🚨Job Alert!🚨 Please share widely! We are hiring *two* postdocs (one ASAP, one Oct '26) using models and data to identify pathways involving the gut-brain axis that link the infant microbiome with neurodevelopment and Autism Spectrum Disorder. 1st review date: April 24!
recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03089
🧪🌏
NSF LTER program “archived”.
LTER=“Long Term Ecological Research”.
This program has been incredibly successful, incredibly frugal for what they accomplish, and…of course…targeted by evil know-nothings.
My heart is breaking.
I am shocked I tell you. SHOCKED.
Our new paper on antifragility in ecology and evolution is out in @asn-amnat.bsky.social: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Things I read to learn more about Ehrlich and the issues Mridul raises: (Nature Obit) www.nature.com/articles/d41... and (Smithsonian Magazine article from 2018) www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/b...
A timely reminder for those who think about population growth and dynamics, ecologists/evolutionary biologists or otherwise, that it is extremely important to be aware of how those ideas are misused when applied to human populations, especially by nations and individuals with privilege and resources
Attending the Unifying Ecology Across Scales GRC was one of the highlights of my PhD, and this year's edition is going to be excellent! All biologists interested in integrating diverse approaches to further our understanding of the natural world are welcome. Register early! shorturl.at/rIjWx
Figure demonstrating how the ordering of temperatures through time determines whether an ectothermic population experiencing those temperatures will go extinct
Thrilled to share that my first dissertation chapter is now published at Ecology! dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
We embed TPCs into population dynamics to show how changing temperatures' ordering — not just its distribution — increases extinction risk (i.e. heatwaves matter!)
@esajournals.bsky.social
I am seeking a postdoc to join my group at UCLA -- ideally the candidate would have some experience in either population genetics or microbes/microbiome (computational background needed). We have a range of projects and are happy to tailer to your interests. Please dm/email me if interested.
Do nutrient pulses alter phytoplankton communities? Yes. What about short-term shifts in temperature? Well, it depends.
New insights from a repeat microcosm experiment.
doi.org/10.1002/lno....
If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons:
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to grfp@nsf.gov to request re-consideration;
NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics?
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
You want to go fast: go alone. You want to go far: go with others. You want neither: go with ecologists 😜
📸 @eatgrowlearn.withsophie on IG
#ecology #naturelovers #earthygirl #hiking #ecologists
Grad student in lab just had their GRFP returned without review. But their proposal is not on ag/crops/health. What gives?? 😡
Phytoplankton empiricists: anyone have a good protocol (or reference) for treating fungal contamination in stock cultures without re-isolating? 2026 continues bringing all the icks...
Incorporating realistic ecological interactions changes our understanding of which traits are optimal in different environments, including the temperature-size rule.
Awesome paper by David Anderson, outstanding former postdoc with me and Mary O'Connor.
Thanks to @mridulkthomas.bsky.social @chrisklausmeier.bsky.social @elenalitchman.bsky.social @esajournals.bsky.social & NSF support.
This work grew from conversations and collaborations that persisted over eight years, through a postdoc, COVID, and two faculty positions. Work with great people, and don’t give up on your passion projects!
Lastly, we show that our predictions, and ideas from Metabolic theory, are consistent with patterns in large compilations of data on the growth of autotrophic AND heterotrophic microbes, including different underlying responses to temperature.
At the community level, collections of many *unimodal* population-level TPCs yield maximum interspecific growth rates that increase *exponentially* with temperature (the Eppley curve). These, too, are altered predictably by resource limitation.
At the population level, when birth and death rates increase exponentially with temperature, net growth follows the expected *unimodal* shape (thermal performance curve, TPC), with properties that change predictably with resource limitation.
3D figure showing how a family of unimodal, species-level thermal performance curves are collectively bounded by an exponential function across species, uniting predictions of growth rate at population and community levels. From Fig. S4.
Ecologists recognize the importance of integrating across scales, yet our models often target specific scales. Our new paper presents models of population growth that scale up to explain community-level patterns, including interactions of temperature, light & nutrients. doi.org/10.1002/ecm....
A flier titled, "Come work with us!" The Department of Biology at SUNY Geneseo invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in August 2026. We are seeking a scientist with training in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology and a passion for teaching who will contribute to the broad education in biology we provide. Applications are Due Nov 26. For full details of the position and how to apply, please visit: https://jobs.geneseo.edu/postings/5406
Biology Dept at SUNY Geneseo invites applications for a tenure track Asst Prof to begin August '26. We're seeking a scientist w/ training in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology & a passion for teaching. Applications Due Nov 26. For full details jobs.geneseo.edu/postings/5406
Please share widely
No!
Poster for 90 minute workshop on HOW TO DESIGN BETTER EXPERIMENTS, by Mridul Thomas & Ravi Ranjan. Details: September 23rd 16:00 CEST ; 14:00 UTC Description: Experimental designs can make or break an experiment. A good experiment has a clear goal and efficiently uses experimental resources to achieve that goal. In this workshop, we will review what experiments are for, basic and advanced principles of designing experiments, and how to use simulations to evaluate designs before actually doing the experiment. We’ll do a moderate amount of coding in R and so experience with this would be helpful but is not required. We intend to have small-group discussions to help participants develop their own experiments, and encourage participants to think of a specific question they would like to answer with an experiment.
@raviranjan.bsky.social & I are teaching a free online workshop with on experimental design for environmental scientists on the 23rd.
We'll focus on using simulations to evaluate how well different experimental designs help achieve your goals.
Please sign up & share! forms.gle/MZTxeQs4UpMr...
What was supposed to do: writing a talk.
What I actually did: figure out that 'bananas' is a portmanteau for 'good pineapple' in French.
Now you know. 🍍
Kellogg Biological Station is searching for a new Director! KBS is unique in its ability to integrate lab and field research, as well as integrating fundamental research in ecology and evolution with applications to environmental problems. Questions to me or the search chairs. Please apply!
