Explore every episode of the podcast Tea with T-cells

In this episode of Tea with T-cells, we sit down with Kate Garrard, who returned to academia as a mature student and mum of three to start a PhD researching hereditary ataxia, after already building a career in genetics.

Kate’s journey into research has been anything but straightforward. From studying Zoology and Genetics, to working in industry and as an NHS Geneticist, she eventually made the decision to return to academia and take on a PhD based on a research project she developed herself.

We talk about the different stages of her career, what it was really like working as a geneticist within the NHS, and what made her return to research. Kate also speaks openly about working part-time alongside family and caring responsibilities, the challenges of being taken seriously as a part-time woman in science, and, of course, the reality of doing a PhD, with all its ups and downs.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Kate’s journey from Zoology and Genetics to a career in genetics
- What it was like working as an NHS Geneticist
- Returning to academia as a mature PhD student and mum of three
- Coming up with her own PhD project
- The realities and challenges of working part-time in science
- Being a woman in science and following a less traditional academic path
- The reality of PhD life, the good days, the difficult ones and everything in between

Kate’s story is a great example of how a career in science doesn’t have to follow one straight path. Sometimes life changes, priorities change and the route looks completely different from what you originally imagined, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop doing what you love.

Grab a cup of tea and join us! ☕🧬

From early scientific curiosity to the raw realities of NHS patient care, this episode tracks Dr. Suleman Sabir’s journey through a Biomedical Science degree, an MRes, a PhD, and into clinical medicine. We dive into the physical and mental demands of UK medical training, the distinct value of combining high-level research experience with patient care, and why retaining empathy matters now more than ever in modern healthcare.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Academic Path: Suleman’s progression through Biomedical Science, an MRes, PhD research, and the challenging leap into medicine.

• The Reality of Medical Training: Navigating medical school, building resilience, and addressing mental health challenges along the path to a medical career.

• Mentorship & Support: How academic mentorship inspires medical careers and why strong support networks are vital for student success.

• Human-Centred Care: Suleman’s future aspirations and why the human element remains the heart of clinical practice.

Grab a cup of tea and join us as we chart the route from biomedical science to a career in medicine. It’s a route many take, but few break down in detail, exploring the real challenges, hard-earned successes, and practical steps needed to build your own roadmap.

#TeaWithTcells #SciencePodcast #Medicine #Healthcare #Research #ScienceCommunication #CareerJourney #WorkLifeBalance #StudentDoctor #Inspiration #BiomedicalScience #Resilience #PatientCare #Empathy

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Charles Romanowski for a fascinating conversation about his journey through medicine, science, and life beyond the clinic.

As a consultant radiologist, researcher, and educator, Dr Romanowski shares the experiences that shaped his career, the lessons he has learned along the way, and what it takes to dedicate yourself to a lifelong journey of learning and discovery. We discuss perseverance, passion, and the importance of staying committed to your dreams, while also exploring how success is built not only through professional achievements, but through family, hobbies, and the experiences that shape who we become.

During this episode, we talk about:

• What the journey through medicine really looks like and what life as a doctor is like.
• Why research is so important in improving clinical practice.
• Whether taking a year abroad during medical school is worth it and how it can shape your career.
• The value of networking and building meaningful professional relationships.
• How to balance a demanding medical career with family life.
• What life on a farm is really like and why having interests outside medicine matters.
• The mindset, dedication, and resilience needed to achieve your biggest dreams.

A conversation filled with wisdom, honest stories, and practical advice for anyone interested in medicine, research, or simply finding their own path in life.

☕ Grab your favourite tea and join us for this inspiring episode!

#TeaWithTcells #SciencePodcast #Medicine #MedicalEducation #Healthcare #Research #ScienceCommunication #CareerJourney #WorkLifeBalance #StudentDoctor #Inspiration

What do whisky labels, mass spectrometry, McDonald’s, digital minimalism and ice baths have in common? 🧪🥃❄️

In this episode, we sit down with a final-year PhD student in analytical chemistry who made a bold decision to leave Croatia, move to the UK alone, and build her life from scratch, academically and personally.

It’s honest, It’s funny, It’s powerful. And it’s full of real talk about what it actually takes to grow.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Moving countries alone- the chaos & the courage
• The real value of working alongside the degree and why job shapes mindset more than we expect
• The value of hard work, humility and showing up consistently
• How to break into a PhD. Being proactive, speaking to the right people, and creating your own opportunities
• What a PhD in analytical chemistry really looks like
• The behind-the-scenes reality of publishing scientific papers, the process & persistence
• Digital minimalism- protecting your focus in a world that constantly distracts you
• Wim Hoff, discomfort and doing hard things on purpose

This episode is not just about science.
It’s about courage.
It’s about discipline.
It’s about choosing growth over comfort.

If you’re ready for an inspirational yet fun conversation with a student that does not give up – this one is for you. We laughed a lot and we are sure you will do too! 🎙️

What happens when you risk it for a biscuit and leave everything you know behind? 🌍

In this episode, we’re joined by Ece Dagtekin, an MSc-qualified pharmacist and current MSc student at Sheffield Hallam University, who did exactly that. Alone, brave, and determined, Ece moved from a Mediterranean country to the UK to start a completely new chapter of her life 🇹🇷➡️🇬🇧

We talk honestly about what it’s really like to move countries for education, how studying and working compare between the UK and Turkey, and what the real-life reality of being a pharmacist in Turkey actually looks like, beyond the job titles and stereotypes 💊

Ece also shares practical tips, personal challenges, and valuable advice for anyone considering studying abroad or making a similar leap of faith.

If you’re curious about the human story behind international students, want to understand global differences in healthcare careers, or are wondering whether taking a big risk could be worth it, this episode is for you!

🎧 Tune in and let us know: would you risk it for a biscuit?

#InternationalStudents #PharmacyLife #StudyAbroad #WomenInScience #LifeInTheUK #StudentJourney #BehindTheDegree

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Stephen Emegbo, a leading expert in sleep physiology with over 25 years of clinical, research, and academic experience.

From hospital sleep labs to elite sports performance, Dr Emegbo’s career path into academia is anything but unusual, and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so fascinating.

We explore his journey through clinical sleep medicine, including some of his most memorable patient stories, and unpack the science behind how and why we sleep the way we do.

💤 In this episode, we cover:

·  Dr Emegbo’s unconventional path into academia and sleep science

·  What life is really like behind the scenes as a clinical scientist

·  How he completed a part-time PhD alongside full-time clinical work and family life

·  His most unusual, surprising, and memorable patient stories from sleep clinics

·  How men and women differ in their sleep changes as they age.

·  Sleep apnoea, snoring, and what’s actually happening in your body when you sleep

Whether you’re curious about sleep science, struggling with your own sleep, or just love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from clinical practice, this episode is packed with insight, humour, and eye-opening facts.

🎧 Listen now and rethink everything you thought you knew about sleep.

In this episode I am opening about a chapter of my life that shaped me the most: leaving my home country at a young age, alone, to chase something I couldn’t yet name. I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have a safety net. What I did have was curiosity, an inner pull toward something bigger, something unknown.

In this epsiode I talk about

- why and how I decided to leave literally everything I had in my home country

- what it was really like to land in a foreign country with no family, friends and no idea what came next

- gap year that gave me all the skills to leap into the unknown

- how studying science abroad became my anchor, and why I changed my degree few times

- how running towards the curiosity shaped the person, and scientist, I am becoming

This isn’t just a story about travel, education, or career. It’s a reminder to my younger self –the one who had every reason to give up, but chose to believe that tomorrow could be better.

About choosing courage over comfort.

About trusting the version of you that doesn't exist yet.

About building a life from zero and realizing you are capable of more than you ever imagined.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you take the leap instead of waiting for certainty - this episode is for you.

Grab a cup of tea, sit with me, and let’s talk about leaving, arriving, breaking, rebuilding… and choosing yourself.

Where you can find Marta: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-gillett-086947162/⁠

We are also on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/⁠

Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Tea_with_T_cells⁠

& Apple Podcasts

In this episode of Tea with T-cells, we sit down with Dr. Shafqat Jaigirdar, Lecturer in Immunology andnGroup Leader at Sheffield Hallam University. We talk about his fascinating journey into academia- from completing a PhD, to spending five years as apostdoctoral fellow at the University of Manchester, to now leading his own researchgroup. What starts as a discussion about immunology quickly unfolds into something deeper. We explore:

·   the path that led him to immunology career

·   how he became interested in inflammation and immune responses in the skin

·  and how he balances research with teaching.

One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation is his ideology of leadership and teaching. Shafqat shares his view on how creating a positive, supportive atmosphere in the lab is essential for good science- and how he strives to make his research group a space where curiosity, collaboration, and well-being matter just as much as results.

We also dive into:

· what topics in science still fascinate him the most,

· typical day of a lecturer (if such exists!), and what are the biggest challenges for him

·    his personal advice for anyone considering a career in research or academia.

This episode is about immunology, yes- but it’s equally about passion, leadership, and choosing a path that fits who you are as a scientist and as a person.

Grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and enjoy this conversation.

Let’s talk science, careers, and what makes a great lab environment.

You can find Shafqat on Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shafqat-ahrar-jaigirdar-a1632169/

Books recommended: Chris vanTulleken ''Ultra-processed people''

Where are we?

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhhcj1vtwOrrhLOISMzA4w

& Apple podcasts

Welcome to the very first episode of Tea with T-cells ! We’re Marta and Shafqat, and we’re so excited to finally share this project with you. This podcast actually started in the lab, during those spontaneous conversations where one small question turned into a fulldiscussion about science, research, and the different paths a science careercan take. After one of those chats, we thought: why not turn this into a podcast?

So here we are.

In this episode, we introduce ourselves, talk about how Tea with T-cells came to life, and share what you can expect from future episodes. Our goal is to make science feel approachable and to talk honestly about the paths, challenges, and surprises of science careers. All in a relaxed, judgment-free space. Whether you're exploring a future in science, already in the field, or simply curious about how scientific discoveries (and scientists!) are made, we’re here to share real stories with a warm, easy-going vibe.

Grab a cup of tea and join us as we start this new journey.
Let’s talk science and the careers behind it - one sip at a time.

We are also on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhhcj1vtwOrrhLOISMzA4w

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/

& Apple podcasts