James Gagnon
@james-gagnon.bsky.social
π€ 549
π₯ 504
π 77
I'm an associate professor @UofUBiology, Utah, USA gagnonlab.org | fish stuff in and out of the tank
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James Gagnon
Molly Schumer
6 days ago
Help needed! Does anyone have experience extracting nuclei from flash frozen tissue? Especially helpful if it is fish skin or tail tissue! We are trying to get some precious melanoma samples processed for snRNAseq but are having issues with either nuclei number and/or quality
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LEARN THE TRUTH NOW π₯΅π
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6 days ago
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James Gagnon
Martin Haesemeyer
6 days ago
New preprint from the lab, led by Bradley Cutler. With the
@james-gagnon.bsky.social
lab we use zebrafish to show that fever is not a reduction in the perception of warmth. Immune signals instead increase the valence of warming stimuli while cooling turns aversive.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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James Gagnon
Christian Mosimann
11 days ago
Open-rank search: 2 (!) PI positions in Pulmonary Biology at
@cuanschutz.bsky.social
π We are looking for new colleagues
@cupediatrics.bsky.social
, working in lung fibrosis, focusing on
#devbio
, stem cell, & regen.biology of the lung π«π«. Please help spread the word!
cu.taleo.net/careersectio...
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Open Rank- Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=39890&lang=en
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James Gagnon
Ali Seleit
14 days ago
(1/15) Thrilled to share new Evo-Devo work where we address the molecular, cellular & morphometric basis of an extreme axis segmentation program in the Japanese eel β an animal that forms 120 vertebrae.
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https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.29.721344v1
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Chris Miles
19 days ago
I'm very sad to share that my advisor and colleague Jim Keener has passed away. Jim's impact on mathematical biology, through his writing and prolific mentorship, is hard to overstate. I'll write more personal reflections soon, but given his influence on so many, I wanted to share the news.
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Applications due tomorrow!
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20 days ago
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Using light-activated CRISPR in zebrafish, we triggered synchronized DNA breaks and track the repair process. β‘πβ‘ β¨β¨ Well ... DNA repair is very different in embryos compared to tissue culture cells. Embryos repair DNA breaks incredibly fast - within minutes!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
21 days ago
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James Gagnon
Nick Leigh
22 days ago
πΈDo salamanders need adaptive immunity to regenerate limbs and tails? πΈ Nope! π¨Check out back-to-back pre-prints from PhD student in our lab Chimezie (
tinyurl.com/42wst3bh
) and from our collaborators the Max Yun lab (
tinyurl.com/b92rzwzr
)
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James Gagnon
Molly Schumer
27 days ago
Please share widely! We will imminently be posting a technician position in our lab group since
@rheasood.bsky.social
is off to grad school π! If you know of anyone excited about molecular biology, evolution, and functional genomics please have them reach out (schumer at stanford). Start date ~June
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Surfin' NuRD
about 1 month ago
A very moving tribute to one of the founders of modern Stem Cell Biology: Gail Martin. Well worth a read.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
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Gail R. Martin (1944β2026): Embryonic stem cell pioneer, developmental biologist, and student of Asian art and ceramics | PNAS
Gail Roberta Martin, Professor Emerita of Anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco, and one of the founding figures of modern stem ce...
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2608481123
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James Gagnon
Tessa Montague
30 days ago
Excited to share a new review by
@kocherlab.bsky.social
and me: Nature-inspired neuroscience We discuss diverse sensory systems and behaviors across the animal kingdom and argue for their integration into neuroscience. New tools in diverse systems are making this possible β¨
tinyurl.com/y5y9du27
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John Wallingford
about 1 month ago
Did you know the Santa Cruz Developmental Biology Meeting has an entire session just for NEW PI Talks? And a New PI Keynote Talk? It does! These will be chosen from the abstracts. New PIs, sign up!
@socdevbio.bsky.social
@rashmi-priya.bsky.social
@lowelab.bsky.social
scdb2026.sites.ucsc.edu
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Santa Cruz Developmental Biology Meeting
https://scdb2026.sites.ucsc.edu/
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In 1936, a U.S. Forest Service ranger was fishing high in the Utah mountains when he found something bizarre: Cutthroat trout with tiny - or missing - dorsal fins! π§΅
about 1 month ago
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James Gagnon
The Onion
about 1 month ago
Once-Adventurous Salmon Canβt Believe She Ended Up Moving Back To Birthplace, Having A Bunch Of Kids
https://theonion.com/once-adventurous-salmon-can-t-believe-she-ended-up-movi-1825827223/
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James Gagnon
Pedro Hernandez
about 2 months ago
Very happy to share this study from our group and colleagues now out in Science! We found that in zebrafish, before the immune system is mature, gut epithelial cells perform immune functions by producing the cytokine IL-22 to shape the microbiota to promote early life gut function
#Zebrafish
#Gut
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IL-22 from enteroendocrine cells promotes early-life gut motility in zebrafish through the microbiota
The gut microbiota, immune system, and enteric nervous system interact to regulate adult gut physiology. However, the mechanisms establishing gut physiology during development remain unknown. We repor...
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr1707
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James Gagnon
Marine Biological Laboratory
about 2 months ago
Students from the MBL's Embryology course cleared this turtle embryo last year using LifeCanvas Technologies Inc.'s SmartBatch+, labeled with acetylated tubulin to visualize the nervous system, and imaged with the
#MegaSPIM
light-sheet microscope.
#microscopy
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James Gagnon
Zebrafish Rock!
about 2 months ago
βHere we present ZMAP (Zebrafish Meta Atlas Project), a harmonized reference integrating 8 published whole-embryo zebrafish scRNA-seq datasets comprising 798,790 cells across 15 developmental time windows.β π π§ͺ New work from
@danwagnerlab.bsky.social
π to WebApp:
wagnerlabucsf.github.io/zmap/
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James Gagnon
Chris Zimmerman
2 months ago
π’π’ My lab at
@utah.edu
is officially open and I'm RECRUITING β especially techs/specialists and postdocs! Our research focuses on the neurobiology of interoception and learning & memory using tools from systems/comp neuro. Please share! π§ ποΈποΈ Apply/more info:
zimmerman-lab.org#positions
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bioRxiv Genetics
3 months ago
Signatures of sex ratio distortion in humans
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.04.702084v1
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James Gagnon
Leah
3 months ago
It gives me comfort that my weird science obsessions protect me from the algo. Like, sorry honey, you're gonna have to sort a whole bunch posts about hagfish slime before you figure out what brand of sweatpants I prefer.
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James Gagnon
Jeff Farrell
4 months ago
Iβm recruiting new members to the Farrell Lab this summer. We will have space for 1 postdoc (since Abhinav is leaving to start his own lab at U Arizona!!) and 2 postbacs, since my current two will leave for PhD programs at the end of the summer. More details in thread:
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Is this the greatest thread in the history of science blue sky?
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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James Gagnon
Alice Auersperg
4 months ago
She uses the bristled end of a deck brush on her back and hindquarters, using repeated place-and-pull motions. For more sensitive areas such as the belly flap, udder, and anal region, she switches to the stick end, using careful, repeated poke-and-lift movements. See video link:
youtu.be/bAk4PFEuWKQ
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Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow
YouTube video by Antonio Jose Osuna MascarΓ³
https://youtu.be/bAk4PFEuWKQ
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James Gagnon
Marine Biological Laboratory
4 months ago
Don't miss out. Apply to our 2026 Advanced Research Training Courses today!
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James Gagnon
Joel Boerckel
4 months ago
Defending PhD student, looking over their thesis: βIf I knew then what I know now, I couldβve done all of this in like 9 months.β A thread about my favorite pioneering cave explorers and why I donβt think AI will ever βsolveβ biology.
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James Gagnon
MΓ‘tΓ© Varga
5 months ago
Over the past weeks I have been reading the earliest papers on zebrafish development, and came to realize that in the βcanonized" version of zebrafish history we neglect some important people pre-Streisinger. I will try to correct here the record. Letβs start with Edward C. Roosen-Runge. (1/7)
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James Gagnon
Braasch Lab @ Michigan State University
5 months ago
Happy Coelacanth Day!
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James Gagnon
Molly Przeworski
5 months ago
Happy to highlight an essay I wrote together with
@marcdemanuel.bsky.social
,
@natanaels.bsky.social
and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/n
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What sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species?
Germline mutation rates per generation are strikingly similar across animals, despite vast differences in life histories. Analogously, in at least one somatic cell type, mutation rates at the end of l...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.19.695482v1
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James Gagnon
Needhi Bhalla π π½
5 months ago
She let me know that they recently received guidance that, ONLY for the January EI deadline (1/27/2026) and the February ESI deadline (2/3/2026), PIs can submit MIRAs even if their previous application (R35, R01, R15, R21, and R37) is still considered under review.
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James Gagnon
MΓ‘tΓ© Varga
5 months ago
I was today years old when I learned that there is a superb (freely available) documentary from 1961 on early zebrafish development by J.V. Durden.
collection.nfb.ca/film/embryon...
(1/2)
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FYI - if you already have a pending MIRA application, you need the summary statement in hand by Jan 27th to hit this first FOA deadline.
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5 months ago
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James Gagnon
Jim Heys
5 months ago
Neuro grad students! Applications for the 6th annual - Rising Stars in Neuroscience - due Jan 9! Donβt miss this chance to present research, sharpen science communication skills and connect with peers & faculty. Plus youβll get to experience stunning Utah!
medicine.utah.edu/neurobiology...
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James Gagnon
Parichy Lab | Dave Parichy
5 months ago
We have a new preprint on bioRxiv from postdoc Delai Huang and colleagues. It's not about peacocks.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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James Gagnon
Chris Miles
6 months ago
I'm hiring a postdoc through Utah Math. Deadline Dec 15. If you work in math/comp bio (SciML, stochastic modeling, single-cell data), please apply! Vibrant math bio community & unbeatable outdoors. Mention me in your cover letter & reach out with any questions.
www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/27...
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MathJobs from the the American Mathematical Society
Mathjobs is an automated job application system sponsored by the AMS.
https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/27080
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James Gagnon
Anna Allen
6 months ago
***Important*** BIO will host a Virtual Office Hour (VOH) on Thurs, Dec 18th, 2025, 1 - 2 pm ET. In this VOH, weβll be joined by leadership to outline updates to NSFβs review process & share news relevant to all areas of research funded by BIO. Register here:
nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi...
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Webinar Registration - Zoom
https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VckBbTuSRa2IE9cQxVJNsg#/registration
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James Gagnon
James Briscoe
6 months ago
Applications are open for
@dev-journal.bsky.social
2026 Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs applying for group leader positions: Mentoring Profile raising Leadership training Network building Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
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Development's Pathway to Independence Programme
Our grants support and encourage the sharing of knowledge throughout the community by facilitating international collaboration, event attendance and the organisation of scientific meetings, conference...
https://www.biologists.com/grants/development-pathway-independence/
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James Gagnon
John Wallingford
6 months ago
SAVE THE DATE! Stoked to organize the 2026 Santa Cruz Developmental Biology Meeting with
@rashmi-priya.bsky.social
,
@lowelab.bsky.social
, and Shelbi Russell. Come learn about Biomedicine, Biomechanics, and the Biosphere, August 24-28, 2026. Registration dates, etc., coming soon! Please RT
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James Gagnon
John F. Rawls
7 months ago
Part 6: For decades, the zebrafish has helped scientists unlock the mysteries of genetics, development, & disease. But the fish that power most discoveries have spent generations inside lab tanks. This video captures footage of zebrafish in their natural environment in Nepal.
youtu.be/cCZhZpPALqw
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Zebrafish in the wild
YouTube video by John Rawls
https://youtu.be/cCZhZpPALqw
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James Gagnon
Molly Schumer
6 months ago
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student
@nadiahaghani.bsky.social
and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up:
shorturl.at/NE65A
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Insertion of an invading retrovirus regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish
For over a century, evolutionary biologists have been motivated to understand the mechanisms through which organisms adapt to their environments. Coloration and pigmentation are remarkably variable wi...
https://shorturl.at/NE65A
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James Gagnon
Carl Zimmer
6 months ago
An engineer wanted to make a quiet high-speed train. βThe question then occurred to me β is there some living thing that manages sudden changes in air resistance as a part of daily life?β The answer: the kingfisher. See my story today for more tales of bioinspiration. Gift link:
nyti.ms/4otNQyl
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James Gagnon
Matthew Neville
7 months ago
Now published! Our paper on: (1) Accurate sequencing of sperm at scale (2) Positive selection of spermatogenesis driver mutations across the exome (3) Offspring disease risks from male reproductive aging [1/n]
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Sperm sequencing reveals extensive positive selection in the male germline - Nature
A combination of whole-genome NanoSeq with deep whole-exome and targeted NanoSeq is used to accurately characterize mutation rates and genes under positive selection in sperm cells.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09448-3
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James Gagnon
D. Allan Drummond
8 months ago
Cat flea, homage to Hooke. Micron in Moleskine. π¬ποΈ
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James Gagnon
Josh Currie
8 months ago
π₯OUR LAB IS HIRING!!π₯ We are hiring a research assistant/lab manager to assist with managing our axolotl colony and enabling some kick-ass science! Looking for high levels of organization, collaboration, problem solving and curiosity. Application link:
tinyurl.com/3tpvphpm
#SciJob
#JobAlert
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James Gagnon
Mathieu PreuΓner
8 months ago
1π§΅ Excited to share my first PhD paper, published in
@dev-journal.bsky.social
What if fish gills βoften overlook βhold secrets about development, patterning, and function? We uncovered how early patterning shapes adult gill architecture.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
#DevBio
#Zebrafish
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James Gagnon
Martin Haesemeyer
8 months ago
Come be my colleague in the department of neuroscience at OSU. We are hiring for an open rank tenure track faculty position in several focus areas.
neurojobs.sfn.org/job/39081/te...
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Tenure-track faculty positions in Neuroscience - Columbus, Ohio job with The Ohio State University, Dept of Neuroscience | 39081
Faculty studying mechanisms underlying normal nervous system function and/or how these mechanisms and interactions are affected by disease or injury
https://neurojobs.sfn.org/job/39081/tenure-track-faculty-positions-in-neuroscience/
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James Gagnon
pikaole
9 months ago
Just keep thinking about fish
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James Gagnon
Maxwell Shafer
9 months ago
Now published
@natecoevo.nature.com
with
@annika-nichols.bsky.social
, our latest on the evolution of π΄ππ¦π¦π± across π²π¬ ππ½π²π°πΆπ²π of cichlid fishes!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
with members of the
@schierlab.bsky.social
and Salzburger labs, as well as the burgeoning Shafer lab
@uoftcellsysbiol.bsky.social
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James Gagnon
The Salt Lake Tribune
10 months ago
Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation βwould cause immense and largely irreversible damage to the successful American scientific enterprise,β write Jerry Kaplan and Dana Carroll in an op-ed.
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Voices: Federal funding cuts to genetic research will be devastating for years to come
Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation βwould cause immense and largely irreversible damage to the successful American scientific enterprise,β write Jerry Kaplan and Dana Carroll in an op-ed.
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2025/07/08/voices-cuts-science-funding-will/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot
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James Gagnon
John Murray
11 months ago
Happy to announce our paper comparing embryonic gene expression between C. elegans and C. briggsae, work led by Christopher Large with Rupa Khanal and in collaboration with Junhyong Kim and Bob Waterston.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
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Lineage-resolved analysis of embryonic gene expression evolution in C. elegans and C. briggsae
The constraints that govern the evolution of gene expression patterns across development remain unclear. Single-cell RNA sequencing can detail these constraints by systematically profiling homologous ...
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu8249
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