New episode of #MattersMicrobial. Dr. Rodney Rohde joins the #QualityQuorum to talk about rabies and controlling rabies in the environment. Fascinating talk about a scary viral disease. Please spread the #goodmicrobialword @RodneyRohde youtu.be/j9VK6uohNvA?...

WONDERFUL recording of an episode of #MattersMicrobial with Dr. Sean Gibbons of the Institute for Systems Biology; releases next week. I learned so much.

Fridays are complicated. Release of an episode of my #MattersMicrobial podcast. Recording of another episode. Then a Zoom meeting about nanopore sequencing. Then some lab work. After that, the gym. Then, a #Nanodate with Jennifer Quinn

Ego can turn anyone into a hypocritical and unpleasant person. I learned this the hard way many years ago (though I have nothing to be egotistical about). I always remember Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUOx...

Here is a streaked colony from a #MarineMicrobiologicalSafari experiment by one of my #Bio350 #Micronauts. It looks very odd indeed. Interactions? Phage?

Some Friday thoughts about teaching, microbiology, retirement, friends, and getting older. I’m sad and worried, but I am so damned lucky. I have gone much farther than many people thought. Farther than *I* ever expected.

Interested in #virulence? Not sure what it is - or how to explain it? Just curious? 🧐🦠🧬🦋 @kayla-king.bsky.social and I just wrote a Primer for @currentbiology.bsky.social on the ecology and evolution of virulence! Check it below and share :) #MicroSky #EvoSky #pathogens

Another week of #microbiology lab with my #Bio350 #Micronauts at @univpugetsound! #WaterBottleBuddies #BacterialPitter. I will miss working with students! @asmicrobiology Bonus #BabyCarl @microbe.tv

A little #MicrobialJuggling from a #Bio350 #Micronaut at @univpugetsound @GIANTmicrobes @asmicrobiology @microbe.tv

🚨 Microbiologists! We are recruiting Assistant / Associate Professors in 3 collaborative areas of our U. Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro 2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute 3) Center for Vaccine Research 🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...

Laboratory wisdom from a #Bio350 #Micronaut at the University of Puget Sound, waiting for an incubation period to complete. @GIANTmicrobes @ASMicrobiology @univpugetsound @microbe.tv

I am a free speech purist, even (especially) for those different from myself. That’s how I learn and grow. So folks have the right to hate, the right to bully, the right to name call. Even if it makes me uncomfortable. I just need breaks when it is too much for me.

For #TrilobiteTuesday, a flashback to when I was able to find some trilobites for myself at Markus Martin’s site at Beechers Quarry in upstate New York. It was a peak experience for me. @goldbugsofficial

My #Bio350 #Micronauts in lab today at the University of Puget Sound made me smile. I will miss teaching so much! @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @MicrobeTV #MicrobialCentrism

Delighted and deeply relieved that our R25-SEPA supporting EvolvingSTEM will continue another year. I've never been happier to see a NOA, and this is just a noncompeting renewal. I appreciate the troopers inside NIH for keeping the candles lit. 1000's of students & ~50 teachers will benefit!

As I look around me these days... In my 20s and 30s, I was, um, unevolved in many ways. Some people believed in me, stood by me, didn't listen to negative things about me (even from me). I became a better person, because of them. All I can do---any of us can do---is do the same for others.

A #MicrobiologicalStory about agar degrading marine bacteria. In my Biology350 class at @univpugetsound #MarineMicrobiology #DontFearTheMicrobe @asmicrobiology #PitterParty #MarineMicrobiologicalSafari @microbe.tv

I guess I am just as sad as afraid. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Bunsen burners are pretty, especially in slo-mo.

Doing a little microbiology on the weekend. I was doing a LOT of dilutions and plating, and thought I would talk about it. #microbialcentrism #microbiologytechniques @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @MicrobeTV

If you want to learn more about the unique biology of MMB from the same tidal pond, see my lab’s @quantaofgeorge.bsky.social opus magnum: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

cell divisionists & FtsZ fans take note 👇

Bitter but necessary medicine as I plan for the future.

Such a nice evening with Jennifer Quinn at Devils Reef in Tacoma. It’s our Friday night #NanoDate at 5PM. @devils_reef

This photo of Jennifer Quinn and yours truly makes me smile.

So delighted to receive these fluorescent little owls by @hazelowlery. Many many thanks! They brightened my day (while in a dark room).

Azula of the #FireSkinkNation is food motivated.

Another week clear. Can’t wait to get that NovaVax. Not yet available in Tacoma.

In my #Bio350 microbiology course, we do a #MarineMicrobiologicalSafari: looking for fun microbes from seawater samples. These are undomesticated bacteria for new #Micronauts. Here are bacteria breaking down agar on the plate: pitters!. @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @microbe.tv

In my #Bio350 microbiology course, we do a #MarineMicrobiologicalSafari: looking for fun microbes from seawater samples. These are undomesticated bacteria and a wonderful experience for new #Micronauts. Here are some luminous bacteria. @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @microbe.tv

There is a lesson here for all of us.

Brilliant talk on gut microbiome, brain, and development by John Cryan (Univ College Cork) #flux2025 “Microbiomes were here first - they’re like friends with (social) benefits.” Consider birth exposures, but remember microbiome is modifiable. @fluxsociety.bsky.social

I have never really belonged in academia, no matter how much I loved science. A former lab student, now a tenured professor and administrator, wrote this to me. I may not be a great scientist, or fabulous educator. I am an excellent talent scout. I mattered a bit, because of my students.

This was so nice to see. Made me laugh. Thank you, @profvrr and all. youtu.be/z2gwe9gyciQ

Another week, another episode of #MattersMicrobial podcast! This time, @lauraweyrich.bsky.social of Penn State discusses what bacterial DNA from ancient dental plaque can tell us. Please spread the #GoodMicrobialWord. @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @microbe.tv youtu.be/6Bc5jhCDWg8?...

Clarifying Terminology in Microbial Ecology: A Call for Precision in Scientific Communication enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #jcampubs

Time for #MicrobiologyFriday! Today, I chat about microbes, water bottles, single colony isolation, and siderophores. DO NOT FEAR THE MICROBE #WaterBottleBuddies #Microbialcentrism. @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology @microbe.tv

This week, Dr. Laura Weyrich, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the paleo oral microbiome! We will learn if our ancestors had the same kind of resident microbes as we do. @markowenmartin.bsky.social @lauraweyrich.bsky.social

The view as I podcast. #PhageMadness @microbe.tv @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology

This was me today on “This Week in Microbiology.” What a great article!!! #TWiMAdjacent @microbe.tv @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology

A few more #IMD submissions! My #Bio350 #Micronauts celebrate the Small Masters of our #PlanetMicrobe. Please enjoy! This one is a retelling of the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song about waterbottles and microbes. @univpugetsound.bsky.social @asm.org @microbetv.bsky.social #IMD2025

A few more #IMD submissions! My #Bio350 #Micronauts celebrate the Small Masters of our #PlanetMicrobe. Please enjoy! This one is a commentary on the recent NASA news of possible biosigns in the rocks of Mars! @univpugetsound.bsky.social @asm.org @microbetv.bsky.social #IMD2025

Baker Lab 2025 The container is our field gear for the research expedition for Uruguay. sites.utexas.edu/baker-lab/sp...

The challenge of retirement is finding a friend group in real life. So much of my time was spent with students. Wish me luck.

Rifampicin is more effective against biofilm infections because it targets biofilm-forming mutants that are highly resistant to other antibiotics @niaidnews.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The great Scott Kim made this for me. If you don’t know Scott, please read about his mathematical art.

What a nice thing to see this morning in my department at the University of Puget Sound: recognition of the great work my students do. Congrats to #DocMartian Chianna. We ALL do wonderful work with our fine students. @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology

Today is #InternationalMicroorganismDay! My #Bio350 #Micronauts were offered extra credit to create artwork to celebrate the Small Masters of our #PlanetMicrobe. Please enjoy! This one celebrates gut microbes and even a haiku! @univpugetsound.bsky.social @asm.org @microbetv.bsky.social #IMD2025

Today is #InternationalMicroorganismDay! My #Bio350 #Micronauts were offered extra credit to create artwork to celebrate the Small Masters of our #PlanetMicrobe. Please enjoy! This one celebrates ice nucleation bacteria and snow! @univpugetsound.bsky.social @asm.org @microbetv.bsky.social #IMD2025