Benjamin Vernot
@benvernot.bsky.social
Scientist living in Vienna. Two^H^H^H Three loud kids, population genetics, sediment DNA. New Prof. @ Uni Vienna / Group leader @ MPI EVA. ERC CoG UNEARTH.
Are you interested in human DNA from ancient sediments? Do you want to do a PhD in Vienna? We have two open positions in our group! You can learn more and apply here (scroll down to the very bottom, ours are the last two listings): careers.univie.ac.at/en/praedoc/s...
Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution
The Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution is dedicated to educating students to advance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of extant and ancestral organisms, populations, and communities. In Ecology, the focus is on uncovering the mechanistic and evolutionary drivers of patterns and processes across biological scales, from gene regulation to ecosystem structure and function, including the role of communities in biogeochemical cycles and their adaptive responses to environmental change. In Evolution, we investigate the processes shaping changes in organization and dynamics of organisms, populations, and species at molecular, developmental, morphological, and physiological levels.
careers.univie.ac.at
February 13, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Are you interested in human DNA from ancient sediments? Do you want to do a PhD in Vienna? We have two open positions in our group! You can learn more and apply here (scroll down to the very bottom, ours are the last two listings): careers.univie.ac.at/en/praedoc/s...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
🧬SedaDNA Postdoc position💥 2 years Starts 2026, apply by 1st March.
Join Aleks Pluskowski at Reading & me at NHM. jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Join Aleks Pluskowski at Reading & me at NHM. jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Environmental DNA:Whiteknights Reading UK
We are seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to join our research team at Reading, focusing on sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA / environmental DNA) from soils and sediments from the project’s case study regions in Spain and North Africa. You will contribute to the reconstruction of past landscapes and human-environment interactions through the analysis of sedimentary DNA. This includes analysing samples from terraces, irrigated fields and archaeological sites, and using eDNA metagenomics and metabarcoding approaches for multi-species detection, with the aim of characterising changing plant and animal species diversity and richness over time. The position will involve fieldwork, laboratory work, data analysis, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, palaeoecologists and historians.
jobs.reading.ac.uk
February 11, 2026 at 6:07 PM
🧬SedaDNA Postdoc position💥 2 years Starts 2026, apply by 1st March.
Join Aleks Pluskowski at Reading & me at NHM. jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Join Aleks Pluskowski at Reading & me at NHM. jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
“This isn’t an operation – it’s a cremation… Look at these pictures. Really look at them. If you still believe that all this is justifiable, that you are not bearing witness to crimes against humanity, then look at yourself.”
-Arwa Mahdawi, @theguardian.com
-Arwa Mahdawi, @theguardian.com
Have you looked at satellite images of Gaza? You should | Arwa Mahdawi
Imagery is filtering on Google Maps through from October and November 2023. If that was the reality then, imagine what it looks like now
www.theguardian.com
May 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
“This isn’t an operation – it’s a cremation… Look at these pictures. Really look at them. If you still believe that all this is justifiable, that you are not bearing witness to crimes against humanity, then look at yourself.”
-Arwa Mahdawi, @theguardian.com
-Arwa Mahdawi, @theguardian.com
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
🚨 Requesting help:
I am looking for an agent who can facilitate more speaking gigs, podcast appearances, and interviews with journalists
I want to more widely share my story and expertise as a trans geneticist who understands the reality and complexity of "biological sex" 🏳️⚧️🧬
Please signal boost?
I am looking for an agent who can facilitate more speaking gigs, podcast appearances, and interviews with journalists
I want to more widely share my story and expertise as a trans geneticist who understands the reality and complexity of "biological sex" 🏳️⚧️🧬
Please signal boost?
January 28, 2026 at 9:03 PM
🚨 Requesting help:
I am looking for an agent who can facilitate more speaking gigs, podcast appearances, and interviews with journalists
I want to more widely share my story and expertise as a trans geneticist who understands the reality and complexity of "biological sex" 🏳️⚧️🧬
Please signal boost?
I am looking for an agent who can facilitate more speaking gigs, podcast appearances, and interviews with journalists
I want to more widely share my story and expertise as a trans geneticist who understands the reality and complexity of "biological sex" 🏳️⚧️🧬
Please signal boost?
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
"We are out there in every place they are, showing them that every person in this city is one of our own, that there is no such thing as other people’s children, that collectively we are not afraid of staring them in the eye," @erikhane.bsky.social writes from Minneapolis.
There is no such thing as other people’s children
It is intolerable
www.welcometohellworld.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:50 PM
"We are out there in every place they are, showing them that every person in this city is one of our own, that there is no such thing as other people’s children, that collectively we are not afraid of staring them in the eye," @erikhane.bsky.social writes from Minneapolis.
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
📣 We are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow in ancient metagenomics. Join us at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu.
⏳ 01.04.2026–31.03.2028
📚 1.0 position
📍 Riia 23b, Tartu, Estonia
ℹ️ Project: lnkd.in/dQARuBxM
ℹ️ Application: lnkd.in/dFR8DQxH
⏰ Deadline 02.02.2026
⏳ 01.04.2026–31.03.2028
📚 1.0 position
📍 Riia 23b, Tartu, Estonia
ℹ️ Project: lnkd.in/dQARuBxM
ℹ️ Application: lnkd.in/dFR8DQxH
⏰ Deadline 02.02.2026
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
📣 We are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow in ancient metagenomics. Join us at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu.
⏳ 01.04.2026–31.03.2028
📚 1.0 position
📍 Riia 23b, Tartu, Estonia
ℹ️ Project: lnkd.in/dQARuBxM
ℹ️ Application: lnkd.in/dFR8DQxH
⏰ Deadline 02.02.2026
⏳ 01.04.2026–31.03.2028
📚 1.0 position
📍 Riia 23b, Tartu, Estonia
ℹ️ Project: lnkd.in/dQARuBxM
ℹ️ Application: lnkd.in/dFR8DQxH
⏰ Deadline 02.02.2026
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
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
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Want to help our cause? If you see any
1. Anti-trans news story lying about "trusting the science" that "biological sex" is binary
2. Scientific resources explaining the complexity of sex and gender
3. Good faith questions that could use a trans geneticist's brain
Send it via DM or tagging us! 🏳️⚧️🧬
1. Anti-trans news story lying about "trusting the science" that "biological sex" is binary
2. Scientific resources explaining the complexity of sex and gender
3. Good faith questions that could use a trans geneticist's brain
Send it via DM or tagging us! 🏳️⚧️🧬
January 8, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Want to help our cause? If you see any
1. Anti-trans news story lying about "trusting the science" that "biological sex" is binary
2. Scientific resources explaining the complexity of sex and gender
3. Good faith questions that could use a trans geneticist's brain
Send it via DM or tagging us! 🏳️⚧️🧬
1. Anti-trans news story lying about "trusting the science" that "biological sex" is binary
2. Scientific resources explaining the complexity of sex and gender
3. Good faith questions that could use a trans geneticist's brain
Send it via DM or tagging us! 🏳️⚧️🧬
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Hey, fellow evolutionary biologists:
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
And that’s a follow.
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
December 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Hey, fellow evolutionary biologists:
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
I consider myself a biological anthropologist who sometimes has to engage with evolutionary biologists.
In EB, too often the conclusions are about how biology determines culture. In BA, we learn that culture & biology are interrelated, affecting each other but not determining (that’s too narrow).
In EB, too often the conclusions are about how biology determines culture. In BA, we learn that culture & biology are interrelated, affecting each other but not determining (that’s too narrow).
Hey, fellow evolutionary biologists:
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
If you support trans rights, like, comment, or repost this. I want to show that transphobes like Richard Dawkins are a loud minority that does not represent our community
And that’s a follow.
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
Actually I do have a question if you have a sec.
Without exception the most transphobic group of scientists I’ve run into online are evolutionary biologists. Every single one of them has expressed the same opinion: transness cannot be anything other than social contagion. Why?
December 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I consider myself a biological anthropologist who sometimes has to engage with evolutionary biologists.
In EB, too often the conclusions are about how biology determines culture. In BA, we learn that culture & biology are interrelated, affecting each other but not determining (that’s too narrow).
In EB, too often the conclusions are about how biology determines culture. In BA, we learn that culture & biology are interrelated, affecting each other but not determining (that’s too narrow).
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
@merszym.bsky.social @janetk.bsky.social et al. develop quicksand, an open-source Nextflow pipeline designed for rapid and accurate taxonomic classification of mammalian mitochondrial DNA in sedimentary ancient DNA samples.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf305
#evobio #molbio #compbio #aDNA
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf305
#evobio #molbio #compbio #aDNA
Quick Analysis of Sedimentary Ancient DNA Using quicksand
Abstract. Ancient DNA extracted from the sediments of archaeological sites (sedaDNA) can provide fine-grained information about the composition of past eco
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
@merszym.bsky.social @janetk.bsky.social et al. develop quicksand, an open-source Nextflow pipeline designed for rapid and accurate taxonomic classification of mammalian mitochondrial DNA in sedimentary ancient DNA samples.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf305
#evobio #molbio #compbio #aDNA
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf305
#evobio #molbio #compbio #aDNA
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
I am very excited to present this work to the (sed)aDNA community - and I am looking forward to some cool applications!
If you want to use quicksand, I recommend following supplementary section 8, which demonstrates several use-cases :)
see github.com/mpieva/quicksand for more details
If you want to use quicksand, I recommend following supplementary section 8, which demonstrates several use-cases :)
see github.com/mpieva/quicksand for more details
December 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I am very excited to present this work to the (sed)aDNA community - and I am looking forward to some cool applications!
If you want to use quicksand, I recommend following supplementary section 8, which demonstrates several use-cases :)
see github.com/mpieva/quicksand for more details
If you want to use quicksand, I recommend following supplementary section 8, which demonstrates several use-cases :)
see github.com/mpieva/quicksand for more details
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
🚩 #jobanthropology
Open position as a #Ph.D. candidate (PraeDoc) in the area of #3D #dentalmorphology
at University of Vienna (Prof. Gerhard Weber)
www.heas.at/allgemein/ph...
Open position as a #Ph.D. candidate (PraeDoc) in the area of #3D #dentalmorphology
at University of Vienna (Prof. Gerhard Weber)
www.heas.at/allgemein/ph...
PhD position in Virtual Anthropology Group - HEAS
The Virtual Anthropology group at University of Vienna (Prof. Gerhard Weber) is now offering a position as a Ph.D. candidate (PraeDoc) in the area of 3D dental morphology. The position is funded by th...
www.heas.at
December 11, 2025 at 7:39 AM
🚩 #jobanthropology
Open position as a #Ph.D. candidate (PraeDoc) in the area of #3D #dentalmorphology
at University of Vienna (Prof. Gerhard Weber)
www.heas.at/allgemein/ph...
Open position as a #Ph.D. candidate (PraeDoc) in the area of #3D #dentalmorphology
at University of Vienna (Prof. Gerhard Weber)
www.heas.at/allgemein/ph...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Final call for abstracts for ICP2026! 🧬
Submit here: icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
⏰ 4.5 hrs remaining... ⏰
Submit here: icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
⏰ 4.5 hrs remaining... ⏰
November 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Final call for abstracts for ICP2026! 🧬
Submit here: icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
⏰ 4.5 hrs remaining... ⏰
Submit here: icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
⏰ 4.5 hrs remaining... ⏰
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
So proud of this work—out today in Cell! 🦊 (and only the beginning of lots of exciting fox work to come!)
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 8:50 PM
So proud of this work—out today in Cell! 🦊 (and only the beginning of lots of exciting fox work to come!)
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Only 1 person in the whole study went from identifying as trans to not identifying as trans. The 1/5 number came from youth going between the binary and non-binary spectrum.
This headline and post are misleading on purpose to fit the economist's editorial bent on the political issue.
This headline and post are misleading on purpose to fit the economist's editorial bent on the political issue.
A recent study found that children who transitioned young retained stable gender identities over time. But the fact that nearly a fifth of those in the group did not ought to give advocates of irreversible medical interventions pause
How stable are the gender identities of younger children?
A study finds that one in five who switch gender change their mind
econ.st
September 22, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Only 1 person in the whole study went from identifying as trans to not identifying as trans. The 1/5 number came from youth going between the binary and non-binary spectrum.
This headline and post are misleading on purpose to fit the economist's editorial bent on the political issue.
This headline and post are misleading on purpose to fit the economist's editorial bent on the political issue.
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
hey bluesky 👋 visa hurdles mean I’m looking for opportunities outside the US. I’m a computational biologist (bacterial + phage genomics, postdoc in Koonin’s group @ NIH). I am interested in teaming up on funding apps. reach out if this resonates!
September 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM
hey bluesky 👋 visa hurdles mean I’m looking for opportunities outside the US. I’m a computational biologist (bacterial + phage genomics, postdoc in Koonin’s group @ NIH). I am interested in teaming up on funding apps. reach out if this resonates!
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
A friend of mine was on Charlie Kirk's "watch list" of Black professors. She received so many death and rape threats that her university offered her a security detail for the walk to class.
This is Kirk's legacy.
You would never know it from reading all of these legacy newspaper op-eds about him.
This is Kirk's legacy.
You would never know it from reading all of these legacy newspaper op-eds about him.
September 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A friend of mine was on Charlie Kirk's "watch list" of Black professors. She received so many death and rape threats that her university offered her a security detail for the walk to class.
This is Kirk's legacy.
You would never know it from reading all of these legacy newspaper op-eds about him.
This is Kirk's legacy.
You would never know it from reading all of these legacy newspaper op-eds about him.
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Great job opportunity here in Vienna at the Natural History Museum. @nhmwien.bsky.social
jobs.nhm.at/Curator-for-...
jobs.nhm.at/Curator-for-...
Stellenangebot Curator for the osteological collection of human remains (m/f/d) bei Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
Forschung, wissenschaftliche Tätigkeit in Wien
jobs.nhm.at
September 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Great job opportunity here in Vienna at the Natural History Museum. @nhmwien.bsky.social
jobs.nhm.at/Curator-for-...
jobs.nhm.at/Curator-for-...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
We are excited for the interdisciplinary workshop at the University of Ghana starting next week! Supported by the Bridging Minds Program @maxplanck.de, organized by researchers from MPI-EVA, including @hannahrausch.bsky.social and @mariepadberg.bsky.social. More info:
www.eva.mpg.de/events/2025-...
www.eva.mpg.de/events/2025-...
2025-Bridging Minds - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
www.eva.mpg.de
September 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM
We are excited for the interdisciplinary workshop at the University of Ghana starting next week! Supported by the Bridging Minds Program @maxplanck.de, organized by researchers from MPI-EVA, including @hannahrausch.bsky.social and @mariepadberg.bsky.social. More info:
www.eva.mpg.de/events/2025-...
www.eva.mpg.de/events/2025-...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Very excited to receive an ERC Starting Grant to study the earliest archaeological and biomolecular evidence of Homo sapiens in NW Europe
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
📣 The ERC Starting Grant call results are out!
Find out which early-career researchers will receive funding this year, what they will be investigating, where they will be based... plus lots of other #ERCStG facts & figures for 2025!
➡️ buff.ly/IsafuFh
#FrontierResearch 🇪🇺#EUfunded #HorizonEurope
Find out which early-career researchers will receive funding this year, what they will be investigating, where they will be based... plus lots of other #ERCStG facts & figures for 2025!
➡️ buff.ly/IsafuFh
#FrontierResearch 🇪🇺#EUfunded #HorizonEurope
September 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Very excited to receive an ERC Starting Grant to study the earliest archaeological and biomolecular evidence of Homo sapiens in NW Europe
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
Thanks to @isbarchaeology.bsky.social and @isba11.bsky.social for a great conference.
I mentioned the legacy of Henk Kars of VU who established ISBA
Geoarchaeology closed. Here is the link to the petition to save Earth Sciences @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
www.change.org/p/red-aardwe...
I mentioned the legacy of Henk Kars of VU who established ISBA
Geoarchaeology closed. Here is the link to the petition to save Earth Sciences @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
www.change.org/p/red-aardwe...
September 1, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Thanks to @isbarchaeology.bsky.social and @isba11.bsky.social for a great conference.
I mentioned the legacy of Henk Kars of VU who established ISBA
Geoarchaeology closed. Here is the link to the petition to save Earth Sciences @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
www.change.org/p/red-aardwe...
I mentioned the legacy of Henk Kars of VU who established ISBA
Geoarchaeology closed. Here is the link to the petition to save Earth Sciences @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
www.change.org/p/red-aardwe...
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
'Ancient stickleback genomes reveal the early stages of parallel adaptation' - now published online in Evolution @journal-evo.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 5:12 AM
'Ancient stickleback genomes reveal the early stages of parallel adaptation' - now published online in Evolution @journal-evo.bsky.social
Reposted by Benjamin Vernot
The last piece associated with the brilliant team effort to rethink aDNA results and social relations in Neolithic Ireland is in this month’s Current Archaeology magazine with an absolutely gorgeous cover image of Newgrange (credit: Ken Williams) archaeology.co.uk
Current Archaeology
Britain's favourite archaeology magazine
archaeology.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The last piece associated with the brilliant team effort to rethink aDNA results and social relations in Neolithic Ireland is in this month’s Current Archaeology magazine with an absolutely gorgeous cover image of Newgrange (credit: Ken Williams) archaeology.co.uk