GradCast

Peter Baker speaks with Ariel Frame and Charan Mandur about his ongoing Biology MSc research on lake trout from Lake Ontario. Peter explains how he studies lake trout to determine how a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, caused by the consumption of invasive prey fishes, impacts fish health and behavior. Moreover, Peter discusses aspects of fishing which influence ecosystem conservation. Recorded o...

In today’s episode, hosts Claire Bottini and Carly Charron talk with Natalia Parra about her anthropological studies on Canadian refuges immigration process. Natalia particularly focuses on the experience of Columbian women refugees in Canada and the asylum adjudication system that determines who is “worthy” to be considered a refugee and who is not.   Recorded on September 6, 2022. Produced by Jo...

In this episode, Gradcast's new managing editor, Amalie Hutchinson, talks with hosts Laura and Brittany about her PhD studies in hummingbird physiology. Specifically, daily torpor and mitochondria. Tune in to learn about how birds cope with cold winter temperatures and get a glimpse of the day of a Biology grad student.    Recorded on August 30, 2022. Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena. Theme song prov...

On this episode of #GraduatedLife, hosts Charan Mandur and Amalie Hutchinson chat with Dr Christina Booker. Christina graduated with her PhD in Chemistry in 2012, and now works as a faculty member at Western, developing new teaching strategies. She shares with us ways to balance work and family life, advice for making career connections, and more. Recorded on August 22, 2022 Produced by Amalie Hut...

This week, hosts Ana Moyer and Amalie Hutchinson interview Reese Gartly. Reese is completing her M.Sc. in the biology department. We discuss her work making computer models for spider body-size, and learning more about how spiders perceive the world around them using eight of their body parts... not the eyes, the legs! Listen in for some cool facts about spiders, how your stiff knee probably won't...

On this episode of our #GraduatedLife series, hosts Jordan VanderBurgt and Carly Charron chat with Patrick Langille. Patrick finished his MSc in biology in 2016. After deciding that research wasn't for him, he took off to New Zealand, completed teacher's college, and became a science teacher. Patrick shares how his career took shape, gave advice for current grads who might not be loving what they'...

To continue our #GraduatedLife series, hosts Jordan VanderBurgt and Claire Bottini interview Tara Saab. Tara graduated with her MA in geography in 1999. We learn that even a grad degree in geography won't necessarily keep you on the map you started on! Tara now works as a project manager at a hospital in Ontario, and she shares how skills she learned at UWO helped her navigate a somewhat off-road...

This week, Claire Bottini and Ariel Frame discussed with Olivia Siemons, a Master student in Biology, her work on genes and behaviour in female fruit flies during reproduction. In this episode, Olivia describes how a specific gene influences female receptivity to males courting and how difference in species may affect this behaviour. We continue with discussing about species evolution and techniqu...

For the first episode of #GraduatedLife, Charan Mandur and Ariel Frame interview Dr. Geoffrey Hayes. Dr. Hayes completed his PhD in history at UWO in 1992. He shares with GradCast how he found his way to Western, what brought him to his current faculty position at the University of Waterloo, and life and grad school advice from someone who's been there.  Recorded on August 4, 2022 Produced by Amal...

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 H...

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 conte...

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 t...

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 person...

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...

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. Them...

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...

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 su...

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 Wh...

Recorded live at Radio Western 94.9 FM studio, hosts Ariel Frame, Elizabeth Mohler, and Brittany Melton discuss their grad life experience at different stages in their PhD programs. Recorded May 18 2022 Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

This week, Carolynn Hare joins hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Ana Moyer. Carolynn is a PhD student in the department of psychology studying ADHD and multisensory integration. A person with ADHD herself, Carolynn has a unique perspective, and plans to use her position to study how kids with ADHD use sensory input to process their world, how that may differ from neurotypical kids. If you find yourself...

On this episode of the GradCast hosts Laura Muñoz Baena and Brittany Melton chat with Charan Mandur, a first-year PhD student in the Department of History. They discuss the Halifax Explosion, environmental history, and Charan’s aspiration to blend the two. Recorded on May 17th 2022. Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

Join hosts Elizabeth Mohler and Amalie Hutchinson in their chat with Brigette Farrell, PhD student in history. Brigette shares about her interesting research into the history of science, medicine, and culture. We discuss shell shock in World War I soldiers, the impacts of eugenics on Canadian and French history, and how politics snuggles closer to science than we sometimes like to admit. Recorded...

In this episode, Erin Isaac explains to hosts Brittany and Laura how race and climate were linked by 18th-century beliefs about the body. They also discuss how migrants who came to Nova Scotia in the 1780s (along with the colony’s existing populations!) contended with an unusually hostile climate following a volcanic eruption in 1783, and how this environmental history impacted different communiti...

This week we met with Justin Robar, a PhD student in Sport Management Graduate Program. In this episode, Justin tells Elizabeth Mohler and Claire Bottini about his research on how sport can positively impact player’s life and community. He describes his MA experience on how sport development programs impact rural African communities. Justin also elaborates about his PhD working on improving knowle...