Graham Slater
@gjslater.bsky.social
macroevolution, mammals, phylogenetics, paleobiology, and ecomorphology. Associate. Prof @ University of Chicago. He/Him
A legend has left us. RiP Brian. Thank you for creating the soundtrack to my formative years. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/a...
Brian Wilson, Songwriter and Leader of the Beach Boys, Dies at 82
A hitmaker elevated and burdened by the label of genius, he transcended the breezy surf genre to create complex harmonies and intricate soundscapes in the studio.
www.nytimes.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A legend has left us. RiP Brian. Thank you for creating the soundtrack to my formative years. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/a...
I'm sure you've all seen this already but it's too good not to share. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/o...
Opinion | Larry David: My Dinner With Adolf
When a private meeting goes unexpectedly.
www.nytimes.com
April 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I'm sure you've all seen this already but it's too good not to share. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/o...
Reposted by Graham Slater
Hello graduate students! Volunteer travel award applications are due March 21, 2025. In return for working two ~4h shifts, graduate student members of one or more of our societies can receive a rebate equal to 100% of the regular early student member registration fee.
March 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Hello graduate students! Volunteer travel award applications are due March 21, 2025. In return for working two ~4h shifts, graduate student members of one or more of our societies can receive a rebate equal to 100% of the regular early student member registration fee.
The only small silver lining - quitting Amazon has already been good for my bank balance, and quitting twitter and facebook has been good for my brain.
I am part of the 25%. The lifestyle change is worth it.
This is the way…
This is the way…
February 19, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The only small silver lining - quitting Amazon has already been good for my bank balance, and quitting twitter and facebook has been good for my brain.
Reposted by Graham Slater
New, NSF-supported research: Emergent network properties link phenotypic modules to ecomorphological divergence in carnivoran mammals doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
Also, check out the beautiful original artwork made by one of the co-authors for this study:
Also, check out the beautiful original artwork made by one of the co-authors for this study:
February 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New, NSF-supported research: Emergent network properties link phenotypic modules to ecomorphological divergence in carnivoran mammals doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
Also, check out the beautiful original artwork made by one of the co-authors for this study:
Also, check out the beautiful original artwork made by one of the co-authors for this study:
Reposted by Graham Slater
A reminder that we have two open PhD projects on Bayesian phylogenetics in the lab:
One with the new TREE Doctoral Landscape Awards: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/int... (deadline 20th Jan)
And another with CSC: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... (deadline 29th Jan)
One with the new TREE Doctoral Landscape Awards: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/int... (deadline 20th Jan)
And another with CSC: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... (deadline 29th Jan)
January 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A reminder that we have two open PhD projects on Bayesian phylogenetics in the lab:
One with the new TREE Doctoral Landscape Awards: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/int... (deadline 20th Jan)
And another with CSC: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... (deadline 29th Jan)
One with the new TREE Doctoral Landscape Awards: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/int... (deadline 20th Jan)
And another with CSC: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... (deadline 29th Jan)
Reposted by Graham Slater
I'm so excited to share our range-wide paper on #snowleopard phylogeography & population structure! Representing my PhD work & using the largest sample size & geographic coverage to date, our work fills important knowledge gaps on snow leopard gene flow: rdcu.be/dWNKj 🦊 🧬🧪
Snow leopard phylogeography and population structure supports two global populations with single refugial origin
rdcu.be
November 12, 2024 at 1:26 AM
I'm so excited to share our range-wide paper on #snowleopard phylogeography & population structure! Representing my PhD work & using the largest sample size & geographic coverage to date, our work fills important knowledge gaps on snow leopard gene flow: rdcu.be/dWNKj 🦊 🧬🧪
Tomorrow means Monday at 10.45am btw
I'm not at #SICB2025, but lab members are. Check out Mags Mercado, talking about "Intraspecific variability in vertebral formulae in marsupials and monotremes" in A601 at 10.45am tomorrow! Mags is defending her proposal this spring and is excited to get feedback!
January 6, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Tomorrow means Monday at 10.45am btw
I'm not at #SICB2025, but lab members are. Check out Mags Mercado, talking about "Intraspecific variability in vertebral formulae in marsupials and monotremes" in A601 at 10.45am tomorrow! Mags is defending her proposal this spring and is excited to get feedback!
January 6, 2025 at 3:53 AM
I'm not at #SICB2025, but lab members are. Check out Mags Mercado, talking about "Intraspecific variability in vertebral formulae in marsupials and monotremes" in A601 at 10.45am tomorrow! Mags is defending her proposal this spring and is excited to get feedback!
Reposted by Graham Slater
So excited to see this paper finally published! 🥳 This was the main focus of my PhD and demonstrates the application of model adequacy for models of morphological evolution. 1/n
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
Assessing the Adequacy of Morphological Models Using Posterior Predictive Simulations
Abstract. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of different groups of organisms provides insight into how life originated and diversified on Earth. Phyl
academic.oup.com
December 20, 2024 at 9:36 AM
So excited to see this paper finally published! 🥳 This was the main focus of my PhD and demonstrates the application of model adequacy for models of morphological evolution. 1/n
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
Reposted by Graham Slater
Huge congratulations to @pollardmd.bsky.social on the publication of his first 1st author paper!
Our paper with @sorrywm.bsky.social is out at @genomeresearch.bsky.social
I'll do a thread of the main results. 🧪🧬 #evolution #evosky
1/n
www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1...
Our paper with @sorrywm.bsky.social is out at @genomeresearch.bsky.social
I'll do a thread of the main results. 🧪🧬 #evolution #evosky
1/n
www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1...
Convergent relaxation of molecular constraint in herbivores reveals the changing role of liver and kidney functions across
mammalian diets
An international, peer-reviewed genome sciences journal featuring outstanding original research that offers novel insights into the biology of all organisms
www.genome.org
December 1, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Huge congratulations to @pollardmd.bsky.social on the publication of his first 1st author paper!
Our paper with @sorrywm.bsky.social is out at @genomeresearch.bsky.social
I'll do a thread of the main results. 🧪🧬 #evolution #evosky
1/n
www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1...
Our paper with @sorrywm.bsky.social is out at @genomeresearch.bsky.social
I'll do a thread of the main results. 🧪🧬 #evolution #evosky
1/n
www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1...
Reposted by Graham Slater
Thinking of starting a PhD on Bayesian phylogenetics next October 2025 in London? 🎓
You may want to check the TREES project led by the dos Reis Lab on integrating morphology and genomes for timetree inference! 🦴🧬💻Project supervisors: @mariodosreis.bsky.social & Ziheng Yang. More info in link 🔽
You may want to check the TREES project led by the dos Reis Lab on integrating morphology and genomes for timetree inference! 🦴🧬💻Project supervisors: @mariodosreis.bsky.social & Ziheng Yang. More info in link 🔽
We have a project on Bayesian phylogenetics: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/int... with @zihengyang.bsky.social
Integrating morphology and genomes to infer evolutionary timescales | UCL Trees
Large biological datasets are accumulating at a fast pace, such as genome sequences from the EarthBiogenome project or 3D scan data from museum specimens. These datasets can be integrated to resolve e...
www.trees-dla.ac.uk
December 9, 2024 at 12:09 PM
Thinking of starting a PhD on Bayesian phylogenetics next October 2025 in London? 🎓
You may want to check the TREES project led by the dos Reis Lab on integrating morphology and genomes for timetree inference! 🦴🧬💻Project supervisors: @mariodosreis.bsky.social & Ziheng Yang. More info in link 🔽
You may want to check the TREES project led by the dos Reis Lab on integrating morphology and genomes for timetree inference! 🦴🧬💻Project supervisors: @mariodosreis.bsky.social & Ziheng Yang. More info in link 🔽
New pre-print from recent Slater lab graduate Dr David Černý and me, from David's dissertation work - a bayesian least squares supertree method for inference of time-calibrated phylogenies. Feedback much appreciated but here's the motivation.... 🧵
Bayesian Least-Squares Supertrees (BLeSS): flexible inference of large time-calibrated phylogenies https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.29.625936v1
Bayesian Least-Squares Supertrees (BLeSS): flexible inference of large time-calibrated phylogenies https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.29.625936v1
Time-calibrated phylogenies are key to macroevolutionary hypothesis testing and parameter inference,
www.biorxiv.org
December 5, 2024 at 7:41 PM
New pre-print from recent Slater lab graduate Dr David Černý and me, from David's dissertation work - a bayesian least squares supertree method for inference of time-calibrated phylogenies. Feedback much appreciated but here's the motivation.... 🧵
Reposted by Graham Slater
It's graduate school application season, so here's your reminder that nobody should pay for a graduate degree in #ecoevo !
Here's a list of fully funded ecology, evolution, & organismal biology Masters' programs (please share!)!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Here's a list of fully funded ecology, evolution, & organismal biology Masters' programs (please share!)!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Funded Organismal Biology MS Programs
Funded Organismal Biology MS Programs
List of Departments that have a fully-funded Masters program that includes Ecology, Evolution, or Organsimal Biology
Background on this list: Some Masters progra...
docs.google.com
September 8, 2023 at 2:57 PM
It's graduate school application season, so here's your reminder that nobody should pay for a graduate degree in #ecoevo !
Here's a list of fully funded ecology, evolution, & organismal biology Masters' programs (please share!)!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Here's a list of fully funded ecology, evolution, & organismal biology Masters' programs (please share!)!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Graham Slater
For anyone looking for PhDs in the UK starting October 2025 in ecology, evolution, environment etc. The new Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLAs) recently got announced so lots of people will be adverting PhDs with January deadlines. Check out findaphd.com to search for ones that interest you!
PhD Programmes, Research Projects & Studentships in the UK & Europe
FindAPhD is a comprehensive guide to PhD studentships and postgraduate research degrees
findaphd.com
November 28, 2024 at 12:09 PM
For anyone looking for PhDs in the UK starting October 2025 in ecology, evolution, environment etc. The new Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLAs) recently got announced so lots of people will be adverting PhDs with January deadlines. Check out findaphd.com to search for ones that interest you!
Reposted by Graham Slater
New paper from my dissertation! What forelimb traits are actually associated with suspension in primates (fewer than you'd think)? Does it matter how much suspension is used (yes)? How good are we at figuring out function from comparative analyses (not very)? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Phylogenetic comparative analysis of suspensory adaptations in primates
The evolution of suspensory locomotion in primates has been of great interest to biological anthropologists since the early 20th century due to the co…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 27, 2024 at 3:42 PM
New paper from my dissertation! What forelimb traits are actually associated with suspension in primates (fewer than you'd think)? Does it matter how much suspension is used (yes)? How good are we at figuring out function from comparative analyses (not very)? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Graham Slater
The Paleobiology Database has landed on Bluesky! ✨
Here we'll be posting database updates, new publications and all things fossil-data-related 🌍🐚
Be sure to check out our website for more info on how to contribute to and use PBDB data as well as loads of other resources! 🦕📊
paleobiodb.org
Here we'll be posting database updates, new publications and all things fossil-data-related 🌍🐚
Be sure to check out our website for more info on how to contribute to and use PBDB data as well as loads of other resources! 🦕📊
paleobiodb.org
November 22, 2024 at 12:23 PM
The Paleobiology Database has landed on Bluesky! ✨
Here we'll be posting database updates, new publications and all things fossil-data-related 🌍🐚
Be sure to check out our website for more info on how to contribute to and use PBDB data as well as loads of other resources! 🦕📊
paleobiodb.org
Here we'll be posting database updates, new publications and all things fossil-data-related 🌍🐚
Be sure to check out our website for more info on how to contribute to and use PBDB data as well as loads of other resources! 🦕📊
paleobiodb.org
Reposted by Graham Slater
Bears, for those who care.... a new paper. www.sekj.org/PDF/anz61-fr...
Bear Feet with Björn: tarsal evolution in the origin of polar bears. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 61: 357–376.
Bear Feet with Björn: tarsal evolution in the origin of polar bears. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 61: 357–376.
November 21, 2024 at 6:45 AM
Bears, for those who care.... a new paper. www.sekj.org/PDF/anz61-fr...
Bear Feet with Björn: tarsal evolution in the origin of polar bears. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 61: 357–376.
Bear Feet with Björn: tarsal evolution in the origin of polar bears. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 61: 357–376.
Reposted by Graham Slater
I'm giving an online talk on "Comparing the age selectivity of modern extinctions with Phanerozoic background and mass extinctions" today for the Mathematics of Mass Extinctions Research Network (Ma(th)ssX). Today 11am EST, 4pm GMT. More info & link here: sites.google.com/view/mathssx...
🧪⚒️ #paleo
🧪⚒️ #paleo
Ma(th)ssX - Webinars
The Fall 2024 Ma(th)ssX Research Network Webinar Series
sites.google.com
November 20, 2024 at 1:37 PM
I'm giving an online talk on "Comparing the age selectivity of modern extinctions with Phanerozoic background and mass extinctions" today for the Mathematics of Mass Extinctions Research Network (Ma(th)ssX). Today 11am EST, 4pm GMT. More info & link here: sites.google.com/view/mathssx...
🧪⚒️ #paleo
🧪⚒️ #paleo
Reposted by Graham Slater
I started a #NativesinSTEM starter pack. If you want to be added, tell me a little bit about yourself, including who your people are and what you study
go.bsky.app/4hoZMPV
@taramcallister.bsky.social I'll try to figure out how to turn this into a feed too.
go.bsky.app/4hoZMPV
@taramcallister.bsky.social I'll try to figure out how to turn this into a feed too.
November 17, 2024 at 8:58 PM
I started a #NativesinSTEM starter pack. If you want to be added, tell me a little bit about yourself, including who your people are and what you study
go.bsky.app/4hoZMPV
@taramcallister.bsky.social I'll try to figure out how to turn this into a feed too.
go.bsky.app/4hoZMPV
@taramcallister.bsky.social I'll try to figure out how to turn this into a feed too.
For those who missed it this week ...
A mummified sabertooth cat kitten (Homotherium latidens) from Siberian permafrost. An amazing find!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A mummified sabertooth cat kitten (Homotherium latidens) from Siberian permafrost. An amazing find!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat Homotherium latidens from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat Homotherium latidens from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia
www.nature.com
November 18, 2024 at 2:52 AM
For those who missed it this week ...
A mummified sabertooth cat kitten (Homotherium latidens) from Siberian permafrost. An amazing find!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A mummified sabertooth cat kitten (Homotherium latidens) from Siberian permafrost. An amazing find!!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
OMG, i f'in love this place and these starter packs! So great for building a community of people with whom you want to interact about things you care about.
November 18, 2024 at 12:51 AM
OMG, i f'in love this place and these starter packs! So great for building a community of people with whom you want to interact about things you care about.