Episodes 18
Avg. Duration 32m
Activity Dormant
Since Apr 2025
Latest Episode Apr 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Hourly
Format
Episodic
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

What drives a scientist to keep going after research setbacks? What is it like to discover a drug that could have saved a family member, to let values guide your career, or to move continents to pursue your passion? Called to Science shares real stories from the world of life sciences research. Hosted by science journalist Brad van Paridon, the podcast goes behind the science to explore the people, passion, and persistence behind breakthroughs in areas like computational biology, neuroscience, microbiology, and cancer research. Each episode features VIB scientists reflecting on the human side of science careers: how they face failure, fight imposter syndrome, and stay curious in the face of uncertainty. Whether you are a student, researcher, or just science-curious, these stories will show how discovery often begins with the unexpected. Let us know your Dare to Ask questions in the comments. Ready to take your research further? Join VIB – Where top science meets global talent. Check out our open positions at jobs.vib.be. ----------------------------------------------------------- A VIB podcast. Produced by De Praeters.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

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Recent Episodes

S3 Called to Science Season 3 Trailer

Apr 22, 2026 2m Trailer

In five brand-new episodes, you'll meet researchers whose paths into science are anything but straightforward. Think a lifelong promise shaped by personal loss, a journey from first-generation…

S3E1 Laurent Galibert – A lifelong mission in drug discovery

Apr 22, 2026 35m

For Laurent Galibert, drug discovery was never just a career choice. It was a promise.In this episode, Laurent shares how a personal loss shaped his path in science, why doubt is part of making good…

S3E2 Ayşe Candayan – Grants, genes, and grit

Apr 22, 2026 32m

What does it take to go from first-generation everything to grant guru?In this episode, Ayşe Candayan shares her path from Turkey to Antwerp and reflects on the people and places that helped shape…

S3E3 Thomas Jacobs – Transplanting, adapting, and flourishing in a new environment

Apr 22, 2026 29m

What do baseball, plant genome editing, and failure have in common? More than you might think.In this episode, Thomas Jacobs talks about growing up with a love for plants and baseball, following his…

S3E4 Lia Martina – From pipettes to policy

Apr 22, 2026 34m

From mosaics to moyamoya disease, and from the lab bench to the European Commission.In this episode, Lia Martina shares her journey from a small Italian town to the world of biology and…

S3E5 Inge Van Molle – What it takes to be a jack of all trades

Apr 22, 2026 31m

How do you become the person everyone goes to when things get tricky in the lab?In this episode, Inge Van Molle shares how she became a structural biologist, a lab expert, and, by the sound of it, a…

S2 Called to Science Season 2 Trailer

Oct 15, 2025 1m Trailer

Behind every discovery lies a story, of curiosity, values, and perseverance. In the second season of Called to Science, we go deeper into the lives of scientists at VIB. From the clinic to the lab…

S2E1 Ruben Vazquez-Uribe - Science with values at its core

Oct 15, 2025 32m

For Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, science is not about titles or publications, but about meaning. From Mexico City to the Netherlands, Denmark, and now Belgium, Ruben has carried his passion for microbes…

S2E2 Bart Lambrecht - Casting lines between clinic and lab

Oct 15, 2025 33m

For Bart Lambrecht, the most exciting discoveries happen where science and medicine meet. As director of the VIB Center for Inflammation Research and a leading expert on asthma and allergies, Bart…

S2E3 Elina Kuznecova - Redefining what a science career looks like

Oct 15, 2025 32m

Not every inspiring career in science requires a PhD. Elina Kuznecova has built a path that challenges expectations, from leaving her home country at a young age to working in high-tech labs at…

S2E4 Jiska van der Reest - Building bridges from science to society

Oct 15, 2025 34m

From the lab bench to the boardroom, Jiska van der Reest has learned to navigate both the scientific and the business side of research. After studies in the Netherlands, Glasgow, and Harvard Medical…

S2E5 Milton Antwi - Taking chances, making music out of science

Oct 15, 2025 35m

For Milton Antwi, moving abroad is never without challenges, but every change brings growth. Fresh from completing his PhD at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Milton reflects on his…

S1 Called to Science Season 1 Trailer

Apr 11, 2025 1m

Stay tuned for the release of the first season on 29 April! Called to Science uncovers the untold stories of the people pushing the boundaries of life sciences. Hosted by science journalist Brad van…

S1E1 Erin Tranfield - A life through the lens of science

Apr 10, 2025 35m

Some careers follow a plan; Erin Tranfield’s did not. Now Head of the VIB BioImaging Core Ghent, she grew up on a cattle ranch in Canada, where a love for photography eventually transformed into a…

S1E2 Bart de Strooper - From comic book inspiration to trailblazing Alzheimer's researcher

Apr 10, 2025 34m

Bart De Strooper is now a trailblazing Alzheimer's researcher, but his path wasn’t always clear. His journey started early. From a young age, he was mesmerized by science, conducting experiments at…

S1E3 Colinda Scheele - An unconventional path to success

Apr 10, 2025 32m

In this episode, we sit down with Colinda Scheele, a researcher who focuses on the earliest stages of cancer, revealing the fundamental biology of how healthy cells transform into tumors at VIB-KU…

S1E4 Stein Aerts – Decoding life and the art of asking questions

Apr 10, 2025 41m

Fueled by curiosity and a passion to decode life, Stein Aerts became a pioneer in AI and computational biology at VIB-KU Leuven. There, he combines genetics, data analysis, and artificial…

S1E5 Joleen Masschelein – Hunting microbes and the thrill of discovery

Apr 10, 2025 27m

In this episode, we talk to Joleen Masschelein, who is exploring the biosynthetic ingenuity of microbes at VIB-KU Leuven, trying to uncover new antibiotics and bioactive compounds.  Joleen’s…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Called to Science have?

Called to Science has published 18 episodes since April 2025, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is Called to Science still active?

Called to Science is currently dormant with new episodes hourly. Average episode length is 32m.

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