NIHR School for Public Health Research
Researchers in the making
Researchers in the Making is a podcast hosted by Charan and Karen, discussing the ins and outs of doing a PhD in public health. From the intricacies of research to the ups and downs of academic life, they share their experiences in an honest, down-to-earth way. They also welcome fellow researchers to discuss their latest discoveries, giving listeners a front-row seat to exciting new public health insights. Whether you're a student, researcher, or just curious about how public health research shapes the world, this podcast is your go-to for informative and engaging conversations.
Author
NIHR School for Public Health Research
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 9, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Live podcast – Science Communication with Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde 09.07.2026 49:15
We chat with Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde with a live audience at the NIHR SPHR ResNet Day. We learn about different types of science communication. She shares her insights on working with the media, press releases, and her top tips for future researchers.
Episode 15: Charan’s thesis submission reflection 22.06.2026 52:15
Karen and Charan reflect on the process of finishing a PhD, the writing up period, and how Charan felt as she submitted her thesis.
Episode 14: Public engagement and involvement with Gillian Samuel 06.05.2026 37:14
We chat with Gillian Samuel about her role as a senior public involvement research coordinator in the NIHR SPHR public mental health programme and her role at the McPin Foundation. We also learn about why involving patients and the public is important in research and how researchers can approach this.
Episode 13: Low and no alcohol with Abi Stevely 16.04.2026 32:11
In this episode, we chat with Abi Steveley about no and low alcohol products. We also learn about Abi’s career journey that and how trends towards no and low alcohol products have changed over recent years.
Episode 12: Employment and health of young adults with Libby Haynes 07.04.2026 43:43
We chat with Libby Haynes about how the work environment impacts young adults. We also learn some of the findings from her recent projects including a survey she conducted about how part-time work impacts health outcomes for young people, a scoping review, and her future work where she hopes to engage more with young people.
Episode 11: Environment and maternal outcomes with Rukun Khalaf 26.03.2026 34:41
In this episode, Karen and Charan chat with Rukun Khalaf about how blue and green spaces impact maternal and neonatal health outcomes. We also learn about Rukun’s career journey and what brought her into the field of epidemiology and discuss findings from her recently published systematic review.
Episode 10: Attending conferences 17.02.2026 40:22
Karen and Charan discuss the ins and outs of attending conferences and top tips for getting the most out of them.
Episode 9: Cryptocurrency and public health with James Parsonage 12.01.2026 31:49
Karen and Charan chat to James Parsonage about how the cryptocurrency industry is impacting young people's health and how this is a rising public health concern. We also learn more about projects James has been working on during his SPHR pre-doctoral fellowship at the University of Bristol and his upcoming research plans.
Episode 8: Publications and journals 21.11.2025 37:55
Karen and Charan discuss the process of how to publish an academic paper. They discuss their personal experiences, the peer review process and the differences between online journals.
Episode 7: Creative Methods with Chloe Asker 29.10.2025 40:40
We chat with Chloe Asker about their background as a creative researcher and how they’ve been able to use their research background and apply it to public health research. We also learn more about how these methods were used in a recent project Chloe was involved with that explored how people travel in rural coastal regions of England.
Episode 6: What is media analysis? With Jennie Parnham 13.10.2025 22:24
Karen and Charan talk to Jennie Parnham and learn more about her work on understanding how ultra-processed foods are represented in the media. Along with learning about her next stages of research as she begins her fellowship.
Episode 5: Quantitative and qualitative research 26.09.2025 33:32
Karen and Charan discuss the difference between quantitative and qualitative work. They share how their research fits into these categories and what type of data can be generated from these different methods.
Episode 4: Ultra Processed Foods – Karen's Research 13.06.2025 50:00
After finishing her upgrading process, Karen discusses her plans of research on ultra-processed foods, health inequalities and the environment.
Episode 3: Food Insecurity – Charan's Research 13.06.2025 49:48
Charan dives into her research on food insecurity, and her work on using systems thinking with communities, in an interesting discussion that involves the role of government and the third sector on tackling this issue.
Episode 1: Welcome! Meet your hosts Karen and Charan 24.04.2025 25:12
Meet Karen and Charan as they share their paths into the world of PhD research in public health – why they chose this journey, the challenges so far, and what to expect from the podcast.
Episode 2: Communications in research 23.04.2025 20:26
In this episode, we chat with Amy Johnson, SPHR Communications Manager, about the vital role of communication in public health, and how to make research accessible to everyone.
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