At the University of Vienna, enthusiastic and excellent doctoral students are working on fascinating projects that are relevant to society as a whole. In order to inform a wider audience about doctoral research projects in the life and sport sciences and to create a space for discussion of important topics, the VDS PhaNuSpo encourages and supports its doctoral students to run this podcast.

"Welcome to Lifesciences Sciencelife, a podcast which presents current advances in science while exploring the challenges and triumphs of PhD life. This is a podcast of the University of Vienna’s Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences.

Allow our team of PhDs to take you on a journey to discover current research projects developed at the University of Vienna by us and our special guests, including fellow PhDs, postdocs and professors. Tune in for thought-provoking discussions and insights from experts in the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and sports fields.

We will also share anecdotes and experiences about the challenges and joys of academic life by addressing topics ranging from everyday struggles in the lab, multicultural exchange, navigating work-life balance, choosing career paths and many more!

Whether you're a budding researcher or simply curious about the academic world, this podcast is your window into the vibrant universe of academic life. Engage with us in meaningful discussions, learn about research in the pharma, nutrition and sports fields, and listen to anecdotes about the intricacies of day-to-day PhD life. Science and gossip, what else do you need?

Don't miss an episode of the LifeSciences ScienceLife podcast, available on all major podcast platforms! Tune in every third Thursday of the month and and don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode, we talk with Catharina Candussi, a PhD student in Public Health Nutrition, about her research on plant-based diets and their impact on health. With 5% of Europeans identifying as vegetarians and 3% as vegans, this trend is growing for reasons ranging from ethics to health benefits.

Catharina explores how plant-based diets can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. She also discusses the COPLANT (COhort on PLANT-based diets) study, the largest study on plant-based nutrition in the German-speaking world to date, in which the University of Vienna is one of the 9 project partners. Additionally, Catharina shared with us how she deals with stress during her PhD.

Tune in to learn how plant-based diets can benefit both your personal health and the environment!

Don't miss this fascinating discussion with Irem Duman, a PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Vienna, to find out how cutting-edge technology is is revolutionising drug development and cancer treatment strategies. She sheds light on how researchers are pushing the boundaries of cancer research to discover better cancer treatments, and how dynamic 3D cell culture systems are reshaping our understanding of cancer cell behaviour and treatment response. Irem also shares her strategies for managing her busy research schedule and staying motivated.

In this episode, Christian Fellinger and Andrea Cabrera, both PhD students in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, join us to discuss how the whole drug development process works. They dive into the drug design part of the process and explain how current research is seeking to make it more efficient using different tools, including AI. They also give us some insights and tips on how to balance work and personal life. Tune in to hear how they are working together to improve the drug design process while keeping themselves healthy and motivated.

In episode 2, Johanna Sick gives an insight into the field of exercise therapy and shares her personal experience of planning and running a human trial. Now in the fourth and final year of her PhD studies in Sport Science, Johanna has been involved in all the crucial steps of a scientific study and talks openly about what went wrong along the way, who supported her most and the mental health challenges she faced. Tune in to learn how exercise can be beneficial in the rehabilitation of people facing long covid-19 and why it can be helpful to talk to a therapist about your PhD journey.

In this episode we interviewed Sarah Stellnberger, a 2nd year PhD student, about her research project on the cellular effects of bioplastics and their implications for human health and environmental sustainability. We explore the challenges and breakthroughs in this research field, which is currently attracting significant interest, shedding light on the quest for safer, more sustainable materials. We also share how meditation played a pivotal role in helping Sarah maintain focus and balance throughout her PhD journey. Tune in to learn about the fascinating world of bioplastic research and discover practical tips for integrating meditation into your own academic and professional life.