Joe Weaver
@joeeweaver.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biological (Microbiome) Modelling with the SMART Soils Lab at Durham University
https://joeweaver.github.io/
https://joeweaver.github.io/
Wrapping up a bit of analysis I don't want hanging over my head during the holidays.
I had to go back and verify that some data entry I did was correct.
Literally making my list and checking it twice!
I had to go back and verify that some data entry I did was correct.
Literally making my list and checking it twice!
December 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Wrapping up a bit of analysis I don't want hanging over my head during the holidays.
I had to go back and verify that some data entry I did was correct.
Literally making my list and checking it twice!
I had to go back and verify that some data entry I did was correct.
Literally making my list and checking it twice!
Conveying research goals clearly is important; there are common writing 'moves', exemplified here by Girlfriend (Lavigne, 2007).
I don't like your girlfriend: clearly state the problem
I think you need a new one: propose solution
I could be your girlfriend: describe your specific contribution
I don't like your girlfriend: clearly state the problem
I think you need a new one: propose solution
I could be your girlfriend: describe your specific contribution
December 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Conveying research goals clearly is important; there are common writing 'moves', exemplified here by Girlfriend (Lavigne, 2007).
I don't like your girlfriend: clearly state the problem
I think you need a new one: propose solution
I could be your girlfriend: describe your specific contribution
I don't like your girlfriend: clearly state the problem
I think you need a new one: propose solution
I could be your girlfriend: describe your specific contribution
@rorylcooper.bsky.social gave a very nice talk (with gorgeous art) on crocodilian head scale patterns. Fav finding was a potential simple explaination mechanisms driving scale diversity between species.
December 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
@rorylcooper.bsky.social gave a very nice talk (with gorgeous art) on crocodilian head scale patterns. Fav finding was a potential simple explaination mechanisms driving scale diversity between species.
One sad consequence of mobile and cordless phones: much harder to explain DNA supercoiling these days.
December 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
One sad consequence of mobile and cordless phones: much harder to explain DNA supercoiling these days.
Holy cow, a completely 3D printed microscope, including lenses! (and that nearly a ‘ oh, by the way’ part of @gailmcconnell.bsky.social‘s opening talk on all sorts of advances in microscopy)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
A 3D‐printed optical microscope for low‐cost histological imaging
3D printing has become a useful tool for fast, reproducible and accessible manufacturing of optical components and microscope hardware, but often is only used to part-build imaging setups or specimen...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Holy cow, a completely 3D printed microscope, including lenses! (and that nearly a ‘ oh, by the way’ part of @gailmcconnell.bsky.social‘s opening talk on all sorts of advances in microscopy)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Settling into Durham University and attending the Biophysical Sciences Institute Winter ECR symposium. Had a peek at the posters, there is some amazing work going on at field intersections.
December 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Settling into Durham University and attending the Biophysical Sciences Institute Winter ECR symposium. Had a peek at the posters, there is some amazing work going on at field intersections.
An ORCID battle I choose to fight. ORC-ID, not "Orchid"
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
An ORCID battle I choose to fight. ORC-ID, not "Orchid"
Reading some old notes from a project report, "tools need X implemented to fix this problem. Probably about a half a day of coding".
Oh the lies we tell ourselves.
Oh the lies we tell ourselves.
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reading some old notes from a project report, "tools need X implemented to fix this problem. Probably about a half a day of coding".
Oh the lies we tell ourselves.
Oh the lies we tell ourselves.
It's not *the* key to success, but on bit on that key is learning to consistently say to yourself "OK, I'll just work on <thing I've been avoiding but which should be my priority> for 5 minutes before I get tea."
2 hours later...
2 hours later...
November 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
It's not *the* key to success, but on bit on that key is learning to consistently say to yourself "OK, I'll just work on <thing I've been avoiding but which should be my priority> for 5 minutes before I get tea."
2 hours later...
2 hours later...
What if I told you you're allowed to place your figures inline in your preprints?
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
What if I told you you're allowed to place your figures inline in your preprints?
Question for the meta-analysis and systemic lit review colleagues out there. How do you handle bodies of work coming from problematic publishers - straight up exclusion, evidence weighting?
November 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Question for the meta-analysis and systemic lit review colleagues out there. How do you handle bodies of work coming from problematic publishers - straight up exclusion, evidence weighting?
A productive use of my time:
September 17, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A productive use of my time:
My test cases pass. Time for a coffee.
My test cases don't pass. Time for a coffee.
My test cases don't pass. Time for a coffee.
August 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
My test cases pass. Time for a coffee.
My test cases don't pass. Time for a coffee.
My test cases don't pass. Time for a coffee.
May the typographers who make fonts with I and 1 indistinguishable and the people who select those fonts as appropriate for a journal have an unpleasant night.
Those who make ρ and p too similar, consider yourself on notice.
Those who make ρ and p too similar, consider yourself on notice.
August 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
May the typographers who make fonts with I and 1 indistinguishable and the people who select those fonts as appropriate for a journal have an unpleasant night.
Those who make ρ and p too similar, consider yourself on notice.
Those who make ρ and p too similar, consider yourself on notice.
I get to do the "I'm pleased to announce" thing!
Durham University has offered me the the position of Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biological (Microbiome) Modelling with the SMART soils lab to help create healthier soils across many environments and spanning multiple disciplines!
Durham University has offered me the the position of Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biological (Microbiome) Modelling with the SMART soils lab to help create healthier soils across many environments and spanning multiple disciplines!
Soil - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
July 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I get to do the "I'm pleased to announce" thing!
Durham University has offered me the the position of Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biological (Microbiome) Modelling with the SMART soils lab to help create healthier soils across many environments and spanning multiple disciplines!
Durham University has offered me the the position of Assistant Professor in Theoretical Biological (Microbiome) Modelling with the SMART soils lab to help create healthier soils across many environments and spanning multiple disciplines!
Even if your code is "messy". Even if it doesn't run fully. Making it easily available helps understanding the nitty gritty details that don't even get put into SI.
Love this "All protocols, sequence data and analysis codes .. available in OA repositories" Should be 'norm' for research with all linked in the DAS as from Brooke Benz, Eglantina Lopez Echartea & @barneygeddes.bsky.social in @microbiologysociety.org 👏 🌟
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
July 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Even if your code is "messy". Even if it doesn't run fully. Making it easily available helps understanding the nitty gritty details that don't even get put into SI.
Gettin' REAL tired of bubble charts using diameter to indicate p-value when the chart ends up being panel Q of a 3x3 inch figure.
July 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Gettin' REAL tired of bubble charts using diameter to indicate p-value when the chart ends up being panel Q of a 3x3 inch figure.
In my current project, I'm tracking my lower and upper task estimates and qualitative 'uncertainty'. I've been tackling the uncertain tasks as soon as possible and updating the upper/lower bounds. It's very fun watching the overall project upper/lower ETA converge.
Did I just become a Bayesian?
Did I just become a Bayesian?
June 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
In my current project, I'm tracking my lower and upper task estimates and qualitative 'uncertainty'. I've been tackling the uncertain tasks as soon as possible and updating the upper/lower bounds. It's very fun watching the overall project upper/lower ETA converge.
Did I just become a Bayesian?
Did I just become a Bayesian?
Me when one of 'my' proteins shows up in Thobela's keynote and #MEWE11:
a man in a yellow shirt is sitting in a chair holding a cup and pointing
ALT: a man in a yellow shirt is sitting in a chair holding a cup and pointing
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Me when one of 'my' proteins shows up in Thobela's keynote and #MEWE11:
Decades of flying and probably dozens of times through ATL. I think this may be the first time I've ever seen the outside of the airport. #MEWE11
June 2, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Decades of flying and probably dozens of times through ATL. I think this may be the first time I've ever seen the outside of the airport. #MEWE11
Just me rewriting to remove em dashes in my proposal to avoid the latest generative AI witch hunt.
Keeping my 'moreovers' though.
Keeping my 'moreovers' though.
May 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Just me rewriting to remove em dashes in my proposal to avoid the latest generative AI witch hunt.
Keeping my 'moreovers' though.
Keeping my 'moreovers' though.
Lots of writers I admire have advice which boils down to 'be consistent, don't wait until the mood hits you'.
I have had great success using the 'task inertia' of my personality. Not in the mood to write? OK, just set a timer and make an honest effort for 15 mins. An hour later...still writing.
I have had great success using the 'task inertia' of my personality. Not in the mood to write? OK, just set a timer and make an honest effort for 15 mins. An hour later...still writing.
May 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Lots of writers I admire have advice which boils down to 'be consistent, don't wait until the mood hits you'.
I have had great success using the 'task inertia' of my personality. Not in the mood to write? OK, just set a timer and make an honest effort for 15 mins. An hour later...still writing.
I have had great success using the 'task inertia' of my personality. Not in the mood to write? OK, just set a timer and make an honest effort for 15 mins. An hour later...still writing.