Alex Fraik
@akfraik.bsky.social
Research scientist | Evolution, pop gen & conservation genomics | views & typos are my own | 🐟🐺🧬
Job alert:
NOAA NWFSC & UW are looking for a postdoc (ASAP) in Seattle study foraging ecology of Cook Inlet beluga whales using eDNA. Genetics/ecology/eDNA experience preferred. Interested candidates reach out to kim.parsons@noaa.gov or rpkelly@uw.edu directly. #eDNA #ConsGen
NOAA NWFSC & UW are looking for a postdoc (ASAP) in Seattle study foraging ecology of Cook Inlet beluga whales using eDNA. Genetics/ecology/eDNA experience preferred. Interested candidates reach out to kim.parsons@noaa.gov or rpkelly@uw.edu directly. #eDNA #ConsGen
January 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Work by Bell, Kovach, Whiteley and colleagues demonstrates that even inbred trout source populations can be used for genetic rescue. Great news for folks considering translocation efforts, but are faced with the challenge of identifying suitable (genetically diverse) donor populations #ConsGen
Inbred source populations result in genetic rescue of imperiled trout populations
Genetic rescue—assisted translocation to reduce inbreeding and increase population viability—is a promising conservation strategy for mitigating the e…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Work by Bell, Kovach, Whiteley and colleagues demonstrates that even inbred trout source populations can be used for genetic rescue. Great news for folks considering translocation efforts, but are faced with the challenge of identifying suitable (genetically diverse) donor populations #ConsGen
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Evaluating inbreeding and assessing the risk of outbreeding depression in genetic rescue using whole-genome sequence data
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 2, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Evaluating inbreeding and assessing the risk of outbreeding depression in genetic rescue using whole-genome sequence data
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Putting Structural Variants Into Practice: The Role of Chromosomal Inversions in the Management of Marine Environments. New @marine-omics.bsky.social paper by Nadja Schneller with @janstrugnell.bsky.social, @mattfield100.bsky.social and Kerstin Johannesson out today doi.org/10.1111/mec....
Putting Structural Variants Into Practice: The Role of Chromosomal Inversions in the Management of Marine Environments
Major threats to marine species and ecosystems include overfishing, invasive species, pollution and climate change. The changing climate not only imposes direct threats through the impacts of severe ....
doi.org
May 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Putting Structural Variants Into Practice: The Role of Chromosomal Inversions in the Management of Marine Environments. New @marine-omics.bsky.social paper by Nadja Schneller with @janstrugnell.bsky.social, @mattfield100.bsky.social and Kerstin Johannesson out today doi.org/10.1111/mec....
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Join our Tree of Life Programme as a Group Leader in Biodiversity Genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Lead ambitious, large-scale genomics research to understand life’s diversity on Earth.
🔗 Learn more and apply: sanger.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Wellco...
📅 Closing date: 8 February 2026
🔗 Learn more and apply: sanger.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Wellco...
📅 Closing date: 8 February 2026
December 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Join our Tree of Life Programme as a Group Leader in Biodiversity Genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Lead ambitious, large-scale genomics research to understand life’s diversity on Earth.
🔗 Learn more and apply: sanger.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Wellco...
📅 Closing date: 8 February 2026
🔗 Learn more and apply: sanger.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Wellco...
📅 Closing date: 8 February 2026
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Flathead Lake Biological Station @umflbs.bsky.social searches for a new director following @drlimnology.bsky.social end of 2026. See details 👇
This is a unique opportunity to lead a 125-yr old institution - wonderful & dedicated team, engaged community, terrific facilities, AWESOME location, a fine university.
Is this for you? Then apply! apply.interfolio.com/178916
Is this for you? Then apply! apply.interfolio.com/178916
December 13, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Flathead Lake Biological Station @umflbs.bsky.social searches for a new director following @drlimnology.bsky.social end of 2026. See details 👇
Reposted by Alex Fraik
Team fish - we need your help! We are trying to build a database of all the fish chromosome-scale genomes where sex chromosomes have been identified. Have you build one or some? Do you know someone who has? Can you post the link in the comments? Please spread the word and repost! Thank you!
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Team fish - we need your help! We are trying to build a database of all the fish chromosome-scale genomes where sex chromosomes have been identified. Have you build one or some? Do you know someone who has? Can you post the link in the comments? Please spread the word and repost! Thank you!
Reposted by Alex Fraik
The value of structural variants to conservation genomics in the pangenome era
academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...
academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...
The value of structural variants to conservation genomics in the pangenome era
Abstract. Structural variants (SVs) comprise an axis of genetic diversity with strong consequences for phenotype and fitness, making them a potentially imp
academic.oup.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The value of structural variants to conservation genomics in the pangenome era
academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...
academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...
Ancestors of Fishers translocated decades ago into the Rockies in northern ID and MT persist! #consgen #fishers
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
The genetic implications of translocations on Fisher (Pekania pennanti) populations in Montana and Idaho
Genetic structure of fishers in the US Northern Rocky Mountains is influenced by translocation history. Fishers in Northern Idaho and Montana are derived f
academic.oup.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Ancestors of Fishers translocated decades ago into the Rockies in northern ID and MT persist! #consgen #fishers
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
We have another publication out! 🎉🎉🎉
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Hybrids Along a Natural‐Anthropogenic Gradient: Improving Policy and Management Across All Levels of Biodiversity
Hybridization has long been a central topic in evolution and conservation. Recent developments in genomics have increased the ability to detect hybridization, defined here as breeding between species....
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
We have another publication out! 🎉🎉🎉
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
I'm excited to read this paper: "Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles" doi.org/10.1093/evol...
Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles
Abstract. Genetic offset models have become a popular component of the landscape genetics toolbox, with over 600 peer-reviewed publications applying these
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I'm excited to read this paper: "Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles" doi.org/10.1093/evol...
Reposted by Alex Fraik
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
The evolutionary genomics of life-history adaptations in pinnipeds - Yorkshire Environmental Sciences • Doctoral Training Network
Project summary Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus) are keystone marine predators, and sentinels for marine ecosystem health. Advances in genomic technology open up the possibility to u...
yes-dtn.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
Neat opportunity at George Mason University for #consbio #consgen undergrads. Paid NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
smconservation.gmu.edu/nsf-reu/
smconservation.gmu.edu/nsf-reu/
NSF-REU - Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation
smconservation.gmu.edu
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Neat opportunity at George Mason University for #consbio #consgen undergrads. Paid NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
smconservation.gmu.edu/nsf-reu/
smconservation.gmu.edu/nsf-reu/
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/...