Science on surfaces - Tips, Tricks and Tools

How determined do you have to be to make a career as a scientist? Do all future positions have to be in the same field as the focus of your Ph.D. research? And what’s it like to transition from academia to industry?In this episode of Science on Surfaces, we take a different approach and dive into the mind of the scientist. We talk to Dr. Fredrik Andersson, Scientist and Project Leader at Agriculture and Food for Nouryon Performance formulations, about his career path, which started with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, followed by a postdoc, from where he then moved on to jobs in industry.The conversation covers career plans, personal and professional drivers, and reflections on how determined you must be to pursue a career in science. We talk about Dr. Andersson’s decision to do a Ph.D. and what about science inspires him. He also shares his story of why he decided to leave academia for industry, and how he experienced this transition. And not only did Dr. Andersson take the academia-industry leap, but he also changed research fields and moved from the area of biochemistry to that of surfactants, which is a topic that we of course also had to talk about. Finally, Dr. Andersson shares his thoughts on what’s challenging and what’s fun with his current position, and what career plans he has for the future.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

Did you know that light can be manipulated at the nanoscale to control not only colors but also chemical reactions as well as what we see, or do not see?In this interesting and last episode of the season, we talk to Prof. Magnus Jonsson, Associate Professor and Head of the Organic Photonics and Nano-Optics group at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University in Sweden, about light-interaction with matter. Guiding us through the realm of different light-matter interaction phenomena, Prof. Jonsson touches upon optical concepts and terminology such as scattering, reflection, diffraction, refraction, interference, plasmons, Planck radiation, optical cavities, and radiative cooling. We are also introduced to fascinating research. Prof. Jonsson describes how he and his team manipulate light at the nanoscale in various fundamental and applied projects. For example, we get to hear about paper-like displays - a type of display that is based on reflection rather than emission, which would be both energy efficient and work well outdoors on a sunny day. In another project, they use optical properties to cool objects using space as a heat sink; a solution that could be used to reduce the need for air conditioning in warmer regions. And of course, we had to talk about the intriguing concept of an invisibility cloak and reveal the mystery of how this could work.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

Is it possible to map a specific taste experience without anyone tasting the actual product? And is it possible to prevent sensitive natural colorants from bleaching when used in acidic beverages?In this episode of Science on surfaces we talk to Dr. Younas Dadmohammadi, from the Abbaspourrad lab at Cornell University, about the discipline of food science. The conversation starts with Dr. Dadmohammadi explaining how this multidisciplinary area originated, and then he takes us through two of his most recent research projects. He guides us through two different challenges related to key aspects of food intake - food appearance and food taste, and how these were addressed in his lab. In the conversation we get to learn more about how the shelf-life stability of sensitive natural colorants can be enhanced, and that those nutritious, but off-flavor, food ingredients that we would like to consume due to their health-promoting properties, are not doomed to ruin the eating experience.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

How does a Li-ion battery differ from the ones you use in a torch? What makes it so special that its development even was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2019? And what’s the deal with the whiskers? In this episode of Science on surfaces we talk to Prof. Erik Berg about the fascinating area of Li-ion batteries. Prof. Berg is Associate senior lecturer and Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, and Structural Chemistry at Uppsala University in Sweden. Prof. Berg takes us on an interesting and educational journey through the area of batteries in general, and Li-ion batteries in particular. He teaches us about the five key aspects of battery performance - aspects that are more or less important depending on the intended battery application, but where no single battery type gets top score in all five areas. We also get to learn about the history of battery development - why and how they were invented, how the area has evolved over the years, and how scientists have been scouting the periodic table to find suitable battery materials. Prof. Berg explains why the Li-ion battery is so special, and why dendrite formation, or whiskers as they are also called, are so problematic and certainly should be avoided in a battery. And – he shares the story of when he met one of the laureates who was awarded the Nobel prize for the development of this exceptional type of battery.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

What are nanomedicines? And how are they different from traditional ones?In this episode of Science on surfaces we talk to Dr. Gustav Emilsson about the fascinating area of nanomedicines. Dr. Emilsson is working as a Postdoc with nanomedicine development at the department of Advanced drug delivery in Pharmaceutical Science at AstraZeneca, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company.We start out by talking about what nanomedicines are and how they work. Dr. Emilsson explains how the intricate design of these minuscule drug carriers can help overcome challenges such as drug toxicity and solubility issues, and how nanomedicines can be used to control the drug release in the body. We also talk about a phenomenon that is very relevant in the context of nanomedicines - the formation of the so-called protein corona, which affects how the drug delivery vessel interacts with the body.  And finally, Dr. Emilsson shares some thoughts on what the future looks like for this intriguing area.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

How come egg and oil will turn into a nice emulsion called mayonnaise when mixed, while water and oil will unavoidably separate into two different phases no matter how vigorously you stir?  And is there a way to predict the stability of such phase-mixtures?In this episode of Science on surfaces we talk to Dr. Susanna Lauren at Biolin Scientific about interfacial rheology and how this can be used to predict emulsion and foam stability. Susanna did her Ph.D. on superhydrophobic surfaces and microfluidics and she is an expert on surface-related phenomena, such as surface tension, wettability, adhesion, and interfacial rheology. Susanna explains key terminology such as viscosity, stabilization of interfaces, and surface-active molecules, which then leads us to the discussion of how emulsions and foams form. Susanna then moves on to explain in what situations, and why, it is important to be able to measure emulsion and foam stabilities and how this information can be used. She also describes how these measurements can be performed using either of the two approaches of shear- or dilatational methods.  Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

Dr. Anna Clemens provides valuable tips on enhancing scientific writing skills to help researchers get published in top-tier journals. She emphasizes the importance of a storytelling framework and discusses the challenges of scientific writing. The episode covers crafting compelling scientific papers, maintaining a narrative in lab work, and the importance of clarity and conciseness in the final message. Strategies for effective writing and overcoming writer's block are also explored.

Is it really possible to get more done in less time and at the same time be happier and perhaps even live longer? In this last episode for the season, we talk to David Stiernholm, Struktör, about structure. For almost two decades, David has been helping people and organizations become more efficient by creating better structure and order.The episode is packed with inspiration, tips, tricks, and tools on how to get started structuring your work and, once and for all, get rid of that overwhelming feeling of the to-do:s controlling you instead of the other way around. David talks about the three building blocks of how the structure is created - organize, focus, and automate. Taking us through each category, what they mean and how they can be addressed, David gives us concrete tips and tools on what to do and how to implement structure in your life and work (see links below). We also talk about the benefits of structure, if it can be too much, and how to make the most of the structuring tool to free time and get in control of your schedule.Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blogEpisode linksThe noise app Noisli: http://www.noisli.comThe timeline tool Timeline: http://timeline.knightlab.comThe workflow automation tool Power Automate: https://flow.microsoft.com/sv-se/The workflow automation tool Zapier: http://www.zapier.comThe text expansion tool TextExpander: http://textexpander.comStudy on the Relationships of Job Demands and Job Control with Mortality https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/peps.12206About the (10+2)x5-method https://www.stiernholm.com/en/blog/how-two-egg-timers-make-you-focus-on-the-right-thingDavid’s blog: https://www.stiernholm.com/en/blog/David’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/done/id559834100?mt=2David’s book: http://www.superstructured.comDavid’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/stiernholmconsulting/David’s weekly newsletters: https://www.stiernholm.com/en/tips/

What makes a liquid droplet just roll off the surface of a lotus leaf?  And what does it take for us to mimic this extraordinary design by nature and to make self-cleaning surfaces?In this episode of Season 2 of Science on surfaces we talk to Dr. Susanna Lauren at Biolin Scientific about superhydrophobic surfaces. Susanna did her Ph.D. on superhydrophobic surfaces and microfluidics and she is an expert on surface-related phenomena, such as surface tension, wettability, adhesion, and surface free energy. We start the conversation with Susanna describing how superhydrophobicity is defined and what properties need to be fulfilled for a surface to qualify as superhydrophobic. She then explains how such surfaces can be manufactured and lists the many areas where these surfaces would be beneficial. We also talk about why, in spite of the very useful qualities of hydrophobicity, there still are so few commercial products available in the market, and what the future holds for man-made mimics of this amazing design by nature. Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog

What makes a liquid spread more on some surfaces than on others?In this episode of Season 2 of Science on surfaces we talk to Dr. Susanna Lauren at Biolin Scientific about Surface Free Energy. Susanna did her Ph.D. on microfluidics and superhydrophobic surfaces and is an expert on surface-related phenomena, such as surface tension, wettability, adhesion, and surface free energy.Susanna describes how the surface free energy of a solid arises and how molecular interactions such as cohesive and adhesive forces are used to determine the value. She then explains how the surface free energy of a solid will determine for example how a liquid will behave when placed on top of it and how much the liquid will spread. We also get to learn more about why the surface free energy is not measured but calculated using Young's equation and how this fairly complicated theory is made simple with existing software. Thanks for listening! If you are interested in surface and interface science and related topics, you should check out our blog -  the Surface Science blog