Advertise on podcast: The Microscopists

Steve Altschuler and Lani Wu are Professors in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco. In this episode of The Microscopists, Peter O’Toole talks to Steve Altschuler and Lani Wu—two mathematicians who leapt from Princeton and Microsoft into systems biology, high-dimensional data, and cell imaging. They share the (brutal) grad-school mailroom origin story of their partnership, how video compression work at Microsoft shaped their thinking, and the risky jump into biology from Rosetta to Harvard, during the early days of systems biology. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

In this episode of The Microscopists, Uri Manor, Assistant Professor of UCSD, opens up about growing up with profound hearing loss and how, despite wanting nothing to do with becoming a scientist, a winding path through baseball, music, and restaurant work eventually led him back to physics and then biology. He reflects on how those early challenges shaped his confidence, communication, and resilience as he navigated graduate school, personal hardship, and the unpredictable reality of academic funding. Now at UCSD, he's expanding access to science by teaching immersive, hands-on microscopy workshops to community college students. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com

In this episode of The Microscopists, Peter O’Toole sits down with Leonel Malacrida of Universidad de la República & Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Uruguay. Leonel reflects on his early ambition of becoming a veterinarian, the twists and turns that led him into the world of microscopy, and the unique challenges and opportunities of doing science in Latin America. He also shares how biking and staying active helps him remain balanced and connected beyond the lab. This conversation offers a candid look at Leonel’s career journey, his scientific passions, and the personal habits that keep him grounded. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com

In this episode of The Microscopists, Peter O’Toole sits down with Dr. Elisa May, Chief Enabling Technology Officer at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), one of the largest and most influential research hubs in the world. Hear her fascinating journey from her early days as a facility leader to pioneering the establishment of German BioImaging and now overseeing a cutting-edge network of 13 core technology facilities! Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

In this episode of The Microscopists, Peter O’Toole sits down with Kelly Rogers, Head of the Division of Advanced Technology and Biology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne. Kelly reflects on her childhood ambition of becoming a forester, the surprising twist that steered her toward science, and her first encounter with confocal microscopy during her PhD in Hong Kong; a moment that sparked her passion for imaging. She shares stories from her time in Paris with Spencer Shorte’s lab, before returning to Australia to establish a central microscopy facility at WEHI. Along the way, Kelly discusses the challenges of balancing research, facility management, and staff development, while ensuring her team has opportunities to grow and contribute at the leading edge of microscopy. 🎧 Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com

We're thrilled to bring you this episode of The Microscopists with an absolute force in accessible science and microscopy innovation—Manu Prakash of Stanford University. Manu shares the origin of the now-legendary $1 paper microscope, the Foldscope. He also discusses the importance of making science hands-on and accessible, his passion for fieldwork, and explains why he has barnacles growing in his bathroom! Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

In this special episode of The Microscopists, we're joined by three passionate voices who share their personal experiences with perimenopause and menopause. They share personal stories of navigating the significant—yet often invisible—changes to their bodies and mental wellbeing, and discuss how these impacted their careers and daily lives. By opening up about the symptoms, and how long it took to recognize what was happening, they hope to help others spot the signs of perimenopause and feel empowered to seek the support they need. With: • Georgina Fletcher, Project Officer, BioImagingUK, and Euro-BioImaging Node Manager, the Royal Microscopical Society• Maxine Holder, Principal Laboratory Research Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute• Celine Bouchoux, Principal Laboratory Research Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com #Menopause #Perimenopause #Podcast

This time on The Microscopists, we're joined by Christophe Leterrier, team leader at NeuroCyto in Marseille and director of a Nikon Center of Excellence for super-resolution microscopy. Christophe reflects on the make-or-break moment at the end of his postdoc, when he came close to leaving academia before securing his CNRS position, and how that experience now shapes the way he mentors others. He also shares his thoughts on how preprints and bioRxiv have transformed the pace and openness of publishing, and what challenges remain as the system continues to evolve. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

We're thrilled to bring you the latest episode of The Microscopists, this time featuring Robert Haase, Lecturer and Training Coordinator at Leipzig University. In this episode, Robert chats about the challenges of creating AI-relevant courses for bioimage analysis—a field that evolves at lightning speed. He also gives his insights into the impact AI is having on bioimaging, something he has a unique perspective on as a programmer-turned-biologist. Plus,he shares how many hours (or should that be days) he has spent playing Grand Theft Auto. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

This time on The Microscopists, we're thrilled to have Maddy Parsons, Professor of Cell Biology and Director of the Nikon Imaging Centre at King's College London, as our special guest. Maddy reflects on the dynamic nature of bioimaging in the UK and the importance of creating supportive imaging communities, which she believes generates impact. She also chats about her passions outside of work, including big mountain adventures, her love of animals, and architecture. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

#84 — Louise Cole is MIF Director and Associate Professor of the Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection at the University of Technology Sydney. In this episode of The Microscopists, Louise joins Peter O’Toole to discuss trashy TV, travel, and microscopy-themed bake-offs. She also shares her experience of hitting the glass ceiling, how it affected her, and what she did about it. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

#83 — Anna Schueth is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences at Maastricht University. In this episode of The Microscopists, Anna joins Peter O'Toole to discuss starting her academic group despite personal and financial setbacks. They chat about championing women in STEM, how she expresses herself with cool tattoos, and finding a path through serious mental health challenges by taking up running. Plus, Anna opens up about some of the stigma women can experience surrounding marriage and pregnancy and shares how she turns it into a positive by channeling them into her academic research and outreach initiatives. To learn more about Anna and her mental health advocacy, check out her blog. If you're struggling with your own mental health, visit Dragonfly Mental Health for helpful information and advice. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

#82 — In this special episode, our host, Peter O'Toole, and a panel of guests discuss mental health and its impact by sharing their struggles and victories. Beth Cimini opens up about her struggle with guilt and making peace with seeking help, even turning to medication to be the best version of herself Kedar Narayan shares his battle with depression stemming from childhood pressures and academic competition. And Jason Rodgers talks about the importance of seeking help, finding motivation, and overcoming the societal stigma of mental health. With: • Beth Cimini, Senior Group Leader at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard• Kedar Narayan, Group Leader at the Center for Molecular Microscopy• Jason Rodgers, Producer and Audio Production Specialist at Bitesize Bio Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

#81 — Ilaria Testa is an Associate Professor in the Science for Life Laboratory at Karolinska Institutet Science Park. In this episode of The Microscopists, Ilaria joins Peter O'Toole for a candid chat about the challenges and triumphs of grant writing and balancing family life with groundbreaking science. She also talks about her love for Magritte's paintings because they challenge our perceptions and her lab's award-winning cake shaped like a neuron. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/

#80 — Ammasi Periasamy is a Professor and Director of Keck Center for Cellular Imaging at the University of Virginia. In this episode of The Microscopists, Ammasi joins Peter O’Toole to discuss pioneering metabolic imaging techniques and growing up in a small farming village. They also chat about Ammasi's transition from India to the US, the foundations of the Keck Center, cooking, and cheering on the Lakers. Watch or listen to all episodes of The Microscopists: http://themicroscopists.bitesizebio.com/