Alex Ciolan

The Biomedical Science Mentor

Science EN ↓ 27 episodes

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alex-ciolan/subscribe Alex is a newly graduated HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist working in London at her first grad job. In this podcast she discusses being a scientist in her 20's navigating everything from career progression to making the right decisions and more. Alex discusses complex topics that Biomedical Science students are faced with and shares her personal experiences on what student life is like while also exploring what life is like after graduation.

Author

Alex Ciolan

Category

Science

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Mar 6, 2026

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Episodes

Ep. 27 The History & Biases of EEG Technology, The Challenges Faced by Diverse Populations in Medical Device Accuracy & Innovative Solutions to Improve Inclusivity in Biomedical Research 06.03.2026

This episode explores the history and biases of EEG technology, the challenges faced by diverse populations in medical device accuracy, and innovative solutions to improve inclusivity in biomedical research. 00:00 Introduction to EEG and Medical Devices 01:21 The Impact of Social Media on Healthcare Professions 03:59 Biases in Medical Research and Devices 06:41 Understanding EEG: Function and Impo...

Ep. 26 Should Healthcare Professionals Create Content or Does it Hurt Their Careers? + Research Funding News, Maintaining Professional Identity, Opportunities Through Social Media 06.02.2026

In this conversation, Alex and Abdul discuss the current state of research funding in the UK, the impact of recent funding cuts on researchers, and the role of social media in healthcare and research. They explore the challenges of content creation for healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and credibility in online communication. The discussion also touches on the ba...

Ep. 25 Inside the Reality of Becoming a Psychologist: NHS, Private Practice & Why ‘Anyone’ Can’t Be a Psychologist 20.01.2026

In this conversation, Dr. Jane, a chartered counseling psychologist, shares her journey into the field of psychology, discussing her motivations, the importance of proper training and registration, and the nuances of therapy. She emphasizes the significance of finding the right therapist, the challenges of working in mental health, and the evolving landscape of mental health awareness. The discuss...

Ep. 24 Should Scientists Have Side Hustles or Does It Hurt Their Careers? Squiggly Careers, Microshifting & Side Quests 13.01.2026

In this episode, we explore the growing rise of side hustles in science and healthcare and whether they actually help or hurt your career. From PhD life, academia, and NHS careers to content creation, science communication, and advocacy, we unpack what it really means to be multi-passionate as a scientist. Alex shares her journey creating educational content alongside a full-time healthcare role,...

Ep. 23 From Scientists to Startups: 3 Health Tech Innovations Changing Modern Healthcare: Flok Health, Stiloton, Co-Mind 16.12.2025

In this episode Abdul and Alex break down what health tech really is and why it’s becoming one of the most exciting and impactful areas in modern healthcare. The conversation dives into real-world health tech innovations, including digital physiotherapy platforms, eye-imaging photonic chips, and non-invasive brain monitoring tools, while also addressing critical challenges such as accuracy, user e...

Ep. 22 The Recruiter Behind Pinterest, Facebook & Amazon on What it Takes to Secure a Job in Big Tech & Health Tech 09.12.2025

Today I’m excited to welcome my colleague and friend Emma to the show. Emma is a seasoned talent and events professional with deep experience across startups and big tech. She’s worked on high-growth hiring at companies like Amazon, Pinterest, and HeliosX, as well as two global VFX studios, giving her a uniquely broad perspective on what it takes to scale teams, stand out as a candidate, and navig...

Ep. 21 The Life of a P&G Scientist. The Scientists Behind the Detergent Team at Fairy, Lenore, Tide & Much More. 20.11.2025

The conversation explores the critical role of research and development (R&D) in the consumer goods industry, particularly focusing on how companies like P&G and Unilever leverage incremental innovations to enhance their market share. It highlights that while consumers may not notice significant differences in products, the ongoing tweaks and improvements in formulations contribute to over...

Ep. 20 How to Become A Biomedical Scientist. HCPC, Registration Portfolio, NHS placements, Diagnostic Labs & More. 14.10.2025

In this episode, Alex and Abdul discuss recent breakthroughs in gene therapy, particularly for Huntington's disease, and delve into the importance of the HCPC for biomedical scientists. They share personal experiences from their NHS placements, highlighting the challenges and learning opportunities within the lab environment. The conversation also touches on the dynamics between students and emplo...

Ep. 19 Life-Science Conferences 101. Which to Choose, Where to Find Them, Networking Tips & Presentation Tips 30.09.2025

In this episode of Beyond the White Coat, Abdul shares his experiences from a recent international conference focused on the biology and physics of prokaryotic chromosomes. He discusses the importance of networking, presenting research, and engaging with attendees. The conversation covers tips for creating effective research posters, strategies for initiating conversations, and the significance of...

Ep. 18 Why Do Scientists Struggle to Secure Jobs? 450 Applications & No Interviews? 06.09.2025

Alex and Abdul return from their holidays in Greece and Barcelona only to dive into a heavier reality: the brutal job market for scientists and grads. From spreadsheets tracking hundreds of rejections, to AI filters rejecting CVs in minutes, to why personal branding might matter more than your degree. This episode breaks down the challenges of getting hired today. They also share tips that actuall...

Ep. 17 The Story of How I Secured my PhD Without a Master's Degree 19.08.2025

In this episode, Alex and Abdul discuss their personal experiences, including the importance of taking breaks, the impact of social media on their podcast, and the challenges of navigating the PhD application process. Abdul shares his journey to securing a PhD, the various application processes, and the feelings of imposter syndrome that can arise in academia, particularly for underrepresented gro...

Ep. 16 How I Manage My Time as a PhD Student vs. a Creative in Health Tech 05.08.2025

In this episode, Alex and Abdul discuss their recent personal and professional updates, including Alex's journey in asking for a promotion and Abdul's upcoming conference presentation. They delve into the challenges of time management in their respective roles, contrasting the structured environment of a PhD with the flexibility of creative work. The conversation highlights the importance of self-...

Ep. 15 I Hate Lab Work, What Should I Do Next? Science Communication & Healthcare Marketing 22.07.2025

If lab work’s not for you… what now? In this comeback episode of Beyond the White Coat , Alex is joined by new co-host Abdul, a PhD student researching antibiotic resistance and navigating his own science communication journey. Together, they answer a listener’s question about pivoting away from lab work and explore alternative careers in science comms and healthcare marketing, two growing fields...

Ep. 14 The Journey to Medical Writing with Kamiya Crabtree 08.02.2025

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Kamiya. She began her career in biomedical science , driven by a passion for understanding the real-world impact of research. Starting in the lab, she honed her scientific expertise before transitioning to a pivotal role at an NHS 111 call cente r, where she developed exceptional communication and problem-solving skills. These experiences laid the foundation...

Ep. 13 Inside the Life of a Genetic Counsellor with Alice Coulson 19.12.2024

Alice has built an impressive career in the healthcare field, specializing in cancer genetics and neurodegenerative inherited conditions. After earning First Class Honours in Human Biology from Loughborough University, she went on to complete a Master's degree in Genes, Environment, and Development at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Alice’s journey into genetic counselli...

EP. 12 Finding Success in the Healthcare Packaging Industry with Gilma Da Gama 11.12.2024

Today, I’m excited to introduce my friend Gilma, who is a Heathcare Coordinator at Burgopak, an award-winning packaging design agency. She’s part of a team that brings innovative, patented solutions to a wide variety of industries. Gilma has an extensive background in packaging design and project management, and she’s here to share her experiences in the healthcare packaging industry and offer ins...

Ep. 11 From P&G Scientist to PhD Researcher & Beyond with Abdulkabir Adenopo 25.11.2024

Introducing you to Abdul 👏 After earning his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Durham University, he completed a placement at Procter & Gamble, where he worked in R&D analyzing the effectiveness of proteases in household products like Fairy Liquid and Lenor. Following this, Abdul worked as a lab technician at Imperial College before pursuing a PhD with the White Rose Mechan...

Ep. 10 Biomedicine vs. Biomedical Science 02.08.2024

Today I'm breaking down the differencdifference between Biomedical Science and Biomedicine courses using the Lancaster University courses as an example.

Ep 9: Common CV mistakes + 3 work experience examples for biomed students 26.07.2024

Check out the 3 work experiences I reviewed in this episode: https://www.bna.org.uk/careers/undergraduate-summer-research-placements/ https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/stfc/work-for-stfc/summer-placement-scheme/ https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/students/student-placement-scheme/

Ep 8: 3 months, 325 job applications....I got a job in healthcare marketing for a healthtech company 19.07.2024

I'm very excited to tell you the story of how I got my new job in healthcare social media marketing for a popular healthtech company.

Ep 7: Why aren't entry level biomedical roles actually entry level? Defining entry level and why employers need prior work experience 12.07.2024

I know I've been gone for a long time, but I'm back and excited to talk to you about entry level biomedical roles. Do you have any questions you'd like to me to address in future episodes?

Ep 6: The story of how I got my first grad job 06.08.2023

Thank you for being here! I hope you found this episode useful. If you did, please make sure you rate the podcast and send me a DM with what topics I should cover next 😊 I’ll see you next time. Please find more information relevant to this episode here: HCPC:  ⁠https://www.hcpc-uk.org/⁠ The Biomedical Science Student website:  ⁠https://thebiomedicalsciencestudent.com/⁠ More from Alex: TikTok:  ⁠h...

Ep 5: My trick for writing A+ scientific essays 28.03.2023

Thank you for being here! I hope you found this episode useful. If you did, please make sure you rate the podcast and send me a DM with what topics I should cover next 😊 I’ll see you next time. Please find more information relevant to this episode here: HCPC:  ⁠https://www.hcpc-uk.org/⁠ The Biomedical Science Student website:  ⁠https://thebiomedicalsciencestudent.com/⁠ More from Alex: TikTok:  ⁠h...

Ep 4: Networking as a Biomedical Science grad 23.03.2023

Thank you for being here! I hope you found this episode useful. If you did, please make sure you rate the podcast and send me a DM with what topics I should cover next 😊 I’ll see you next time. Please find more information relevant to this episode here: HCPC:  https://www.hcpc-uk.org/ The Biomedical Science Student website:  https://thebiomedicalsciencestudent.com/ More from Alex: TikTok:  https:...

Ep 3: My journey to becoming a Biomedical Scientist 18.03.2023

Thank you for being here! I hope you found this episode useful. If you did, please make sure you rate the podcast and send me a DM with what topics I should cover next 😊 I’ll see you next time. Please find more information relevant to this episode here: HCPC: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/ The Biomedical Science Student website: https://thebiomedicalsciencestudent.com/ More from Alex: TikTok: https://w...

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