Holly Bik
@hollybik.bsky.social
Associate Professor at the University of Georgia + Associate Director of UGA Institute of Bioinformatics. Marine Biology, Polar Science, Deep-Sea Worms (nematodes!), Environmental Genomics, and Science Writing. Views are my own. http://www.hollybik.com
Reposted by Holly Bik
I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts).
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
can't believe this ancient mesopotamia shoe wearing ass said people need to dress up at the airport
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts).
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
As basic science advances I’d argue that model organisms (and new model species) will become even MORE important - my lab works on free-living marine nematodes, but we’re increasingly trawling the C.elegans literature to make sense of our unexpected bacterial microbiome results!
Read this inspiring perspectives coauthored by the Worm Resource directors and worm Nobel Laureates! 4 Nobel Prizes and how they were enabled by major NIH-supported research resources (the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center, WormBase, and WormAtlas) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
As basic science advances I’d argue that model organisms (and new model species) will become even MORE important - my lab works on free-living marine nematodes, but we’re increasingly trawling the C.elegans literature to make sense of our unexpected bacterial microbiome results!
Faculty plan out our grant writing MONTHS if not YEARS in advance - having programs suddenly disappear like this is utterly demoralizing and completely destructive for everyone’s productivity (including students!)
The NSF Bio Anthro Program DDRIG, Cultural Anthrpology DDRIG, and Archaeology DDRIG have all been archived (as of yesterday afternoon). Please speak with your grad students and plan accordingly. To say I am angry and depressed about this is an understatement.
November 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Faculty plan out our grant writing MONTHS if not YEARS in advance - having programs suddenly disappear like this is utterly demoralizing and completely destructive for everyone’s productivity (including students!)
Reposted by Holly Bik
Cancer Undergrad Research Educational Program
🔬 10-wk summer experience (May–July 2026)
💡 Hands-on cancer research, year-long coaching
Present at the symposium & attend a national conference
$6,000 stipend + campus housing
Apply by Jan 20, 2025
@unclineberger.bsky.social
unclineberger.org/curep
🔬 10-wk summer experience (May–July 2026)
💡 Hands-on cancer research, year-long coaching
Present at the symposium & attend a national conference
$6,000 stipend + campus housing
Apply by Jan 20, 2025
@unclineberger.bsky.social
unclineberger.org/curep
Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) - UNC Lineberger
Our objective is to create a summer undergraduate research program in a collaborative partnership with two other North Carolina universities. Our goal is to enhance the success rates of undergraduate ...
unclineberger.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Cancer Undergrad Research Educational Program
🔬 10-wk summer experience (May–July 2026)
💡 Hands-on cancer research, year-long coaching
Present at the symposium & attend a national conference
$6,000 stipend + campus housing
Apply by Jan 20, 2025
@unclineberger.bsky.social
unclineberger.org/curep
🔬 10-wk summer experience (May–July 2026)
💡 Hands-on cancer research, year-long coaching
Present at the symposium & attend a national conference
$6,000 stipend + campus housing
Apply by Jan 20, 2025
@unclineberger.bsky.social
unclineberger.org/curep
Reposted by Holly Bik
Please join Michael Barnard, Lyle Trytten, and I for a public webinar to discuss their new report on whether seabed mining in the American Samoa region is economically viable and technically achievable. Tues 12/2 at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT/9 AM SST. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
November 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Please join Michael Barnard, Lyle Trytten, and I for a public webinar to discuss their new report on whether seabed mining in the American Samoa region is economically viable and technically achievable. Tues 12/2 at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT/9 AM SST. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Holly Bik
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Holly Bik
Introducing ** Incendiamoeba **, a eukaryote that can live at temperatures well beyond what we thought possible. 63C!!
Read @hbrappap.bsky.social thread to see what we’ve already started to learn from this amazing organism!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#MicroSky #protistsonsky 🧪 #evobio
Read @hbrappap.bsky.social thread to see what we’ve already started to learn from this amazing organism!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#MicroSky #protistsonsky 🧪 #evobio
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Introducing ** Incendiamoeba **, a eukaryote that can live at temperatures well beyond what we thought possible. 63C!!
Read @hbrappap.bsky.social thread to see what we’ve already started to learn from this amazing organism!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#MicroSky #protistsonsky 🧪 #evobio
Read @hbrappap.bsky.social thread to see what we’ve already started to learn from this amazing organism!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#MicroSky #protistsonsky 🧪 #evobio
Reposted by Holly Bik
Summer opportunities are starting to appear now for REUs and undergrad interns at LTER sites (first up, Cedar Creek) and for seasonal technicians at NEON field sites. Follow LTER here and on LinkedIn for fastest notice of new opportunities.
lternet.edu/opportunitie...
jobs.battelle.org/us/en/neon
lternet.edu/opportunitie...
jobs.battelle.org/us/en/neon
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Summer opportunities are starting to appear now for REUs and undergrad interns at LTER sites (first up, Cedar Creek) and for seasonal technicians at NEON field sites. Follow LTER here and on LinkedIn for fastest notice of new opportunities.
lternet.edu/opportunitie...
jobs.battelle.org/us/en/neon
lternet.edu/opportunitie...
jobs.battelle.org/us/en/neon
Reposted by Holly Bik
must not lick the forbidden ice cream
what we don’t have in turkey fryer explosion videos, we make up for with 10-pound grease ball pics.
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
must not lick the forbidden ice cream
Reposted by Holly Bik
Hey #microbialsky - anyone looking for a good PhD student this cycle? Ugrad from my lab is looking but no luck with the PIs she has contacted (no funding, no response). She worked in my lab for 1.5 years, now is a research tech at the FWC research institute. Excellent at the bench & super smart!
November 26, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Hey #microbialsky - anyone looking for a good PhD student this cycle? Ugrad from my lab is looking but no luck with the PIs she has contacted (no funding, no response). She worked in my lab for 1.5 years, now is a research tech at the FWC research institute. Excellent at the bench & super smart!
Reposted by Holly Bik
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Holly Bik
This is VERY COOL!
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
This is VERY COOL!
Reposted by Holly Bik
Thanks! Please come join us!
Is Deep Sea Mining Feasible?
feat. @miriamgoldstein.bsky.social
A new feasibility report on deep sea mining in American Samoa region finds that the approaches of two leading companies are plagued by flawed financial models, underestimated costs, and immature tech.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
feat. @miriamgoldstein.bsky.social
A new feasibility report on deep sea mining in American Samoa region finds that the approaches of two leading companies are plagued by flawed financial models, underestimated costs, and immature tech.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Pressure Testing: Is Deep Sea Mining Feasible? . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
A new report on the technical and economic feasibility of deep sea mining in the American Samoa region finds that the approaches of two leading companies are plagued by flawed financial models, undere...
us02web.zoom.us
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Thanks! Please come join us!
Reposted by Holly Bik
The School of Marine Science & Policy at the University of Delaware is hiring! We are looking for a talented Coastal Physical Oceanographer to join us.
More information is available here, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
careers.udel.edu/en-us/job/50...
More information is available here, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
careers.udel.edu/en-us/job/50...
November 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The School of Marine Science & Policy at the University of Delaware is hiring! We are looking for a talented Coastal Physical Oceanographer to join us.
More information is available here, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
careers.udel.edu/en-us/job/50...
More information is available here, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
careers.udel.edu/en-us/job/50...
Reposted by Holly Bik
@hhmi.org Summer Undergraduate Research Experience - #CechFellows named in honor of Prof Tom Cech
Deadline to apply: 12/22/2025
Spend 9 weeks in a paid, mentored biomedical research experience in an HHMI lab. See you next summer!!!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
Deadline to apply: 12/22/2025
Spend 9 weeks in a paid, mentored biomedical research experience in an HHMI lab. See you next summer!!!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
www.hhmi.org
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
@hhmi.org Summer Undergraduate Research Experience - #CechFellows named in honor of Prof Tom Cech
Deadline to apply: 12/22/2025
Spend 9 weeks in a paid, mentored biomedical research experience in an HHMI lab. See you next summer!!!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
Deadline to apply: 12/22/2025
Spend 9 weeks in a paid, mentored biomedical research experience in an HHMI lab. See you next summer!!!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
The this is such a fantastic and informative thread on US Bird Flu outbreak - the skepticism about airborne transmission, and delay in taking preventative action, is SO INFURIATING (there is so much data from many fields on how much DNA / bacteria / viruses get whisked around by air)!
1/ Today, ProPublica is running a piece I've been working on for a bit. It's about what happened with a devastating wave of bird flu earlier this year, as egg prices hit record highs.
And it's a story that illuminates the ways the U.S. is failing to control what could become the next pandemic. 🧵
And it's a story that illuminates the ways the U.S. is failing to control what could become the next pandemic. 🧵
November 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The this is such a fantastic and informative thread on US Bird Flu outbreak - the skepticism about airborne transmission, and delay in taking preventative action, is SO INFURIATING (there is so much data from many fields on how much DNA / bacteria / viruses get whisked around by air)!
Reposted by Holly Bik
✨Neon greens, yellows, and pinks—iNaturalist data has never looked so good!
What is a nudibranch? Where does it live? And where does it get those wild colors? Discover the answers:
ow.ly/fqtq50XwgeW
🦑 🌊 #gischat
What is a nudibranch? Where does it live? And where does it get those wild colors? Discover the answers:
ow.ly/fqtq50XwgeW
🦑 🌊 #gischat
Living Color
The weird and wonderful world of nudibranchs
ow.ly
November 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
✨Neon greens, yellows, and pinks—iNaturalist data has never looked so good!
What is a nudibranch? Where does it live? And where does it get those wild colors? Discover the answers:
ow.ly/fqtq50XwgeW
🦑 🌊 #gischat
What is a nudibranch? Where does it live? And where does it get those wild colors? Discover the answers:
ow.ly/fqtq50XwgeW
🦑 🌊 #gischat
Reposted by Holly Bik
1) I don't know what's going on in this figure
2) I do not want to know what's going on in this figure.
2) I do not want to know what's going on in this figure.
I was trying to find reference photos of cows and this one in particular stood out as objectively hilarious
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 AM
1) I don't know what's going on in this figure
2) I do not want to know what's going on in this figure.
2) I do not want to know what's going on in this figure.
Reposted by Holly Bik
Y'all. I knew that Hurricane Melissa was strong, but DANG. It was produced the strongest wind measurement EVER recorded by Hurricane Hunter dropsondes. 252 MPH wind gust. This storm literally produced winds we've never confirmed before in a storm. This My discucssion
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Hurricane Melissa Winds Reached 252 mph - A Stunning Record
Hurricane Melissa caused the strongest winds ever recorded by a dropsonde in a tropical cyclone. Our expert provides details on this stunning development.
www.forbes.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Y'all. I knew that Hurricane Melissa was strong, but DANG. It was produced the strongest wind measurement EVER recorded by Hurricane Hunter dropsondes. 252 MPH wind gust. This storm literally produced winds we've never confirmed before in a storm. This My discucssion
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Reposted by Holly Bik
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Reposted by Holly Bik
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Holly Bik
My department (Biological Sciences) has opened a tenure-track position! This is a broad search, with some preference for ecology/evolution/environment, but any and all research foci in biology are encouraged to apply! Review date is Dec 15th.
jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/65141
jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/65141
Assistant Professor
Applicants should possess a Ph.D. in the biological sciences or related fields.Candidates are expected to document expertise in their specialty by a record of postdoctoral training, peer reviewed publ...
jobs.charlotte.edu
November 20, 2025 at 8:23 PM
My department (Biological Sciences) has opened a tenure-track position! This is a broad search, with some preference for ecology/evolution/environment, but any and all research foci in biology are encouraged to apply! Review date is Dec 15th.
jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/65141
jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/65141
Reposted by Holly Bik
We have a date for the free-to-attend #anvio workshop and ECR Symposium for 2026, and we look forward to meeting you at the @hifmb.de in Oldenburg, Germany!
Please find more information on the venue, program, and the application form here, and spread the word 😇
anvio.org/workshops/20...
Please find more information on the venue, program, and the application form here, and spread the word 😇
anvio.org/workshops/20...
November 20, 2025 at 6:42 PM
We have a date for the free-to-attend #anvio workshop and ECR Symposium for 2026, and we look forward to meeting you at the @hifmb.de in Oldenburg, Germany!
Please find more information on the venue, program, and the application form here, and spread the word 😇
anvio.org/workshops/20...
Please find more information on the venue, program, and the application form here, and spread the word 😇
anvio.org/workshops/20...
ICYMI - our COBRA webinar recording is now posted on YouTube! Olivia Pereira (postdoc at @mbarinews.bsky.social) and I teamed up to talk about #SciComm - “From Abyss to Audience: Science Communication in Deep-sea Research” www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlx...
COBRA Webinar Series – From Abyss to Audience: Science Communication in Deep-sea Research
YouTube video by COBRA
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
ICYMI - our COBRA webinar recording is now posted on YouTube! Olivia Pereira (postdoc at @mbarinews.bsky.social) and I teamed up to talk about #SciComm - “From Abyss to Audience: Science Communication in Deep-sea Research” www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlx...
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:42 PM