The Lonely Pipette : helping scientists do better science

Epizode

• ALBA Limited-Series #5 : Redefining success - choosing your compass in academia 25.02.2026 28min

  You have built your boat, assembled your crew, and navigated the storms. But where exactly are you sailing? In this final episode of this ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast limited series, we arrive at the ultimate destination : Success. But what does success really mean in academia ? Is it the number of papers you publish, the size of your lab, or the awards you collect? Jonathan and Renaud bring together four brilliant scientists to challenge the traditional academic compass : Ra...
• ALBA Limited-Series #4 : Navigating power dynamics - How to lead through troubled waters 04.02.2026 28min

  Even the best captain cannot control the weather. But they can control how they navigate the storm. In Episode 4 of the ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast, we sail into the darker waters of academia: power dynamics, bullying, and toxic environments. We often talk about the "dream lab," but what happens when that dream becomes a nightmare? When the hierarchy is used to silence rather than support ? Or when systemic barriers put researchers in danger ? Renaud and Jonathan sit down with three courageou...
• ALBA Limited-Series #3 : Beyond the bench - Building inclusive lab cultures 21.01.2026 38min

  What is the most valuable "invisible skill" of a group leader ? In Episode 3, we tackle the difficult question : how to build a research culture where people don't just survive, but thrive. Science is not a solo trip. It is a group expedition. Yet, most group leaders are never trained to manage humans, resolve conflicts, or foster inclusivity. Renaud and Jonathan sit down with four inspiring scientist Dori Grijseels (Max Planck Institute, Germany), Angeline Dukes (University of Mi...
• ALBA Limited-Series #2 : Setting Up a Lab with Limited Resources 07.01.2026 28min

  What if constraints could fuel your lab instead of limiting it ? Episode 2 dives into the realities and opportunities of building a lab in resource-constrained settings. Renaud and Jonathan talk to Daniela Di Bella (Harvard, USA), Vatsala Thirumalai (National Centre for Biological Sciences, India), and Sahba Besharati (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) about how determination and creativity can turn restrictions into scientific excellence. From Argentina to India and South Africa...
• ALBA Limited-Series #1 : Facing fears by building communities 10.12.2025 25min

  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 ho...
• From Postdoc to PI : a limited series from ALBA Network 03.12.2025 9min

  We had the great honour of producing a podcast for the ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast. This podcast series is a unique resource, a guide that will help you to adress the difficult issue of transitioning from postdoc to team leader. We hope it will inspire you as much as it has transformed our vision of academia ! 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. This podcast...
• TLP #34 : The "right" To-Do list - Ana Boskovic 26.11.2024 56min

  This month we talk with Ana Boskovic about her experience of setting up her own lab and hiring a new team Ana began studying languages and literature… but found it too easy, so she switchedShe questions whether you are ever ‘ready’ to set up your own labIt’s important that you find the right ‘fit’ for the place you want to work and this should be a supportive environmentShe learnt early that it is important to hire people with diverse personalities who each fill a gap in the skills the lab ne...
• TLP #33 : The stories behind the retractions - Ivan Oransky 29.10.2024 50min

  This month Ivan Oransky joins us to talk about his work as a journalist and advocate for monitoring scientific misconduct. Ivan confesses about his beginnings as a young playwright of the immune systemHe discusses how and why he left medicine to become a journalistIvan’s mentors encouraged him to develop by getting experience as a journalist and editorIvan reflects on how his training as a physician was helpful and allowed people to trust himHe stresses how important it is to read in order to...
• TLP #32 - Storytelling : turn science into inspiring narratives - Arjun Raj 01.10.2024 58min

  This month we enjoyed talking to Arjun Raj about his interdisciplinary approaches to studying biological systems Arjun shares how he almost became a truck driver and experimented with a career in an (unnamed) rock bandHe tells us about his journey from mathematics to quantitative biology and he shares thoughts about comparing biology with physics and what they can learn from each otherHe says we all struggle with how to teach creativity and how to evaluate the most promising ideas.Arjun disc...
• TLP #31 : A recipe for resilience - Alicia Rojas Araya 30.07.2024 1h 2min

  This month Alicia Rojas tells us about her journey from Costa Rica to Israel and back, in search of pathogens and parasites Alicia shares the personal difficulties of being far from home and how she missed family and foodShe reflects on coming back to Costa Rica to explore its rich biodiversityShe recalls the challenges of returning from a luxurious postdoc at the Weizmann Institute to setting up her own lab in Costa Rica during a pandemicShe discusses the need to be resilient and creative an...
• TLP #30 : Don't hypothesize, just observe - Hans Clevers 25.06.2024 58min

  This month Hans Clevers talks to us about his productive career and his pioneering work on organoid technologies. Hans admits that he initially found biology frustrating and disappointing But then he learnt to enjoy the rare spark of excitement from discoveriesHe managed to get his PhD in just one year!You need to trust yourself and learn to share with othersHans warns new group leaders not to expect too much from younger colleaguesIt’s important to give your students their own spaceHe paint...
• TLP #29 : Advocating for women’s health - Nour El Houda Mimouni 28.05.2024 1h 1min

  Today we chat with postdoc Nour El Houda Mimouni about her passionate commitment to improving womens’ health. Nour urges young scientists to get themselves a support group from the beginningShe also insists on the importance of developing interests outside of the labAddressing womens’ health issues is ‘not just a job’ for NourShe recommends students to not alway blindly follow other people's adviceShe discusses her advocacy work at the European Health ParliamentShe thinks that every scientist...
• TLP #28 : Curing with a Community - David Fajgenbaum 30.04.2024 1h 11min

  In this episode, we kick off our Season 3 guests with David Fajgenbaum who shares his extraordinary journey to cure himself from Castleman disease. David shares his very personal story of searching for a cure to his own diseaseHe describes how having a vision for the future helped him to surviveHe insists that patients can be part of the process and can be active collaborators in the search for curesHe pleads for a shift from an Investigator initiated model to a Community initiated model invo...
• TLP #27 : Time to refill the tip box ! 26.03.2024 1h 6min

  In this episode Renaud and Jonathan share their excitement about the launch of Season 3 of The Lonely Pipette podcast. BUT this time, they are not the ones asking the questions. 💌 Subscribe and receive the next season in you mailbox Support the show 💌 Subcribe to our newsletter and receive the episodes and news directly in your mailbox : https://tinyurl.com/TLPNL To find out more about Renaud and Jonathan : Twitter : https://twitter.com/LePourpreLinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaud...
• TLP#26 - Season 2 wrap-up - Jonathan & Renaud 22.08.2023 39min

  Dear Lonely Pipetters, Season 2 has been an amazing journey, BUT Season 3 will be awesome. We are so proud to be still here, with you supporting us. Thank you! In this final episode, we take the chance to give you untold stories about Season 2 making-of, personal stories and what you can do to help us build Season 3. Don’t miss it out ! Subscribe to be updated when Season 3 starts : https://bit.ly/NLTLP Support the show 💌 Subcribe to our newsletter and receive the episodes and news directly ...
• TLP #25 : Excellence at the ERC - Maria Leptin 26.07.2023 41min

  This week, we talk to Maria Leptin about her path to the head of the European Research Council Maria claims she didn’t receive any formal mentoring advice, but rather absorbed and learnt along the wayAgainst the perceived wisdom, Maria warns against the advice to be continually networking. She advises to listen to what others say and then add your own thoughts.Maria is sure that if you really enjoy the stuff you're doing, then you will do it well and you'll get something out of it.She s...
• TLP #24 : The untold power of philosophy - Thomas Pradeu 14.06.2023 1h 15min

  This week, we meet our first philosopher guest - Thomas Pradeu tells us what scientist can learn from philosophers Thomas shares his journey navigating from philosophy to immunology and biologyHe explains the difference between ‘philosophy IN biology’ compared to ‘philosophy OF biology’He mentions ‘mutual ignorance’ - that scientists often don’t know about philosophers who would be interested in their scienceThomas argues that philosophers should be brought in at the beginning of a proj...
• TLP #23 : Letting go of perfection - Elphege Nora 17.05.2023 1h 12min

  This week, Elphege Nora shares personal thoughts on his journey from Paris to California Elphege discovered at an early age that the best way to explain who we are is to look back at where we come from and our evolutionary trajectoriesFrom his earliest research experiences, Elphege was intrigued about the sociology of the lab and it’s unusual social etiquetteHe shares his memories of working with Edith Heard and what she taught him about mentoringHe claims that personality tests can be useful...
• TLP #22 : Interdisciplinary freedom as a recipe for success - Christophe Lavelle 19.04.2023 1h 4min

  This week, Christophe Lavelle shares his double passion for science and for cooking Christophe left engineering studies for the freedom of research science. And then he jumped from physics to biology for his PhD studiesHe thinks science makes him a better cook and cites lots of specific examplesHe describes his very free mentoring style and questions what makes a good mentorHe describes his chaotic ‘schizophrenic’’ interdisciplinary interestsWhat has to be done has to be well done - else don’...
• TLP #21 : Find your own way - Ana-Maria Lennon-Dumenil 22.02.2023 1h 17min

  This week, Ana-Maria Lennon-Dumenil tells us about her passion for science interfacing with physics and her journey from Santiago to Paris Ana-Maria was inspired from a very young age by her namesake Ana-Maria LenonShe quickly left genetics because ‘DNA doesn't move enough’She stresses that every Principal Investigator needs to find their own way and warns against trying to imitate othersAna-Maria feels that the biggest mistake is to think that everyone in the lab is like you (instead of appr...