BioPOD

Completing 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 is involved in consists of two separate chests consisting of vials containing an exact number of dormant cells. At regular intervals over the next 500 years the vials will be carefully opened and the number of cells alive and active will be counted. The depth of the ability of these microbes to survive or even thrive in these conditions is still unknown. Dr Samuels introduces us to the origins and the far reaching (think Martian) implications of the experiment.
This episode concludes by celebrating the long overdue awarding of degrees to the first female medical graduates in the UK, nicknamed the Edinburgh Seven. We focus on the inspiration life and work of Chrystal Macmillian who followed in the footsteps of the Edinburgh Seven to become the first female science graduate, graduating with a degree in mathematics in 1896.

BioPOD 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.

With 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.

In 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 are also trying to carve their own scientific careers? We hear about their answers to these questions and more.
Although the qualities of being a scientist are still the same, the world of Academia has changed. Things like collaboration has become more prominent. Working with colleagues across the world has become easier with technology. Awareness for mental health and work environments has also been given considerable focus. On the negative side, the biggest challenges for current academics are job and financial security. Diversity in available careers should be highlighted: not everyone wishes to be a Principal Investigator so training for these alternate career paths should be highlighted.