Luís M. Silva
@luismsilva.bsky.social
Disease ecology and evolution 🧬| Parasites 🦠 | Postdoc with @kayla-king.bsky.social at UBC 🇨🇦 | Music geek and art lover | he/him | 🇵🇹
📍Vancouver, CA
https://luis-m-silva.com/
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✊🏽✊🏿Safe space for everyone
#DiversityInSTEM #FirstGen #OpenScience #AcademicSky
📍Vancouver, CA
https://luis-m-silva.com/
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✊🏽✊🏿Safe space for everyone
#DiversityInSTEM #FirstGen #OpenScience #AcademicSky
Pinned
Luís M. Silva
@luismsilva.bsky.social
· Aug 25
Hey Bsky, I’m Luís, a 🇵🇹 disease ecologist in Vancouver 🇨🇦
I study the drama between hosts 🪱🦟 and parasites 🦠 - who wins, who loses, and which cards get played - and why it matters for evolution & health.
Always up for collabs, chats & making science fairer ✨
Say hi 👉 luis-m-silva.com
#AcademicSky
I study the drama between hosts 🪱🦟 and parasites 🦠 - who wins, who loses, and which cards get played - and why it matters for evolution & health.
Always up for collabs, chats & making science fairer ✨
Say hi 👉 luis-m-silva.com
#AcademicSky
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
What’s holding back clinical use of phage therapy in the UK?
Our workshop last year brought together international experts, biotech and regulators to find out
Meeting Report out now in Nature Microbiology with our take on the challenges and opportunities facing the UK phage therapy sector
Our workshop last year brought together international experts, biotech and regulators to find out
Meeting Report out now in Nature Microbiology with our take on the challenges and opportunities facing the UK phage therapy sector
Out Now! Realizing phage therapy in the UK #MicroSky
Realizing phage therapy in the UK
Nature Microbiology, Published online: 13 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02280-zOn 25 November 2025, the international phage therapy research and biotechnology communities gathered in Liverpool, UK, to discuss progress in implementing clinical phage therapies and the latest technological breakthroughs in phage biology and engineering, while UK regulators and health agencies provided the latest guidance.
go.nature.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:54 PM
What’s holding back clinical use of phage therapy in the UK?
Our workshop last year brought together international experts, biotech and regulators to find out
Meeting Report out now in Nature Microbiology with our take on the challenges and opportunities facing the UK phage therapy sector
Our workshop last year brought together international experts, biotech and regulators to find out
Meeting Report out now in Nature Microbiology with our take on the challenges and opportunities facing the UK phage therapy sector
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking around a microscopic volvox algae colony. 🫧🐻🧪
February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking around a microscopic volvox algae colony. 🫧🐻🧪
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
February 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
We are hiring a benthic ecologist at the researcher or senior researcher level 🧪🌍🦑
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
Researcher/Senior Researcher in Benthic Ecology at the Greenland Climate Research Center at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
The Greenland Climate Research Centre (GCRC) at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) invites applications for a position as researcher/senior researcher within the field of marine benth...
naalakkersuisut.emply.net
February 12, 2026 at 10:51 PM
We are hiring a benthic ecologist at the researcher or senior researcher level 🧪🌍🦑
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is an excellent place to work, with friendly colleagues, support, and teaching opportunities.
naalakkersuisut.emply.net/recruitment/...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🧪 Let's celebrate some remarkable female scientists featured in CB: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Jewel Plummer Cobb: A trailblazing life of impact
Stacey Finley commemorates the life and work of biologist Jewel Plummer Cobb, whose
outstanding contributions to cancer research, education and advocacy had far-reaching
impact.
www.cell.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM
International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🧪 Let's celebrate some remarkable female scientists featured in CB: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
we look forward seeing you on March 10 for Dr. Siqueira's webinar on "Dengue Alliance: How to Deliver Effective and
Accessible Dengue Treatments". Register: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi.... @utmbhealth.bsky.social @dndi.org @sbvirologia.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social
Accessible Dengue Treatments". Register: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi.... @utmbhealth.bsky.social @dndi.org @sbvirologia.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
we look forward seeing you on March 10 for Dr. Siqueira's webinar on "Dengue Alliance: How to Deliver Effective and
Accessible Dengue Treatments". Register: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi.... @utmbhealth.bsky.social @dndi.org @sbvirologia.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social
Accessible Dengue Treatments". Register: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi.... @utmbhealth.bsky.social @dndi.org @sbvirologia.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
I can't overrecommend this incredible paper about water skaters (genus Halobates). No one knows how they evolved. No one knows what they eat. They are superhydrophobic, which means water LITERALLY CANNOT WET THEM. Perhaps we should call them anti-water skaters? 🌊🧪
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Why did only one genus of insects, Halobates, take to the high seas?
Oceans cover over 70% of the earth’s surface and house a dizzying array of organisms, including five species of the peppercorn-sized ocean-skater Halobates, which live exclusively at the ocean surface...
journals.plos.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:17 PM
I can't overrecommend this incredible paper about water skaters (genus Halobates). No one knows how they evolved. No one knows what they eat. They are superhydrophobic, which means water LITERALLY CANNOT WET THEM. Perhaps we should call them anti-water skaters? 🌊🧪
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Curious about peer review beyond authorship? FACETS Journal is welcoming early career researchers to join the journal's editorial board as ECR Editors. Submit your application before Mar. 9!
Learn more ▶️ https://ow.ly/COKL50Y1Ttv
#PeerReview #EarlyCareerResearchers #AcademicPublishing
Learn more ▶️ https://ow.ly/COKL50Y1Ttv
#PeerReview #EarlyCareerResearchers #AcademicPublishing
January 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Curious about peer review beyond authorship? FACETS Journal is welcoming early career researchers to join the journal's editorial board as ECR Editors. Submit your application before Mar. 9!
Learn more ▶️ https://ow.ly/COKL50Y1Ttv
#PeerReview #EarlyCareerResearchers #AcademicPublishing
Learn more ▶️ https://ow.ly/COKL50Y1Ttv
#PeerReview #EarlyCareerResearchers #AcademicPublishing
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
(1/2) The preprint of our perspective on genetic estimates of relatedness in animal populations is out! Big Congratulations to Annika!
doi.org/10.32942/X28...
A systematic review of 2,861 articles shows that, even in 2025, 75% of such studies use microsatellites. And most use only a few!
#PopGen
doi.org/10.32942/X28...
A systematic review of 2,861 articles shows that, even in 2025, 75% of such studies use microsatellites. And most use only a few!
#PopGen
January 26, 2026 at 5:36 PM
(1/2) The preprint of our perspective on genetic estimates of relatedness in animal populations is out! Big Congratulations to Annika!
doi.org/10.32942/X28...
A systematic review of 2,861 articles shows that, even in 2025, 75% of such studies use microsatellites. And most use only a few!
#PopGen
doi.org/10.32942/X28...
A systematic review of 2,861 articles shows that, even in 2025, 75% of such studies use microsatellites. And most use only a few!
#PopGen
We need more open and transparent discussions about what goes or does not go inside doors in science. Yes to more initiatives like these.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My PI is not offering any support or guidance on my PhD project, what should I do?
A safety engineer feels abandoned by their principal investigator. How should they find support?
www.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:26 PM
We need more open and transparent discussions about what goes or does not go inside doors in science. Yes to more initiatives like these.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Successful strategies in the voluntarily repeated Prisoner's Dilemma https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.16.699891v1
January 20, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Successful strategies in the voluntarily repeated Prisoner's Dilemma https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.16.699891v1
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
1/ I'm seeking expressions of interest from nonprofit orgs to take over the Open Access Tracking Project ( #OATP, @oatp.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy ) and the open-source software on which it runs.
Details in this Google doc:
bit.ly/TransferOATP
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #OpenSource #ScholComm
🧵
Details in this Google doc:
bit.ly/TransferOATP
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #OpenSource #ScholComm
🧵
January 20, 2026 at 7:01 PM
1/ I'm seeking expressions of interest from nonprofit orgs to take over the Open Access Tracking Project ( #OATP, @oatp.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy ) and the open-source software on which it runs.
Details in this Google doc:
bit.ly/TransferOATP
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #OpenSource #ScholComm
🧵
Details in this Google doc:
bit.ly/TransferOATP
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #OpenSource #ScholComm
🧵
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Microgravity reshapes bacteriophage–host coevolution aboard the International Space Station
#evolution #mevoSky #scienceSky
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#evolution #mevoSky #scienceSky
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Microgravity reshapes bacteriophage–host coevolution aboard the International Space Station
Phage-host interactions have a role shaping microbial ecosystems, but their behavior in microgravity remains largely unexplored. In this study, experiments aboard the ISS reveal distinct evolutionary ...
journals.plos.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Microgravity reshapes bacteriophage–host coevolution aboard the International Space Station
#evolution #mevoSky #scienceSky
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#evolution #mevoSky #scienceSky
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Looking for something new to integrate into an #evolution or #microbiology course? Useful for lectures, labs, homework?
Have a look at our STEPS program, which simulates bacterial evolution, including the #LTEE. Easy web-based interface & lab manual w/ exercises to help develop students' intuition.
Have a look at our STEPS program, which simulates bacterial evolution, including the #LTEE. Easy web-based interface & lab manual w/ exercises to help develop students' intuition.
Excited to share new #program, STEPS, which can simulate #dynamics of the E. coli Long-Term Evolution Experiment (#LTEE) or other microbes in serial transfer regime.
telliamedrevisited.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/s...
STEPS developed by @devinmlake.bsky.social, Zachary Matson, Minako Izutsu, and me.
telliamedrevisited.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/s...
STEPS developed by @devinmlake.bsky.social, Zachary Matson, Minako Izutsu, and me.
STEPS To It
Announcing a new program, called STEPS, to simulate the dynamics of evolving microbial populations.
telliamedrevisited.wordpress.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Looking for something new to integrate into an #evolution or #microbiology course? Useful for lectures, labs, homework?
Have a look at our STEPS program, which simulates bacterial evolution, including the #LTEE. Easy web-based interface & lab manual w/ exercises to help develop students' intuition.
Have a look at our STEPS program, which simulates bacterial evolution, including the #LTEE. Easy web-based interface & lab manual w/ exercises to help develop students' intuition.
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
🐄 ⚒️
There is so much evidence that the beings we domesticated and put through horrific practices for the purposes of consumption are sentient beings, with family bonds, and intelligence. It impacts them heavily and our climate.
This is a nice thread.
Please seriously consider plant-based diets!
There is so much evidence that the beings we domesticated and put through horrific practices for the purposes of consumption are sentient beings, with family bonds, and intelligence. It impacts them heavily and our climate.
This is a nice thread.
Please seriously consider plant-based diets!
Cow Tools!
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 7:35 PM
🐄 ⚒️
There is so much evidence that the beings we domesticated and put through horrific practices for the purposes of consumption are sentient beings, with family bonds, and intelligence. It impacts them heavily and our climate.
This is a nice thread.
Please seriously consider plant-based diets!
There is so much evidence that the beings we domesticated and put through horrific practices for the purposes of consumption are sentient beings, with family bonds, and intelligence. It impacts them heavily and our climate.
This is a nice thread.
Please seriously consider plant-based diets!
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Our new paper (with @biotay.bsky.social) is out and on the cover story of @currentbiology.bsky.social !!!! Veronika, a Carinthian mountain cow flexibly uses a “multi-purpose tool” to scratch herself. A video and more information will follow in the comments.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
January 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Our new paper (with @biotay.bsky.social) is out and on the cover story of @currentbiology.bsky.social !!!! Veronika, a Carinthian mountain cow flexibly uses a “multi-purpose tool” to scratch herself. A video and more information will follow in the comments.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Call for abstracts ENDS MONDAY!!
details below :)
details below :)
Call for Abstracts Open for our symposium in @csee-scee.bsky.social May 2026 (Toronto): Microbial symbiosis: disturbance, adaptation, and the parasitism-mutualism continuum! 🦠 🐻❄️ See u there!
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky
January 18, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Call for abstracts ENDS MONDAY!!
details below :)
details below :)
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
January 13, 2026 at 8:27 AM
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Peer Review is broken because a generation of Editors were trained that peer review is sacrosanct. Thus we have Editors who are clerks, sending and re-sending manuscripts to reviewers until they are happy. That's not the job. Be an Editor, not a clerk. Use your skill and judgement. Make decisions.
January 14, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Peer Review is broken because a generation of Editors were trained that peer review is sacrosanct. Thus we have Editors who are clerks, sending and re-sending manuscripts to reviewers until they are happy. That's not the job. Be an Editor, not a clerk. Use your skill and judgement. Make decisions.
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Postdoc in statistical ecology & evolution! Develop models bridging evolutionary theory with empirical data on sex differences in immunity and life history. Apply now!
#postdoc #statistics #evolution #academicjobs #ecology jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
#postdoc #statistics #evolution #academicjobs #ecology jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Postdoctoral Researcher in Statistical Ecology and Evolution
Postdoctoral Researcher in Statistical Ecology and Evolution
jobs.helsinki.fi
January 14, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Postdoc in statistical ecology & evolution! Develop models bridging evolutionary theory with empirical data on sex differences in immunity and life history. Apply now!
#postdoc #statistics #evolution #academicjobs #ecology jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
#postdoc #statistics #evolution #academicjobs #ecology jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
This has been a tough year for early career scientists including grad students.
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
December 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This has been a tough year for early career scientists including grad students.
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
It is simply not true that “you can’t publish negative results”. 👇
[what people normally mean when they say this is they’re annoyed they can’t get a Nature paper saying someone else’s Nature paper is wrong]
[what people normally mean when they say this is they’re annoyed they can’t get a Nature paper saying someone else’s Nature paper is wrong]
Giving the gift of negative data 🥰
Since I joined @lsajournal.org I have handled several stellar manuscripts that report null results. These papers do very well and reviewers almost always appreciate them!
Thanks @rockefeller.edu news team for the article!
www.rockefeller.edu/news/38829-t...
Since I joined @lsajournal.org I have handled several stellar manuscripts that report null results. These papers do very well and reviewers almost always appreciate them!
Thanks @rockefeller.edu news team for the article!
www.rockefeller.edu/news/38829-t...
The value of publishing negative data - News
Scientific journals love news-worthy results. Editors want to publish studies with novel data that scientists will eagerly read and cite in their own work. Because of this desire for novelty, studies ...
www.rockefeller.edu
December 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
It is simply not true that “you can’t publish negative results”. 👇
[what people normally mean when they say this is they’re annoyed they can’t get a Nature paper saying someone else’s Nature paper is wrong]
[what people normally mean when they say this is they’re annoyed they can’t get a Nature paper saying someone else’s Nature paper is wrong]
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
Preprint alert📢!
Ever wondered how much bacterial parasites influence evolutionary outcomes of their host?
➡️ We co-evolved two bacterial strains in conditions in which the costs and benefits of prophage carriage varied
Here is what we found. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#MicroSky #PhageSky
🧵
➡️ We co-evolved two bacterial strains in conditions in which the costs and benefits of prophage carriage varied
Here is what we found. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#MicroSky #PhageSky
🧵
Environment-dependent evolution drives divergent adaptive strategies and parasite dynamics in a minimal community
Prophages, phage genomes integrated into bacterial chromosomes, are widespread, yet, the extent to which these resident parasites contribute to host fitness and shape evolutionary trajectories, partic...
www.biorxiv.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Preprint alert📢!
Ever wondered how much bacterial parasites influence evolutionary outcomes of their host?
➡️ We co-evolved two bacterial strains in conditions in which the costs and benefits of prophage carriage varied
Here is what we found. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#MicroSky #PhageSky
🧵
➡️ We co-evolved two bacterial strains in conditions in which the costs and benefits of prophage carriage varied
Here is what we found. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#MicroSky #PhageSky
🧵
Reposted by Luís M. Silva
If you’re conducting research in the relevant area and want to share your work, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch if you're interested in presenting or learning more.
Abstract deadline: 19th January 2026!
#MicrobialSymbiosis #CSEE2026 #SymbiosisResearch #Parasitism #Mutualism
Abstract deadline: 19th January 2026!
#MicrobialSymbiosis #CSEE2026 #SymbiosisResearch #Parasitism #Mutualism
December 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
If you’re conducting research in the relevant area and want to share your work, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch if you're interested in presenting or learning more.
Abstract deadline: 19th January 2026!
#MicrobialSymbiosis #CSEE2026 #SymbiosisResearch #Parasitism #Mutualism
Abstract deadline: 19th January 2026!
#MicrobialSymbiosis #CSEE2026 #SymbiosisResearch #Parasitism #Mutualism
Call for Abstracts Open for our symposium in @csee-scee.bsky.social May 2026 (Toronto): Microbial symbiosis: disturbance, adaptation, and the parasitism-mutualism continuum! 🦠 🐻❄️ See u there!
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky
December 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Call for Abstracts Open for our symposium in @csee-scee.bsky.social May 2026 (Toronto): Microbial symbiosis: disturbance, adaptation, and the parasitism-mutualism continuum! 🦠 🐻❄️ See u there!
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky
@jingdi.bsky.social @tommytraverscook.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social #SymbioSky #EvoSky #MicroSky