Alex Fraik
@akfraik.bsky.social
Research scientist | Evolution, pop gen & conservation genomics | views & typos are my own | 🐟🐺🧬
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Thrilled to have a new paper out where we use 12+ years of monitoring data to document the impacts of inbreeding on fitness in eastern massasauga rattlesnakes! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Inbreeding reduces fitness in spatially structured populations of a threatened rattlesnake | PNAS
Small and fragmented populations are at high risk of local extinction, in part because
of elevated inbreeding and subsequent inbreeding depression....
www.pnas.org
August 20, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Thrilled to have a new paper out where we use 12+ years of monitoring data to document the impacts of inbreeding on fitness in eastern massasauga rattlesnakes! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Now published in Cell! We found that ~15% of SNPs from divergent refs did not liftover as SNPs in the gray fox ref—half mapped to monomorphic sites, half failed to map. Co-authored with Matthew Genchev, @elliecat.bsky.social, and @jazlynmooney.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Now published in Cell! We found that ~15% of SNPs from divergent refs did not liftover as SNPs in the gray fox ref—half mapped to monomorphic sites, half failed to map. Co-authored with Matthew Genchev, @elliecat.bsky.social, and @jazlynmooney.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
All those questions about inbreeding in conservation that you were afraid to ask.
A bunch of early career scientists is here to explain something that even Wright and Fisher couldn't agree on, the (not so) simple question of what is inbreeding.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A bunch of early career scientists is here to explain something that even Wright and Fisher couldn't agree on, the (not so) simple question of what is inbreeding.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Q&A: inbreeding and its implications for conservation - BMC Biology
Inbreeding depression plays a role in the decline, endangerment, and extinction of small populations, and thus inbreeding has received much attention in conservation biology. The term inbreeding is us...
link.springer.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
All those questions about inbreeding in conservation that you were afraid to ask.
A bunch of early career scientists is here to explain something that even Wright and Fisher couldn't agree on, the (not so) simple question of what is inbreeding.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A bunch of early career scientists is here to explain something that even Wright and Fisher couldn't agree on, the (not so) simple question of what is inbreeding.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Reposted by Alex Fraik
The first interview by Carl Zimmer is a good one: "She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators: Kim Ballare was a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service until her federal grant “got snatched away.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/s...
She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The first interview by Carl Zimmer is a good one: "She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators: Kim Ballare was a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service until her federal grant “got snatched away.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/s...
Neat job alert 🧬🐺🦌
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is hiring a wildlife conservation geneticist based in Missoula, MT. The position is joint with @umontana.bsky.social, working with Dr. Ryan Kovach on lots of neat wildlife #consgen projects. Reach out to Ryan with questions.
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is hiring a wildlife conservation geneticist based in Missoula, MT. The position is joint with @umontana.bsky.social, working with Dr. Ryan Kovach on lots of neat wildlife #consgen projects. Reach out to Ryan with questions.
Wildlife Conservation Geneticist
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
mtstatejobs.taleo.net
October 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Neat job alert 🧬🐺🦌
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is hiring a wildlife conservation geneticist based in Missoula, MT. The position is joint with @umontana.bsky.social, working with Dr. Ryan Kovach on lots of neat wildlife #consgen projects. Reach out to Ryan with questions.
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is hiring a wildlife conservation geneticist based in Missoula, MT. The position is joint with @umontana.bsky.social, working with Dr. Ryan Kovach on lots of neat wildlife #consgen projects. Reach out to Ryan with questions.
Reposted by Alex Fraik
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.
October 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.
New #landscapegenetics study by Helen Chmura et al. at RMRS. Using usat genetic data, she found human infrastructure generally explained genetic connectivity, for most, but not all species. Species-specific landscape covariates were still critical to explaining gene flow for some species #ConsGen
The impact of urbanization on genetic connectivity of 10 mammal species in New Jersey
Rapid human modification of landscapes around the world has made understanding how humans affect the genetic connectivity of wildlife populations urgent. The consistency of anthropogenic impact on ge...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
New #landscapegenetics study by Helen Chmura et al. at RMRS. Using usat genetic data, she found human infrastructure generally explained genetic connectivity, for most, but not all species. Species-specific landscape covariates were still critical to explaining gene flow for some species #ConsGen
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Science writing interest you? Join the team here at @uvadatascience.bsky.social see posting here: uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/...
October 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Science writing interest you? Join the team here at @uvadatascience.bsky.social see posting here: uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/...
Question for academic bluesky: how long is acceptable between "accepted" and "published"?
I have a paper that was accepted, minor tweaks, in April, sat for 3 months on the editor's desk for final rubber stamping and now ~3 months and is still not published (and no proofs)... Is this normal atm?
I have a paper that was accepted, minor tweaks, in April, sat for 3 months on the editor's desk for final rubber stamping and now ~3 months and is still not published (and no proofs)... Is this normal atm?
October 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Question for academic bluesky: how long is acceptable between "accepted" and "published"?
I have a paper that was accepted, minor tweaks, in April, sat for 3 months on the editor's desk for final rubber stamping and now ~3 months and is still not published (and no proofs)... Is this normal atm?
I have a paper that was accepted, minor tweaks, in April, sat for 3 months on the editor's desk for final rubber stamping and now ~3 months and is still not published (and no proofs)... Is this normal atm?
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Genomic bases of short-term evolution in the wild revealed by long-term monitoring and population-scale sequencing https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.01.679793v1
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Genomic bases of short-term evolution in the wild revealed by long-term monitoring and population-scale sequencing https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.01.679793v1
Reposted by Alex Fraik
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
Reposted by Alex Fraik
☠️🧬 2-yr Postdoc in in Genomic Simulations and Extinction Risk Modelling!
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
☠️🧬 2-yr Postdoc in in Genomic Simulations and Extinction Risk Modelling!
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
Reposted by Alex Fraik
My department (ecology and evolution) is hiring a core bioinformatics/comp bio person (not TT but the last person retired after 25+ years). It's a great place to work!: stonybrooku.taleo.net/careersectio...
Computational Biologist
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
stonybrooku.taleo.net
September 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
My department (ecology and evolution) is hiring a core bioinformatics/comp bio person (not TT but the last person retired after 25+ years). It's a great place to work!: stonybrooku.taleo.net/careersectio...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
The new -outfmt 20 in BLAST 😍. No more frustrated googling to remember which column is which.....
September 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The new -outfmt 20 in BLAST 😍. No more frustrated googling to remember which column is which.....
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Announcing SimHumanity, a baseline SLiM 5.0 model of the full human genome, replete with demographic history, autosomes, X/Y, and mtDNA. A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations. We’d love your feedback! #SLiM #evolution #genomics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
SimHumanity: Using SLiM 5.0 to run whole-genome simulations of human evolution
The reconstruction of human evolutionary history has undergone repeated advances, each made possible by methodological innovations. In recent decades, genetic and genomic data played a central role in...
www.biorxiv.org
September 3, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Announcing SimHumanity, a baseline SLiM 5.0 model of the full human genome, replete with demographic history, autosomes, X/Y, and mtDNA. A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations. We’d love your feedback! #SLiM #evolution #genomics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
🆕 ✨ New publication out:
Chromosomal Inversions Mediated by Tandem Insertions of Transposable Elements
We find that transposable elements are the likely mechanism of (some) inversions in cod fishes!
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Chromosomal Inversions Mediated by Tandem Insertions of Transposable Elements
We find that transposable elements are the likely mechanism of (some) inversions in cod fishes!
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Chromosomal Inversions Mediated by Tandem Insertions of Transposable Elements
Abstract. Chromosomal inversions play a crucial role in evolution by influencing phenotypes through the linkage of coadapted alleles. While inversions have
academic.oup.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🆕 ✨ New publication out:
Chromosomal Inversions Mediated by Tandem Insertions of Transposable Elements
We find that transposable elements are the likely mechanism of (some) inversions in cod fishes!
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Chromosomal Inversions Mediated by Tandem Insertions of Transposable Elements
We find that transposable elements are the likely mechanism of (some) inversions in cod fishes!
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Expertly led by @claudiafontsere.bsky.social now published in Molecular Ecology! 🥳
Learn why from a genetic perspective whooping cranes should remain protected due to loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding and load
#popgen #consgen
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Learn why from a genetic perspective whooping cranes should remain protected due to loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding and load
#popgen #consgen
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Expertly led by @claudiafontsere.bsky.social now published in Molecular Ecology! 🥳
Learn why from a genetic perspective whooping cranes should remain protected due to loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding and load
#popgen #consgen
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Learn why from a genetic perspective whooping cranes should remain protected due to loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding and load
#popgen #consgen
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
If you missed the deadline— it has been extended to August 31.
Confirmed via the original USDA news release (www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...).
See the Virginia Wilderness Committee on for example comments: www.vawilderness.org/news/letters...
Confirmed via the original USDA news release (www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...).
See the Virginia Wilderness Committee on for example comments: www.vawilderness.org/news/letters...
August 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
If you missed the deadline— it has been extended to August 31.
Confirmed via the original USDA news release (www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...).
See the Virginia Wilderness Committee on for example comments: www.vawilderness.org/news/letters...
Confirmed via the original USDA news release (www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...).
See the Virginia Wilderness Committee on for example comments: www.vawilderness.org/news/letters...
🧬 Molecular lab technician at the International Pacific Halibut Commission based in Seattle, WA #consegen #fisheriesjobs #fishgen
iphc.applytojob.com/apply/uWHW9z...
iphc.applytojob.com/apply/uWHW9z...
Biological Science Laboratory Technician - International Pacific Halibut Commission - Career Page
Biological Science Laboratory Technician opportunity at the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
iphc.applytojob.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
🧬 Molecular lab technician at the International Pacific Halibut Commission based in Seattle, WA #consegen #fisheriesjobs #fishgen
iphc.applytojob.com/apply/uWHW9z...
iphc.applytojob.com/apply/uWHW9z...
Neat study from my colleagues at the @usfs.bsky.social National Genomics Center and Alaska Fish & Game. Using genomic CAPTURE, they found that wolves on Prince of Wales Island in SE AK exhibited significant inbreeding, similar to Isle Royale Wolves #ConsGen
Genomic Analysis Reveals Inbreeding in an Island Population of Alexander Archipelago Wolves
Island populations are at heightened risk of inbreeding due to reduced mating opportunities with unrelated conspecifics. Extensive inbreeding can result in inbreeding depression (reduced fitness of i...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Neat study from my colleagues at the @usfs.bsky.social National Genomics Center and Alaska Fish & Game. Using genomic CAPTURE, they found that wolves on Prince of Wales Island in SE AK exhibited significant inbreeding, similar to Isle Royale Wolves #ConsGen
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Response to "No evidence that transmissible cancer has shifted from emergence to endemism in Tasmanian devils" https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.14.664746v1
July 16, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Response to "No evidence that transmissible cancer has shifted from emergence to endemism in Tasmanian devils" https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.14.664746v1