Cecilia Noecker
@cecilianoecker.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at Minnesota State Mankato (she/her). Interested in microbial ecology and evolution, metabolism, genomics, computational biology, equitable education, & more. Views my own. noeckerlab.github.io
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Amazing journal cover for the new Trends In Microbiology special issue on geographic diversity in microbiology
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
November 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Amazing journal cover for the new Trends In Microbiology special issue on geographic diversity in microbiology
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.
November 6, 2025 at 9:21 PM
SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
I had student meetings yesterday for my class. It was a writing class so most meetings started with my comments on their papers, but I told them they could ask about anything. Some asked for advice for gap years, how to choose the next career step, even audio books :) my favorite question was...🧵
November 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
I had student meetings yesterday for my class. It was a writing class so most meetings started with my comments on their papers, but I told them they could ask about anything. Some asked for advice for gap years, how to choose the next career step, even audio books :) my favorite question was...🧵
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
This was horrific to watch. Agents entering a daycare, wrestling with and abducting a teacher in front of small screaming children. I just… what the fuck are we doing here.
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This was horrific to watch. Agents entering a daycare, wrestling with and abducting a teacher in front of small screaming children. I just… what the fuck are we doing here.
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Imagine having a kid in this daycare who watches as their teacher is bodily dragged away by masked goons.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Imagine having a kid in this daycare who watches as their teacher is bodily dragged away by masked goons.
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
New-to-me but very helpful visualizations how all the actions of the past ten months are affecting the CDC www.cdcdataproject.org
The CDC Data Project
In the proposed FY26 budget, programs that help Americans live safer, healthier, longer lives are on the chopping block.
www.cdcdataproject.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:41 PM
New-to-me but very helpful visualizations how all the actions of the past ten months are affecting the CDC www.cdcdataproject.org
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
We are really proud of this report from our 3 colloquia convened by the AAM and supported by the Moore Foundation. A few experts even said they would use it as their introductory textbook for this area. Please check it out!
How did life begin, and why does it matter? Scientists are tracing early microbial life–from LUCA to multicellularity–to unlock insights for biotech, climate science and even space exploration. Read the article: asm.org/articles/202...
Early Microbial Evolution | ASM.org
How did life begin, and why does it matter? Scientists are tracing early microbial life—from LUCA to multicellularity—to unlock insights for biotech, climate science and even space exploration.
asm.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
We are really proud of this report from our 3 colloquia convened by the AAM and supported by the Moore Foundation. A few experts even said they would use it as their introductory textbook for this area. Please check it out!
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Once again, @mcsweeneys.net does not miss.
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"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
Hi, It’s Me, Wikipedia, and I Am Ready for Your Apology
“Wikipedia, the constantly changing knowledge base created by a global free-for-all of anonymous users, now stands as the leading force for the dum...
www.mcsweeneys.net
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Once again, @mcsweeneys.net does not miss.
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Is the human microbiome a source for hospital-associated infections (HAI) and are any genetic changes associated with HAI? In our new preprint, we longitudinally reconstruct the evolutionary processes within the human microbiome leading up to HAI: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Colonization, translocation, and evolution of opportunistic pathogens during hospital-associated infections
Many commensal bacteria that peacefully reside in the human microbiome are also able to cause acute opportunistic infections. Emerging evidence suggests that within-host evolution contributes to infec...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Is the human microbiome a source for hospital-associated infections (HAI) and are any genetic changes associated with HAI? In our new preprint, we longitudinally reconstruct the evolutionary processes within the human microbiome leading up to HAI: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Around 10% of your Nanopore reads (SQK-RBK114) are incorrectly trimmed. Here is why, and how our new tool Barbell solves it:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get started? github.com/rickbeeloo/b...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get started? github.com/rickbeeloo/b...
October 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Around 10% of your Nanopore reads (SQK-RBK114) are incorrectly trimmed. Here is why, and how our new tool Barbell solves it:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get started? github.com/rickbeeloo/b...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get started? github.com/rickbeeloo/b...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"
Scaling back DEI programmes and the loss of scientific talent
Nature Cell Biology - Programmes that support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science are under attack in the USA. Data indicate that diversity in the scientific workforce increases...
www.nature.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
USPS PRO TIP: To make sure your mail-in ballot, tax return or legal document gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office and ask for a manual postmark at the counter in person
Your ballot or other mail may not get postmarked by USPS the day it's dropped off
Close to a deadline for mailing your ballot, tax return or legal document? To make sure it gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office.
www.npr.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
USPS PRO TIP: To make sure your mail-in ballot, tax return or legal document gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office and ask for a manual postmark at the counter in person
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
On Sept 17th, 2025, @aaas.org and @researchamerica.bsky.social hosted Jay Bhattacharya—NIH Director—as the keynote for the National Health Research Forum.
Less than two weeks later, he spoke at the MAHA Action hour alongside Oz, Russel Brand, Tony Lyons, and Callie Means.
I have a call to action:
Less than two weeks later, he spoke at the MAHA Action hour alongside Oz, Russel Brand, Tony Lyons, and Callie Means.
I have a call to action:
October 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
On Sept 17th, 2025, @aaas.org and @researchamerica.bsky.social hosted Jay Bhattacharya—NIH Director—as the keynote for the National Health Research Forum.
Less than two weeks later, he spoke at the MAHA Action hour alongside Oz, Russel Brand, Tony Lyons, and Callie Means.
I have a call to action:
Less than two weeks later, he spoke at the MAHA Action hour alongside Oz, Russel Brand, Tony Lyons, and Callie Means.
I have a call to action:
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
No matter where you live or if you’ve never protested before, there’s a local No Kings Day event for you. Join a peaceful protest to make it clear that We The People will never bow down to a wannabe king: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
October 18, 2025 at 1:05 AM
No matter where you live or if you’ve never protested before, there’s a local No Kings Day event for you. Join a peaceful protest to make it clear that We The People will never bow down to a wannabe king: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
GET RID OF YOUR RING CAMERAS www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Amazon’s Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police
Agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with "evidence collection and investigative work."
www.yahoo.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:52 PM
GET RID OF YOUR RING CAMERAS www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
🦠🐘 From bacteria to the elephant ... with a twist. Eukaryotic telomerases originate in antiphage reverse transcriptases 🤯.
Mindblowing discovery from @stephentang23.bsky.social @sternberglab.bsky.social.
Such an incredible exaptation event uncovered through molecular genetics and genomics.
Mindblowing discovery from @stephentang23.bsky.social @sternberglab.bsky.social.
Such an incredible exaptation event uncovered through molecular genetics and genomics.
Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
🦠🐘 From bacteria to the elephant ... with a twist. Eukaryotic telomerases originate in antiphage reverse transcriptases 🤯.
Mindblowing discovery from @stephentang23.bsky.social @sternberglab.bsky.social.
Such an incredible exaptation event uncovered through molecular genetics and genomics.
Mindblowing discovery from @stephentang23.bsky.social @sternberglab.bsky.social.
Such an incredible exaptation event uncovered through molecular genetics and genomics.
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
The breakdown of new awards by mechanism.
F30 (Predoc, MD/PhD)
FY2025: 196
FY2024: 253
F31 (Predoc, PhD)
FY2025: 670
FY2024: 1054
F32 (Postdoc)
FY2025: 216
FY2024: 350
6/12
F30 (Predoc, MD/PhD)
FY2025: 196
FY2024: 253
F31 (Predoc, PhD)
FY2025: 670
FY2024: 1054
F32 (Postdoc)
FY2025: 216
FY2024: 350
6/12
October 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
The breakdown of new awards by mechanism.
F30 (Predoc, MD/PhD)
FY2025: 196
FY2024: 253
F31 (Predoc, PhD)
FY2025: 670
FY2024: 1054
F32 (Postdoc)
FY2025: 216
FY2024: 350
6/12
F30 (Predoc, MD/PhD)
FY2025: 196
FY2024: 253
F31 (Predoc, PhD)
FY2025: 670
FY2024: 1054
F32 (Postdoc)
FY2025: 216
FY2024: 350
6/12
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Our Research Symposium is almost here! On Oct 15, come celebrate 25 #BlackInMicro scientists from around the globe. Pre-register today to attend: tinyurl.com/BIMW25. To help keep #BlackInMicro alive, Donate here: tinyurl.com/GiveBiM (all links in bio)
October 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Our Research Symposium is almost here! On Oct 15, come celebrate 25 #BlackInMicro scientists from around the globe. Pre-register today to attend: tinyurl.com/BIMW25. To help keep #BlackInMicro alive, Donate here: tinyurl.com/GiveBiM (all links in bio)
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites
-in #ISMEJournal by Joanna Lepper, @hbrappap.bsky.social and @oliverio.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
-in #ISMEJournal by Joanna Lepper, @hbrappap.bsky.social and @oliverio.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites
Abstract. Although microbial eukaryotes comprise the majority of eukaryotic phylogenetic diversity and inhabit nearly all ecosystems globally, most researc
academic.oup.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites
-in #ISMEJournal by Joanna Lepper, @hbrappap.bsky.social and @oliverio.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
-in #ISMEJournal by Joanna Lepper, @hbrappap.bsky.social and @oliverio.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
"all universities have to do now is do nothing—no accepting the compact, no counter-offers, nothing—and the government will be left with no more power to coerce and control the First Amendment-protected activities of major American universities than it has today." balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 10:23 PM
"all universities have to do now is do nothing—no accepting the compact, no counter-offers, nothing—and the government will be left with no more power to coerce and control the First Amendment-protected activities of major American universities than it has today." balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Proud to announce the project I've been working on 🏳️⚧️🧬
Had hoped to have more ready, but the events of the last week stressed the importance of speaking up against fascism NOW
I'd appreciate your support in spreading the word, esp if you work in life sciences research, healthcare, or biotech
Had hoped to have more ready, but the events of the last week stressed the importance of speaking up against fascism NOW
I'd appreciate your support in spreading the word, esp if you work in life sciences research, healthcare, or biotech
It's the scientific community's duty to fight misinformation, bioessentialism, and eugenics
That's why we're launching Beyond X&Y, an educational campaign combating the rise of unscientific political propaganda used to attack trans and intersex people
Subscribe to our newsletter at beyondxandy.org
That's why we're launching Beyond X&Y, an educational campaign combating the rise of unscientific political propaganda used to attack trans and intersex people
Subscribe to our newsletter at beyondxandy.org
September 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Proud to announce the project I've been working on 🏳️⚧️🧬
Had hoped to have more ready, but the events of the last week stressed the importance of speaking up against fascism NOW
I'd appreciate your support in spreading the word, esp if you work in life sciences research, healthcare, or biotech
Had hoped to have more ready, but the events of the last week stressed the importance of speaking up against fascism NOW
I'd appreciate your support in spreading the word, esp if you work in life sciences research, healthcare, or biotech
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Israel's army issues 'final warning' for hundreds of thousands of people to flee main urban centre as attacks escalate.
Israel’s navy seizes last flotilla boat as army levels Gaza City
Israel's army issues 'final warning' for hundreds of thousands of people to flee main urban centre as attacks escalate.
bit.ly
October 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Israel's army issues 'final warning' for hundreds of thousands of people to flee main urban centre as attacks escalate.
Reposted by Cecilia Noecker
Interested in aligning your long sequences or small genomes against huge reference databases containing millions of prokaryotic genomes ? A new tool has been released that can do this efficiently - LexicMap - www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Efficient sequence alignment against millions of prokaryotic genomes with LexicMap - Nature Biotechnology
LexicMap uses a fixed set of probes to efficiently query gene sequences for fast and low-memory alignment.
www.nature.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Interested in aligning your long sequences or small genomes against huge reference databases containing millions of prokaryotic genomes ? A new tool has been released that can do this efficiently - LexicMap - www.nature.com/articles/s41...