BioPOD

BioPod

Explore the edges of known biology and meet the people working to figure it all out - a podcast direct from the PhD students at the heart of university research.BioPOD is the official podcast from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.

  • 38 minutes 47 seconds
    The forgotten Kingdom: Inside the World of Fungi

    In this episode, Manushri and Nitara interview Dr Ester Gaya, a researcher working at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on the Fungi genome project.

    30 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 51 minutes 54 seconds
    Fertility: Research & Art

    In 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

    8 November 2025, 8:00 am
  • 25 minutes 36 seconds
    AI in healthcare

    In 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.

    3 September 2025, 7:00 am
  • 22 minutes 7 seconds
    Signs of life: detecting biosignals from fossil

    In 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

    18 July 2025, 7:00 am
  • 31 minutes 40 seconds
    Cell clocks: the circadian rhythm of the cells

    From 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 

    18 June 2025, 7:00 am
  • 33 minutes 12 seconds
    Fossil detective: piecing together the neurobiology of fossil mammals

    In 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

    27 May 2025, 8:00 am
  • 38 minutes 39 seconds
    Science and Policy with Prof. Andrew Millar

    Ever 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. 


    29 April 2025, 7:00 am
  • 51 minutes 6 seconds
    Becoming your own scientist

    Ever 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_9ScjKA/viewform

    27 March 2025, 8:00 am
  • 27 minutes 48 seconds
    Entrepreneurship Series: ConceptionX, UK’s leading PhD deep-tech venture programme

    In 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


    21 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 36 minutes 25 seconds
    Conservation genetics with Dr Alex Ball

    Every 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 

    22 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 51 minutes 47 seconds
    Unstable fungal resistance

    In 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:
    X: @BioPodEdinburgh
    LinkedIn: BioPOD Podcast
    Instagram: @biopodedinburgh

    30 November 2024, 8:00 am
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