This week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Carly Charron interview fellow Gradcast member Claire Bottini, who is a PhD candidate in Biology. In this episode, Claire shares some fun facts about birds, and discusses a recent project she completed assessing whether exposure to methylmercury, an environmental contaminant, impacts song sparrow reproduction.
Recorded on August 4, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
Today gradcast is joined by Hugh Samson, a first year PhD study in Library and Information Science, who shares with hosts Laura Muñoz Baena and Brittany Melton his research on balance and mindfulness. Hugh not only defines each term but situates them in his work more broadly at the crossroads of information and contemplation.
To contact Hugh and learn more about the importance of balance and contemplation, find him on the FIMS page.
Recorded on July 27, 2022.
Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
This week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Yousuf Hasan interview Ignacio Moya about his PhD work in philosophical pessimism. Our conversation touches on the views of Schopenhauer, anti-natalism, ancient Greek stories, and more. Life may be meaningless and full of suffering.. but "you're here, I'm here, let's make the best of it".. and listen to a podcast.
To find out more about Ignacio's work or to contact him, check out his twitter @ignaciomoyaa 
Recorded on July 19, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
This week, join Amalie and Elizabeth as they talk with Alessia Servin (she/they) a master's student in the department of gender, sexuality, and women's studies. Alessia discusses her current research which looks at the experiences of first-generation students at post-secondary institutions and how they are constantly being left culturally homeless within these walls. She also shares her own personal experiences navigating the institution first-generation student herself.
To know more about Alessia, find them on Instagram at @alessiaservinn. If you have any questions about her research, please feel free to email alessiaservin@hotmail.com
Recorded on July 12, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
This week, Claire Bottini and Ariel Frame talked with Alyssa Moore, a PhD student in anatomy and cell biology. Alyssa explains how cells transform into the different tissue in our body and how pre-birth conditions such as alcohol exposure may affect the bone's structure. Alyssa also shared her experience as graduate Master and PhD student at Western University.
To find out more from Alyssa, email her at amoor66@uwo.ca
Recorded on July 5, 2022.
Produced by Ariel Frame.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
This week, join Laura and Brittany as they interview Jordan VanderBurgt, a first year PhD student in biology. Jordan discusses Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), growing vaccines in plants, and the effects of both this disease and its research.
To find out more about Jordan, you can find him on twitter as jvand222.
Recorded on June 28, 2022.
Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
On this episode of the GradCast hosts Claire Bottini and Charan Mandur sit down with PhD candidate Sufyan Tahir to discuss the world of plant biology. Sufyan shares his research to improve drought tolerance in crops through plant genetics.
Recorded on June 21, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
In this episode, Elizabeth, Laura, and Rose talk with Eric Zwicker, a PhD candidate in Musicology. As part of his research project, Eric is working on creating an album of original music. Eric discusses how he uses Indigenous Research Methodologies throughout his process of music creation, and how that music can be used as a form of reconciliation.
To hear more about Eric's creations follow him on Spotify as Eric Zwicker
Recorded on June 14, 2022.
Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
If you have ever wondered what happens with insects during the winter, this episode will provide some answers. Hosts Ariel Frame and Laura Muñoz Baena chat with Alyssa Stephens, a student of the Biology department who just defended her Masters thesis on freezing tolerance in spring field crickets. More specifically, Alyssa studied how crickets modify their metabolism to accumulate trehalose, a sugar that crickets use as source of energy in the summer and protection for cell freezing during the winter.
Follow Alyssa on Twitter @lyssastephens and for more interesting facts about crickets and other insects, follow the Entomological Society of Ontario on Twitter @EntSocOnt
Recorded on June 7 2022
Produced by Ariel Frame
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
Garth Casbourn speaks with Ariel Frame and Claire Bottini about his research on song sparrows he is doing for his PhD in Biology. Garth explains how his experiments will tell us how testosterone functions in male birds and what relevance this hormone might have for bird migration.
Recorded on May 31st 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
