First patch foray of 2026 at Fen Drayton. Nice stumble upon this Red-breasted Merg, which I believe is the first for some years. Two drake Smew visible from the reserve on St Ives gravel pits. Merlin, Goosander and lots of expected wildfowl the supporting cast. #PWC2026 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

I’m excited to announce that I will be starting my research group on computational enzyme design at the Generative Biology Institute, Oxford, UK (@eitoxford.bsky.social)! PhD applications are open, deadline is Jan 8th (www.chem.ox.ac.uk/genbio-dtp). Email [email protected] with any questions!

New preprint from the lab!!🎉 We show that Asgard archaea ESCRT-III proteins can trigger membrane fission and reveal its molecular mechanism, offering clues to how these cells may have built internal compartments. But do these organisms even have these compartments? www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

While admiring this diorama in the Roman baths museum (in Bath..) I noticed this small tribute to the Life of Brian- a figure (under supervision) vandalising the walls with red writing!

An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

How common cuckoos adapt to multiple hosts | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

131 species for the week by public transport in north Norfolk. Self-found GGS and Richard’s Pipit the highlights. Best of rest: Hume’s, many YBW, Glossy Ibis, L Yellowlegs. Classic coastal autumn vismig with many Crossbill, Brambling, thrushes etc. Curlew and Purple Sands, Little Stint.

Just having tea in Cley visitor centre and a Great Grey Shrikes flies past the window! Managed to get a few people on it, appears to have gone down in a hedgerow east of visitor centre. Best bird I’ve found while mid-cup of tea @birdguides.bsky.social

Come and join our lab @mrclmb.bsky.social for your PhD! A wonderful environment to explore our archaeal origins with supportive and collaborative colleagues and the chance to investigate big evolutionary and cell biology questions.

We are excited to share our preprint describing how Sulfolobus cells coordinate DNA segregation with cell division! In eukaryotes this type of regulation involves checkpoints and CDK-cyclins. But how does this work in archaea? This is the question we ask in our paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

We are excited to share our preprint describing how Sulfolobus cells coordinate DNA segregation with cell division! In eukaryotes this type of regulation involves checkpoints and CDK-cyclins. But how does this work in archaea? This is the question we ask in our paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Excited to announce the Molecular Biology of Archaea (MBoA) 2026! Join us in Cambridge, UK, from 6–10 July 2026 for the only international meeting dedicated to Archaea.

Happy to share our paper’s final version on the evolution, structure, and membrane binding / remodeling of Asgard ESCRT-III proteins! And my first 🦋 post! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Our latest work on how the surface layer assists cell division in Sulfolobus is now out! Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe!

My good friend Arjun and I found a stunning male Bluethroat this afternoon at Grantchester meadows in Cambridge. Spring patch birding at its absolute best!

Waxwings on the LMB list, flock of 30+ past a few mins ago.

Mintosis