Science with Milk, No Sugar

Join us in the latest episode of "Science with Milk, No Sugar" podcast, where we embark on an inspiring journey through the wonders of neuroscience and the resilience of academia. Alexandra Tzilivaki is a neuroscientist specialising in the role of inhibitory interneurons in learning and memory. With a background in the field of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, she is currently a PhD candidate at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Fellow at Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin. Her research, spanning over a decade, employs computational neuroscience techniques to unravel the complexities of neural circuitry. At the single-cell level, Alexandra investigates how inhibitory interneurons process information in the hippocampus and neocortex. She focuses on understanding the impact of electrical synapses on computational functions. Moving to the microcircuit level, Alexandra explores synaptic plasticity and dendritic processing during memory-related oscillations in the hippocampus. Her work sheds light on the dynamics of neural networks during cognitive tasks. But Alexandra's journey goes beyond the computer lab. As a disabled scientist, she embodies resilience and determination, breaking barriers and inspiring others along the way. Tune in to discover the power of perseverance, the beauty of neuroscience, and the remarkable contributions of disabled scientists in academia. Don't miss this enriching conversation filled with inspiration, empowerment, and the boundless possibilities of scientific discovery. Sponsors for this month’s episodes: The Collaborative Research Center 1315 equal opportunity measures support work-life balance, promote women in science, and identify resources available to the network as a whole. How does long-term memory work? That is the key question at the heart of the new Collaborative Research Center SFB 1315. In particular, the SFB 1315 will focus on how memories are consolidated over time. It is hoped this will lead to new treatment methods for disorders that remain virtually untreatable (such as, for instance, Alzheimer’s disease).  https://www.sfb1315.de NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence in Neurosciences funded since 2007 by the German federal & state governments. The focus of the Cluster is on investigating neurological and psychiatric disorders. By promoting close cooperation between basic science and clinical research, the Cluster aims to more rapidly transfer findings from basic research to clinical application.  https://neurocure.de Stay in Contact with Alexandra: www.sfb1315.de/people/alexandra-tzilivaki/ www.neurocure.de/diversity/inclusion.html www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexandra-Tzilivaki Stay in Contact with Franziska: ⁠www.franzisattler.com/⁠ ⁠www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/⁠ ⁠www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/⁠ ⁠www.witter.com/ohyeahfranzi⁠

We're back! I'm your host, Franziska Sattler-Morrison, inviting you to join me on a journey where we explore the fascinating world of science without any unnecessary sweeteners. In our newest episode, "Protein Power & Science Stand-Up," I chat with the talented molecular biologist Anita Waltho, who brings a refreshing twist to science communication through her blend of stand-up comedy and improv. Get ready for a fun-filled exploration of the intersection between protein science and humor! About Anita: Anita Waltho is a molecular biologist working at the Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine. She studies proteins – the tiny machines and structures that keep everything working in our cells! In particular, she is researching how proteins are regulated by a complex tagging system. These tags decide a protein’s fate, which can vary from transportation to a different compartment of the cell to their destruction! Protein destruction may sound negative, but actually, it’s vital to ensure quality control, as mutant or incorrectly formed proteins can cause disease. At work, Anita can be found 90% of the time in the lab with a pipette in hand, working with proteins, yeast, or human cells. For the remaining 10% she is analyzing her data on the computer. In her free time, Anita pursues her passions of science communication, and comedy. On stage, she regularly performs improv theatre and stand-up comedy and has participated in multiple science slams. Behind the scenes, she has participated in scicomm summer schools and scicomm teacher training and is currently an organizer of Soapbox Science outreach events and teaches lab skills to teenagers at the Gläsernes Labor. Ultimately, what these pursuits have in common are communication, performance, and entertainment, skills that Anita believes can level up future science communication!  Stay in Contact with Anita https://www.instagram.com/ansawa31/ https://twitter.com/WalthoAnita Stay in Contact with Franziska https://franzisattler.com/ https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi

For this season finale episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with the wonderful Dr. Sabrina Patsch to talk about all things Physics and Pint of Science! Are you tired of stuffy lectures and dry academic conferences (I know we are!)? Then you need to check out Pint of Science! Pint of Science is a global festival that brings science out of the lab and into the pub. That's right, you can enjoy a cold pint while learning about everything from quantum physics to ecology to neuroscience. It's science education with a twist - and a splash of alcohol! Imagine sitting at your local pub, surrounded by friends, as a scientist explains the latest breakthroughs in genetics. Or sipping on a beer while an astrophysicist tells you about the mysteries of the universe. It's like having your very own TED Talk, but with a much more relaxed dress code (no tie required!). Pint of Science is all about breaking down barriers and making science accessible to everyone. You don't need a PhD to attend - just a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge (and maybe a little beer, too). Sabrina and I will tell you all about this super fun initiative - as we put down our coffee cups (only this time) and grab an ice cold beer. Come and join us! About Sabrina: Sabrina's a quantum physicist turned full-time journalist based in Berlin. She's known for her passion for science communication and has contributed articles to prominent publications such as Spektrum der Wissenschaft, c't, and PM. During her PhD studies, she started her own blog, Physicus Minimus, where she shared insights on quantum physics and life as a PhD student. Her enthusiasm for sharing scientific knowledge also led her to participate in Science Slams, where she was named the German Science Slam vice-champion in 2021. Sabrinas dedication to science communication extends beyond her writing and speaking engagements. In 2022, she became the City Coordinator of Pint of Science, an international festival that brings science to local bars and pubs. Through her work with Pint of Science, Dr. Patsch continues to inspire and engage people in science in fun and accessible ways. Get in touch: Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ Sabrina's Website: ⁠https://physicus-minimus.com/⁠ Sabrina's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SabrinaPatschSabrina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicus.minimus/

This is the episode you've all been waiting for! My guest, Lisa Budzinski, is not only a fantastic person and an overall amazing science communicator - no! Lisa could brew beer, grow organs in Petri dishes or produce drugs, all with the help of microorganisms. But instead, she decided to "dig" in fecal samples and analyze your intestinal bacteria. She conducts research at the German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, where she works on the intestinal microbiome by examining countless stool samples in the laboratory to determine the composition of intestinal bacteria, which varies from person to person, and their influence on chronic inflammation. All of this usually takes place in the lab during the day, but in the evenings when Lisa kicks it up a notch and takes on the stage. She's extremely passionate about communicating in many different forms and Science Slams are right up her alley. In December 2022, she even became the German Science Slam champion! During this episode, we talk about Lisa's journey, how she ended up as a biotechnologist, and how Science Slams changed her life. You'll find out how you could start your own science communication adventures, what it takes to be on stage, and tips and tricks on how to find your own niche. So get yourself a hot beverage and enjoy this (guaranteed odorless) dive into intestinal bacteria research and Slamming for Science. About Lisa: Lisa Budzinski is a Biotechnologist fascinated by science as much as by science communication. She focused on the analysis of the human intestinal microbial community in her Ph.D. Thesis and communicates her approach regularly at science slams to the public. “Science slams perfectly match my way of communication: short and somewhat funny in an easy setting with a connection to the audience." Sponsors for this month's episode: This episode was made possible with the support of the German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin/ Deutschen Rheumaforschungs-Zentrum (DRFZ). Scientists at the DRFZ have been investigating rheumatism since 1988. Today, the DRFZ, an institute of the Leibniz Association, is one of the leading international institutes in the field of immunology, experimental rheumatology, and rheumatism epidemiology. This is not least due to the unique interdisciplinary cooperation of natural scientists, physicians, and sociologists. Learn more about them here: https://www.drfz.de/en/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DRFZ_Berlin   Get in touch: Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ Lisa's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lisa_Bpunkt Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what_thecell/ Lisa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lisa_bpunkt

Journalists report news and other information about science to the public which makes Science Journalism an extremely important part of Science Communication.  This involves writing accurate, informative and (if appropriate) entertaining summaries of relevant results, interviewing  expert scientists and researchers and conveying the information in ways that a non-specialist audience can understand. This is what Diana Kwon knows how to do best. During this episode, we talked about all things writing, from student newspapers to freelance science journalism. Making the jump from full time research to entering this field can be extremely daunting and challenging.  Every field of journalism is extremely competitive, and science reporting is no exception. Diana shared her journey with us and gave tips on what it takes to succeed in writing and explains how different journals operate. Get a nice cup of coffee, relax and join us for this really fun episode! About Diana: Diana Kwon is a Canadian, Berlin-based freelance science journalist covering the life sciences, health, and academic life. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Nature, The Scientist, and elsewhere. She’s especially interested in the brain, the organ that makes us who we are. Reach out to Diana: Website: https://www.dianakwon.com/ Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianaMKwon More: Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/

Happy New Year, friends! We're starting this year of STRONG, with one of my favourite women and scientists: Dr. Linn Voß. During this podcast, we talk a lot about the negative sides of Academia. Things that are hard and that are putting barriers into researchers paths. So for the new year, I've decided to also showcase some exciting and super interesting initiatives to improve the lives and mental health of scientists. That is one of the reasons I decided to invite Linn to join me for this January episode - because she's worked on some pretty amazing things recently: one of which is Sustainable Leadership e.V. Dr. Voß and her co-founders what to provide leadership on all levels – for yourself and for others. For scientists, leaders and all those who want to take on social responsibility to shape a better future of work in science. The team is really committed to offer support in order to create a framework in which we can pursue our scientific enthusiasm in the long term. For this, they combined their experience as PostDocs and students, science communicators and lab rats, leadership trainers and managers. If you ever struggled with a supervisor not really being able to support you or if you don't know how to find support networks, make sure to listen - we talk about it all! About Linn: Dr. Linn Voß studied biochemistry in Berlin, Copenhagen and Zurich before receiving her PhD in Nanotoxicology at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Berlin. She's an avid science communicator & Science Slammer and more recently co-founded "Sustainable Leadership" (SusLead). Website: www.worklifescience.de Survey: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embr.202153592 SusLead Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusLead SusLead Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suslead/ Linn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/linn_voss Linn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linn.of.all.trades/ Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/

This month we have an exciting topic, with an even more exciting guest! A hint: You Are, What You Eat! I'm talking to Rachel Lippert about her career as an unconventional neuoscientist studying maternal nutrition and fetal brain development. She knows all about how what we eat can influence our (own and) offspring's health and growth. We'll discuss how she ended up in this field of research as a first-generation scientist and how she decided to lead her own lab in Germany. She'll tell us about the challenges of opening it during a pandemic, what her days look like, what hidden tasks she never expected, and what it's like to work on mice. In Germany, animal research is primarily carried out in the areas of basic research, medicine and veterinary medicine - never for cosmetics and detergents! Animal testing can be a hot topic and researchers are often criticized for working on mice. Rachel made it her mission to educate the public on how the process works, how the well-being of the animals is ensured, and why it's an important step for curing and treating diseases. About Rachel: Dr. Rachel Lippert is an American-born Neuroscientist from Ohio, USA with Bachelor's degrees in Chemistry and English Literature. During her Ph.D. research at  Vanderbilt University, she learned to love learning about food intake behavior and metabolism - something she kept looking into at her Postdoctoral position at Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Köln.  In 2020, Rachel opened her own lab at the German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE) as a NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence-supported Junior Research Group Leader. Sponsors for this month's episodes: NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence in neurosciences funded since 2007 by the German federal & state governments (Excellence Initiative). The focus of the Cluster is on investigating neurological and psychiatric disorders. By promoting close cooperation between basic science and clinical research, the Cluster aims to more rapidly transfer findings from basic research to clinical application. Learn more: https://neurocure.de/en/index.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeuroCureBerlin Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ Rachel's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelLippert German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE): https://www.dife.de/en/research/departments-and-labs/neurocircuit-development-and-function/ DIfE Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leibniz_DIfE  

Welcome back to Season 2, everybody! I have the great pleasure to start this season off with an amazing scientist and science communicator: Kiara Freitag. Kiara's a neuroscience Ph.D. researcher at the German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Berlin exploring why people suffer from Alzheimer´s disease and how we might cure it. She is very passionate about brain cells and tries to understand how they change if we start suffering from dementia. During episode 1, we discuss how to find the perfect supervisor (and lab to work in), what it's like to do a Ph.D., and how to eventually finish it. What goes into handing in your work? How do you publish your results in a scientific journal? What do you do, if your experiments fail? All of these questions and more will be answered during this interview. If you're currently doing a Ph.D. yourself (or if you're thinking about it) this episode is for you.  Relax, get a cup of coffee and join Kiara and me for this very candid and funny reflection about the Ph.D. Finish Line! - Sponsors for this month's episodes: - The Collaborative Research Center 1315 equal opportunity measures support work-life balance, promote women in science and identify resources available to the network as a whole. How does long-term memory work? That is the key question at the heart of the new Collaborative Research Center SFB 1315. In particular, the SFB 1315 will focus on how memories are consolidated over time. It is hoped this will lead to new treatment methods for disorders that remain virtually untreatable (such as, for instance, Alzheimer's disease). Learn more: https://www.sfb1315.de Twitter: https://twitter.com/SFB1315 - NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence in neurosciences funded since 2007 by the German federal & state governments (Excellence Initiative). The focus of the Cluster is on investigating neurological and psychiatric disorders. By promoting close cooperation between basic science and clinical research, the Cluster aims to more rapidly transfer findings from basic research to clinical application. Learn more: https://neurocure.de/en/index.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeuroCureBerlin Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ Kiara's Twitter: https://twitter.com/sci_frei Kiara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sci_frei/

Happy Pride Month! This is our season finale episode - and it's a great one! People who identify as LGBTQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Asexual/ace and Queer) are leaking out of the scientific pipeline in similar ways to women & those from minority ethnic groups. STEM fields have lagged behind that of other previously white male-dominated professions in postindustrial societies. LGBTQ+ STEM Berlin aims to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM & connect the community, starting with Berlin. Their group was born on July 5, 2019 & has been steadily growing ever since. People of all ages, backgrounds, origins, race, color, sexual orientations, and gender identity are welcome to join them: let us all be out and proud together! They're a part of the organizing collective behind the LGBTQ+ STEM Day. During this episode, we discuss how (and why)  LGBTQ+ STEM Berlin was founded & why it's important to have a safe community in academia. - Jovan Dragelj obtained his Bachelor's & Master's of Science in Chemistry in Belgrade, Serbia. In 2019, he also finished a Ph.D. in (Computational) Chemistry at Freie Universität Berlin. Currently, he's working as a postdoc at Technische Universität & as a guest lecturer at Berliner Hochschule für Technik. His scientific focus is on biomolecules, exploring their functions in the virtual setting, and finding possible applications within the excellence cluster UniSySCat. While Jovan enjoys scientific work, LGBTQ+ rights are as important to him. In addition to giving talks on this topic, he founded LGBTQ STEM Berlin in 2019, with a group of likely-minded individuals. They aim to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Charly Brinkmann received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of St Andrews. Additionally, she completed a Master's in Food Security at the University of Glasgow in 2018 and started her Ph.D. in 2019 working on plant-pathogen interactions. - Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ LGBTQ STEM Berlin website: https://www.lgbtqstemberlin.de LGBTQ STEM Berlin Twitter: https://twitter.com/lgbtqstemberlin LGBTQ STEM Berlin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgbtqstemberlin/ Jovan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdragelj Charly's Twitter: https://twitter.com/brinkcharly

There’s a lot more to being male, female, or any gender than the sex assigned at birth. Your biological or assigned sex does not always tell your complete story. Gender is complex: It’s a social & legal status, and set of expectations from society, about behaviours, characteristics, and thoughts. Each culture has standards about the way that people should behave based on their gender. This is no different when working in a scientific environment, even biological sciences! For this episode, I invited Dr. Jasper Grendel (they/them) to talk about assigned sex, gender roles in academia & gender identity. We discuss everything from changing professions, how we identify as scientists, to how we can make Academia a more inclusive and welcoming environment for ALL scientists. Jasper is a neuroscientist who, after studying Biomedical Engineering in the Netherlands, moved to Hamburg to start a family & a PhD. In the field of neuroscience, Jasper pursues the analysis of large complex datasets in order to find golden nuggets hidden within. The topic to which this applies varies depending on the group being associated with, but curiosity and joy for solving puzzles is always a driving force behind Jasper’s research. Convinced that scientists hold the responsibility to inform the general public about their work, Jasper often speaks in public as much as possible to make science accessible, amongst other reasons to promote a conversation between scientists and non-scientists in order to gain understanding for each other. Sponsors for this months episodes: - The Collaborative Research Center 1315 equal opportunity measures support work-life balance, promote women in science and identify resources available to the network as a whole. How does long-term memory work? That is the key question at the heart of the new Collaborative Research Center SFB 1315. In particular, the SFB 1315 will focus on how memories are consolidated over time. It is hoped this will lead to new treatment methods for disorders that remain virtually untreatable (such as, for instance, Alzheimer's disease). Learn more: https://www.sfb1315.de Twitter: https://twitter.com/SFB1315 - NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence in neurosciences funded since 2007 by the German federal & state governments (Excellence Initiative). The focus of the Cluster is on investigating neurological and psychiatric disorders. By promoting close cooperation between basic science and clinical research, the Cluster aims to more rapidly transfer findings from basic research to clinical application. Learn more: https://neurocure.de/en/index.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeuroCureBerlin Visit the website: https://franzisattler.com E-Mail: [email protected] Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/ Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi Franziska's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommsattler/ Jasper’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrendelJasper