GradCast

221 | DynoMite

The humble spider-mite is a cousin of the spider with an incredibly diverse diet, letting them live and feast on plants all over the world. In their talk with master's student David Letwin - hosts Connor Chato and Nikol Posnov get down to the genetic code that makes these tiny critters and what it's like to share a lab with thousands of them. We learn about the evolutionary factors that allow animals to eat what they eat and how certain expansions in the genome may make Spider Mites frustratingly good at eating all the veggies we try and grow. To find out more about David's work you can email him at dletwin3@uwo.ca

Hosts: Connor Chato & Nikol Posnov

Produced by Ariel Frame

Special Episode: GradCast on Tour: Society for Neuroscience 2018 Part 2

The Society for Neuroscience annual conference remains the largest international conference for neuroscience research, hosting upwards of 25,000 neuroscientists each year. GradCast had the opportunity to interview two conference attendees about their cutting-edge research for Neuroscience 2018. In part 2 of this 2-part series, hosts Viki Tellios and Joyla Furlano discuss effective MRI image analysis from work done by Guy Hwang in the Medical Physics department from the University of Wisconsin. As well, Roger Hudson along with Viki Tellios interview Michelle Stone from California State University of San Bernardino about her research associated with the neural sensitization response of cannabinoids. 

To learn more about Guy Hwang's research: https://neurofmri.bme.wisc.edu/

To learn more about work from Michelle Stone's lab: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sanders_Mcdougall

Hosts: Joyla Furlano, Roger Hudson, & Viki Tellios

Produced by Roger Hudson & Chantal Lemire

220 | the Super-Powered Stomach of a Spider Mite

In this entertaining episode, GradCast hosts Chantal and Nikol talk with masters student in biology Zoran Culo and his partner-in-crime, Peanut, about the spider-mite research labs at western. Zoran explains why the tiny spider-mite is a big pest for plant lovers, and what western researchers are doing to develop alternative pest control strategies for sustainable agriculture.

 

http://www.spidermite.org

 

Hosts: Nikol Posnov & Chantal Lemire

Produced by Gregory Robinson

Special Episode: GradCast on Tour: Society for Neuroscience 2018 Part 1

The Society for Neuroscience annual conference remains the largest international conference for neuroscience research, hosting upwards of 25,000 neuroscientists each year. GradCast had the opportunity to interview two conference attendees about their cutting-edge research for Neuroscience 2018. In part 1 of this 2-part series, hosts Roger Hudson and Viki Tellios learn about novel methods associated with the classical fear conditioning paradigm, from work done by Peter Zambetti from the University of Washington. As well, Roger Hudson along with Joyla Furlano interview Jamal Williams from Princeton University about his research testing the interaction between classical and jazz music on event segmentation within the brain. 

To learn more about Peter Zambetti's work: http://faculty.washington.edu/jeansokk/index.html

Contact info for Jamal Williams: jamalw@princeton.edu

Hosts: Joyla Furlano, Roger Hudson, & Viki Tellios

 Produced by Roger Hudson and Chantal Lemire

219 | The Mighty Mite

Did you know there are an estimated 1 million species of mites? They are found on every continent. They can live on both plants and animals, and you have microscopic mites living on your face right now (that are harmless, hopefully!) And yet, mites are often overlooked and poorly studied. To date, only 50,000 species of mites have been described. Luckily, you can learn more about the mighty mite with mite maven Matt Meehan as he joins GradCast hosts, Gregory Robinson and Nikol Posnov, to talk about his research on the interactions of mite colonies. 

Hosts: Nikol Posnov & Gregory Robinson

Produced by Gregory Robinson and Roger Hudson.

 

218 | Hear Here

How do different regions of the brain work together to recognize and make sense of the sounds that you hear? Our guest today is Sonia Varma, who is completing her Master's in neuroscience investigating auditory processing. Hosts Monica Molinaro and Yimin Chen get a crash course in how hearing works, plus some surprising insights into the film preferences of hearing research participants. You can contact Sonia to hear more about her research through email at svarma6@uwo.ca.

 

 Hosts: Yimin Chen & Monica Molinaro

 

 

Produced by Connor Chato

#GradLife Episode I: Impostor Syndrome and Feeling Like Garbage

This week we’re bringing you our very first #Gradlife episode! Based on popular demand, our first episode is on Impostor Syndrome! Impostor Syndrome, or feeling like you are a fraud, affects many graduate students, regardless of their success or accomplishments. In this episode, hosts Viki Telios, Monica Molinaro, and Gavin Tolometti discuss their experiences of feeling like frauds in their time in graduate school, and talk about what helps them when they experience peaks of impostor syndrome. They also discuss triggers and tricks for impostor syndrome submitted by other graduate students.

Youtube video coming soon.

 

SOGs resources page: http://sogs.ca/resources/

Mental Health Resource Guide: http://studentexperience.uwo.ca/student_experience/wellness_initiatives/mental_health_resource_guide.html

Western's Mental Wellbeing Resource: https://www.uwo.ca/health/mental_wellbeing/resources.html

CMHA Middlesex: https://cmhamiddlesex.ca/

 

Produced by Gregory Robinson

217 | The Vine that Ate the South

Ever heard of the kudzu? Depending on where you're from, you might have a different idea of this dubious plant. Introduced as a way to nourish Southern US soil, it quickly spread throughout much of the eastern coast. Now, it is everywhere from Georgia to New York State. On today's episode, hosts Nick Handfield-Jones and Roger Hudson interview Master's student Kenny Reilly about the kudzu vine. He tells them about how views toward immigrants and how old Civil War tensions has bred fierce controversy over how the kudzu is viewed in modern times. 

Get in contact with Kenny:

Twitter: @KReilly16

email: kreill@uwo.ca

Hosts: Roger Hudson & Nick Handfield-Jones

Produced by Greg Robinson

216 | Meditating on Musical Minimalism

You may have heard the work of Academy Award nominated composer Phillip Glass referred to as "Minimalism," but what does that mean? Martin Ross, PhD candidate in music theory, joins GradCast hosts Joyla and Yimin to discuss what might be the most influential musical movement of the 20th century. On this episode, we learn what blinking turn signals, mathematics, and four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence have to do with music.

Hosts: Yimin Chen & Joyla Furlano

Produced by Chantal Lemire

215 | An Astrobiology Tale on the Great Moon Titan

In order for microbial life to develop and grow it needs an environment and world that can habit them. Presence of an energy source, liquid water or another solvent, appropriate temperature conditions, and protection from outside harm. In this episode, hosts Gavin Tolometti and Connor Chato talk with Earth Science PhD student Josh Hedgepeth about Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and the mystery and complicated thoughts on astrobiology.

Hosts: Connor Chato & Gavin Tolometti

Produced by Roger Hudson