Fab Spagnolo
@fabspagnolo.bsky.social
Ecology and evolution in microbes. Assistant Prof. @ LIU Post, native NYer, foodie.
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Attendance at my school was really high this week. It didn’t occur to me that it was likely related to food scarcity at home until Friday. We have free lunch and breakfast for all students at school.
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Attendance at my school was really high this week. It didn’t occur to me that it was likely related to food scarcity at home until Friday. We have free lunch and breakfast for all students at school.
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Her sister wrote my favorite essay about her. She points out that RF would have been famous even if she'd never looked at DNA
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Remembering my sister Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958 aged 37 years. Sympathy and feminism
have combined to give us her familiar image as a downtrodden woman scientist, brilliant
but neglected, a heroine t...
www.thelancet.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Her sister wrote my favorite essay about her. She points out that RF would have been famous even if she'd never looked at DNA
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
If you know an undergrad that would like to spend the summer doing research in my philosophy of biology lab, encourage them to apply to the U’s SPUR program. Includes a $5,000 stipend and subsidized housing to work in my lab.
Details and how to apply here:
tinyurl.com/SPUR-PhilBio...
Details and how to apply here:
tinyurl.com/SPUR-PhilBio...
The Philosophy of Biology Lab: Entangled Lineages, Classification, and Individuality - Office of Undergraduate Research
tinyurl.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If you know an undergrad that would like to spend the summer doing research in my philosophy of biology lab, encourage them to apply to the U’s SPUR program. Includes a $5,000 stipend and subsidized housing to work in my lab.
Details and how to apply here:
tinyurl.com/SPUR-PhilBio...
Details and how to apply here:
tinyurl.com/SPUR-PhilBio...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Hey undergrads! Apply for Caltech’s 10-week WAVE Fellows program.
-$6K stipend + housing + $1K travel/dining
-Apply by Jan 9, 2026:
sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-Info sessions in November: sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-$6K stipend + housing + $1K travel/dining
-Apply by Jan 9, 2026:
sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-Info sessions in November: sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
WAVE Fellows
The 2026 WAVE Fellows award is $6,000 for the ten-week period, plus on-campus housing, and a dining and travel supplement of ~$1000. Caltech housing is available and we strongly encourage all Fellows to live on campus. The 2026 WAVE Fellows program dates are June 15 through August 21.
sfp.caltech.edu
November 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Hey undergrads! Apply for Caltech’s 10-week WAVE Fellows program.
-$6K stipend + housing + $1K travel/dining
-Apply by Jan 9, 2026:
sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-Info sessions in November: sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-$6K stipend + housing + $1K travel/dining
-Apply by Jan 9, 2026:
sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
-Info sessions in November: sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduat...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Mycobacterium smegmatis Expands Across Surfaces by Hydraulic Sliding - Environmental Microbiology Reports enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... - Our new paper is out!
enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Mycobacterium smegmatis Expands Across Surfaces by Hydraulic Sliding - Environmental Microbiology Reports enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... - Our new paper is out!
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles @siouxsiew.bsky.social has launched a fundraising campaign to cover some of the legal fees accrued in taking a case against her employer, the University of Auckland. She explains why.
thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why I’m crowdfunding despite winning my legal battle
'Between the ERA and the Employment Court, my husband and I have spent over $632,000.'
thespinoff.co.nz
November 2, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles @siouxsiew.bsky.social has launched a fundraising campaign to cover some of the legal fees accrued in taking a case against her employer, the University of Auckland. She explains why.
thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Working at HIRI
At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
I am so excited to have this published today detailing a new system for growing biofilms and observing the resulting populations (stress on the plural!) in chemostats!
A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum
Biofilms are the predominant way that bacteria live in natural environments and are
characterized by three emergent properties: ubiquity, resilience, and impact. They
can be found across all environme...
journals.asm.org
October 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I am so excited to have this published today detailing a new system for growing biofilms and observing the resulting populations (stress on the plural!) in chemostats!
A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Well, I can see how that ended up on clearance.
October 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Well, I can see how that ended up on clearance.
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
JOB OFFER #PhageSky
We have a postdoc position opening in my group to investigate phage-MGE interactions !
We're based in the very nice city of Lyon, France @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social
Contact me for more info !
>> Apply on the CNRS webpage emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
We have a postdoc position opening in my group to investigate phage-MGE interactions !
We're based in the very nice city of Lyon, France @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social
Contact me for more info !
>> Apply on the CNRS webpage emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
Portail Emploi CNRS - Offre d'emploi - Postdoctoral researcher Microbiology (M/F)
emploi.cnrs.fr
October 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
JOB OFFER #PhageSky
We have a postdoc position opening in my group to investigate phage-MGE interactions !
We're based in the very nice city of Lyon, France @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social
Contact me for more info !
>> Apply on the CNRS webpage emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
We have a postdoc position opening in my group to investigate phage-MGE interactions !
We're based in the very nice city of Lyon, France @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social
Contact me for more info !
>> Apply on the CNRS webpage emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Microbiology Postdoctoral Position (Please re-post)
A funded postdoctoral position in Chicago will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested, please get in touch with Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
A funded postdoctoral position in Chicago will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested, please get in touch with Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
October 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Microbiology Postdoctoral Position (Please re-post)
A funded postdoctoral position in Chicago will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested, please get in touch with Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
A funded postdoctoral position in Chicago will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested, please get in touch with Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
#microsky #mevosky The UNC Chapel Hill Biology Department is hiring 2 Teaching Assistant/Associate Professors with expertise from any area of biology. Individuals with expertise in microbiology are particularly encouraged to apply. Read more and apply at unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Two (2) Open Rank Teaching Faculty
The Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks applicants for two (2) Teaching Faculty positions to be effective July 1, 2026. These positions will be fixed-term 9-...
unc.peopleadmin.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
#microsky #mevosky The UNC Chapel Hill Biology Department is hiring 2 Teaching Assistant/Associate Professors with expertise from any area of biology. Individuals with expertise in microbiology are particularly encouraged to apply. Read more and apply at unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Our first effort exploring gut bacteria-extracellular ATP interactions is published! We show that eATP rewires gene expression and physiology in harmless and pathogenic bacteria, impacting production of bioactive metabolites, antimicrobial sensitivity, and virulence. A 🧵
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Our first effort exploring gut bacteria-extracellular ATP interactions is published! We show that eATP rewires gene expression and physiology in harmless and pathogenic bacteria, impacting production of bioactive metabolites, antimicrobial sensitivity, and virulence. A 🧵
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Ohio State microbiology department is hiring assistant professor of Microbiome science (due Nov 6). It's an amazing department please apply!! (I would apply if I had more pubs haha...)
jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/675478/a...
jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/675478/a...
October 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Ohio State microbiology department is hiring assistant professor of Microbiome science (due Nov 6). It's an amazing department please apply!! (I would apply if I had more pubs haha...)
jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/675478/a...
jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/675478/a...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Published in Current Biology! P. aeruginosa can use its filamentous phage to inhibit competitors but high phage production is susceptible to cheater miniphage invasion. Subsequent phage tragedy of the commons can lower bacteria and phage fitness. Link: authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
Preprint out! Bacteria w/ hyper-replicative filamentous phage lead to overnight emergence of cheater phages. Bacteria w/ both phages can outcompete wildtype, then rapidly lose phage via a phage Tragedy of the Commons
@shellyscrib.bsky.social @vscooper.micropopbio.org www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@shellyscrib.bsky.social @vscooper.micropopbio.org www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness
Many bacteria carry phage genome(s) in their chromosome (i.e., prophage), and this intertwines the fitness of the bacterium and the phage. Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains carry filamentous phages ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Published in Current Biology! P. aeruginosa can use its filamentous phage to inhibit competitors but high phage production is susceptible to cheater miniphage invasion. Subsequent phage tragedy of the commons can lower bacteria and phage fitness. Link: authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Nearly 10% of humanity (~800M people in 2025) struggles to live on less than $3 a day. It’s important for Americans to appreciate that reality — and the growing gap between the extremely poor & the extremely privileged — because, as USAID demonstrated, our nation has the power to change it.
🧵 1/8
🧵 1/8
What Extreme Poverty Looks Like
Ten percent of humanity struggles to live on under $2 a day. That, and the gap between the extremely poor and the more privileged, is important to see.
classroom.ricksteves.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Nearly 10% of humanity (~800M people in 2025) struggles to live on less than $3 a day. It’s important for Americans to appreciate that reality — and the growing gap between the extremely poor & the extremely privileged — because, as USAID demonstrated, our nation has the power to change it.
🧵 1/8
🧵 1/8
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
DYK most P. aeruginosa carry filamentous phage(s) that don't need to kill the cell to reproduce?
We 👉🏻@nanamikubota.bsky.social show that these Pf phages can go ROGUE.
"Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness"
🔗 authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
We 👉🏻@nanamikubota.bsky.social show that these Pf phages can go ROGUE.
"Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness"
🔗 authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
October 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
DYK most P. aeruginosa carry filamentous phage(s) that don't need to kill the cell to reproduce?
We 👉🏻@nanamikubota.bsky.social show that these Pf phages can go ROGUE.
"Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness"
🔗 authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
We 👉🏻@nanamikubota.bsky.social show that these Pf phages can go ROGUE.
"Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness"
🔗 authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
New pre-print: Eco-evolutionary responses of phage to different thermal regimes.
Great work led by Sam Greenrod and fun collaboration with Kayla King's lab.
1/2
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Great work led by Sam Greenrod and fun collaboration with Kayla King's lab.
1/2
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evolutionary rescue accelerates competitive exclusion in a parasite community
Environmental stress drives biodiversity loss by altering competitive hierarchies and pushing taxa towards extinction. Parasites and their communities are particularly vulnerable to stress due to envi...
www.biorxiv.org
September 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
New pre-print: Eco-evolutionary responses of phage to different thermal regimes.
Great work led by Sam Greenrod and fun collaboration with Kayla King's lab.
1/2
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Great work led by Sam Greenrod and fun collaboration with Kayla King's lab.
1/2
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
A 2-y postdoc position in my former group at University of Copenhagen is available in microbial ecology and bioinformatics.
See more: employment.ku.dk/faculty/?sho...
Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the environment.
Please share the ad.
See more: employment.ku.dk/faculty/?sho...
Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the environment.
Please share the ad.
Postdoc in Microbial bioinformatics
employment.ku.dk
October 2, 2025 at 5:51 AM
A 2-y postdoc position in my former group at University of Copenhagen is available in microbial ecology and bioinformatics.
See more: employment.ku.dk/faculty/?sho...
Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the environment.
Please share the ad.
See more: employment.ku.dk/faculty/?sho...
Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the environment.
Please share the ad.
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
#ChooseEurope for Science is live!
With €22.5 million under #MSCA, we’re funding organisations to:
🔬 Host postdoctoral researchers in all fields
🔬 Offer stable jobs and great working conditions
🔬 Create long-term career prospects
Europe is where science thrives.
More → link.europa.eu/6JhtHp
With €22.5 million under #MSCA, we’re funding organisations to:
🔬 Host postdoctoral researchers in all fields
🔬 Offer stable jobs and great working conditions
🔬 Create long-term career prospects
Europe is where science thrives.
More → link.europa.eu/6JhtHp
October 2, 2025 at 8:23 AM
#ChooseEurope for Science is live!
With €22.5 million under #MSCA, we’re funding organisations to:
🔬 Host postdoctoral researchers in all fields
🔬 Offer stable jobs and great working conditions
🔬 Create long-term career prospects
Europe is where science thrives.
More → link.europa.eu/6JhtHp
With €22.5 million under #MSCA, we’re funding organisations to:
🔬 Host postdoctoral researchers in all fields
🔬 Offer stable jobs and great working conditions
🔬 Create long-term career prospects
Europe is where science thrives.
More → link.europa.eu/6JhtHp
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Very happy to share some more good news. Our collaboration with Jeffrey Boyd's lab is now published at J Inorganic Biochemistry! Here, Jeff found that iron limitation reprograms S. aureus metabolism towards fermentation. We're grateful to be part of this study.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Fermentative growth decreases the iron demand of Staphylococcus aureus
Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient for S. aureus survivability and pathogenesis, but excess Fe can catalyze the formation of toxic oxygen radicals, em…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Very happy to share some more good news. Our collaboration with Jeffrey Boyd's lab is now published at J Inorganic Biochemistry! Here, Jeff found that iron limitation reprograms S. aureus metabolism towards fermentation. We're grateful to be part of this study.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Because this administration thinks everyone believes the rules only matter when it helps “your side” (like they do), they are counting on Comey’s unpopularity to normalize this.
Don’t let it. Whatever you think of him or his actions in the past, etc. this indictment is dangerous and an outrage.
Don’t let it. Whatever you think of him or his actions in the past, etc. this indictment is dangerous and an outrage.
September 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Because this administration thinks everyone believes the rules only matter when it helps “your side” (like they do), they are counting on Comey’s unpopularity to normalize this.
Don’t let it. Whatever you think of him or his actions in the past, etc. this indictment is dangerous and an outrage.
Don’t let it. Whatever you think of him or his actions in the past, etc. this indictment is dangerous and an outrage.
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
Reposted by Fab Spagnolo
I may have just said on the record that I never understood why the kin vs group selection debate even existed since both obviously matter all the time, so RIP my career as an evolutionary biologist
September 19, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I may have just said on the record that I never understood why the kin vs group selection debate even existed since both obviously matter all the time, so RIP my career as an evolutionary biologist