John Steele
@jfcsteele.bsky.social
Structural biologist and biochemist with an interest in synthetic biology for green chemistry. Unapologetic geek passionate about science and biotechnology.
Postdoc at Edinburgh University- all views are my own. He/Him.
Postdoc at Edinburgh University- all views are my own. He/Him.
Reposted by John Steele
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by John Steele
February 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by John Steele
Applications now open for Summer Studentships 2026!
Successful applicants will be:
🌿In receipt of £504.38 per week for a studentship period of up to 6 weeks
🌿Invited to write a blog for the BiPS website
🌿Invited to attend and present at the next BiPS Conference
Apply here: bit.ly/4qf2ZDG
Successful applicants will be:
🌿In receipt of £504.38 per week for a studentship period of up to 6 weeks
🌿Invited to write a blog for the BiPS website
🌿Invited to attend and present at the next BiPS Conference
Apply here: bit.ly/4qf2ZDG
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Applications now open for Summer Studentships 2026!
Successful applicants will be:
🌿In receipt of £504.38 per week for a studentship period of up to 6 weeks
🌿Invited to write a blog for the BiPS website
🌿Invited to attend and present at the next BiPS Conference
Apply here: bit.ly/4qf2ZDG
Successful applicants will be:
🌿In receipt of £504.38 per week for a studentship period of up to 6 weeks
🌿Invited to write a blog for the BiPS website
🌿Invited to attend and present at the next BiPS Conference
Apply here: bit.ly/4qf2ZDG
You can't think about a sustainable chemical industry without considering our most abundant energy source: sunlight.
So how can we engineer microbes to harness this energy for our benefit?
rdcu.be/e1VfW
So how can we engineer microbes to harness this energy for our benefit?
rdcu.be/e1VfW
Interfacing solar energy with bacterial metabolism for sustainable chemical synthesis
Nature Reviews Clean Technology - Phototrophic bacteria could be used for chemical manufacturing from various carbon sources. This Review discusses the pathways, engineering and potential...
rdcu.be
February 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
You can't think about a sustainable chemical industry without considering our most abundant energy source: sunlight.
So how can we engineer microbes to harness this energy for our benefit?
rdcu.be/e1VfW
So how can we engineer microbes to harness this energy for our benefit?
rdcu.be/e1VfW
Reposted by John Steele
The very first Dr from the group! Congratulations Laura @transitionalform.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for passing your viva yesterday!! 🎉🎉
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
January 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM
The very first Dr from the group! Congratulations Laura @transitionalform.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for passing your viva yesterday!! 🎉🎉
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
@kurzgesagt.org have some fantastic videos. This could be a great opportunity and comes at a time when having accurate and trustworthy information is more vital than ever!
JOB ALERT! 📢 For the scientists who love science communication: we’re hiring at @kurzgesagt.org !🌍 Come join our team, the vibes are impeccable.
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
Job listing for (Senior) Fact-Checker & Researcher (all genders) |
kurzgesagt
Want to work with kurzgesagt? We have an open role as (Senior) Fact-Checker & Researcher (all genders). Apply now to become part of a great team and start an exciting career!
kurzgesagt.org
January 7, 2026 at 1:12 PM
@kurzgesagt.org have some fantastic videos. This could be a great opportunity and comes at a time when having accurate and trustworthy information is more vital than ever!
Reposted by John Steele
JOB ALERT! 📢 For the scientists who love science communication: we’re hiring at @kurzgesagt.org !🌍 Come join our team, the vibes are impeccable.
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
Job listing for (Senior) Fact-Checker & Researcher (all genders) |
kurzgesagt
Want to work with kurzgesagt? We have an open role as (Senior) Fact-Checker & Researcher (all genders). Apply now to become part of a great team and start an exciting career!
kurzgesagt.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM
JOB ALERT! 📢 For the scientists who love science communication: we’re hiring at @kurzgesagt.org !🌍 Come join our team, the vibes are impeccable.
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
✍️ Scriptwriter (Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/scri...
🔍 Fact-Checker & Researcher (Munich/Berlin/Remote) kurzgesagt.org/careers/seni...
Reposted by John Steele
Interested in parasitology? Looking to do a PhD? Cone join me and @geordieparasit.bsky.social in Edinburgh as we try and work out how human parasites get their vitamins.
🎓 Funded #PhD studentships in pathogen biology and parasitology
*Cell and Molecular Biology*; *Host-pathogen interactions*
Part of the EastBio Doctoral Landscape Award
Based in the Edinburgh area of Scotland
PhD 1:
bit.ly/Host-pathoge...
PhD 2:
bit.ly/Parasite-sca...
@uoe-eid.bsky.social
*Cell and Molecular Biology*; *Host-pathogen interactions*
Part of the EastBio Doctoral Landscape Award
Based in the Edinburgh area of Scotland
PhD 1:
bit.ly/Host-pathoge...
PhD 2:
bit.ly/Parasite-sca...
@uoe-eid.bsky.social
EastBio: A host-directed approach to identify novel therapeutic targets of infectious reproductive diseases at Moredun Research Institute on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - EastBio: A host-directed approach to identify novel therapeutic targets of infectious reproductive diseases at Moredun Research Institute, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Interested in parasitology? Looking to do a PhD? Cone join me and @geordieparasit.bsky.social in Edinburgh as we try and work out how human parasites get their vitamins.
Reposted by John Steele
🪧 Upcoming Opportunities!
We recently updated our website with some exciting opportunities.
From scholarships specifically for Black students to PhD programmes across the country there are an incredible number of options.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/uVvFtBk
We recently updated our website with some exciting opportunities.
From scholarships specifically for Black students to PhD programmes across the country there are an incredible number of options.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/uVvFtBk
December 1, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🪧 Upcoming Opportunities!
We recently updated our website with some exciting opportunities.
From scholarships specifically for Black students to PhD programmes across the country there are an incredible number of options.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/uVvFtBk
We recently updated our website with some exciting opportunities.
From scholarships specifically for Black students to PhD programmes across the country there are an incredible number of options.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/uVvFtBk
Reposted by John Steele
Are you looking for female speakers in CryoEM for seminars and conferences? Are you a woman in CryoEM and not yet on the ‚woman in CryoEM‘ list? Find your speakers and add/update name and affiliation! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
November 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Are you looking for female speakers in CryoEM for seminars and conferences? Are you a woman in CryoEM and not yet on the ‚woman in CryoEM‘ list? Find your speakers and add/update name and affiliation! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by John Steele
Pleased to see this collaboration with a great PhD student Pei Cing Ng, from Prof. Luning Liu's lab at Liverpool University published. Structure of the H. neapolitanus carbonic anhydrase and localisation in a mini-carboxysome: www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
November 13, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Pleased to see this collaboration with a great PhD student Pei Cing Ng, from Prof. Luning Liu's lab at Liverpool University published. Structure of the H. neapolitanus carbonic anhydrase and localisation in a mini-carboxysome: www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by John Steele
Are you looking for a PhD in Plant Science? Check our our project on barley canopy architecture. Combine genetics and physics to understand how awns influence barley grain development. Find out more here: lnkd.in/eWhWammJ Apply by 14th December. #PhDPosition
#PlantSci @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
#PlantSci @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Are you looking for a PhD in Plant Science? Check our our project on barley canopy architecture. Combine genetics and physics to understand how awns influence barley grain development. Find out more here: lnkd.in/eWhWammJ Apply by 14th December. #PhDPosition
#PlantSci @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
#PlantSci @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
Reposted by John Steele
Check out this advertised professorship in Bern with my colleagues at the Institute of Plant Sciences! Please share widely to reach candidates from across the world and beyond our local academic bubbles. 🫧
#QueerInSTEM #DisabledInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #CarersInSTEM #AcademicSky #HigherED
#QueerInSTEM #DisabledInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #CarersInSTEM #AcademicSky #HigherED
🌿🌱 We’re hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor (potentially open rank) at the Institute of Plant Sciences
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
November 5, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Check out this advertised professorship in Bern with my colleagues at the Institute of Plant Sciences! Please share widely to reach candidates from across the world and beyond our local academic bubbles. 🫧
#QueerInSTEM #DisabledInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #CarersInSTEM #AcademicSky #HigherED
#QueerInSTEM #DisabledInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #CarersInSTEM #AcademicSky #HigherED
Reposted by John Steele
The Wallace Lab is expanding in 2026, with five new Postdoctoral Research Associate positions now open. If you're passionate about engineering biology for sustainability, we'd love to hear from you! 🧬 ♻️
Deadline: 12th November 2025, details below ⬇️
Deadline: 12th November 2025, details below ⬇️
October 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Wallace Lab is expanding in 2026, with five new Postdoctoral Research Associate positions now open. If you're passionate about engineering biology for sustainability, we'd love to hear from you! 🧬 ♻️
Deadline: 12th November 2025, details below ⬇️
Deadline: 12th November 2025, details below ⬇️
Reposted by John Steele
Very excited to announce that our collaborative manifesto for 🌱 #PlantScience #Education has now been published! Educators from >10 countries and 30 institutions have contributed to it and we are incredibly proud of the final output. Here is a short thread 🧵1/4 doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
A manifesto for plant science education
Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists....
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Very excited to announce that our collaborative manifesto for 🌱 #PlantScience #Education has now been published! Educators from >10 countries and 30 institutions have contributed to it and we are incredibly proud of the final output. Here is a short thread 🧵1/4 doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
Reposted by John Steele
Do you enjoy teaching biochemistry? The University of Virginia Department of Chemistry is hiring a teaching-track assistant professor to teach lecture and/or laboratory biochemistry courses. #chemjobs #facultychemjobs
More details in the link below:
apply.interfolio.com/175929
More details in the link below:
apply.interfolio.com/175929
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Do you enjoy teaching biochemistry? The University of Virginia Department of Chemistry is hiring a teaching-track assistant professor to teach lecture and/or laboratory biochemistry courses. #chemjobs #facultychemjobs
More details in the link below:
apply.interfolio.com/175929
More details in the link below:
apply.interfolio.com/175929
Reposted by John Steele
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…
www.jic.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Reposted by John Steele
Fully-funded #PhDposition in my lab @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social Apply before 🗓️ 2nd Dec 2025 👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mak... Making Drugs Out of Sunlight and "Thin Air" ☀️🌿🧬⚗️ with secondary supervision from Prof. Anne Osbourn @johninnescentre.bsky.social 🥼 #SynBio #OrgChem #PhD
October 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Fully-funded #PhDposition in my lab @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social Apply before 🗓️ 2nd Dec 2025 👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mak... Making Drugs Out of Sunlight and "Thin Air" ☀️🌿🧬⚗️ with secondary supervision from Prof. Anne Osbourn @johninnescentre.bsky.social 🥼 #SynBio #OrgChem #PhD
Reposted by John Steele
Obsessed with this Journal of Immaterial Science article 🔥
October 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Obsessed with this Journal of Immaterial Science article 🔥
Reposted by John Steele
If you can't see sidechains, can you really call the resolution 3.3 Å..? 👀
And if you can't see sidechains, how do you know the helical symmetry is right..?
And if you can't see sidechains, how do you know the helical symmetry is right..?
Structural basis of Pseudomonas biofilm-forming functional amyloid FapC formation pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40991694/ #cryoem
September 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
If you can't see sidechains, can you really call the resolution 3.3 Å..? 👀
And if you can't see sidechains, how do you know the helical symmetry is right..?
And if you can't see sidechains, how do you know the helical symmetry is right..?
The proliferation of tools to generate predictive protein structures just underscores how important CASP is. There is no better way to allow unbiased & fair comparisons between tools!
predictioncenter.org/index.cgi
Such a shame NIH didn't renew funding
predictioncenter.org/index.cgi
Such a shame NIH didn't renew funding
September 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The proliferation of tools to generate predictive protein structures just underscores how important CASP is. There is no better way to allow unbiased & fair comparisons between tools!
predictioncenter.org/index.cgi
Such a shame NIH didn't renew funding
predictioncenter.org/index.cgi
Such a shame NIH didn't renew funding
Reposted by John Steele
Apple is entering the protein folding arena.
SimpleFold: Folding Proteins is Simpler than You Think arxiv.org/abs/2509.18480 🧬🖥️🧪 github.com/apple/ml-sim...
SimpleFold: Folding Proteins is Simpler than You Think arxiv.org/abs/2509.18480 🧬🖥️🧪 github.com/apple/ml-sim...
September 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Apple is entering the protein folding arena.
SimpleFold: Folding Proteins is Simpler than You Think arxiv.org/abs/2509.18480 🧬🖥️🧪 github.com/apple/ml-sim...
SimpleFold: Folding Proteins is Simpler than You Think arxiv.org/abs/2509.18480 🧬🖥️🧪 github.com/apple/ml-sim...
Reposted by John Steele
Ever wondered where your paracetamol comes from? Spoiler: crude oil. In this study – led by Nick Johnson from our lab in collaboration with @astra-zeneca.bsky.social – we show how biology and chemistry can work together to create a more sustainable alternative. (1/n)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A biocompatible Lossen rearrangement in Escherichia coli - Nature Chemistry
Biocompatible chemistry merges chemo-catalytic reactions with cellular metabolism for sustainable small-molecule synthesis. Now a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement has been demonstrated to control ba...
www.nature.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Ever wondered where your paracetamol comes from? Spoiler: crude oil. In this study – led by Nick Johnson from our lab in collaboration with @astra-zeneca.bsky.social – we show how biology and chemistry can work together to create a more sustainable alternative. (1/n)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by John Steele
The Plant Shape Lab is hiring! Are you interested in supporting cutting edge cereal research? We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated technician to join us for 2 years, setting up and running cereal transformation. Find out more, and apply here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
September 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The Plant Shape Lab is hiring! Are you interested in supporting cutting edge cereal research? We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated technician to join us for 2 years, setting up and running cereal transformation. Find out more, and apply here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Reposted by John Steele
If you're on LinkedIn, you'll probably want to switch this toggle to 'off'.
September 19, 2025 at 11:09 AM
If you're on LinkedIn, you'll probably want to switch this toggle to 'off'.