LabMates: Beyond the Bench Podcast

Dive into the world of angel investing and startup ecosystems with Suse, a KiwiNet Commercialisation Icon Award winner, as she shares her journey from diplomacy to economic development. In this episode, Suse discusses the importance of empathy, connection, and the unique role New Zealand plays in global innovation. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of commercialising research, the power of s...

In this episode of "LabMates Beyond the Bench," join Maddie as she sits down with Matt, a former chemist turned director at MBIE. Discover Matt's fascinating journey from academia to industry and now into government, exploring the transferable skills that have shaped his career. Learn how his experiences in chemistry and crop protection have influenced his current role in New Zealand...

In this episode of "LabMates Beyond the Bench," host Maddie sits down with Valentine Chan to explore his fascinating career journey from a chemistry student to a Chief Scientific Officer. Valentine shares insights into his academic background, the pivotal internships that shaped his path, and the challenges he faced transitioning from academia to industry. Discover how Valentine navigate...

In this episode of LabMates Beyond the Bench, Maddie interviews Lee Booty about his journey from academia to industry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in drug discovery and commercialisation. Lee shares insights on bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications, highlighting the importance of collaboration and innovation. Keywords: drug discovery, academia, indus...

Gio shares his journey from academia to commercialisation and innovation specialist working in technology transfer. He talks about the skills he gained during his PhD and how they apply to his current work. He highlights the challenges faced in academia and the transition to a career in research commercialisation. Keywords: academia, commercialisation, PhD skills, career transition, PhD to commerc...

In this conversation, Sankalita shares her inspiring journey from India to New Zealand, detailing her academic path and the challenges she faced in pursuing a PhD. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the balance between research and personal life, and her aspirations to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the significance of resilience,...

After recently submitting her PhD thesis, Jess shares her career story from Bachelors to Honours to Master's to an applied PhD with the startup BioFab, while also working as their Chief Scientific Officer. Jess shares her unique journey through academia, highlighting her transition from a master's program to an applied PhD that integrates industry collaboration. She discusses the importanc...

Dr. Sheryl Tan's journey into venture capital is a testament to the power of adaptability and leveraging transferable skills. After completing her postdoc, she navigated the challenges of transitioning from neuroscience to venture capital, emphasising the importance of building networks and honing soft skills. Her story inspires scientists to embrace change and trust their instincts when explo...

Keywords : neuroscience, long COVID, job market, personal branding, networking, mentorship, LinkedIn, career growth, AI in research, industry insights Summary: In this episode of LabMates Beyond the Bench, Maddie interviews Rebeka Fekete, a neuroscientist and translational strategy expert. They discuss Rebeka's journey from academia to industry, her experiences with long COVID research, and th...

Keywords: science, research, venture capital, startups, academic career, commercialization, storytelling, PhD, medical school, entrepreneurship In this episode of LabMates Beyond the Bench, Dr. Kathleen Lucere shares her journey from aspiring medical student to PhD in biochemistry and her eventual transition into the world of venture capital and startups. She discusses the importance of storytelli...

Keywords: Academia, Industry, Mindset, Sustainability, Scaling, PhD, Innovation, Marketability, Transition The conversation explores the significant differences between academic and industry mindsets, particularly in the context of innovation, scalability, and marketability. Anu shares her experiences transitioning from academia to industry, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a more practi...

In this episode of LabMates, we interview Dr. Thomas Grant, who shares his journey from academia to a role in commercialisation at Uni Services. He discusses the skills and mindset shifts required for success in the business world, the importance of networking during a PhD, and debunks common myths about commercialisation. Dr. Grant emphasises the value of research impact beyond academic publicati...

Today we are chatting with Emily about her career journey from doing a PhD in Chemistry at the Ferrier Institute and on to her role as Commercialisation Manager at Wellington Univentures, and the steps and lessons along the way. Follow Emily on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mason-665803113/ LabMates platform in beta - join the community now https://labmates.net/ Wellington Unive...