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PODCAST

Dementia Researcher Blogs

Dementia Researcher

Dementia Researcher blogs are written and then narrated by the authors. Through this podcast channel, we share the narrations, so you can listen back where ever you get your podcasts, as well as on our website - careers, research and your science. Brought to you by www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - everything you need, all in one place.

science careers

All Episodes

06:20

Jacqui Kerr - How Clinical Trials Site Initiation...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/04/08

Jacqui Kerr narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Site Initiation Visits mark the transition from clinical trial / study setup to delivery, ensuring research sites are fully prepared before recruitment begins. In this blog, Jacqui explains how SIVs bring together protocol training, regulatory checks, role delegation, and data processes to create a clear, shared understanding across the research team. Far from a routine step, the SIV lays the groundwork for safe, compliant, and consistent

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05:41

Dr Clíona Farrell - Optimise, troubleshoot, repeat -...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/04/04

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.Three months into a new postdoc, Clíona explores the messy reality of starting fresh in research. From failed experiments to adapting protocols, she reflects on how experience shifts your approach, bringing more planning, patience, and reflection. The blog highlights the importance of controls, collaboration, and industry support, while reminding us that perseverance and small wins are what carry researchers through

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10:50

Dr Becky Carlyle - The Motherhood Penalty and Career...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/04/01

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Becky reflects on the lived reality behind the motherhood penalty in academia, blending personal experience with emerging research evidence. She explores how childcare responsibilities, mental load, and structural expectations shape career progression for women, often in ways that are invisible but deeply felt. The piece moves from the day to day realities of balancing work and family life to wider systemic

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6:56

Emily Spencer - Motherhood, PhDs, and the Funding Gap

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/24

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Emily shares her experience of balancing a PhD with early motherhood, reflecting on both the encouragement she has felt and the assumptions she made along the way. What begins as a story of managing both roles becomes a sharper look at structural gaps in funding and maternity support for PhD students. She highlights inconsistencies across institutions and funders (in the UK), the lack of transparency around

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5:31

Professor Louise Serpell - From Academia and Beyond

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/12

Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this reflective blog, Louise looks back on more than three decades in academia researching neurodegenerative diseases and supporting students through their scientific journeys. She shares how mentoring young researchers became the most rewarding part of her career, but also describes the pressures that eventually led to burnout and a difficult decision to step away from university life. Now

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8:04

Dr Emma Law - Managing patient expectations (without...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/12

Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Emma discusses the delicate balance between encouraging participation in dementia research and being realistic about what studies can offer. She explains why people who register interest in research often expect immediate opportunities and how researchers must communicate clearly about eligibility, trial design, and uncertainty. The blog also highlights alternative ways people living with dementia and

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9:13

Bernie McInally - If Only I Were an ECR Lessons from...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/11

Bernie McInally narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Bernie describes a striking scene in a Bangkok park where older adults gather every morning to exercise, sing karaoke, and socialise together. Watching this daily routine unfold sparks a research question. Could environments that combine physical activity, social contact, music and routine help support cognitive health in later life. Rather than focusing only on new interventions, Bernie suggests researchers may learn a

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9:49

Dr Yvonne Couch - chatGPT in Academia

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/10

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are rapidly becoming part of academic life. In this reflective blog, Yvonne considers how these tools are actually being used by researchers, from editing grant applications and shortening abstracts to drafting sections of proposals. She wrestles with the ethical tension between efficiency and learning, particularly for early career researchers who still need to develop

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5:22

Dr Sam Moxon - Real Food for Thought in the Fight...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/09

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Sam reflects on emerging research suggesting that diet and lifestyle interventions may influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by work from Dean Ornish and discussions on the Dementia Researcher Food for Thought podcast, the article explores how a whole food plant based diet combined with exercise, meditation, and support groups produced measurable improvements in cognition and function among

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7:33

Rahul Sidhu - Imposter Syndrome

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/05

Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Rahul reflects on his experience of imposter syndrome throughout his research career, from early lab work to PhD study. He describes the anxiety of feeling less capable than those around you, the pressure of comparisons within research groups, and the fear of asking questions or making mistakes. Rahul explains that these feelings are common in scientific careers and shares strategies that have helped

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17:08

Dr Ajantha Abey - How I Came To Enjoy Public Speaking...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/03/04

Dr Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Ajantha shares how they went from being deeply uncomfortable speaking in front of others to actively enjoying giving talks about their research. Starting with childhood stage fright and a stutter, the story traces a gradual shift through unexpected leadership in university sport, repeated practice presenting research, and years of teaching neuroscience. Along the way, Ajantha explains how confidence grew not only

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8:18

Dr Peter Connelly - Two Worlds of Clinical Trials

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/18

Dr Peter Connelly narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Peter compares academically led and commercially sponsored clinical trials, outlining how they differ in goals, recruitment expectations, intensity, monitoring and funding. Drawing on personal experience, he highlights unrealistic recruitment projections, contrasts study cultures, and reflects on the professional rewards and pressures associated with each model. The blog offers practical insight for clinicians

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5:40

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - Supervision vs Mentorship

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/17

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Kam revisits a theme she first explored three years ago: the difference between supervision and mentorship in academia. Drawing on her journey to becoming a primary PhD supervisor, she explores structural barriers facing early career researchers, the funding realities that delay independence, and the risk of blurring mentoring with supervision. She argues that these are distinct roles requiring different

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5:59

Dr Clíona Farrell - Returning to work after a...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/16

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. After finishing her PhD and a short postdoc extension, Clíona took a five month career break to travel across Asia before starting a new postdoctoral role at UCL. In this blog, she reflects on the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from academia, the privilege and uncertainty of taking time out, and what it feels like to return refreshed to a new lab, new techniques, and a genuine fresh

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6:16

Emily Spencer - Learning to Let Good Be Enough

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/11

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.Emily reflects on a lifelong struggle with perfectionism and how it shapes her learning, work, and wellbeing. Through personal stories spanning school, sport, previous employment, and her PhD, she explores the tension between striving for high standards and recognising when doing less may actually be the wiser and healthier choice. As she approaches the final months of her doctorate, Emily considers how redefining success

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7:01

Dr Gemma Lace - An Introverts Survival Guide to...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/10

Dr Gemma Lace, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Gemma explores the reality of attending academic conferences as an introvert or neurodivergent researcher. She reflects on her own experiences with imposter syndrome, conference anxiety and social overwhelm, while offering practical strategies to help researchers build confidence and gain meaningful professional development from conference attendance. From setting personal goals to using simple

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5:37

Professor Louise Serpell - A career in Alzheimer’s...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/10

Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this opening post, Louise Serpell traces her journey through Alzheimer’s research, beginning as a shy PhD student and moving through decades of scientific discovery, mentorship, and persistence. She reflects on finding her scientific home in protein misfolding and amyloid structure, the beauty of X ray fibre diffraction, and the realities of building a research career shaped as much by people and

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7:40

Dr Becky Carlyle - Academic overwhelm, you’re not the...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/09

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this candid blog, Becky reflects on the reality of feeling overwhelmed during a demanding stage of an academic career. She describes the competing pressures of grant writing, teaching, leadership roles, family life and supporting research teams, while still finding joy in discovery and mentoring. Becky shares practical approaches that help her stay organised and protect wellbeing, including structured

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9:44

Dr Yvonne Couch - Storytelling in Academia

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/04

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.This blog explores how storytelling strengthens science communication across papers, presentations, and public engagement. Yvonne reflects on lessons from podcasts, conferences, and outreach work to show how understanding your audience can transform how research is shared. Drawing on personal experiences and examples from academia, the blog highlights how strong narrative flow helps researchers connect ideas, engage

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8:10

Dr Emma Law - How We Ensure Safety in Dementia Drug...

Dementia Researcher Blogs ·

2026/02/04

Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.Clinical trials in dementia rely on carefully designed safeguards to protect participants and ensure treatments are tested responsibly. Emma Law explains how safety is built into every stage of a trial, from ethical recruitment and consent to screening processes, monitoring, and staff training. In this blog Emma highlights how lessons from past trial failures shaped current best practice and emphasises the shared

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