5 years of hard work on this guys brain at shows has really paid off. He’s starting to feel like an old pro. Did he try to kill himself in the trailer on the way over? Yeah. But did that bother him when he got there? Nope. Set a first level PB & exceeded our 2nd level debut goal by 4 points!

Guess I need to go through and swap genetic diversity for genetic variation in my proposal… ugh

One year ago today I pretty dramatically broke my wrist… and unofficially dislocated my elbow. I still can’t fully lock that elbow; nor can I touch my thumb to my shoulder on that side… but 95% functionality gets you pretty far day to day and I’m lifting heavier than ever so I’ll take it!

Super behind on this but so excited to see this preprint out. Dan did an excellent job summarizing the science; I won’t duplicate efforts. But on a personal note- I set out this summer with a goal to get my last postdoc MS done before submitting my tenure packet… mission accomplished!!

Currently unclaimed taxa (mostly inverts): - ctenophores or sponges - platyhelminths - annelids - crustaceans - insects/arachnids - chitons/gastropods/bivalves - cephalopods - amphioxus - tunicates - jawless fish - birds

🚨🚨We’re hiring graduate students!🚨🚨 We are hiring 1-2 PhD students to start sometime in 2026 (Fall start dates preferred). Opportunities to work on a diversity of eco-evo-immuno and symbiosis projects! Deadline Oct 15! Please share broadly! Info here: tinyurl.com/y2abjsem

Been thinking a lot about the many grant programs with institutional gate keeping (HHMI, Packard, etc). In a world of reduced funding opportunities, those of us at “lesser than” unis will be increasingly boxed out. This plan would not help… Good science can be done at all kinds of places!

Yall some company is making equestrian jumpsuits and I can’t even….. who in their right mind??? 🤮🤮🤮

Hey wild immunologists of blue sky… do you work on a non-model taxa??? Would you have 15 min to spare to zoom in and share your research with my comparative immunology class? I’m looking to spotlight real research this semester. Please spread the word and reach out if you’re interested!

🚨🚨We’re hiring a postdoc!🚨🚨 Min two year contract; start in 2026 (flexible) & contribute to this project focused on understanding the link between bleaching recovery and disease in cnidarians!! Opportunities to work on side projects too! Deadline Nov 1! Info here: tinyurl.com/y2abjsem

Anyone else absolutely drowning in review requests this summer? I’ve been getting multiple a day. Meanwhile we’ve been waiting FIFTEEN weeks and still no reviews on a MS submitted at the end of May. Last news was they were “waiting on a reviewer”… that was a month ago.

Full ad and application info coming soon, but putting it out into the social media-verse that we will be hiring 1 postdoc and 1-2 graduate students in 2026 to work on this or another ongoing project in lab (super flexible). Reach out or check out our webpage for more info: fuesslab.wp.txstate.edu

Teaching this fall? Here is a handy webpage that will help you generate a list of the days your course(s) meet: wcaleb.rice.edu/syllabusmake...

The Parker Lab at UNC Biology is hiring a postdoc to work on insect–microbe interactions. Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment! unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...

🚨 I’m hiring a postdoc for Fall 2025 with experience in microbial ‘omics data analysis and phylogenetics/genomics. Projects will be centered around ancient microbial ecology & evolution. Click here for more information: bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wp.txstate.e... Please share, thank you 🙏🏻

Still processing what an incredibly special place Denali National Park truly is. I’ve never been anywhere like it… when I first read that the park was mostly trail-less I was so intimidated, but after visiting and experiencing I am already plotting a proper trip back for some true off-trail hiking.

Yall I opened up a job talk from 5 years ago (yikes…) looking for something random, but the future directions caught my eye… Five years later we’re wrapping up NSF funding to do exactly this, and the concept is basically the foundation of my funded CAREER. 🤯🤯 #promisesmadepromiseskept

Nothing like a good weight lifting session in the morning to get those creative juices flowing. Went from total writers block on a MS intro last night to cranking the last bit out in about 5 minutes post workout (need refs, but it’s all there). 💪🏻💪🏻

Celebrating this Friday evening!! After 7 long months I can finally share that I have received an NSF CAREER award to study the link between bleaching and disease in cnidarians!! Stay tuned for more info about postdoc and graduate student positions!

Spending the 4th watching Hamilton cause with everything going on it felt most appropriate. Been a few years since I last watched and man it hits different in this season…

Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, or Marvel.

Things are rough, but I’m out here crying happy tears over kind grant reviews… not the first time I’ve cried over reviews, but definitely the first happy time. It’s the little things.

Boat day for our summer undergraduate trip as part of our NSF funded project. A nice break after a busy day of infection trials yesterday. Love bringing together all the students on team Astrangia for some great science and cohorting!

Reasons I was meant to be a PI: I LOVE conceptualizing experiments, I HATE running experiments. The chaos is just too much for my anxious brain (especially now that I’m out of the habit).

A perfect New England summer weekend to recover between conference week and field work week…

Fresh data, a Downeast cider, and some New England summer porch time.. couldn’t ask for a better Friday night

This week was pure joy at the Animal-Microbe Symbiosis GRC. Felt like a wonderful science summer camp. First conference in some time where I’ve met more new people than I can count. I’m leaving feeling so reinvigorated by this amazing community and looking forward to the next meeting.

Me: hey admin we’ll need to move fast on this paperwork from NSF when we can cause of all the current nonsense. Admin: Can do! Me: ok I’ve got my paperwork ready let’s go Admin: -out of office reply-

We are hiring a technician in the Simonis Lab at Auburn U! This is a two-year position with responsibilities for scouting and performing bat capture surveys at field sites (e.g. private and public lands, highway culverts). Check out more details and submit materials here: forms.gle/tEUNyRc1hG3f...

Flying through Newark today and to absolutely no one’s surprise, I’m stuck on the runway due to an equipment failure with Air Traffic Control.

Pretty much the most exciting thing that’s happened all year. Stoked that we’ve been given the opportunity to grow a coral symbiosis working group at TXST. Big things ahead!

Woah!! This is an insanely great opportunity. I would be positively thrilled to sponsor an applicant. I have several ongoing projects that would fit the call.

Also next time our upper admins come at us with the “70% of PhD students at R1s are paid on grants” lie, I’m gonna whip out this figure. We are about to gain and then immediately lose R1 status since they’ve refused to invest in institutional support.

It gets worse when you realize that something like 80% of the funds BIO /does/ get are earmarked for AI or Biotechnology projects. I fear there will be no new basic science BIO grants next year if this passes in order to keep commitments to existing multi-year awards.

Little road trip today up to College Station for the South Texas Evolutionary Genetics & Genomics Conference (#STEGG25). Been a great morning of talks! Excited to chat a little this afternoon about our long term coral monitoring project and what it can tell us about coral evolution!

Stars down 3-0 12 min into a series clinching game at home. As a newish hockey fan I gotta ask: is this the worst set of conference finals in recent history? Like I’m still wrapping my head around how both of my teams could manage to choke SO BADLY in the conference finals.

Night two of nasty TX weather, but at least this time ion in a house instead of a questionable 5th wheeler.

Sitting in a dark 5th wheeler somewhere outside Abilene TX as raging storms go by…. Yall I am not cut out for this kinda life. I’ve googled “Abilene tornado” about once every 90 seconds and have been watching my weather radar like a hawk…

Molly is an incredible new PI!!! This is a fantastic opportunity for folks interested in disease ecology/ecoimmunology/wildlife health!

My favorite band just announced a new album this year and the first single drops on Friday… Gonna be the best Friday in a long while. Thanks @colonyhouse.bsky.social !!!

Literally switched my jumping and dressage lessons because I was coming to the barn so upset on Fridays and couldn’t get my brain right to handle the anxiety that comes with jumping on top of the turmoil of life.

happy NSF Friday to all who are in therapy about it

Got to hang with my pal Tyson Motsenbocker last night. A fantastic musician & wonderful human who also happens to be passionate about ocean conservation. We connected thru Twitter a few years back & since then his enthusiasm for my research has been such an encouragement, especially right now.

Last night: got to don my wizard robes and celebrate graduation of one of our amazing undergrad techs. Afterwards in full TXST tradition I cheered her on as she jumped in the river to celebrate. If anyone’s looking for a tech for next year, she’s one of the best!

Felt like I got hit by a truck all day (yay sinus infections); but mustered some energy to get a little creative in the kitchen. Pickle pizza with real good chicken and homemade garlic sauce on lavash bread. Little things like this have been keeping me going these past few months

This was such a fun project to be involved in and much needed relief from everything happening the past six months. Thankful to Dan and all the coauthors for all the hard work, and really proud of the finished product!

Rantanen for captain….

Can someone please take Jamie Benns captain position away? Cause this is the second playoff season in a row his terrible behavior/sportsmanship has screwed the Stars over. Least the Canes are still in it.

Solo says there’s nothing better than a good evening jump school followed by some delicious snackies.