this episode, Louis and Liz chat to Dr Nadanai Laohakunakorn about his journey from a background in physics to now leading a group in synthetic biology. He describes how he adapted his thinking when he changed disciplines, interdisciplinary culture shocks, and how different sciences are taught. We then hear about his current research on building cell-free systems – building a functional cell from the ground up – and how this can be used to synthesise proteins. How are these systems built, how can they be optimised and how can they be used in manufacturing? Can we eventually make individualised drugs...
2022-06-2836 min
BioPODPsychoacoustic explorers: turning proteins into sounds with Edward MartinIn this episode, Rose Doyle talks to BioPOD alumnus and PhD student Eddie Martin. They discuss different ways of visualising protein structures and how sound can help us get more information from protein sequences. In his research, he turns a protein sequence into a short melody. From this melody, it is then possible to “hear out” some distinct features of the protein. Eddie also explains the intricacies of sound design and how to best convey the variations between different amino acids. Artwork by Chris Donohoe and editing by Ruby White.Link to the paper: https://bmcbi...
2022-05-3140 min
BioPODPhD Advice from recent PhD grad Dr Lizzie WadsworthIn the second episode of our PhD advice series, Liz talks to Dr Lizzie Wadsworth, who recently finished her PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Looking back on her experience she gives very valuable advice to new and current PhD students about how to address common struggles with a graduate degree. She shares with us how she got started with her PhD, tips on how to have a good relationship with your supervisor, and strategies to deal with mental health issues. We also get to hear about her current work as a teaching fellow and discuss some less well-known...
2022-04-2625 min
BioPODCOP26 Debrief: Food Security with Dr Annis RichardsonIn the second episode of our COP26, Chris chats to Dr Annis Richardson about her research on food security. With climate change causing extreme weather, crop growth is getting increasingly difficult, so of course food security is a major topic of research. Annis Richardson works closely with the agricultural department on understanding how plants grow and how much food the plant then produces, so that we can more effectively feed the world.
2022-03-2923 min
BioPODLooking Back on COP26: Sustainable Biotechnology with Professor Louise HorsfallIn this episode of our COP26 series, Chris talks to Prof. Louise Horsfall, Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, about her participation in the COP26 conference in Glasgow. We get to hear about her experience as a scientist hearing the sometimes conflicting ideas of politicians and companies. Prof. Horsfall also talks about how her lab uses engineered microbes to recycle metals from battery waste. Resources mentioned: Faraday Institution: the UK’s battery research programme https://www.faraday.ac.uk
2022-03-1526 min
BioPODPhD Advice from Dr Harriet Harris, the University ChaplainIn the first episode of our PhD Advice series, Liz (@lizgaberdiel) talks to Rev. Dr. Harriet Harris, the University of Edinburgh Chaplain, about how PhD students can look after themselves through practicing mindfulness with everyday tasks, and overall building healthy habits. We get to learn about services being offered by the Chaplaincy to help support PhD students who may be struggling with mental health, as well as those who wish to find a community. Resources mentioned: Taming your inner critic and Imposter Syndrome: https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/abundant-academy/compassion-for-our-times/tam...
2022-02-2531 min
BioPODLiving the PhD LifeIn this extra special episode, 5 different PhD students at different stages discuss their own unique PhD journey. We hear from the recent graduate Miguel (@mcueva89) about how his career plans changed during the highs and lows of his experience. Rist discusses how he dealt with getting scooped – and how he experienced fatherhood at the same time. Joan (@JoanCortadaGar) moved with his supervisor from Glasgow to Edinburgh in the midst of his second year and talks about the impact this had on his research. We hear from Lindsay what it was like to have children during her PhD and how wo...
2022-02-0238 min
BioPODCrop improvement: getting inspiration from algaeWhat does algae photosynthesis have to do with solving food insecurity? In this episode on crop improvement, @_applechew interviews Liat Adler (@noodlyscientist) to hear how algae can help us improve the photosynthesis efficiency of “land plants”! Crop photosynthesis is not exactly perfect. One key enzyme in the mechanism called RuBisCo is slow and gets confused between carbon and oxygen: not what you want from your energy storage mechanism! Algae, however, have developed a system to improve both the speed and the accuracy of this process. The @McCormick_Lab is trying to...
2021-12-3118 min
BioPODCell differentiation: When DNA met Sall4Have you ever wondered what neglected regions of the genome do? In this episode we hear about the search for AT rich region binding proteins.Jack Suitor (@JackTSuitor) talks to Raphael Pantier (@R_Pantier) and Kashyap Chhatbar (@kashyapchhatbar) from the Bird lab at the University of Edinburgh about their work on the DNA binding protein Sall4. They discover that Sall4 binds to AT rich regions which affects large scale gene expressions and enables differentiation. Sall4 could help time cellular differentiation as part of embryonic development and is therefore implicated in developmental disease. By getting more insight i...
2021-11-0131 min
THE RAMBLING VIKING!#238 Crazy Kyle Biopod!This episode we do our first ever Biopod of our good friend of the pod crazy kyle who we've heard some wild tales about from our good friend connor! So I decided I wanted to get to know him a little better and sit down with connor to ask some "get to know you" questions.
The Rambling Viking Website
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2021-10-2821 min
BioPODScotland's BioTech Stories: Engineered proteins in actionThis is the second episode of the BioPOD series: Scotland's Biotech Stories.In this instalment, BioPodder Liz Gaberdiel interviews Professor Lynne Regan on how to design biologically useful proteins. Proteins with unusual properties can enable super-resolution imaging, spontaneously self-assemble into structures, or coat a surface with a particular protein layer!Introduction and editing by Apple ChewMedia by Liz Gaberdiel and Chris Donohoe
2021-09-1729 min
BioPODScotland's BioTech Stories: CryoEM - the cutting edge of structural biology with Dr. Marcus WilsonWelcome to a new BioPOD series: Scotland's Biotech Stories. In this installment, BioPodder Liz Gaberdiel interviews Dr. Marcus Wilson on Cryogenic electron microscopy (CryoEM), a technique that has undergone some serious upgrades since its initial development in the 1960s. Introduction by Neelakshi Varma & Editing by Sam Haynes Media by Hanna Peach and Chris Donohoe
2021-08-1341 min
BioPODWater 'bout cyanobacteria?: Producing high value products using sunlight ft. Anton PuzorjovDear listeners,Welcome back to another episode of BioPod! Today we walk you through to potential of cyanobacteria: turning tasty sunlight into a high-product value delight!Apple Chew interviews Anton Puzorjov from The McCormick Lab at The University of Edinburgh on his project supported by ScotBio Art by Christian Donohoe , Editing by Apple, Media by Hanna Peach
2021-07-2029 min
BioPODEvergreen: How to block viral transmission ft. Prof. Neil MabbottIn the fourth and final installment of BioPOD's #Vaccine15 miniseries, we have Liz Gaberdiel interviewing Professor Neil Babbott on how vaccines can block viral transmission. Edited by Ruby White, Media by Hanna Peach.
2021-06-1515 min
BioPODCOVID19: How to mass produce a vaccine ft. Dr Prerna VohraEver wondered how vaccines are made in smaller batch scales, then upscaled to a world market? Hint: it's not the same as cooking a larger lasagne when family comes to visit. Tune into our third installment of #Vaccine15 to learn about the large scale production of vaccines.In this episode, BioPodder Liz Gaberdiel interviews Dr Prerna Vohra. Editing by Hanna Peach.Enjoy, and #GetVaccinated!
2021-06-0810 min
BioPODViral Variants: How to track and tackle COVID variants ft. Dr Thomas WilliamsIn this episode of our four-part vaccine 15-minute miniseries, biopodder Chris Donohoe interviews Dr. Thomas Williams on how to track and tackle the different COVID variants. edited by Apple Chew (Yen Peng) media and art by Hanna Peach
2021-06-0115 min
BioPODEureka! How To Design A Vaccine ft. Dr Christine Tait-BurkardOur #Vaccine15 four-part 15-minute miniseries begins today! This week is all about how COVID vaccines were developed and designed with @CTaitBurkard from @EdinburghUni @roslininstituteInterviewer and Art @donohohoEditing by @_applechewMedia and Art @hanna_peach_
2021-05-2516 min
BioPODDarwin Tree of Life: Sequencing the Biome of the Great Britain Ft. Prof. Mark Blaxter & Dr. Alex TwyfordIn this episode, we talk about the Darwin Tree of Life: Sequencing the Biome of the Great Britain with Professor Mark Blaxter & Dr Alex TwyfordThe Darwin Tree of Life project aims to sequence the genomes of all 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland. It is a collaboration between biodiversity, genomics and analysis partners that hopes to transform the way we do biology, conservation and biotechnology. The Darwin Tree of Life Project is one of several initiatives across the globe working towards the ultimate goal of sequencing all complex life o...
2021-05-1958 min
BioPODHow Synthetic Microorganisms can Biofacture High Value Products ft. Dr. Tessa MosesThis episode is about the use of synthetic organisms to produce pharmaceuticals and other high-value products. Preceding the development of synthetic drugs in the 18th and 19th centuries, medicine relied on the use of products found in nature. It is not surprising even nowadays that a lot of drug discovery undertaken by the pharmaceutical industry incorporates compounds found in nature. Biotechnology offers the opportunity to create these same natural products in large quantities, in a sustainable manner. In order to do that, bioscientists can take genes for metabolic pathways that create a specific compound with hum...
2021-04-2344 min
BioPODDetecting Parasitic Infections in Cows by Small RNA (Trypanosomiasis) with Dr Maria Contreras-GarciaThe parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted via tsetse flies. It causes a disease known as trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness in humans, but in cows, it's known as nagana or animal African trypanosomiasis. In this episode, Joan Cortada García interviews Maria Contreras-Garcia from The Roslin Institute on her work to validate and characterize the use of a small RNA as a diagnostic test for trypanosomiasis. Media by Hanna Peach. Here is a link to the event mentioned by Ruby White in our episode coda. The event is a joint University of Edinburgh and University of Syd...
2021-03-2536 min
BioPODHow Bacteria Produce Eco Nylon (BIOFACTURING). Ft. PhD Student Jack SuitorHow can we produce useful materials from Bacteria? Today we have PhD Student Jack Suitor to tell us how we can modify bacteria against their own nature to act as mini-factories to convert guaiacol, a paper industry byproduct, to adipic acid, a key component of Nylon production that is otherwise produced from oil!Our CODA is a special dive into microbiology with our resident microbiologist Hanna Peach.
2021-02-2634 min
BioPODCarbon Dynamics and Climate Change in the Dry Tropics with Associate Professor Kyle DexterJoin us for this interesting installment of BioPod featuring Associate Professor Kyle Dexter, interviewed by Hazel Huang. from the department of Geosciences here at the University of Edinburgh. The episode is about monitoring the carbon dynamics of the dry tropics and climate change. A lot of people know about vegetation, biodiversity, and the abundance of wet tropics such as the Amazonian Rainforest, but let us take you on a journey through the dry tropics and the way climate change will affect habitats for vegetation, animals, and humans over time. This research is important, to understand the dynamics b...
2021-01-2133 min
BioPODAll Hands on Deck: Three Epidemiology PhD Students Who Contributed to COVID-19 Research in EdinburghThree PhD students, a genomic epidemiologist studying Ebola virus, a molecular epidemiologist studying Polio virus, and an infectious disease modeller studying anti-microbial resistance dynamics between humans and livestock.So, what do these three researchers have in common, you might wonder? Well, they all lent their expertise to study the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we will be learning about how COVID-19 shaped their year in research and learn some interesting facts about epidemiology related to our current pandemic. As always, tune in, with your morning cuppa, and enjoy. #SciencePodcast #UniversityofEdinburgh #AcademicChatter
2020-12-1856 min
BioPODWomen in Science: Featuring Edinburgh academics Prof. Lynne Regan and Prof. Meriem El KarouiA special 1-hour feature episode with two inspiring and highly successful academics from the University of Edinburgh: Prof Lynne J. Regan, the Head of the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Lynne is also the Chair in Interdisciplinary Science at the Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology and Prof Meriem el Karoui the Director of SynthSys, and Systems Biology Chair for Equality and Diversity.
2020-11-131h 09
2020-10-1638 min
BioPODCrops, Robots and Rolling Pins: Building Crop Resistance with PhD Student and Activist Tara WightEp 7: Crops, Robots and Rolling Pins featuring PhD student @TaraCanelaWight interviewed by @donohoho has dropped! Happy weekend curious beings! Stay tuned until the end to hear our resident microbiologist Hanna Peach's story of the rich history of whisky in Scotland + zero waste uses for whisky waste: MiAlgae, Celtic Renewables.
2020-08-0725 min
IBMS PodcastPodcast V6 UKAS AccreditationThe IBMS Biopod is a monthly podcast for members. Each episode will feature experts from the field discussing their research and talking about the latest developments. This month's guests are Ben Courtney UKAS and Debra Padgett IBMS Fellow and Council Member
2020-07-1327 min
Dell Technologies PodferenceMaking Blockbuster | Special for Dell Technologies Small Business PodFerenceBefore the release of Blockbuster Season 2, creator Matt Schrader is joined by sound designer Peter Bawiec and producer Elena Bawiec to discuss the origin of Blockbuster (new season coming June 2020) and discuss their own entrepreneurial struggles in this special release for Dell Technologies Small Business PodFerence, a virtual conference of podcast creators.
Matt details how he left his career in broadcast journalism with CBS and NBC to self-finance his own feature documentary (2017's Score: A Film Music Documentary, a New York Times Critics Pick), and the challenges the Blockbuster team faced tryiing to create a new model of high-end "biopic...
2020-05-0555 min
BioPODNovel Gene Expression in Yeast, and a Successful Lifelong Research Career with Retiring Professor Jean BeggsHave you ever wondered what a fulfilling scientific life is like? A life full of dreams, failures, success, fame? Professor Jean Beggs has retired from the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology after a long career. She is a trailblazer, who became an independent researcher, PI and was awarded professorship. In this episode, she talks about her successful career in science, alongside important issues such as imposter syndrome. As a researcher, she is interested in understanding how genes are expressed, the mechanisms that determines how they are expressed, and how the expression is regulated. Professor Beggs was the f...
2020-04-0329 min
BioPODHow to Characterize the Structure of Lamin-A Proteins in Cells with Dr Alex MakarovEpisode 5: Dr Alex Makarov In this episode, Chris sits down with Dr Alex Makarov who recently completed a PhD in Eric Schirmer's lab in the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh. His research focused on Lamin A proteins, an important structural protein which gives cells their flexibility and shape. Dr Makarov recently published his novel work on the alternative methods to characterise the structure of flexible Lamin A proteins, namely SILAC cross-linking mass spectrometry. Lamin-A function is so important that mutations leading to alterations of this protein's structure are linked to 13 distinct hu...
2020-02-1832 min
BioPODBegonia Biodiversity and Field Trips in South-East Asia with Dr Mark HughesHave you ever wondered how plant scientists discover new species in a genus? In this interview, we sit down with Dr Mark Hughes, a begonia researcher from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who tells us some fantastic stories about wild begonia. Mark is a plant biologist, focusing on the taxonomy and biogeography of the mega-diverse flowering-plant genus Begonia. He has traveled across Southeast Asia in search of exotic begonia, and in this episode we discuss how this globetrotting translates into tangible biodiversity discoveries. Later, in the coda piece, we also discuss the milestone of the century: 100 years o...
2019-12-1927 min
BioPODThe 500 Year Astrobiology Experiment with Dr Toby Samuels from the UK Centre for AstrobiologyCompleting his PhD in geomicrobiology at the UK centre for astrobiology, Dr Samuels investigated the extreme conditions that microbes can live in such as shale cliffs and acid mine draining sites. Now a post-doctoral research associate at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology Dr Samuels researches the adaptation of Southern Ocean plankton to ocean warming.Our very own Verity Hill interviews Dr Toby Samuels about a recently started experiment expected to run for 500 years. Dr Toby Samuels is interested in the ability of certain microbes, called cyanobacteria, to survive in the most extreme of conditions. An experiment he...
2019-08-2335 min
BioPODSmartphone Biosensors and SynBio with Dr Baojun Wang and Dr Xinyi WanBioPOD is back with an episode on Smartphone Biosensors and the importance of Synthetic Biology in today's global landscape. This episode focuses on a fluorescent bacterial biosensor that quantifies levels of toxic arsenic in the environment and connects to a smartphone. Stay tuned for this episode where we interview Dr Baojun Wang and Dr Xinyi Wan from the Synthetic Biological Engineering Lab at the University of Edinburgh. This lab specializes in engineering bacteria to act as biosensors which are applied to monitor toxic metal concentrations in the environment.
2019-07-0529 min
Guys Of A Certain AgeFinales: What makes a good TV series finale? (Part 1)Jay's missing (see below) and Robbie and Art talk about other podcasts and series finales. Could Episode 20 be the last we hear of Guys of a Certain Age!!
Well...no. With Jay out on assignment, this episode's Geek of the Week features two podcasts to listen to when you're not listening to Guys. Art suggests listening to Blockbuster, Matt Schrader's dramatized "biopod" of the early days of Spielberg and Lucas as they create Jaws and Star Wars. Robbie's podcast pick is Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History, a fascinating podcast that reinterprets events, people, or ideas from the past.
2019-05-2435 min
BioPODChicken Bioreactor: Engineered Chickens Which Produce Human Proteins with Dr Lissa HerronChickens that are genetically modified to produce human proteins in their eggs can offer a cost-effective method of producing certain types of drugs, research suggests. Researchers say the findings provide sound evidence for using chickens as a cheap method of producing high quality drugs for use in research studies and, potentially one day, in patients.
2019-04-2535 min
BioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - March 2016In this episode of BioPOD we talk to Professor Keith Matthews about his Sanofi - Institut Pasteur award for studying Trypanosomes. We also talk to the Edinburgh iGEM team who developed a paper-based biosensor for screening illicit drugs as well as to Professor Catherine Kidner about her work on how a novel sequencing approach can help to understand why the genus of Inga plants is so diverse. The winner of our logo competition is also announced.
2016-03-0320 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - September 2015In this edition of BioPOD, we'll be learning about how studying fundamental enzymes can help to tackle parasitic disease from Professor Malcolm Walkinshaw. We'll also be hearing a bit more about the Excellence with Impact winners before finding out how a group within the school are coming up with new strategies to reduce the spread MRSA. We also announce our logo competition.
2015-09-0920 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - April 2015We talk to Gytis Dudas about his work on the Ebola genome. We also meet the team from CIIE and ASCUS Art & Science behind a micro-residency featuring in the 2015 Edinburgh International Science Festival, and learn about some fascinating behaviour reported in vultures by Dr Luke McNally.
2015-04-0920 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - Autumn / November 2013In this episode, BioPOD finds out about begging in beetles and altruism in guppies as well as rams on St. Kilda and the famous Edinburgh alumni Dr. James Young Simpson. We also take a visit to the school of physics to find out about astrobiology and microbes on Mars. These stories and others...
2013-11-1829 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - May 2013In May, BioPOD visited the Edinburgh International Science Festival, found out about inbreeding in beetles and a fly that?s threatening fruit crops, spoke to an Honorary Professor about his 30 year long career in science as well as taking one last trip to Millport's research station. These stories and others...
2013-05-1429 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - February 2013In this episode, BioPOD finds out about an infertility gene in fruit flies, learns how algae will be affected by climate change, investigates how we can save our urban pollinators, and hears about the work done by the famous Edinburgh scientists that our new library is named after. Listen now to these and other stories...
2013-02-0728 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - December 2012n this episode, BioPOD discusses phenology, climate change and citizen scientists with Dr. Ally Phillimore, talks to Dr. Andrew MacDonald about the immune system and some media mishaps, and find out about two new discoveries that could help fight black fever disease (Prof. Malcom Walkinshaw ) and muscular dystrophies (Dr. Eric Schirmer). All those stories and more...
2012-12-0429 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - October 2012October 2012: We hear from Dr. Alex Rowe (IIIR) about the cellular processes involved in severe malaria and Prof. Mark Blaxter and Dr. John Davey (IEB) about how butterflies avoid being eaten by predators. And we head to the sub-Antarctic to find out about doing field work on Albatrosses in 'BioPOD on the road', and in 'BioBITE' we learn how our bodies control cholesterol levels and how climate change could affect Colombian Ground Squirrel populations.
2012-10-0226 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - April 2012In April's episode, Biopod goes on the road to speak to Dr Eric Fèvre in Kenya about his research on locally transmitted zoonotic diseases. We also speak to Mar Carmena about new targets for cancer therapy and find out about novel software for better understanding genetic data.
2012-04-2632 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - February 2012In February's episode Keith Matthews describes a new cattle vaccination and Kelly Jobling explains how she found ubiquitin in bacteria. We hear how stem cells could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease, and find out how the university has been engaging with the public.
2012-02-0331 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - November 2011Dr Katie Stopher tells us about infidelity in red deer and Dr Ben Longdon explains how viruses jump between hosts.
We hear about the work of the University Press Office with Catriona Kelly and get some laughs with Bright Club Edinburgh.
2011-11-0429 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - August 2011Paul sharp sheds new light on the origins of the Malaria parasite, Patrick Walsh explains whats what we can learn from observing nest building in weaver birds, and we talk to the producer of the Nature Medicine podcast, who some listeners might just recognise.
2011-08-0228 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - June 2011Judy Allen sheds new light on Inflammation, BioPOD visits the Edinburgh International Science Festival, and Dan Nussey tells of his research trip to St Kilda in Science on the Road. Plus Biology World News Round Up, and PHD in the pub.
2011-05-311h 13BioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - Winter 2007Warm up to the winter BioPOD! Dan Nussey rages about ageing, Richard Milne orates about orchids, Alastair Wilson runs the course on horse stud fees, and Ruth Corrigan gives a research round-up from the Institute of Immunology and Infection Research.
2007-12-1929 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - October 2007It's getting colder in Edinburgh, but BioPOD is just heating up. This month, Tom Little answers about cancer, Paul Hunt has a persistence for malarial resistance, Rolf Kümmerli proclaims on social games, and Sarah Hollingshead flavours the podcast with the taste of genetically engineered yogurt.
2007-10-2430 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - September 2007In the first episode of the new academic year, Judi Allen impresses about immunity, Valerie Wilson offers a tale about tail cells, Andy Gardner socializes about bacterial social traits, and Ivan Semeniuk ponders the potential of science podcasts.
2007-10-0227 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - Summer 2007BioPOD's summer special: Alex Rowe muses on malaria, Alexander
Medvinsky broods over blood stem cells, Jenny Bangham converses about
coevolution, and Ed Sykes gabs about FameLab.
2007-07-2529 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - June 2007An Institute of Evolutionary Biology special! Graham Stone has the gall to discuss gallwasps, David Schindel and Mark Blaxter decode the promise of DNA barcoding, and Adin Ross-Gillespie cooperates with the podcast by talking about cheats.
2007-06-1233 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - May 2007This month on the podcast, Karen Halliday gets to the root of plant growth, Ana Coutinho moderates a discussion to stem the controversy surrounding stem cells, and Ed Sykes marvels about Nature Superheroes.
2007-05-0830 minBioPOD - The biology podcast from the University of EdinburghBioPOD - Full Stem Cell DebateThe debate about Stem Cells in full (the debate featured on the May 07 Podcast)
2007-05-0846 min