Jekyll2026-04-04T04:40:11+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/feed.xmlAboutSelahattin Can Özcan — Researcher at Columbia UniversityCan ÖzcanNight Science podcast episodes that I like2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:002026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/general/2026/02/07/night-science-podcast
Night Science Podcast

Night Science is a podcast by Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher that explores the creative side of science — how researchers come up with ideas, find inspiration, and navigate the imaginative process behind discovery. Each episode features conversations with leading scientists across disciplines. I have maybe listened to all episodes, and here are the ones I strongly recommend:

67 | A hypothesis is a liability
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher
Night Science, Dec 16, 2024 · 40 min
The hosts examine the interplay between hypothesis-driven and exploratory research, discussing how focusing on a single hypothesis can obstruct discovery.
72 | David Baker and the lab's communal brain
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher ft. David Baker
Night Science, Mar 24, 2025 · 25 min
2024 Nobel laureate David Baker discusses how he structures his lab as a "communal brain" and explores AI's role in scientific creativity and innovation.
50 | It takes two to think
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher
Night Science, Jan 15, 2024 · 24 min
The hosts explore how collaboration drives scientific innovation — through conversation, people combine their individual knowledge and create thoughts inaccessible to them alone.
63 | Manu Prakash and how the discovery changes you
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher ft. Manu Prakash
Night Science, Sep 9, 2024 · 45 min
Stanford bioengineer and FoldScope inventor Manu Prakash discusses how meaningful research requires immersing oneself in the environment being studied, and how the most significant outcome of a discovery is how it changes the scientist.
23 | Aviv Regev on how to be generous with your ideas
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher ft. Aviv Regev
Night Science, Oct 31, 2022 · 35 min
Single-cell genomics pioneer Aviv Regev discusses setting ideas free, how frustration can fuel creativity, and allowing personal taste to guide scientific direction.
60 | Venki Ramakrishnan and the secrets of doing science over tea
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher ft. Venki Ramakrishnan
Night Science, Jul 1, 2024 · 34 min
2009 Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan discusses enjoying the scientific process itself, how creativity emerges through contemplation and collaboration, and viewing requests for help as professional strength.
39 | Bonnie Bassler and living on the edge in a nerdy kind of way
Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher ft. Bonnie Bassler
Night Science, Aug 14, 2023 · 39 min
Princeton's Bonnie Bassler discusses asking the right questions, balancing chaos and control in research, and how the intellectual rewards of science make the career worthwhile.
]]>Can ÖzcanSome albums that I like and recommend2026-02-06T00:00:00+00:002026-02-06T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/general/2026/02/06/music-albumsRomantic
Brahms: Intermezzi, Rhapsodies - François Chaplin
Brahms: Intermezzi, Rhapsodies
François Chaplin
Little Tribeca, 2019
Destination Rachmaninov: Departure - Daniil Trifonov
Destination Rachmaninov: Departure
Daniil Trifonov, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Deutsche Grammophon, 2018
Destination Rachmaninov: Arrival - Daniil Trifonov
Destination Rachmaninov: Arrival
Daniil Trifonov, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Deutsche Grammophon, 2019
Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes - Nikolai Lugansky
Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes
Nikolai Lugansky
harmonia mundi, 2018
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6 - Evgeny Mravinsky
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6 "Pathétique"
Evgeny Mravinsky, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
Deutsche Grammophon, 1961
Chopin Nocturnes - Valentina Lisitsa
Chopin: Nocturnes
Valentina Lisitsa
2020
Chopin: Études - Yunchan Lim
Chopin: Études, Op. 10 & 25
Yunchan Lim
Decca Classics, 2024

Baroque

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations - Yunchan Lim
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations
Yunchan Lim
Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, 2025 · Decca Classics, 2026
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater
Jodie Devos, Adèle Charvet, Le Concert de la Loge, Julien Chauvin
Alpha Classics, 2022
Johann Sebastian Bach - Víkingur Ólafsson
Johann Sebastian Bach
Víkingur Ólafsson
Deutsche Grammophon, 2018

Others

Kalthoum - Ibrahim Maalouf
Kalthoum (Alf Leila Wa Leila)
Ibrahim Maalouf
Mister Ibé, 2015
v2.0 - GoGo Penguin
v2.0
GoGo Penguin
Blue Note Records, 2014
A Humdrum Star - GoGo Penguin
A Humdrum Star
GoGo Penguin
Blue Note Records, 2018
Diwan of Beauty and Odd - Dhafer Youssef
Diwan of Beauty and Odd
Dhafer Youssef
Okeh, 2016
]]>Can ÖzcanArtful writing in scientific papers2026-02-05T00:00:00+00:002026-02-05T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/general/2026/02/05/article_quoteI admire scientific writing that incorporates cultural references. Here’s a great example from a regeneration biology paper Poss & Tanaka (2024). Cell 31(9), 1244-1261.:

“Regeneration of an amputated salamander limb involves blood loss, major skin damage, and depletion of large regions of muscle and skeletal bone or cartilage. Thus, to achieve regeneration, the animal effectively requires everything, everywhere, all at once.”

The reference to “everything, everywhere, all at once”—echoing the 2022 film—makes a complex biological process immediately relatable. It shows how thoughtful writing can bridge science and art.

Simple touches like this make academic writing more memorable.

]]>Can ÖzcanJournals that I have reviewed for2026-02-04T00:00:00+00:002026-02-04T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/general/2026/02/04/welcome
  • Cellular Oncology
  • Molecular Cancer
  • Biology Direct
  • Molecular Biomedicine
  • Journal of Hematology & Oncology
  • Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
    • ]]>    Can Özcan    Preprint: Cell-cycle-dependent interactome of Nek22026-01-25T00:00:00+00:002026-01-25T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/news/2026/01/25/nek2-interactome-preprintOur preprint on the cell-cycle-dependent interactome of Nek2 was published on bioRxiv.

    ]]>    Can Özcan    Preprint: Stress adaptation and centrosome amplification in pancreatic cancer2026-01-24T00:00:00+00:002026-01-24T00:00:00+00:00https://scanozcan.github.io/news/2026/01/24/centrosome-amplification-preprintOur preprint on the metabolic dependencies of cells with centrosome amplification was published on bioRxiv.

    ]]>    Can Özcan