Full Press Release Details
Industry interviews
Tyler Ford
August 28, 2025
Outside the academic literature and company communications about instruments, there is very little science communication surrounding proteomics. In February, we shared an interview with Ben Orsburn and Ben Neely on the Translating Proteomics podcast covering just this issue. They co-host their own proteomics podcast aptly named the “ The Proteomics Show ” where they interview proteomics researchers and those in adjacent fields in a fireside chat format. They interviewed our own Parag Mallick a while back and joined him on Translating proteomics to discuss:
• Why they started The Proteomics Show.
• The many benefits they’ve accrued from hosting the podcast.
• The need for more communication surrounding proteomics.
Below, we cover some highlights from the conversation and encourage you to listen to the full episode to learn more.
Why start a proteomics podcast?
At Nautilus, we started Translating Proteomics with the goal of opening people’s minds to what’s possible in proteomics. The Bens started their podcast after lamenting the lack of its existence at US HUPO . They took it upon themselves to start the podcast because:
• It provided them with a great way to learn about cool science directly from scientists.
• They simply recognized it was missing and no one else would do it.
• Ben Orsburn had a difficult commute and wanted to fill the space.
Listening to the Proteomics Show, you get to dive into the details of new and interesting proteomics research while also learning about the fascinating and diverse scientists behind it. The Bens mentioned that one salient finding from all their interviews is “everyone is interesting.” Most folks who come on The Proteomics Show think their stories won’t be engaging, but as soon as they start to dig in, the Bens learn about things like:
• Going to the high school where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed
• Ghost cities
• Building t-shirt cannons
Truly everyone is interesting and there’s no better reason to host an interview podcast than that.
Benefits from hosting a proteomics podcast
The Bens get to learn a lot about people and proteomics from hosting the proteomics show, but it might surprise you to learn that their conversations deeply impact their research. Ben Orsburn even did some collaborative work stemming from a conversation on the podcast. Furthermore, the podcast has given them a larger professional role in the proteomics community – they even had a packed live show at US HUPO a few years back. As Parag says, the Bens are now “Proteomics celebrities” because of their work.
The need for more proteomics science communication
GATTACA , Jurassic Park , and countless crime dramas made DNA mainstream, but other than an association with muscle building, proteins have not entered the zeitgeist. This is a problem because it’s really proteins that drive biological function, and we need scientists and the public alike to think about proteins more if we’re ever going to understand how life works.
Toward this end, Parag and the Bens discussed some of the roles communication could play in improving the perception and understanding of proteins. They mentioned how simply getting more voices from the proteomics community out there would be beneficial because it would highlight the diversity of scientists and help others see themselves working in the field. Beyond this important point, they also discussed:
• Creating a dedicated proteomics degree – Ben Orsburn mentioned that there are things like genetics degrees, but there are not proteomics degrees. Given how far the field has evolved and the critical importance of proteins, there probably should be more dedicated proteomics programs and degrees out there.
• Creating pop culture content that gets proteomics into the mainstream – Parag mentioned how some of the key plot points in Jurassic Park would actually be driven by proteomics, not genomics. Ben Neely mentioned that it would be great to see proteins heavily featured on an episode of the re-vamped Magic School Bus . Mentions of proteomics are few and far between in SciFi and popular culture right now, but perhaps we can change that.
Witnessing the arc of proteomics progress
The Bens are maxed out on their communication projects (Ben Orsburn also has a fantastic proteomics blog ), but it’s clear there’s much to be gained from more proteomics communication. Beyond everything discussed above, the Bens also point out that their interviews help them understand the arc of the field. They are excited that many of the conversations they have now are focused on new science uncovered by proteomics rather than things like how many proteins a given instrument can measure. At the same time, they know that many researchers in adjacent fields don’t have a good grasp of what proteomics can do. For our part, we are dedicated to empowering all researchers with an accessible proteomics platform . We hope platforms like ours will extend the impact of proteomics and inspire communication efforts showcasing its incredible value to all.
Share this Article
Stay up-to-date on all things Nautilus
World-class articles, delivered weekly
MORE ARTICLES
Nautilus: Driving a revolution in proteomic analysis
New protein sequencing technology from Nautilus is unlocking the proteome and igniting a proteomics revolution.
Read more
Nautilus: Driving a revolution in proteomic analysis (Part 2)
We give you an inside view on how cross-disciplinary thinking and collaboration will propel us into a proteomics-powered future.
Read more
Interview with Andreas Huhmer – Senior Director of Scientific Affairs and Alliance Management
Andreas, Nautilus Senior Director of Alliance Management, describes why he’s excited to see researchers begin to use the Nautilus Platform.
Read more
Stay up-to-date on all things Nautilus