Bio Break Book Club: Sleep Science and Change Management

Two men, Nick A. (left) and Nigel (right), sit at a white table, engaging in a lively and friendly conversation. Both wear checkered shirts and lavalier microphones, suggesting a filmed discussion or interview. Nick holds tissue samples in one hand and gestures animatedly, while Nigel smiles in response. Each has a white mug labeled with their name and a purple star logo. The background is a bright white, creating a clean and professional studio setting.
Resources

Bio Break Book Club: Sleep Science and Change Management

Topic: Bio Break
YouTube video thumbnail

In this Bio Break episode, Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck share what they have been reading lately. From exploring the science of sleep to diving into change management, their picks show how books can spark insight both inside and outside the lab.

Why We Sleep: A Scientific Perspective

Nick admits he has been working through Why We Sleep by Dr. Matthew Walker. The book takes a detailed look at sleep science, including melatonin levels and REM cycles. While Nick appreciates the depth and the references, he jokes that reading it at bedtime makes it hard to get very far. Despite the challenge, he calls it a fascinating resource for anyone curious about the mechanics of rest.

Change Management and Innovation

Nigel has been reading a book on change management. He explains that it helps him stay on top of how innovation is rolled out in real-world organizations. The focus is on aligning teams, improving processes, and making sure new approaches are adopted effectively. While less technical than Nick’s choice, Nigel values it as an important lens for understanding how change succeeds.

A Lighter Take on Reading

The conversation even touches on whether fish sleep, sparked by Nigel’s son asking about their new betta fish. This lighthearted exchange highlights the mix of curiosity and humor that defines the Bio Break book club. Together, Nick and Nigel show that scientific detail and organizational strategy both have a place in shaping how we think about innovation.

Enjoying Bio Break? Sign up to get new episodes sent to your inbox.

Subscribe to Bio Break
Thumbnail showing “First to Invent” with yellow exclamation marks transitioning via red arrow to “First to File” with a folder of patent documents, illustrating the shift in patent rules discussed in the Bio Break episode.

Patent Documentation Habits

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck dive into the evolution of patent documentation habits in engineering and medical device development.

Magnified view of printed circuit board inspection during PCBA bring-up for medical device prototype development.

PCBA Bring-Up in Medical Device Prototypes

Bringing up a new printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for a medical device is both exciting and high-stakes.

Engineer testing circuit board for portable medical device design using oscilloscope and microscope in electronics lab.

Design Considerations for Portable Medical Electronics

Several design considerations come into play when designing portable medical electronic devices, from performance, to usability, manufacturability and reliability.

Engineer testing power stability and voltage regulation on medical device PCB using lab instruments and probes.

Precision Power Design in Medical Devices

For many medical devices, power stability isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s mission-critical.