ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast - Ep.4 - Navigating power dynamics: how to lead through troubled waters
What does it take to handle power dynamics in academic life — not just within the lab, but in the broader institutional structures that shape a scientific career?
In this resonant episode, Renaud and Jonathan explore the complexities of academic hierarchies and institutional politics with three guests: Alicja Puścian (University of Warsaw, Poland), Dori Grijseels (Max Planck Institute, Germany), and Angeline Dukes (University of Minnesota, USA). Each guest brings valuable insight into how power is experienced, challenged, and negotiated at different stages of the academic journey.
This episode examines how broader power structures — toxic environments, institutional cultures, visa precarity, discrimination, lack of accountability — can shape the everyday experiences of researchers. It looks at the power of allyship, and how early-career scientists can navigate these realities while maintaining integrity and building healthy lab environments.
The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast 'From Postdoc to PI' is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
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ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast - Ep 3. Beyond the bench: building inclusive lab cultures
What if an inclusive working environment was the true fuel of a cohesive lab team? In this episode of the ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast, we explore how team dynamics, lab values, and inclusive leadership shape the success of a research group.
Renaud and Jonathan talk to four inspiring guests: Dori Grijseels (Max Planck Institute, Germany), Angeline Dukes (University of Minnesota, USA), Denise Fitzgerald (Queen’s University Belfast, UK), and Adrian Liston (University of Cambridge, UK), who share precious lessons on building diverse, equitable, inclusive lab cultures. From managing expectations to navigating conflicts and creating your own lab culture, this episode reveals how science thrives when people feel safe, seen, and supported.
The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast 'From Postdoc to PI' is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization, a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
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ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast - Ep.2 - Turning challenges into strengths: building a lab with limited resources
What if constraints could fuel your lab instead of limiting it? In this episode, we dive into the realities—and opportunities—of building a lab in resource-constrained settings.
Renaud and Jonathan talk to three inspiring scientists, Daniela Di Bella (Harvard, USA), Vatsala Thirumalai (National Centre for Biological Sciences, India), Sahba Besharati (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) to share how starting with less taught them to think bigger, act smarter, and stay true to their vision. From Argentina to India and South Africa, discover how determination and creativity can turn a restricted environment into a space for scientific excellence.
The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast 'From Postdoc to PI' is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization, a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
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ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast - Ep.1 - Facing fears by building communities
Making the leap from postdoc to group leader is both exciting and terrifying. Episode 1 offers the postdoc perspective on this journey. Renaud and Jonathan from the Lonely Pipette talk with Florencia Fernandez-Chiappe (Boston University, US), Mayank Chugh (William & Mary, US), and Ashley Bourke (MPI for Brain Research, DE) about the fears, anxieties, and uncertainties that come with this transition. They share their personal experiences, discuss common challenges, and offer insights on how to navigate this crucial career step with confidence.
The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast 'From Postdoc to PI' is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization, a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
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ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast - From Postdoc to PI - Trailer
Season 2 of the ALBA Diversity Podcast is coming in 2025!
The Diversity Podcast interviews neuroscientists from underrepresented groups to better understand their hurdles and victories, and what keeps them going in today’s brain research community. In season 2, we focus on the transition from postdoc to PI, highlighting the unique challenges faced by postdocs and early-career PIs worldwide. By sharing their experiences and strategies for overcoming obstacles, the podcast aims to provide valuable insights for scientists navigating this critical career stage.
Listen to season 2’s trailer to learn more!
The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast season 2 is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization, a founding partner of the ALBA Network.
The ALBA diversity podcast highlights diverse profiles of neuroscientists, to showcase the grit and determination it takes to overcome hurdles as part of underrepresented groups in brain research.
In the first season, created by the ALBA Global Diversity Working Group, our host, Dr. Shruti Muralidhar talks to researchers across positions, career paths and backgrounds, to better understand their personal journeys, and what keeps them going as individuals and as neuroscientists in today’s world.
In season 2, we focus on the transition from postdoc to PI, highlighting the unique challenges faced by postdocs and early-career PIs worldwide. By sharing their experiences and strategies for overcoming obstacles, the podcast aims to provide valuable insights for scientists navigating this critical career stage. This season is hosted by the Lonely Pipette, a podcast where scientists share tips to help you do better science.
The ALBA-IBRO Podcast Miniseries is a collection of three episodes designed to provide a broader audience with exclusive insights into the topics covered at ALBA-IBRO diversity and inclusion events held during three international conferences in 2023. The miniseries delves deeper into the knowledge and expertise shared at the ALBA-IBRO events to make these valuable insights accessible to all. Through exclusive interviews and engaging discussions, each episode unravels the layers of complexity surrounding these topics, while bringing an intersectional approach to different aspects of equity, diversity and inclusion in neuroscience. Our host is Dr Asma Bashir, founder and host of the podcast Her Royal Science.
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