Straight from a Scientist Medical Research Education and Discussion Podcast

This interview stars Mafalda Farelo, a cellular biologist currently doing her PhD on faviviruses, specifically the Zika virus. We talk about the famous Zika scare from last year, its effect on Neurogenesis and why pregnant women need to be careful. We also discuss other falviviruses such as dengue and west nile. Lastly we talk about the current research and how scientists are attempting to combat the spreading of these viruses.

Contact Mafalda on instagram: @thelabnotebook or by email at [email protected]

Further reading on Zika and Neurogenesis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29116029

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28826723

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28370966

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

Episode 8: Cognitive Benefits and Practical Strategies of Language Learning

Julian interviews JP, a polyglot and language professor, about practical language learning strategies as well as the cognitive benefits of learning a second (and eventually third) language. They discuss their personal journeys and experiences while explaining some of the neuroscience behind language learning. Finally they offer practical advice on how to get started and how to personalize an individual language learning program.

Language learning tools discussed in this episode

https://ankiweb.net/about

https://www.duolingo.com/

https://www.memrise.com

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

Connor and Julian break down the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). They discuss what it means to them, and how the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems jockey for control of our bodies in everyday life situations. We mention a few drugs of interest, as well as practical strategies and activities for controlling each side of the ANS.

Check out the companion infographic for a more detailed explanation of the ANS!

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

What is inflammation? Is it all bad? Why is it linked to virtually all chronic diseases? Answers and practical strategies for striking the right balance with inflammation in everyday life on SFS Episode 6: Inflammation Roundtable

In this podcast:

Heba Al Housseiny

Julian Dallmeier

Connor Wander

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

This podcast is a quick introduction to how the Straight from a Scientist team met each other and how our paths led into the science field. We called it episode 0, but our hosting provider doesn't like that, so it's 5 now.

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

In this podcast, Connor Wander interviews Andrew Crowther, a fellow graduate student in the Song Lab at UNC Chapel Hill and a member of the Neuroscience curriculum. We cover Andrew's research focus: serotonin's effect on adult neurogenesis. We also speculate a bit on other mechanisms of regulation of neurogenesis, and various functions of the hippocampus.

Adult neurogenesis is the birth and development of new neurons in the developed brain. This process occurs well into adulthood and helps us form new memories and adapt to new environments. Recently, exercise has been shown to increase adult neurogenesis in mice and other mammals. More adult neurogenesis may translate into more brain power.

Dr. Juan Song's lab at UNC Chapel Hill studies adult neurogenesis, and the different neurotransmitter systems that regulate it. Various neurotransmitters and neuropeptide have been shown to change the rate of neurogenesis in different ways.

Song Lab website: songlab.web.unc.edu/

Andrew wrote a review on neurotransmitter-based regulation of neurogenesis with Dr. Song:

Activity-dependent signaling mechanisms regulating adult hippocampal neural stem cells and their progeny

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

Connor and Julian sit down for the first Roundtable episode of the podcast on the microbiome. We break down the basics and chat a bit about the future of the field and it's broader implications. Within this podcast we will explain what the microbiome is, and why it is such a growing and important area of research.

Here is a guide on how to obtain a kombucha scoby.

And another guide on how to make your own kombucha

Lebanese Laban Ayran (with garlic) recipe here

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

Jake Knight sits down with Connor Wander, a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill's pharmacology program, and a co-founder of the Straight from a Scientist Podcast. In this interview we delve into Connor's inspiration and path into science as a career. We also get a brief summary of his research, which studies GABAergic neural networks in Alzheimer's Disease.

Interviewee: Connor Wander (SFS member)

SFS interviewer: Jake Knight

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.

In this podcast we interview Nidal Sarsour, a longtime friend of Connor Wander and a fellow Virginia Tech alumn. Nidal is currently working at a genetic diagnostics company and is working on his Master's Degree in Bioinformatics at Johns Hopkins University. This podcast is currently in draft format, and is missing the companion pieces where we plan to explain the topics discussed, like DNA, epigenetics, cancer genes, and computational biology.

SFS members: Julian Dallmeier, Connor Wander

Any other questions? Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

You can now support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/sfspodcast. Many thanks to our past and present supporters!

Thanks to Plant Warrior for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.