Let's get Physiological

Is a culture of harassment and intimidation growing in research institutions across the UK? And if so, why? That’s the big question we’re asking in this episode as we consider what makes bullying in academia so prevalent and discuss what institutions can do to get on top of the issue. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Jelke Boesten, professor in Gender and Development at King's College London and co-author of the paper ‘Bullying and Harassment in Research and Innovation Environments’. And Nicki Eyre, Managing Director of anti-bullying consultancy Conduct Change. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

In some ways a career in academia comes with the expectation that you’ll move around to wherever the research takes you. But the prospect of moving to another town, or even another country, can be daunting, even for the most adventurous amongst us. This week we hear the experience of one professor who moved his family from the UK to Ireland in the middle of a global pandemic. Plus, we get insight from a relocation specialist who says the prospect of moving doesn’t have to be a daunting one. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Professor Christopher Torrens, associate Professor in Physiology and Physiology Education at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. And Natalie Trice, award winning coach, public speaker and the author of ‘How to Relocate: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Over Successfully’. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? This week we’re giving you space to reflect on your own academic careers and some of the lessons you’ve learnt along the way. We discuss why it’s important not to compare yourself to your colleagues, what you can learn from a mentor and how to move past feelings of self-doubt. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Dr Chinedu Agwu, lecturer in Biosciences at Brunel Medical School. And Genelle Aldred, a communications strategist, journalist and author of ‘Communicate for Change’. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

Where do you begin when the time comes to set up your own research lab? How do you build and manage a new team, apply for funding, and source equipment - all while navigating your new role and responsibilities? In this episode we hear from two academics who have both undertaken this mammoth task. They share their top tips for helping new hires and share some of the lessons they’ve learnt along the way. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Dr Colleen Deane, a lecturer in Muscle Cell Biology at the University of Southampton. And Dr Chris Gaffney, a senior lecturer in Integrative Physiology at Lancaster University. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

Thinking about a change of career and stepping away from your job in academia? Perhaps it’s something you’ve thought about but the idea of searching for your next role seems too daunting? In this episode, we hear one associate professor's story of quitting her job to become a medical writer and why she hasn’t looked back since. We learn practical tips that could help in the search for your next job. Plus, we hear how to process some of the worries that come with transitioning away from a career in academia. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Dr Hannah Moir, a senior medical writer at the Emergency Medicine Journal (EMJ) and a Senior fellow at Kingston University. And Janelle Ward, a former researcher who now coaches academics looking to pivot their own careers. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

This week we’re exploring what to do if you feel your academic career has hit a roadblock. With the help of our guests, we learn how to accept career stalls as a natural part of life, why we should try to reframe failure as development in disguise and practical tips on how to keep moving forward in our careers. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Tracy Forsyth, a Leadership & Executive Coach and the founder of Fast Track to Fearless. And Dr Daniel Brayson, a lecturer in Life Sciences at the University of Westminster. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

If you work in science and academia, and find the constant knock backs of applying for funding difficult to cope with, this episode is for you! We share practical tips on how you can make the most of your applications without feeling as though you’ve wasted your time and share some insider tips on how to increase your chances of being accepted for funding. We also learn how to bounce back from the disappointment of a failed grant application. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Professor Philip Atherton, professor of Clinical, Metabolic & Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham. And Bruce Daisley, author of “Fortitude: The Myth of Resilience, and the Secrets of Inner Strength”. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

In this episode, we’re asking what happens when you become a mother alongside your job working in science? How do you balance the pressures of academia with your new role as a parent? And do systemic structural barriers still play a role in pushing mother’s away from careers in academia? Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Lisa Heather, British Heart Foundation Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. And Isabel Torres, co-founder of Mother’s In Science, an organisation which aims to raise awareness of the barriers that mothers in STEMM face. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

Chances are we’ll all experience feelings of imposter syndrome at some point during our careers but what causes the phenomenon, who does it affect and what can be done about it? Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Rachel Ashworth, Professor of Education in physiology at Three Counties Medical School at the University of Worcester. And Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a chartered clinical psychologist and author of “The Imposter Cure: How to Stop Feeling Like a Fraud and Escape the Mind-trap of Imposter Syndrome”. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

Looking for a mentor but no idea where to start? Or perhaps you’ve reached a stage in your career where you’re able to share your knowledge and experience with others. In this episode, we hear why seeking out a mentor could help in both your personal and professional growth and why you shouldn’t be afraid to break up with a mentor if the relationship isn’t working for you. Join Eleanor Newton as she speaks to Dr Mark Dallas, Associate Professor in Cellular Neuroscience at the University of Reading and Reggie Nelson, Author of ‘Opening Doors’. Find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here. The Physiological Society is Europe’s largest community of physiologists and we have been supporting our members to change the world with physiology for 150 years.

In this brand new series of Let’s Get Physiological, a podcast by The Physiological Society, we explore the stories of the real people working in physiology, science and academia. We delve into some of the biggest questions the community faces including how to deal with grant disappointment, what it takes to set up your own lab and how to juggle parenthood with life as an academic. On the line up are some of the country's leading physiologists, professors and researchers as they share their real world experience and expertise with us. We also get fascinating insight from guests such as Reggie Nelson, author of the book “Opening Doors” who shares his unbelievable story of searching for a mentor by knocking on the doors of wealthy West Londoners. And Bruce Daisley, an expert in workplace culture and the voice behind the ‘Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat’ Podcast. Join your host, Eleanor Newton for bi-weekly episodes, available wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can find out more about becoming a member of The Physiological Society here.

In the final episode of the series, Emily and Amy explore areas of physiology relevant to life in lockdown. They speak to Ben Maylor and Greg Biddle (University of Leicester, UK) about how sedentary behaviour can affect your health, and Susan Lanham-New (University of Surrey, UK) about how life in lockdown could lead to a Vitamin D deficiency. They also discuss: Which currency is the worst when it comes to spreading bacteria? Will we all come out of lockdown with Rapunzel length hair? And do animals get bored?

Amy and Emily speak to Martina Quaggiotto (University of Glasgow, UK) about the science behind an interactive e-learning presentation that she has developed called ‘How smart are fish’, and Lucy Hawkes (University of Exeter, UK) about the amazing physiology of birds. They also discuss: Do bears really hibernate? Can animals talk? And how an experiment involving frogs wearing trousers helped scientists learn about reproduction. You can access the e-learning presentation 'How smart are fish?' here.

Emily and Amy speak to Doris Bamiou (UCL Ear Institute, UK) about the vestibular system and how it provides our brain with information about where our body is in space, and Raymond Reynolds (University of Birmingham, UK) about what can happen when things go wrong with our vestibular system. They also discuss: Dizziness in discus and hammer throwers, why some people feel nauseous when watching 3D films, and do blind people have better hearing than sighted people?

In this special episode, Amy and Emily speak to Caroline Jolley (King's College London, UK and King's College Hospital, UK), Dean Willis (University College London, UK) and Georgina Ellison-Hughes (King’s College London, UK) about the novel coronavirus. They discuss the role of physiologists in the COVID-19 crisis and explore some possible avenues for developing treatments for the disease, including drug repurposing and mesenchymal stem cell transplants.

Emily and Amy speak to Jennifer Ngo-Anh (European Space Agency), Colleen Deane (University of Exeter, UK) and Jim Pawelczyk (Penn State University, US) about the physiological challenges of space travel (and possibly living on Mars!). They also discuss: How long can a human stuck on Mars survive off potatoes? The ultimate cure for snoring, and the strange link between autonomous cars, locusts and star wars.

Amy and Emily speak to Lydia Simpson (Bangor University, UK) about her research into populations living at high altitude, and James Clark (King's College London, UK) about what happens to our bodies during diving. They also discuss: How physiologically accurate is the shark film 47 Meters Down? Can being at high altitude lead to weight loss? And the weird and wonderful world of projectile penguin poo.

Emily and Amy speak to Alistair Black (Leeds Beckett University, UK) about his research into carbohydrate metabolism during exercise, and Barbara Cannon (Stockholm University, Sweden) about brown adipose tissue. They also discuss: Could Violet Beauregarde really have turned into a blueberry in Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory? Does eating breakfast kick-start your metabolism? And how can our body tell if a crisp is stale?

Amy and Emily speak to Mike Tipton (University of Portsmouth, UK) about how his research influenced the recent RNLI Respect the Water campaign, and Laura Crotty Alexander (University of California San Diego, US) about the hidden dangers of e-cigarettes. They also discuss: Could Rose really have survived the cold water in Titanic? What is the world record for breath holding? And what are the benefits of unilateral nostril breathing?

Emily and Amy speak to Carol Bussey (University of Otago, New Zealand) about her research into circadian rhythms of the heart, and Robbie Jones and Pardeep Pabla (University of Nottingham, UK) about their recent study into how meal timings can impact on our physiology. They also discuss: Why wasn't George Clooney constantly jet lagged in 'Up in the Air'? Is daylight saving time a dangerous phenomenon? And how did scientists find a cure for jet lag in hamsters?