Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
@ecarlen.bsky.social
urban evolutionary ecology | squirrel chaser & pigeon stalker | she/her/hers | www.elizabethcarlen.com
Hey @theguardian.com that isn’t a chameleon (and chameleons aren’t found in Phoenix). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Hey @theguardian.com that isn’t a chameleon (and chameleons aren’t found in Phoenix). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Hey @gee-or-gia.bsky.social excited to see you at the Making Saint Louis the Nature City of the 21st Century Symposium with the #LivingEarthCollaborative on Friday!
September 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Hey @gee-or-gia.bsky.social excited to see you at the Making Saint Louis the Nature City of the 21st Century Symposium with the #LivingEarthCollaborative on Friday!
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Looking forward to speaking @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social in Berlin on Anthropocene Biology in Eastern Europe and Beyond. I will talk about the implications of #war on wildlife. Sadly, science meets reality when my departure to Berlin was delayed due a #drone attack in Poland.
September 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Looking forward to speaking @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social in Berlin on Anthropocene Biology in Eastern Europe and Beyond. I will talk about the implications of #war on wildlife. Sadly, science meets reality when my departure to Berlin was delayed due a #drone attack in Poland.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Thrilled to share our Perspective published in 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, #𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 #𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 #𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.
It also elevates Eastern European perspectives - underrepresented in #urban #evolution narratives.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
It also elevates Eastern European perspectives - underrepresented in #urban #evolution narratives.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology - Nature Cities
Cities affect biological evolution, but traditionally researchers focus on the biophysical influence of urban environments. Instead, this Review explores how the social processes of religion, politics...
www.nature.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Thrilled to share our Perspective published in 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, #𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 #𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 #𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.
It also elevates Eastern European perspectives - underrepresented in #urban #evolution narratives.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
It also elevates Eastern European perspectives - underrepresented in #urban #evolution narratives.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Please share! I'm looking for a postdoc. The position is to lead one of the following projects: 1) regulation of plant specialized metabolism by cell fate, or 2) foliar embryogenesis in the succulent plant Kalanchoe.
Learn more abt projects: cxli233.github.io/cxLi_lab/res...
Learn more abt projects: cxli233.github.io/cxLi_lab/res...
Plant cells are totipotent, meaning individual cells have the potential to develop into a full organism, a property unique to the zygote for animals. However, in most species for most cells, plant cells are not spontaneously totipotent, since they must be treated with specific hormone combinations to unlock their totipotency. Species within the Kalanchoe genus is unique as they spontaneously develop foliar embryos that are fully realized plantlets with shoot and root from notches along the edges of leaves. We speculate that the progenitor cells that give rise to these foliar embryos are totipotent, and we are using single cell techniques to identify & characterize them. In addition to being a fundamental process for plant biology, we foresee unlocking totipotency has many biotechnological applications, such as faciliating genetic transformation and the development of synthetic organs of biomanufacturing.
cxli233.github.io
September 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Please share! I'm looking for a postdoc. The position is to lead one of the following projects: 1) regulation of plant specialized metabolism by cell fate, or 2) foliar embryogenesis in the succulent plant Kalanchoe.
Learn more abt projects: cxli233.github.io/cxLi_lab/res...
Learn more abt projects: cxli233.github.io/cxLi_lab/res...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
If it's pedestrian friendly, your city will be pigeon friendly. Pigeons luvvv an outdoor cafe. From "pigeon stalker" @ecarlen.bsky.social at the @livingearthcollab.bsky.social This is also an excellent example of an undergrad research project. artsci.washu.edu/ampersand/pi... #UrbanEcology #Birds 🧪
Pigeons of St. Louis: A new look at a cosmopolitan bird
Pigeons seem right at home in St. Louis. You can see flocks perching on rooftops and power lines, waiting for a chance to grab a stray scrap of food or dirty a windshield. Daisy Lewis Cities have push...
artsci.washu.edu
September 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
If it's pedestrian friendly, your city will be pigeon friendly. Pigeons luvvv an outdoor cafe. From "pigeon stalker" @ecarlen.bsky.social at the @livingearthcollab.bsky.social This is also an excellent example of an undergrad research project. artsci.washu.edu/ampersand/pi... #UrbanEcology #Birds 🧪
This is likely my last year on the academic job market. I feel like academia doesn't see value in the work I'm doing (& I know our current administration doesn't see it's value).
I LOVE my work, but we live in a capitalist society & I need to make a sustainable income.
I LOVE my work, but we live in a capitalist society & I need to make a sustainable income.
August 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
This is likely my last year on the academic job market. I feel like academia doesn't see value in the work I'm doing (& I know our current administration doesn't see it's value).
I LOVE my work, but we live in a capitalist society & I need to make a sustainable income.
I LOVE my work, but we live in a capitalist society & I need to make a sustainable income.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Some more nice coverage of the lead work
August 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Some more nice coverage of the lead work
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
New research from @moore-evo-eco.bsky.social & P. Cushing in #RESInsectConsDiv
High & hardy: Cold-tolerant #generalists inhabit extreme elevations in Rocky Mountain #Pardosa #spiders
doi.org/10.1111/icad.70011
@manusaunders.bsky.social @wiley.com
Photo: Rocky Mountains, Colorado (credit M.Moore)
High & hardy: Cold-tolerant #generalists inhabit extreme elevations in Rocky Mountain #Pardosa #spiders
doi.org/10.1111/icad.70011
@manusaunders.bsky.social @wiley.com
Photo: Rocky Mountains, Colorado (credit M.Moore)
August 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
New research from @moore-evo-eco.bsky.social & P. Cushing in #RESInsectConsDiv
High & hardy: Cold-tolerant #generalists inhabit extreme elevations in Rocky Mountain #Pardosa #spiders
doi.org/10.1111/icad.70011
@manusaunders.bsky.social @wiley.com
Photo: Rocky Mountains, Colorado (credit M.Moore)
High & hardy: Cold-tolerant #generalists inhabit extreme elevations in Rocky Mountain #Pardosa #spiders
doi.org/10.1111/icad.70011
@manusaunders.bsky.social @wiley.com
Photo: Rocky Mountains, Colorado (credit M.Moore)
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Brown lizards in New Orleans carry more lead in their blood than any other animal on record — levels that would kill humans — yet they seem unfazed, according to new Tulane study.
Lizards in New Orleans have highest blood-lead levels ever recorded, study finds
Brown lizards in New Orleans carry more lead in their blood than any other animal on record — levels that would kill humans — yet they seem unfazed, according to new Tulane study.
bit.ly
August 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Brown lizards in New Orleans carry more lead in their blood than any other animal on record — levels that would kill humans — yet they seem unfazed, according to new Tulane study.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
I hope you’re all enjoying this descent into madness.
The important thing to remember is what while I can’t sing, neither can eels, so this little jingle is very scientifically accurate.
So please. Get an eel facts advent calendar. You don’t have to wait until Christmas for eels. EelFacts.Net
The important thing to remember is what while I can’t sing, neither can eels, so this little jingle is very scientifically accurate.
So please. Get an eel facts advent calendar. You don’t have to wait until Christmas for eels. EelFacts.Net
August 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I hope you’re all enjoying this descent into madness.
The important thing to remember is what while I can’t sing, neither can eels, so this little jingle is very scientifically accurate.
So please. Get an eel facts advent calendar. You don’t have to wait until Christmas for eels. EelFacts.Net
The important thing to remember is what while I can’t sing, neither can eels, so this little jingle is very scientifically accurate.
So please. Get an eel facts advent calendar. You don’t have to wait until Christmas for eels. EelFacts.Net
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Hey everybody! @drjuliawester.bsky.social and I have a new paper!
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
doi.org
August 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Hey everybody! @drjuliawester.bsky.social and I have a new paper!
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
I’ll get the sea lion if you get the cat :p
August 13, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I’ll get the sea lion if you get the cat :p
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Studies of domestic pigeons have taught us lots about cognition, navigation, and genetics. If you’d like to learn why their wild cousins are also worthy of scientific attention, I’ve written a Rock Dove @currentbiology.bsky.social ‘quick guide’: doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.065
March 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Studies of domestic pigeons have taught us lots about cognition, navigation, and genetics. If you’d like to learn why their wild cousins are also worthy of scientific attention, I’ve written a Rock Dove @currentbiology.bsky.social ‘quick guide’: doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.065
Ok, who is going to get this original drawing of a Steller Sea Lion as a tattoo?
(image found by Dr. Sam Kreling)
(image found by Dr. Sam Kreling)
August 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Ok, who is going to get this original drawing of a Steller Sea Lion as a tattoo?
(image found by Dr. Sam Kreling)
(image found by Dr. Sam Kreling)
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Its that time again - the list of Ecology/Evolution/Marine Bio Labs recruiting grad students for Fall 2026 is live!
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
Ecology/Evolution/Marine Biology labs recruiting for Fall 2026
Please complete this form if you are a PI recruiting graduate students for a Fall 2026 start. If you are NOT recruiting, feel free to share the response sheet with prospective students looking for lab...
forms.gle
May 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Its that time again - the list of Ecology/Evolution/Marine Bio Labs recruiting grad students for Fall 2026 is live!
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
EXTENDED! Apply by August 8th!
We are now seeking new grad students to serve in the 2026 cohort! GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students, postdocs, and mentors at #Evol2025 and throughout the year.
We are now seeking new grad students to serve in the 2026 cohort! GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students, postdocs, and mentors at #Evol2025 and throughout the year.
July 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
EXTENDED! Apply by August 8th!
We are now seeking new grad students to serve in the 2026 cohort! GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students, postdocs, and mentors at #Evol2025 and throughout the year.
We are now seeking new grad students to serve in the 2026 cohort! GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students, postdocs, and mentors at #Evol2025 and throughout the year.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Nosso artigo *Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology*, recentemente publicado na NATURE CITIES, é tema de uma interessante peça de divulgação, em português, no site The Conversation Brasil‼️ theconversation.com/guerra-polit...
@ecarlen.bsky.social
@ecarlen.bsky.social
Guerra, política e religião moldam a evolução da vida selvagem nas cidades
Os seres humanos mudam a paisagem urbana com atividades religiosas, culturais e políticas, que, por sua vez, podem influenciar a evolução de animais e plantas urbanos
theconversation.com
July 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Nosso artigo *Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology*, recentemente publicado na NATURE CITIES, é tema de uma interessante peça de divulgação, em português, no site The Conversation Brasil‼️ theconversation.com/guerra-polit...
@ecarlen.bsky.social
@ecarlen.bsky.social
Was just asked to speak at a public school. While researching the community, I found their mascot is a slur for people of short stature. How is this still acceptable?!
Needless to say, I will absolutely NOT be speaking there.
Here is the school website for those interested: www.fchs77.org
Needless to say, I will absolutely NOT be speaking there.
Here is the school website for those interested: www.fchs77.org
July 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Was just asked to speak at a public school. While researching the community, I found their mascot is a slur for people of short stature. How is this still acceptable?!
Needless to say, I will absolutely NOT be speaking there.
Here is the school website for those interested: www.fchs77.org
Needless to say, I will absolutely NOT be speaking there.
Here is the school website for those interested: www.fchs77.org
I was on @stlpublicradio.bsky.social last week talking about some of my work on how human social & cultural factors influence wildlife and the comments on the Instagram post are BONKERS.
Full STLPR interview here: www.stlpr.org/show/st-loui...
Instagram post here: www.instagram.com/p/DMYpQJ3gxk...
Full STLPR interview here: www.stlpr.org/show/st-loui...
Instagram post here: www.instagram.com/p/DMYpQJ3gxk...
July 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I was on @stlpublicradio.bsky.social last week talking about some of my work on how human social & cultural factors influence wildlife and the comments on the Instagram post are BONKERS.
Full STLPR interview here: www.stlpr.org/show/st-loui...
Instagram post here: www.instagram.com/p/DMYpQJ3gxk...
Full STLPR interview here: www.stlpr.org/show/st-loui...
Instagram post here: www.instagram.com/p/DMYpQJ3gxk...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
New research by a local scientist explains the ways politics have shaped the genealogy — and even evolution — of St. Louis squirrels.
Segregation runs so deep in St. Louis, it may even affect squirrel DNA
The St. Louis socioeconomic and racial dividing line known as the Delmar Divide separates people, and new research suggests it also segregates wildlife.
www.stlpr.org
July 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
New research by a local scientist explains the ways politics have shaped the genealogy — and even evolution — of St. Louis squirrels.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
LEC postdoc Elizabeth Carlen (@ecarlen.bsky.social) joins St Louis on the Air to explore how STL's built environment shapes not just neighborhoods — but wildlife.
It's a must-listen for anyone interested in urban ecology and STL history.
🎧 Tap the link in our bio to listen.
It's a must-listen for anyone interested in urban ecology and STL history.
🎧 Tap the link in our bio to listen.
New research by a local scientist explains the ways politics have shaped the genealogy — and even evolution — of St. Louis squirrels.
Segregation runs so deep in St. Louis, it may even affect squirrel DNA
The St. Louis socioeconomic and racial dividing line known as the Delmar Divide separates people, and new research suggests it also segregates wildlife.
www.stlpr.org
July 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
LEC postdoc Elizabeth Carlen (@ecarlen.bsky.social) joins St Louis on the Air to explore how STL's built environment shapes not just neighborhoods — but wildlife.
It's a must-listen for anyone interested in urban ecology and STL history.
🎧 Tap the link in our bio to listen.
It's a must-listen for anyone interested in urban ecology and STL history.
🎧 Tap the link in our bio to listen.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
`A loaf of bread, a carton of milk and a stick of butter.' I lived in NZ and our butter didn't come in sticks, or milk in cartons then, but I still remember every second of that segment, and the beautiful art.
July 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
`A loaf of bread, a carton of milk and a stick of butter.' I lived in NZ and our butter didn't come in sticks, or milk in cartons then, but I still remember every second of that segment, and the beautiful art.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
I always look both ways and then again when crossing the street because of Sesame Street
There are segments from Sesame Street that I still think about daily 35+ years later
July 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I always look both ways and then again when crossing the street because of Sesame Street
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Carlen
Talk about The Wire, Sopranos, Game of Thrones all you want, but the greatest US television program ever made is Sesame Street. It's not even close. 50+ years of treating kids across class, ethnicity, religion not as mini-consumers...but as citizens with a stake in this world.
July 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Talk about The Wire, Sopranos, Game of Thrones all you want, but the greatest US television program ever made is Sesame Street. It's not even close. 50+ years of treating kids across class, ethnicity, religion not as mini-consumers...but as citizens with a stake in this world.