New Matter: Inside the Minds of SLAS Scientists

In this episode, we celebrate Peer Review Week 2026 with guests SLAS Discovery Editor-in-Chief Bob Campbell, PhD, and SLAS Technology Editor-in-Chief Ed Chow, PhD, to discuss the growing pressures on peer review—rising submission volumes (especially in AI and bioinformatics), fewer available reviewers post-COVID, and the challenge of finding crossover expertise. They advocate for formalized mentorship of early-career researchers, emphasize that good reviews offer constructive paths to publication rather than outright rejection, and encourage reviewers to accept or decline quickly and prioritize revision rounds.

Key Learning Points

• Capacity is squeezed – Submission volume is up (especially in silico/AI papers), while reviewers are more selective and reviewing less than pre-COVID.
• Mentorship matters – Pairwise mentor programs (PI + grad student/fellow) formalize peer review training and build the next generation of reviewers.
• Good reviews improve papers – The best reports give concrete, actionable suggestions and ask whether results justify conclusions—not just reject.
• Know your expertise – Reviewers should ask editors if unsure about fit; editors can pair a statistician with a biologist, for example.
• Timeliness is critical – Accept or decline quickly; revision reviews should be fast since they only assess whether authors addressed prior comments.

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

Join hosts Ginger Cooper and Madeline Farley as they sit down with Melanie Leveridge, Vice President of Assays, Profiling & Cell Sciences at AstraZeneca and SLAS Board Member. Melanie shares how embracing innovation, leading through change and building strong relationships have shaped her career, while offering her perspective on the future of AI, automation and what it truly means to thrive in science.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

Thrive in Science: Women's Leadership Edition

In the first guest episode of Thrive in Science, hosts Ginger Cooper and Madeline Farley sit down with Olga Seltser, Head of Automation and Laboratory Technology at Dash Bio, to explore the experiences, challenges and lessons that have shaped her 25-year career in lab automation.

From taking calculated risks and stepping outside her comfort zone to building trust, leading teams and navigating the evolving role of AI in the laboratory, Olga shares candid insights on leadership, communication and finding your seat at the table.

Who do you want to see next? 

We’re always looking to highlight inspiring women in science. If there’s someone you think should be featured on Thrive in Science, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out this form.

Stay connected with SLAS:
www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

In this episode, we're joined by Lorna Ewart, PhD, CSO of Emulate, to discuss the company's SLAS 2026 New Product Award-winning product: AVA™ Emulation System. AVA™ is a self-contained, benchtop organ-on-a-chip platform that runs 96 chips simultaneously.

Lorna shares how the device was developed and its impact on drug discovery and organ-on-a-chip technology. 

Key Learning Points:

• Development of the AVA emulation system
• Applications of the AVA platform in drug discovery
• Impact of organ-on-a-chip technology on biomedical research

About Emulate
Emulate, Inc. is the pioneer of Organ-on-a-Chip technology, enabling researchers to accurately replicate human tissue function and disease biology through next generation in vitro models. From target discovery to IND submission, Emulate aims to ignite a new era in human health research—one that reduces animal testing, cuts drug development costs, and accelerates the delivery of life-saving treatments. Emulate’s Organ-Chip platforms, consumables, and organ models help the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic teams generate human-relevant data that advance safer, more effective therapies.

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

Our guest is the 2026 recipient of the SLAS Innovation Award, Steven Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, of Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco. Steven won the prestigious award for his podium presentation, “Development and Application of AI-powered Label-free Imaging for Assays and Screening."

Our discussion takes us through his lab's development of an AI-powered, label-free imaging and a closed-loop "thinking microscope" that uses optogenetics and reinforcement learning to perform thousands of single-cell experiments in a single well, dramatically accelerating research into neurodegenerative diseases and beyond.

Key Learning Points:

• AI-powered label-free imaging for assays
• Deep learning models in biomedical research
• Prognostic markers and disease diagnosis using AI
• Closed-loop automated microscopy platforms
• Overcoming challenges and limitations of AI in research

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

In our first episode of Thrive in Science: Women’s Leadership Edition, hosts Ginger Cooper, CEO of Summit Success Group, and SLAS Scientific Director Madeline Farley, PhD, introduce themselves, share their career journeys, and share the inspiration behind launching this new podcast spotlighting women in science. 

They talk about what it means to thrive in the field, the many paths to leadership, and what’s ahead in upcoming conversations. They also share where you can meet the hosts in person at SLAS Europe 2026 in Vienna, 19–21 May. 

Want to learn more? Check out our press release. 

We’re always looking to highlight inspiring women in science. If there’s someone you think should be featured on Thrive in Science, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out this form.

Stay connected with SLAS:
www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

In this episode, we’re joined by Anneke Mühlebach, Director Marketing Lab Productivity Innovation of Agilent Technologies, to preview the company’s upcoming NexusXp Flash Talk at SLAS Europe 2026.

The discussion explores the NexusXp theme of "the connected lab," which blends hardware, software, and human ingenuity across three levels of lab automation: guided workflows in the human-operated lab, fully automated work cells, and vendor-neutral data access. Anneke highlights Agilent's integration of hardware, software, and human factors in lab automation, real-world applications, progress through smart partnering and customer collaborations, and future industry trends. 

Key Learning Points:

• Lab productivity and automation
• Role of data standards and vendor-neutral formats
• Collaboration with partners
• Customer-centric innovation and co-creation

Register for SLAS Europe 2026 (19-21 May | Vienna, Austria)
Lean More — featuring 135+ exhibitors, keynote and podium speakers, behind-the-scenes access to a leading biotech campus, a rich ­networking program and more!

Thank you to our Sponsor: Agilent Technologies
Agilent supports scientists in 110 countries in cutting-edge life science research; patient diagnostics; and testing required to ensure the safety of water, food and pharmaceuticals. Our advanced instruments, software, consumables, and services enable our customers to produce the most accurate and reliable results as well as optimal scientific, economic, and operational outcomes. DE-014621 

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

Thank you to SLAS Europe 2026 Sustainability Sponsor, PulpFixin, for sponsoring this episode.

PulpFixin CEO Chad Jenkins returns to discuss the urgent need for sustainable sample management. He presents proven solutions, such as pre-barcoded tubes, standardized racks and new plastic-free alternatives like PulpFixin’s Auto-Rack and Auto-Sleeve, that can save on freezer space and costs, improve data integrity, and divert waste from landfills.

Key Learning Points

• Latest trends in sustainable sample management
• Reducing the impact of necessary plastics
• How to transition from legacy systems to new technologies

About PulpFixin:
PulpFixin is a leading manufacturer of sustainable products and packaging. We are dedicated to eliminating single-use and other unnecessary plastics. Our expertise lies in designing and producing products and packaging from compostable or biodegradable sustainable materials to fully replace traditional plastics, and we welcome you to collaborate with us.

Interested in lab sustainability? Join our Sustainability in Sciences Topical Interest Group!

Register for SLAS Europe 2026 (19-21 May | Vienna, Austria)
Lean More — featuring 135+ exhibitors, keynote and podium speakers, behind-the-scenes access to a leading biotech campus, a rich ­networking program and more!

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building. 

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

In this episode, we're joined by members of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and HSE•AG, Ian Shoemaker (Beckman Coulter) and Konstantin Lutze (HSE•AG), to discuss their SLAS 2026 New Product Award-winning collaboration, the eviDense UV Photometer: an on-deck module that seamlessly integrates into liquid handlers to measure optical density and absorbance - ideal for quantification and purity assessment of DNA and RNA samples.

They explore the collaboration behind its development, technical features, applications in genomics and diagnostics, and its impact on automation and workflow efficiency.

Key Learning Points:

• What led to this collaboration between Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and HSE•AG
• Technical innovation in UV photometry
• Applications in genomics and diagnostics

About Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
We develop innovations for scientists by scientists, with many of our 3,300+ global colleagues coming from the laboratory with a deep understanding of today’s challenges and complexities. We’re passionate about translating science in partnership with our customers, and our customizable, accessible and sustainable solutions empower them with intuitive workflow efficiencies.

About HSE•AG
At HSE•AG, we empower breakthrough discoveries in life science and diagnostics by delivering tailored, high-performance engineering solutions. From concept to market, we partner with leading companies to transform complex biological workflows into scalable, automated systems.

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar

XDemics is the 2026 SLAS Ignite Award winner, and we're joined by members of the team: Colin Cook, PhD (CTO & Co-Founder), Daniel Downie (Manager, Sales and Commercial Development), and Nicholas Scianmarello, PhD (VP Manufacturing), to discuss their respiring membrane technology.

They discuss applications in viral vector manufacturing, cell banking, T-cell and stem cell culture, and exosome production, emphasizing compatibility with automation and the ability to scale from 96-well plates to GMP bioreactors.

Key Learning Points:

• XDemics' respiring membrane technology
• Applications in viral vector manufacturing and exosome production
• Impact on cell culture efficiency and automation
• Recognition and future plans after winning the SLAS Ignite Award

About XDemics
XDemics, a Caltech spinout, is fundamentally improving the way cells are grown. We’ve addressed a primary bottleneck—the basic inability to efficiently transfer oxygen in media during cell growth.

Stay connected with SLAS:

www.slas.org | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

About SLAS
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building. 

Upcoming Events:

SLAS Meet-Ups

• Leiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)
• Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)

SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)

SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)

Thrive in Science: A Women's Leadership Forum 2027 (January 31, 2027 | San Diego, California)

View the full events calendar