Ole Petersen Interview

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.