We have a new paper out - spearheaded by the brilliant Madison Tripp and Kliti Grice at Curtin in Western Australia: Biomarkers preserve exceptionally well in diagenetic carbonates rather than phosphates. #paleontology #astrobiology #geochemistry Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

I am very much looking forward to join my brilliant colleagues of the Ancient Biomolecular Lab @amnh next week to talk about frontiers in ancient biomolecular research! We will also discuss the current momentum in the field and the remaining big, open questions!

SVP 2025 abstract decisions are out: I am very excited to share that I will talk about how machine-learning applied to modern and #fossil biomolecules transforms our understanding of the early evolution of the vertebrate (+ outgroup) biomineralization toolkit! [1/2]

Planning to attend SVP 2025? Don't miss Megan's talk on her new approach to integrating molecular #fossils preserved in the rock record and in genomes! As a 1st-year JHU PhD student in EPS, she just won the Steven Cohen Award for her creative spin on Paleobiology! @jhuartssciences.bsky.social

Imagine you could not only chemically characterize individual molecules, but also simultaneously visualize them - in their biological framework or at mineral surfaces ... my AFM UV|Vis|NIR-Raman spectroscopy lab is officially operational, and the first data exceeded expectations! #biosignatures

I'd be delighted to sponsor a NASA Postdoc Fellowship focused on #biosignatures, #astrobiology, or the Origin of Life here at Hopkins! 🚀

Raman main system installation: All bits and pieces are assembled! Time for our first samples - until we add the Atomic Force Microscopy-module for Plasmonic and co-localized AFM-Raman next week!

One of the biggest stories in science is quietly playing out in the world of abstract mathematics go.nature.com/4lBOSqR

Always delighted to talk about the importance of the #fossil record! Learn more about research on #biosignatures, #evolution, #dinosaurs, and #astrobiology at JHU: www.instagram.com/reel/DMQNtCJ...

What a week: ✅ Wrap up 2 fun papers ✅ Receive 3-D Printers ✅ Hire awesome postdocs ✅ Win new funding for the lab ✅ Rig 8 ft x 5 ft optical table Next: ⬜ Install AFM UV/Vis/NIR Raman [11 days to go!]

I am endlessly excited to welcome Mariana and Pjotr to Hopkins! Our entire team is thrilled to have you on board - let's push the limits of the fossil record! 🤩 #evolution #paleontology #fossils #biosignatures #astrobiology

I picked up the current Re-issue of 'Reimagining #Dinosaurs' in @ National Geographic - just in time for #JurassicWorldRebirth! Our research is still as exciting as it was 4 years ago, but my lab is now proudly based @jhuartssciences.bsky.social [with co-featured Fabbri, Balanoff, & Bever labs].

I am star-struck to discuss recent progress on biomolecule and #biosignature preservation alongside so many legendary scientists in this C&EN feature: From #dinosaurs to the tree of life! So proud of the contributions from my lab @jhuartssciences.bsky.social! Link: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Reposting this brilliant summary of the current state of knowledge on protein preservation in deep time by @matthewcollins.bsky.social - holistic assessments of decay and stabilization kinetics are the way to go! #FossilFriday #dinosaurs #biosignatures

Congratulations to 1⃣-year PhD student Liam Olden for finishing a fantastic year with a funded field work grant [🏔️] and admission to the International Geobiology Course [🦠]! Enjoy your summer museum trips and field adventures!😊 #geobiology #paleontology #biosignatures

Congratulations to 1⃣-year PhD student Megan Miller for finishing a fantastic year with 2 impressive discoveries [🐭🐣], a funded museum grant [🦴] and a very fancy and well-deserved #paleontology award [🦕]! Enjoy your unix summer adventure 💻☀️ #genomics #biosignatures

A belated thanks to the University of Maryland Geology Department and @arctomet for inviting me to talk about #biosignatures and #fossils! I really enjoyed my visit and I look forward to working with you all in the future! 🦕🦖🐣

Living the dream ... 🤩 #spectroscopy #biosignatures #paleontology #astrobiology

I am absolutely ecstatic to announce our Symposium (No. 28) 'Bridging the Molecular Gap' at the 7th International Paleontological Congress, hosted by our amazing colleagues in Cape Town, South Africa! Please check out the program and join us in December 2026! Program link: ipc7.site/programme.html

If you're still looking for inspiration on how to dye your #Easter Eggs, I would love to draw your attention to our updated chart of #dinosaur egg colors! 🦕🦖🐣🥚🟠🔵

Inspiration for my fall term classes!

Excited to share my latest thoughts in @nature.com: From the discovery of fossilized #dinosaur cells to the translational application of time-integrated #biosignatures! 🦕🧬🚀 Explore the fate of biomolecules through time - here: rdcu.be/edUZR #astrobiology #paleontology @JohnsHopkins

I'm delighted to see so many women on the top 40 paleontology science communication list - and I'm very humbled to be part of it (as a full time scientist)! 😊 Always happy to share fascinating research from #molecularpaleobiology ... Link: influencers.feedspot.com/paleontology...

Fur colors reconstructed from fossil melanosomes preserved in ancestors of modern mammals support a nocturnal lifestyle! Colors diversified only after the extinction of the #dinosaurs. Here are my thoughts on this exciting new study by Li et al. in @sciencemagazine! science.org/content/arti....

Niles Eldrege's Obituary of Elisabeth Vrba [one of the greatest macroevolutionaries, originally from Hamburg in Germany] —out in Nature. rdcu.be/ediyO

Very excited to share some news in the next few days! 🦕 #MolecularPaleobiology

Are you currently setting up your spectroscopy/optics/quantum lab? Make sure to check out the MKS New Lab Savings Program for junior PIs! Super happy about the discount for my optical table 🤩

Congrats to my 1st-year grad students [Megan & Liam] for presenting their first thesis results at the MA Geobiology Symposium! 🤩

Huge thanks to the awesome geo- and #palebiology team at Johns Hopkins Universityfor organizing the Mid-Atlantic Geobiology symposium! 🦕 It's been wonderful to connect & learn more about all the exciting research in our region! #Geobiology #astrobiology #paleontology #fossils

Apply now for SVP’s Futures Award! 🦕 This award ($5,000 USD) is intended to support a summer research experience for current undergraduate students (incl. community colleges) who are Black, Indigenous, and/or members of other racial or ethnic minority groups! Link: vertpaleo.org/svp-futures-...

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science - from me and my lab! 🤩 The discipline of Molecular Paleobiology has been pioneered by women scientists - and I am so proud to be part of it and train the next generation of brilliant minds! 💚

One of the best views of the Hopkins Medical Campus! 🤩

Very excited to talk about molecular biosignatures and their various direct and translational applications - today at @vtgeosciences.bsky.social!

Looks like the following programs in #NSF BIO have been 'archived': BRC-BIO - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo... BIO-LEAPS - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo... PRFB - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

The spectroscopy community has lost one of their most brilliant and kindest software developers: Dr. Friedrich Menges, the mind behind SpectraGryph. I will remember him as a relentless supporter and facilitator of creative work in spectroscopy! 🌈 www.electrooptics.com/article/spec...

Just got the email from @pciarchaeology.bsky.social that I am officially on the Managing Board 👍 In case you want to know more about PCIArchaeology and #DiamondOpenAccess this video by @alainqueffelec.bsky.social serves as a good introduction

Very excited to attend my first-ever SICB - in Atlanta! 🤩 If you're curious about research in our group, stop by tomorrow at 11.30 am! #molecularpaleobiology #evolution #astrobiology #biosignatures

Our two Hopkins PaLEO groups finished a fantastic first year 2024 in Gubbio (Italy) at the legendary K-Pg boundary layer! Can't wait for 2025 - and our new spectroscopy lab, arrival of our rockstar postdocs, exciting research from our first grad students, our first field season, etc.! 🤩

Happy Holidays/Winterbreak! ☃️

If you are attending PalAss, make sure to check out Pjotr's talk tomorrow afternoon and learn how #fossil biomolecules reveal the phylogenetic affinities [yes, plural!] of acritarchs! This is one of the most impressive spectroscopic data sets that I've seen so far! 🤩

We made it through the first semester!

The last sessions for my class 'Deciphering the History of Life': our grad students run the show! 🤩

Many thanks to Kay Behrensmeyer for an inspirational Bromery Lecture @jhuartssciences.bsky.social! 🤩 #MolecularPaleobiology #fossils #taphonomy

Huge congrats! 🐠🐟🐡

New paper out today: Cao et al. describe the 'Preservation of biosignatures in Neoproterozoic phosphorites metamorphosed at temperatures >450 °C' detected with Raman spectroscopy and other tools. #MolecularPaleobiology #biosignatures Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Very cool lab sim of acid-catalyzed polymerization of nucleic acid monomers in a prebiotic world!

Throwback to the comparative anatomy part of 'Deciphering the History of Life' - here we extracted ink sacs and other tissues from squids as part of the mollusc chapter! 🐙

New job ad for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in EPSS at UCLA in Los Angeles - perfect for a fellow Molecular Geo-, Astro-, and/or Paleobiologist!!! 😊 @biomineralogy.bsky.social, ‪Mariana Valéria de Araújo Sena, Pjotr Meyvisch, @miquai.bsky.social, ... Link: recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09827

It's been 3 months since the official opening of our lab - and my team has been busy! So if you're curious about research in our group, check out our presentations at SICB, PalAss (maybe), & the MA Geobiology meeting! [Post 3/3] #biosignatures #paleobiology #fossils #astrobiology