Lab Notes

The ability to communicate is a fundamental human need, but it's one that does not come easily to those without a voice box.  Dr Farzaneh Ahmadi is a scientist, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur who first came across the field of voice cloning while completing her PhD in Singapore. But for all of the technology's promise, Farzaneh also felt frustrated by having to turn away patients that came to...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo take a look at the purpose of peak bodies like the Australian Academy of Science and Chambers of Commerce. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo look at the early-career options for innovators, whether in the academic track as postdoctoral researchers or as early-employees in a startup.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Steve...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo talk about the ways in which new research and products are appraised before they are unleashed on the consumer.  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leosteve...

The dual inventions of computing and the internet transformed our society, and many industries are now barely recognisable from their peers of the 1950s. But while sectors like banking, communications, retail and entertainment have all ridden this wave of innovation, a few have been left behind.  Professor Mathew Aitchison is on a mission to help the construction industry realise the potential of...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo look to the very top of their organisational charts, and discuss the similarities and differences between corporate boards and the university council  Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Le...

Being a Vice-Chancellor for close to two decades has allowed Paul Wellings to develop a unique perspective on science, research management and research commercialisation.   Born into a military family, Paul's childhood was shaped by tours in India and Africa before he was sent back to the UK and the relative stability of boarding school. Despite being separated from his family Paul soon settled in...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo compare the primary funding mechanisms for researchers and entrepreneurs - Grants and Pitching. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc...

Innovation takes an ecosystem and Stephen Rodda has worked harder than most to ensure South Australia is a fertile place for technologies to grow. Born and raised in Adelaide, Stephen completed a PhD in stem cell biology before moving to Cambridge Massachusetts for a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University. Since returning to Australia in 2007, Stephen has worked to foster a vib...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo give you the light version of some weighty documents, the thesis and the business plan. Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het...

At an age when most of her peers had barely heard of the term biomedical engineer - Maryam Parviz had already decided it was the career for her.  Born to a partially deaf mother, Maryam witnessed the power of technology to transform human health in the form of hearing aids. Inspired, Maryam set herself on the path of science and technology, studying biomedical engineering at Iran's prestigious Ami...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo explain some key funding sources for researchers and entrepreneurs, angel investors and the Australian Research Council Listen in as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/l...

Academic careers often rest on the outcome of highly competitive grant schemes. But moving beyond blue sky research also opens up new opportunities, with grants targeted at entrepreneurs, exporters and innovative businesses. Born in south-west Sydney, Rhys Cornock is a scientist turned business consultant with a broad-based skillset. Initially trained in nanotechnology, Rhys' graduate job put him...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo take a look at the very top of business and university management. So join us as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin...

Australian research labs are teeming with promising ideas, but transferring that intellectual property out of public sector research institutions can be a complex and daunting task. Rob McInnes is a lawyer and consultant who has spent several decades at the pointy end of IP negotiations, working with researchers, universities, startups and industry incumbents to help ensure Australian technologies...

The Brief is a quick-fire show where we break down two concepts from science and business. On today’s episode, Marc and Leo take a crack at defining entrepreneurship and the PhD process. So join us as we discuss and connect these two concepts within 10 minutes! EON LABS :  https://www.eonlabs.org/ HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc in het Panhuis www.linkedin.com...

Lab Notes is back in 2021! In this short episode we take a look forward at season 2 and make some exciting announcements about the future of the Labnotes podcast. There'll be fresh interviews, inspiring guests, a new short episode format and even a co-host! So join us for another dive into the Australian innovation ecosystem.  HOSTS : Dr. Leo Stevens www.linkedin.com/in/leostevensinc/ Prof. Marc i...

When Fiona Wood first saw the potential of applying tissue engineering to burns therapy she knew it could change her patients' lives. What she didn't know was how much it would change her own life as well.  Born in England, Fiona was an energetic young doctor when she migrated to Perth in 1987. After qualifying as West Australia's first female plastic surgeon she soon became the director of the Bu...

The task of transforming the Australian energy sector requires diplomacy - and Miranda Taylor couldn't be better suited for the role.  Born to an itinerant family, Miranda's worldly outlook saw her study at the London School of Economics, work at an Israeli Kibbutz and aspire to a career at the United Nations. But when she landed in the Northern Territory, Miranda fell in love with Kakadu National...

After a lifetime studying innovation - Professor Bruce McKern believes in the power of big ideas.  Born in rural Queensland - Bruce McKern began his career as chemical engineer working across Australia and Canada. But academia called, and Bruce's aptitude for study earned him a place at Harvard University, where he gained not only his PhD but also a life-changing professional network.  Now a renow...

The path from fundamental science to commercial application is long and treacherous, but this isn't the first time Natasha Rawlings and the team at Uniseed have crossed the valley of death. Backed by research institutions including local universities and the CSIRO - Uniseed is a VC fund with unique access to emerging technologies and the financial licence to support deep-tech projects for the long...

Omar Khalifa's understanding of innovation is nothing if not well-rounded.  With a career that spans NASA, Apple, The World Bank, politics, venture capital and incubator programs, Omar has seen innovation from almost every angle.  Now based in the Illawarra south of Sydney - Omar is sharing his experience with the next generation of entrepreneurs as the CEO of iAccelerate - an incubator program su...

Building Australia's space technology sector from the ground up is a mighty challenge - but Prof. Andy Koronios is used to defying the odds.  Born in an impoverished region in southern Greece, Andreas lost his parents at an early age. By the time he was a teenager Andy was fending for himself and realised the time had come for a drastic change - a one way ticket to Australia.  Since arriving in th...

They say never stop learning - and Dr. Joe Logan hasn't let up the pace yet.  Following a medical degree in England - Joe made his way to Australia to work as a doctor and make the most of the southern climate. Over the next five years he obtained a pilot's licence, a graduate diploma, an MBA, Australian citizenship and founded a successful digital marketing consultancy alongside his brother.  Not...

By his own admission - Prof. Ian Paulsen's research to-do list reads like science fiction. A self-proclaimed nerd, Ian was never destined to work in foundries like his father. Instead, a love of Sci-Fi novels and his parents' focus on his education led him to a career in science. After a PhD studying bacterial drug resistance Ian spent a decade in the USA, becoming part of a revolution in genetics...