Send us a text New Matter is excited to announce that the SLAS Journal podcasts– SLAS Discovery Author Insights and SLAS Technology Authors Talk Tech –are merging with New Matter! All episodes will gradually be republished to the New Matter feed and referred to as a "Special Episode" in the title. To kick off this merge is the first episode of SLAS Discovery Author Insights featuring host Robert Howes, Ph.D., who speaks with SLAS Discovery Editor-in-Chief Bob Campbell, Ph.D. Recorded i...
Mar 03, 2025•12 min
Send us a text Live from SLAS2025, Emily Yamasaki, Ph.D., speaks with David Jennions, Ph.D. , Senior Director of Platforms and Systems Development at Grail and SLAS board member. Jennions discusses his role at Grail, which involves overseeing the development and deployment of large-scale automation systems for clinical diagnostics, ensuring they are fit for purpose and operationally efficient. Later, the two discuss themes of integration, communication and collaboration in lab automation, partic...
Feb 25, 2025•18 min•Ep. 184
Send us a text In this episode, Emily Yamasaki, Ph.D., speaks with Lab Donkey Director Safwan Hak at SLAS2025 in San Diego. Safwan shares his extensive background in software development and how his newfound passion for lab automation led to the creation of Lab Donkey, a software platform designed to streamline lab automation processes. Originating from the British term "donkey work," Lab Donkey's mission is to streamline tedious manual lab tasks with its automation software. Safw...
Feb 17, 2025•13 min•Ep. 183
Send us a text In this episode, SLAS Scientific Director Lesley Mathews, Ph.D., speaks with returning guest Opentrons CEO Jon Brennan-Badal to discuss their mission to democratize laboratory robotics. The conversation delves into the integration of AI to enhance automation efficiency, explores vendor equipment compatibility via the Opentrons Automation Marketplace, and highlights the platform’s open-source adaptability for diverse scientific applications. Key Learning Points: Methods of providin...
Feb 10, 2025•24 min•Ep. 182
Send us a text Are you someone who wants to hit the ground running with your first job in a laboratory? Or a company seeking to enhance the skills of your liquid handling specialists? In this episode, we discuss everything you need to know about the SLAS Applied Liquid Handling Boot Camp — a first of its kind course — that will take place April 8-9, 2025 . What is this course? Who is it intended for? What does it provide participants? All questions are answered, and more! Want to learn more? Vis...
Feb 03, 2025•19 min•Ep. 181
Send us a text The SLAS2025 Short Course Program consists of 20+ courses that will provide in-depth instruction on topics, issues and techniques related to the laboratory science and technology community. Short Courses run from January 25-26, 2025. This episode features several instructors who give a preview of their respective courses such as lesson highlights, takeaways and why you should attend their course. Attending SLAS2025? Browse the full course program and signup for a course here: SLAS...
Jan 20, 2025•42 min•Ep. 180
Send us a text In this special episode, Sapio Sciences Vice President Product and Pre-Sales Rob Brown , M.Sc., Ph.D., speaks with SLAS Scientific Director Lesley Mathews, Ph.D., to discuss how AI, large language models and a unified data platform revolutionize scientific informatics. Rob explains the benefits of a single data object and unified platform that streamlines data analysis and integrates seamlessly with lab equipment. Sapio's virtual assistant, ELaiN® , leverages natural language...
Nov 11, 2024•26 min•Ep. 179
Send us a text SLAS Scientific Director Lesley Mathews, Ph. D., speaks with several winners of our Tony B. Travel Award who presented at the SLAS Europe 2024 Conference and Exhibition. Congratulations to our winners! (Listed in interview order) Shitanshu Devrani, Ph.D. (University of Gothenburg) An Automated High-Throughput Platform for AI-Guided Development of Nanopore Membrane Biosensors and Real-time Edge Processing, Demonstrated with Wilson's Disease Sample Verification Leticia Manen, P...
Oct 28, 2024•19 min•Ep. 178
Send us a text Colin Cox, Ph.D. , Senior Director of Automation at Hexagon Bio, joins us for this episode. Colin participated in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) panel as a panelist at this year's SLAS2024 International Conference and Exhibition. We continue the conversation panel discussion by taking a closer look at supporting DEI initiatives in the workplace, along with examples. Key Learning Points : What DEI is and its importance What it means to be an ally How to get involved...
Jul 08, 2024•46 min•Ep. 177
Send us a text In this special episode, Inventia Life Science Director Sales and Operations, US, Dwayne Dexter, Ph.D. , and Thomas & Kipp Gutshall Development Professor Of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering April Kloxin, Ph.D. , join Hannah for a discussion on the current state of 3D cell model challenges and how Inventia's RASTRUM™ Platform is providing solutions. Key Learning Points : The challenges researchers are facing while using 3D models for drug discovery What differentiat...
Jun 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 176
Send us a text This episode highlights SLAS2024 New Product Award Winner Cytotronics . Director of Biology at CytoTronics, Shalaka Chitale, Ph.D. , joins us to provide an in-depth look into the award-winning product the Pixel System. Chitale shares insights into the development and functionalities of the Pixel system, a revolutionary technology that combines cutting-edge electrical imaging with microplate-based assays. This system is set to transform cell analysis, enabling high-throughput, labe...
May 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 175
Send us a text In this episode, we delve into AI adoption in early drug discovery with Raminderpal Singh, Ph.D. , founder of HitchhikersAI . Raminderpal shares insights into HitchhikersAI's mission, which focuses on providing a collaborative platform for leveraging AI in drug discovery, emphasizing simple and effective solutions over complexity. They discuss the distinction between popularization and democratization of AI tools. He highlights the importance of making solutions widely access...
Apr 01, 2024•42 min•Ep. 174
Send us a text Recorded straight from the SLAS2024 exhibit hall floor – New Matter host, Hannah Rosen, Ph.D., speaks with winners of the Student Poster Award, Tony B. Award and the SLAS-NOBCChE Scholarship! Congratulations to our winners! (Listed in interview order) Transcript Available on Buzzsprout Student Poster Award Marissa E. Davies (National Institutes of Health) High-Throughput Characterization of Isozyme-Specific Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) Inhibitors Kui You (National University of S...
Mar 18, 2024•19 min•Ep. 173
Send us a text Introducing our exciting new series - Peers Review ! Get ready to explore fascinating topics in life sciences you may have heard of, but never fully understood. This week is all about Spheroids and Organoids! Hannah Rosen, Ph.D. is joined by SLAS Scientific Director Lesley Matthews, Ph.D., to discuss the differences between spheroids and organoids. Listen as they explore the advantages and trade-offs of using spheroids compared to organoids in research, touching on high-throughput...
Mar 13, 2024•12 min•Ep. 172
Send us a text This installment of our Accessibility in the Lab series features Brandon Miller , Client Solutions Executive and Diversity Services Lead at Clarkston Consulting. The discussion centers around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues in the lab and the life sciences industry. The conversation emphasizes how understanding diverse communities leads to better product development and marketing strategies. Brandon explains how DEI practices, such as hiring diverse talent and fosteri...
Mar 04, 2024•39 min•Ep. 171
Send us a text In this episode, Hannah Rosen speaks with Glenwood Barbee, M.B.A. , Product Marketer at Benchling. Glenwood discusses Benchling Connect – a platform designed to accelerate connectivity and automation in laboratory settings. Glenwood highlights Benchling's mission to revolutionize biotechnology by bringing modern software to modern science. The conversation delves into the challenges of data standardization in life sciences. Glenwood outlines customers' primary pain point...
Feb 26, 2024•26 min•Ep. 170
Send us a text Ramisa Fariha , Ph.D. student at Brown University, joins Hannah to discuss her experiences and perspectives on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues in the lab. Ramisa shares her professional journey from Bangladesh to the United States and discusses how her various identities — including gender, race and religious background— have influenced her interactions and perceptions. The conversation sheds light on the challenges individuals with intersecting identities face in nav...
Feb 20, 2024•50 min•Ep. 169
Send us a text Salve Therapeutics Founder and CEO Stefan Lukianov, M.S. , joins us to share his intriguing journey from childhood aspirations to his current role in the biotech startup scene! The episode starts with a lighthearted exploration of Stefan's childhood dreams, from wanting to be an archaeologist to briefly considering a career as a disc jockey. However, science remained a consistent interest, sparked by a memorable G.I. Joe episode that introduced him to the world of DNA. Stefan...
Feb 05, 2024•36 min•Ep. 168
Send us a text You may recognize him from the first episode in our "Lab of the Future" series : Rishi Mahajan, M.S. , lead automation engineer at Regeneron, returns to the podcast to share his career story! Rishi shares his unconventional journey, from childhood with no clear career aspirations to becoming a seasoned automation engineer. He highlights his college major selection and how he navigated education challenges in India before pursuing his master's in biotechnology in the...
Jan 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 167
Send us a text Our guest for this Career Trajectories episode is Kalpesh Gupta, M.S. , Associate Director of Research Automation at Moderna. Kalpesh shares his journey from a childhood shaped by traditional career expectations in India to becoming a key player in laboratory automation at one of the world's leading biotech companies. Kalpesh recounts the early years of working at Moderna and the company's unprecedented growth. He also shares some of the challenges and rewards of being p...
Jan 22, 2024•23 min•Ep. 166
Send us a text In this special episode, the hosts of the popular podcast " This Podcast Will Kill You " and SLAS2024 International Conference and Exhibition Keynote Speakers Erin Welsh, Ph.D. , and Erin Allmann Updyke, M.D., Ph.D. , join host Hannah Rosen, Ph.D., for a riveting discussion! The duo, both disease ecologists, delve into the intricacies of science communication, the challenges scientists face in admitting uncertainty and the importance of demystifying the scientific proces...
Jan 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 165
Send us a text Continuing our Career Trajectories series, we have Yulia Gerhardt Tazikova , Winclove Probiotics Senior Global Account and Business Development Manager, on New Matter, to share her story. She shares experiences from her academic pursuits, shedding light on the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities. Yulia highlights her multilingual abilities, acquired through deliberate efforts to bridge language gaps and discusses the impact of language skills on building professio...
Jan 08, 2024•38 min•Ep. 164
Send us a text Founding Director at Open Pharma Research Zahid Tharia , joins us for a conversation about the evolution of the lab of the future. Tharia discusses his story of launching Open Pharma Research which led to the inception of the Lab of the Future Congress . Listen for the major highlights of the recent Lab of the Future Congress in Amsterdam and a preview of upcoming events in 2024, including the Lab of the Future Congress USA and the Lab of the Future Congress in Europe. Tharia enco...
Jan 02, 2024•23 min•Ep. 163
Send us a text In this special episode, Scigilian Vice President, Product and Strategy Chatura Jayakody, M.B.A. , and Merck Director, Discovery Sample Management Janet Diratsouian, M.S. , join Hannah for a discussion on how Scigilian's compound management software has helped to improve sample management processes at Merck. Catch Scigilian and their software on display at the upcoming SLAS 2023 Americas Sample Management Symposium ! Key Learning Points : How large companies coordinate sample...
Oct 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 162
Send us a text This episode of our "Lab of the Future " series focuses on the importance of collaborations in designing lab of the future products. Our guest is Biosero Chief Executive Officer Ryan Bernhardt , to share how Biosero collaborates with other companies and why more companies should get involved. Key Learning Points : Examples of the lab of the future-focused collaborations The challenges and advantages of forming partnerships How to approach a new partnership opportunity Wh...
Oct 02, 2023•39 min•Ep. 161
Send us a text The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system as it is responsible for many vital functions like adjusting heart rate, breathing and digestion among many others. Current research on the vagus nerve is looking at how stimulating the nerve can treat auditory and motor impairments and diseases. Our guest for this episode is University of Florida Associate Professor Tracy Centanni, M.S., Ph.D., to explain how vagus nerve stimulation intersects with screening and...
Sep 18, 2023•41 min•Ep. 162
Send us a text In this installment of our "Lab of the Future " series, we take a look at how data management is evolving as laboratory technology continues to advance. Our guest is Genedata Head of Strategic Operations Oliver Leven, Ph.D. , and Business Development Manager – Automation Sascha Fischer, M.Sc. , to share their perspectives on data management and what Genedata is contributing to the Lab of the Future. Key Learning Points : Changes in data management technologies How "...
Sep 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 160
Send us a text Our guests for this episode are Readily3D Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Paul Delrot, M.Sc., Ph.D. , and Sales Executive Leoni Stienne, M.Sc. , to talk to us about the company's success at SLAS Europe 2023 by winning the New Product Award for the Tomolite Bioprinter ! Paul and Leoni share their experience attending their first SLAS Conference and how it felt to take home the prestigious award. Also, how researchers are using the Tomolite Bioprinter to break new ground...
Aug 29, 2023•26 min•Ep. 159
Send us a text We continue our series on Accessibility in the Lab – each episode explores the importance of accessibility in the lab, academia, the workforce and other applications. Our guest for this episode is Marilee Lloyd, AIA , who is the National Leader for Laboratory Planning at HED, one of the oldest and largest architecture firms in the US. Lloyd has over 37 years of experience managing and designing multifaceted projects for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, vivaria, clinical...
Aug 28, 2023•39 min•Ep. 158
Send us a text In this installment of our "Lab of the Future " series, we take a look at how open-source is changing the research landscape at a rapid pace. Our guest is Opentrons CEO Jon Brennan-Badal , who's here to share his perspectives on open-source technology in the life sciences and how Opentrons' latest product Opentrons Flex™ is designed to help researchers break new grounds in R&D. Key Learning Points : The benefits of offering a product with open-source The fu...
Aug 07, 2023•39 min•Ep. 157
