BioPOD
BioPOD is the official podcast of the School of Biological Sciences, produced and presented by enthusiastic student volunteers.
Latest Episodes
Circadian Rhythms of Algae with Dr Gerben van OoijenMay 30th, 2023 Why 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 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. |
Green Bioactives: A biomanufacturing spin-out company with Professor Gary LoakeMay 6th, 2023 In this episode, Apple Chew chats to Gary Loake, a Professor 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. |
Campus Conservation with Dr Sophie HauptApril 1st, 2023 Where 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 project, they have even planted some berry bushes and have started a little vegetable garden. |
PhD Advice from the New Director of Grad SchoolMarch 4th, 2023 In 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. |
PhD Advice from Postgrad administrators Karen Woodcock and Mairead RaeJanuary 31st, 2023 In 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. Institue of Academic Development Get in touch with Karen or Mairead by email: You can also drop by their office at Mary Brück Building: from Monday-Thursday and alternate Fridays (at the time of the recording, restrictions on in person meetings were in place). |
Trash to Treasure with Dr Stephen WallaceDecember, 2022 Fossil 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. Research mentioned by Stephen in the episode And keep an eye out for his TED Talk from this year’s TEDxVienna. |
The Origins of Antimicrobial Resistance with Dr Brian WeeNovember 30th, 2022 Right 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. If you want to learn more about Brian’s work on whole genome sequencing across Nairobi, check out his paper: This episode is a collaboration between BioPOD and the University of Edinburgh's new antimicrobial resistance podcast, EdiAMR. If you’re interested to find out more about AMR, follow @EdiAMR on twitter for updates! |
iGEM2022 Petalution - How to clean our water using synthetic biologyOctober 11th, 2022 In 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 the problem, they designed a cellulose hydrogel to “mop-up” contaminants in water. Additionally, they address plastic pollution by investigating an enzyme cocktail for biodegradation of PET plastic. We also hear about what they learned during the competition and how they enjoyed being part of an international collaboration. |
Beetlejuices – How beetles take care of their offspringSeptember 27th, 2022 In 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? |
Academia through timeAugust 30th, 2022 In this unique episode, Hend (@Hypatia_EG) and Julie (@grossesommer) 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 (@LoeskeKruuk), and Dr Helen Alexander (@HelenKAlexander) 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. |
Spore Wars - Microbial biotechnology in spaceJuly 27th, 2022 In this episode, Rose Doyle (@RoseDoyle_) talks to Dr Rosa Santomartino (@RosaBiorosa) of the UK Centre for Astrobiology (@UKAstrobiology) about her research that’s “out of this world”. Rosa talks about her journey to become an astrobiologist, specifically Astromicrobiology: the study of microorganisms and their behaviour in an extra-terrestrial environment. We hear about her work on sending microbes to space to mine precious metals from asteroids. She then discusses the potential—and current limitations—of sending microbes to space. |
Biology Without the Wells with Dr Nadanai LaohakunakornJune 28th, 2022 In 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 on a bench? Tune in to hear more! Art by Louis, intro and editing by Hend and Severina. |
Cell differentiation: When DNA met Sall4 with Raphael Pantier and Kashyap ChhatbarJune 12th, 2022 Have 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 talks to Raphael Pantier and Kashyap Chhatbar 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 into proteins that bind AT rich regions we could learn more about the cause of some diseases. Art by Chris Donohoe, intro and editing by Apple Chew. |
Psychoacoustic explorers: turning proteins into sounds with Edward MartinMay 31st, 2022 In this episode, Rose Doyle (@RoseDoyle_) talks to BioPOD alumnus and PhD student Eddie Martin (@Sonifyed). 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. |
PhD Advice from recent PhD grad Dr Lizzie WadsworthApril 26th, 2022 In the second episode of our PhD advice series, Liz (@LizGaberdiel) talks to Dr Lizzie Wadsworth (@LizzieWadz), 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 career paths in academia. |
COP26 Debrief: Food Security with Dr Annis RichardsonMarch 29th, 2022 In the second episode of our COP26, Chris (@donohoho) chats to Dr Annis Richardson (@Dr_AnnisR) 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. |
Looking Back on COP26: Sustainable Biotechnology with Professor Louise HorsfallMarch 15th, 2022 In this episode of our COP26 series, Chris (@donohohoho) talks to Prof. Louise Horsfall (@lehorsfall), Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, about her experience attending COP26 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. |
PhD Advice from Dr Harriet Harris, the University ChaplainFebruary 25th, 2022 In 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 ‘The Joy and Vitality of Not Knowing’, episode of the Chapliancy's podcast series. |
Living the PhD lifeFebruary 2nd, 2022 In this extra special episode, 5 different PhD students at different stages of their career discuss their own unique PhD journey. We hear from the recent graduate Miguel Cueva about how his career plans changed during the highs and lows of his experience. Rist Van de Weyer discusses how he dealt with getting scooped – and how he experienced fatherhood at the same time. Joan Cortada García 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 Williams what it was like to have children during her PhD and how working part-time has helped her with that. Finally, Liz Gaberdiel discusses the benefits and difficulties of moving to a new discipline when starting her PhD. |
Crop improvement: getting inspiration from algaeDecember 2021 What does algae photosynthesis have to do with solving food insecurity? In this episode on crop improvement, Apple Chew interviews Liat Adler 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 integrate this system into land plants. That way, crops could use sunlight more efficiently, grow faster, and thus produce more food! |
When DNA met Sall4 with Raphael Pantier and Kashyap ChhatbarNovember 2021 Have 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 talks to Raphael Pantier and Kashyap Chhatbar 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 into proteins that bind AT rich regions we could learn more about the cause of some diseases. |
Scotland's BioTech Stories: Engineered Proteins in ActionSeptember 23rd, 2021 This 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! |
Scotland's BioTech Stories: CryoEM - the cutting edge of structural biology with Dr. Marcus WilsonAugust 13th, 2021 Welcome 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. |
Water 'bout cyanobacteria?: Producing high value products using sunlight ft. Anton PuzorjovJuly 20th, 2021 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. |
Evergreen: How to block viral transmission ft. Prof. Neil MabbottJune 15th, 2021 In the fourth and final installment of BioPOD's #Vaccine15 miniseries, we have Liz Gaberdiel interviewing Professor Neil Mabbott on how vaccines can block viral transmission. |
COVID19: How to mass produce a vaccine ft. Dr Prerna VohraJune 8th, 2021 Ever 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. |
Viral Variants: How to track and tackle COVID variants ft. Dr Thomas WilliamsJune 1st, 2021 For this episode as part of our vaccine 15-minute miniseries, biopodder Chris Donohoe interviews Dr. Thomas Williams on how to track and tackle the different COVID variants. |
Eureka! How To Design A Vaccine ft. Dr Christine Tait-BurkardMay 25th, 2021 Our #Vaccine15 four-part 15-minute miniseries begins today! This week is all about how COVID vaccines were developed and designed with Dr Christine Tait-Burkard from the Roslin Institute. |
Darwin Tree of Life: Sequencing the Biome of the Great Britain Ft. Prof. Mark Blaxter, Dr. Alex TwyfordMay 19th, 2021 In this episode, we talk about the Darwin Tree of Life: Sequencing the Biome of the Great Britain with Professor Mark Blaxter & Dr Alex Twyford The 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 on Earth, in a venture known as theEarth BioGenome Project. Prof. Mark Blaxter and his group use modern sequencing and bioinformatics technologies to investigate the genomes of many different species of animals. Professor Mark Blaxter is the Founder and Director of Genome Science of Edinburgh Genomics the University's advanced genomics facility. Dr Alex Twyford is an evolutionary geneticist interested in the ecology and evolution of plants. |
How Synthetic Microorganisms can Biofacture High Value Products with Dr. Tessa MosesApril 2021 This episode is about the use of synthetic organisms to produce pharmaceuticals and other high-value products. To help us understand this topic a bit better and the potential advantages and challenges of this technology, Joan Cortada-Carcia is interviewed Dr Tessa Moses, a former postdoc in the Rosser lab group at the University of Edinburgh and current head of metabolomics at the university’s mass spectrometry facility called Edinomics. |
Detecting Parasitic Infections in Cows by Small RNA (Trypanosomiasis) with Dr Maria Contreras-GarciaMarch 2021 The 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. In this episode Ruby White mentions a Workshop Series on sustainable food production. UoE-USyd Workshop Series on sustainable food production, antimicrobial resistance and One Health |
How Bacteria Produce Eco Nylon (BIOFACTURING). Featuring PhD Student Jack SuitorFebruary 2021 How 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. |
Carbon Dynamics and Climate Change in the Dry Tropics with Associate Professor Kyle DexterJanuary 2021 Join us for this interesting installment of BioPod featuring Associate Professor Kyle Dexter. 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 between carbon cycling, vegetation, and the interplay of factors that are both driving and affected by climate change. |
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