Elena Litchman

@elenalitchman.bsky.social

4.6K followers 640 following 110 posts

Microbial community ecologist, professor at Michigan State University | Traits, temperature, biodiversity, resilience, microbiomes, harmful algal blooms
https://www.kl-lab.group
📷: Lake Michigan

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Elena Litchman is a professor of aquatic ecology at Michigan State University known for her research on the consequences of global environmental change on phytoplankton.

Source: Wikipedia

Environmental science 44%

Geography 15%

Posts Replies Media Videos

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Elena Litchman @elenalitchman.bsky.social · Feb 25

How will climate change affect human gut microbiomes? In a new @thelancetplanet.bsky.social paper, I analyze the main mechanisms — changes in food availability & nutritional quality, environmental microbiomes, enteric pathogens, increased host stress — and their interactions.
tinyurl.com/27kny9z9

Climate change effects on the human gut microbiome: complex mechanisms and global inequities

Ongoing global climate change is affecting all aspects of life on Earth, including human health. The gut microbiota is an important determinant of health in humans and other organisms, but how climate...

www.thelancet.com

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Philip Nel

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 23h

The combination of federal funding cuts and rising prices is making it difficult for many food pantries to meet rising needs. Please consider supporting your local food pantry during this busy holiday season.

Find Your Local Food Bank and Holiday Food Boxes | Feeding America

Find the Feeding America member food bank nearest you. Over 200 member food banks can connect you with free food, food pantries, soup kitchens, and holiday food boxes in your community.

www.feedingamerica.org

Reposted by Elena Litchman, William Gilpin

Prakash Lab @ Miami @vprakashlab.bsky.social · 2d

🚨 POSTDOC OPENING 🚨
NIH-funded Bio-Fluid Mechanics Postdoc in my lab @univmiami.bsky.social
Hofstenia miamia | cilia-driven flows | behavior & neuroscience
Collab w/ Mansi Srivastava @harvard.edu
🕒 Start: Jan–Feb 2026
⏳ 1 yr, renewable | Email me ASAP!
#Postdoc #Biophysics #FluidDynamics

Reposted by John Kennedy, Elena Litchman

Kevin Anchukaitis @thirstygecko.bsky.social · 2d

It finally happened. Got asked to review my own paper.

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Andrew Baillie

Science Magazine @science.org · 3d

By mapping the meanings of the words used to communicate emotions across more than one-third of the planet’s spoken languages, a study in Science found that there is significant variation in how emotions are expressed across cultures. #ScienceMagArchives https://scim.ag/4pQGxBB

Emotion semantics show both cultural variation and universal structure

Analysis of the terms used for emotions across a sample of 2474 spoken languages reveals low similarity across cultures.

scim.ag

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Jay T. Lennon, Elena Litchman

Jim Elser @drlimnology.bsky.social · 4d

It's time to apply for PAID summer internships @umflbs.bsky.social ! Note that our internships are open to all and incl field & lab science as well as data science, marketing, environmental law, journalism, & education. Spread the word! attn @umontana.bsky.social

flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/educ...

Three young people standing on a mountain snow field in a picture with text advertising FLBS summer internships for 2026.

Reposted by Mark Lubell, Elena Litchman

Don Boesch @donboesch.bsky.social · 4d

Trump comes for the oysters. NOAA slashes existing grant in half for @umces.bsky.social Horn Point hatchery responsible for astounding success of world largest oyster restoration here in Chesapeake Bay. Another assault on science, reason & environment.
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

Trump cuts to Eastern Shore oyster hatchery could endanger Chesapeake Bay progress

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently slashed support for an Eastern Shore lab that has helped to seed an oyster resurgence in the bay.

www.thebanner.com

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Elena Litchman, Hansraj Gautam

George Matsumoto @georgeimatsumoto.bsky.social · 4d

🧪📍🌊 🦑🍎 Marine Scientist Position – Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), full-time, permanent Marine Scientist position based in Panama. Application review begins February 15, 2026 (open until filled). Early-career researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. www.stri.si.edu

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute was founded with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropical ecosystems and their relevance to human welf...

www.stri.si.edu

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Mathias Disney, Kevin J. Anchukaitis , and 2 more Oliver L. Phillips, Mathias Disney, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Elena Litchman, Jacob I. Levine

Brian J. Enquist @bjenquist.bsky.social · 6d

New postdoctoral fellowship opportunity! Please pass along. Excited to announce the launch of the Tom Lovejoy Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona for innovative research to protect species, sustain ecosystems, and promote a thriving planet lovejoycenter.arizona.edu/lovejoy-fell... 🧪🌐🌾

Application Process

Image
Woman behind a podium presenting.
Jessie Golding, BBCS postdoc, presenting at ICCB 2025.

Apply to become a Lovejoy Fellow by submitting your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references through the University of Arizona Talent Portal (link upcoming) by the first review date of January 30, 2026.

Your cover letter should:

Identify 1-2 Lovejoy BBCS faculty you would be interested in working with and explain the primary research directions you would want to pursue in collaboration with this faculty member. You are strongly encouraged to reach out to faculty before submitting your application.
Describe your experience with or interest in inter- or transdisciplinary research.
Explain how this experience will positively impact your career trajectory.

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Ben Barr, Tim Leunig

Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 7d

Explore how other OECD countries spend their budgets: ourworldindata.org/grapher/gove...

Government spending by function

Share of total government spending by purpose of government activity. Categories are based on the Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG).

ourworldindata.org

Elena Litchman @elenalitchman.bsky.social · 8d

@nickhaddad.bsky.social

Global Museum @globalmuseum.bsky.social · 9d

Scientists Discover Nine New Species Overlooked in #Museum Drawers. Nine new #butterfly species have been discovered hiding in 'plain sight' among the some 80,000 drawers that make up the #lepidoptera collection of the Natural History Museum, London
www.newsweek.com/scientists-d... #globalmuseum

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Erol Akçay

Brian O'Meara @omearabrian.bsky.social · 8d

U Wisconsin summarizes the new US travel bans: iss.wisc.edu/dec-16-2025-...

If your institution hasn’t done the same, make sure folks potentially affected know about it. I worry that some international offices might not be on top of this given breaks, yet many people are traveling

#AcademicSky

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Pieter Vantieghem

Global Museum @globalmuseum.bsky.social · 9d

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 9d

Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 9d

Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.

Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado

The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.

bit.ly

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Elena Litchman

Santa Fe Institute @sfiscience.bsky.social · 9d

Are you an early-career researcher or research professional with a broad interest in complexity science?

Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.

Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss

Reposted by Elena Litchman

Patrick R. Secor @prsecor.bsky.social · 9d

Looking for a paid summer research experience? Apply to MSU’s Extreme Biofilms REU and work on cutting-edge biofilm science in extreme environments. No prior research experience needed.

#MicroSky
#PhageSky

Elena Litchman @elenalitchman.bsky.social · 9d

Enjoy!

Elena Litchman @elenalitchman.bsky.social · 9d

How fun!

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Alan McNally

Stephen Turner @stephenturner.us · 10d

Nature Reviews Genetics Focus issue: Eco-evolutionary genomics of microorganisms www.nature.com/collections/... 🧬🖥️🧪🦠 🧵 1/

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Elena Litchman

Galen McKinley @oceancarbon.bsky.social · 10d

I am happy to share my @nature.com News & Views summarizing the recent adjustments to the Global Carbon Budget www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Revised estimates of CO2 sources and sinks improve global carbon accounting

Updated estimates of the worldwide sources and sinks of anthropogenic carbon dioxide provide a firmer basis for monitoring climate action.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Elena Litchman

ISME - International Society for Microbial Ecology @isme-microbes.bsky.social · 13d

We invite microbial ecologists to propose dynamic roundtable sessions for ISME20! Contribute to the ISME20 programme by organizing your own Roundtable Session. The deadline for submitting your proposal is 7 February 2026.
isme-microbes.org/isme20-call-...
#isme20

Reposted by Elena Litchman

Jarrett Byrnes @jebyrnes.bsky.social · 14d

Nominate a species for the WORMS top 10 marine species of 2025! form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...

WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species 2025 Nomination Form | Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)

form.vliz.be

Reposted by Simon Roux, Elena Litchman

Jay T Lennon @jaytlennon.bsky.social · 14d

⚠️New format for ASM Microbe this June in Washington, DC⚠️

Applied and Environmental Microbiology is a new scientific unit @asm.org that will emphasize sustainability goals with a focus on foundations of basic science.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD6T...

ASM AEM Meeting

YouTube video by American Society for Microbiology

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Clark Gray

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 15d

NSF reorganization is, frankly, a bit odd, and we haven't run a story on it partly because it's hard to know what to make of it. The impetus for reorg, as I understood it, was to limit the siloing that occurs because NSF has so many (35ish) divisions. Now there will be 50+ sections.

NSF reorganization chart shows how directorates will be divided up.

Reposted by Elena Litchman, Stephen D. Murphy

Stephen Heard @stephenbheard.bsky.social · 15d

Jeremy Fox's new book, 'The Ecology of Ecologists', is now shipping. I've read it (and I blurbed it) - it's a thought-provoking treatment of how the field of ecology works as a science. You want to read it! dynamicecology.wordp... 🧪🌎

I just got my copy of The Ecology of Ecologists, now get yours–for 30% off!

Look what I just got! Yes, that’s right, it’s the first copy of my new book! You should order your copy too! If you order directly from University of Chicago Press, you can use code UCP…

dynamicecology.wordpress.com

Reposted by Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Elena Litchman, Joshua S. Weitz , and 5 more Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Elena Litchman, Joshua S. Weitz, Michelle L. Mazurek, Sebastian Karcher, Zen Faulkes, Jae-Young Son, Jesse R. Lasky

Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · 15d

NSF

- Forced reorg

- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)

- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)

I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃

Boxing up the NSF at Eisenhower Av for the forced relocation. Boxes have “Details Matter” signage.

Reposted by Simon Roux, Elena Litchman

Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 15d

Successfully added a few letters to my name last month!!! Truly could not have done this with our villages upon villages 🫶🏼

photo of Andy in front of his defense presentation

Reposted by Elena Litchman

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 15d

The number of federal employees who left their jobs in 2025 will total about 317,000, according to the OPM, after efforts by Elon Musk and the Trump administration to reshape the government workforce.

Federal Workforce’s Toll After a Year of DOGE and Trump: 317,000

The number of federal employees who left their jobs in 2025 will total about 317,000, according to the Office of Personnel Management, after efforts by Elon Musk and the Trump administration to reshape the government workforce.

bloom.bg

Reposted by Elena Litchman

Astrobiology @astrobiology.bsky.social · 15d

A New Study Reveals How Oxygen First Reached Earth’s Oceans
astrobiology.com/2025/12/a-ne... #astrobiology #oceanography

A New Study Reveals How Oxygen First Reached Earth’s Oceans - Astrobiology

For roughly two billion years of Earth’s early history, the atmosphere contained no oxygen

astrobiology.com

Reposted by Kelly R. Zamudio, Elena Litchman, Jesse R. Lasky , and 1 more Kelly R. Zamudio, Elena Litchman, Jesse R. Lasky, Benjamin Larue

Stuart McDaniel @stuartmcdaniel.bsky.social · 16d

UF Biology is searching for an Asst Prof in Evolution, Ecology of Infectious Disease - spread the word! @ufresearch.bsky.social @ufgeog.bsky.social @sse-evolution.bsky.social

explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/53...

University of Florida - Details - Assistant Professor in Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease

explore.jobs.ufl.edu

Reposted by Jesse M. Shapiro, Simon Roux, Elena Litchman , and 1 more Jesse M. Shapiro, Simon Roux, Elena Litchman, Joshua S. Weitz

Heather Hendrickson @drhhnz.bsky.social · 16d

It’s officially happening folks! The Microbial Population Biology Gordon Research Conference is back in Andover, New Hampshire starting June 27th of 2027!
See you there!!

@wcratcliff.bsky.social @ksbakes.bsky.social @surtlab.bsky.social

#microsky #mevosky

Screenshot from GRC portal confirming microbial population biology meeting June 27, 2027 in Andover, New Hampshire.

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