Matt Stephenson, PhD
@mattdstep.bsky.social
Data manager and landscape ecologist at Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute. Interested in agroecology, grassland birds, prairie restoration, regenerative agriculture, statistics, data viz, and spaceflight. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Congratulations to @nickhaddad.bsky.social, co-Director of the @kbslter.bsky.social, and Phoebe Zarnetske on the KBS LTER Executive Committee - they are both on @michiganstateu.bsky.social Main Campus today accepting Outstanding Faculty Awards from The College of Natural Science!
November 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Congratulations to @nickhaddad.bsky.social, co-Director of the @kbslter.bsky.social, and Phoebe Zarnetske on the KBS LTER Executive Committee - they are both on @michiganstateu.bsky.social Main Campus today accepting Outstanding Faculty Awards from The College of Natural Science!
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
New OA paper today! This one is very important to me as is the culmination of over a decade of incredibly intensive field work in KS prairies. I will walk you through the take-homes...
1/n
#Tallgrass #GRSP #LTER #Konza #PopulationEcology #Rain
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
1/n
#Tallgrass #GRSP #LTER #Konza #PopulationEcology #Rain
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Climatic Variability Threatens Population Growth and Persistence of a Declining Grassland Songbird
Determining the factors responsible for population change in threatened populations and the degree to which changing climates might put those populations at risk is one of the most pressing roles of ...
dx.doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
New OA paper today! This one is very important to me as is the culmination of over a decade of incredibly intensive field work in KS prairies. I will walk you through the take-homes...
1/n
#Tallgrass #GRSP #LTER #Konza #PopulationEcology #Rain
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
1/n
#Tallgrass #GRSP #LTER #Konza #PopulationEcology #Rain
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Thanks to new spectra from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these once-theoretical worlds are rapidly becoming an observational reality.
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/where-w...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/where-w...
Where Water Boils the Sky: Steam Worlds and the Search for Life
What happens when a planet contains immense quantities of water but is far too hot for that water to remain liquid?
www.seti.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Thanks to new spectra from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these once-theoretical worlds are rapidly becoming an observational reality.
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/where-w...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/where-w...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Re-upping this position before the December 1st application deadline. I'm looking to hire a post-doc - could be a climate scientist or environmental economist. Ideal start early 2026 but could be later. Please circulate!
🚨The Moore Lab at UC Davis is hiring!🚨
Post-doc for a project with @adamsobel.bsky.social on the valuation of climate information for adaptation
Could be a good fit for an environmental economist or a climate scientist - flexible start date and location
Apply by Dec 1st: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07346
Post-doc for a project with @adamsobel.bsky.social on the valuation of climate information for adaptation
Could be a good fit for an environmental economist or a climate scientist - flexible start date and location
Apply by Dec 1st: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07346
Postdoctoral Scholar - Environmental Science & Policy
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucdavis.edu
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Re-upping this position before the December 1st application deadline. I'm looking to hire a post-doc - could be a climate scientist or environmental economist. Ideal start early 2026 but could be later. Please circulate!
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Meet Mark Mba-Wright, professor of mechanical engineering. His work at Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute exemplifies the integration of visionary ideas with practical applications, driving forward the boundaries of what is possible. research.iastate.edu/faces-of-dis...
July 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Meet Mark Mba-Wright, professor of mechanical engineering. His work at Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute exemplifies the integration of visionary ideas with practical applications, driving forward the boundaries of what is possible. research.iastate.edu/faces-of-dis...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
For publication metadata nerds: viz of the generation of various metadata and their flow through the scholarly publishing system. The link goes to the online version that is fully animated, and has additional versions. Wonder if you think this is useful. docs.google.com/presentation...
July 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
For publication metadata nerds: viz of the generation of various metadata and their flow through the scholarly publishing system. The link goes to the online version that is fully animated, and has additional versions. Wonder if you think this is useful. docs.google.com/presentation...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
These 2025 TWS Publication Awards celebrate the best in new books and journal publications on wildlife biology and conservation. Professionals and students alike have brought new and exciting insights to the field.
2025 Publications Awards Winners announced - The Wildlife Society
Awards include best authored and edited books as well as journal articles
wildlife.org
July 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
These 2025 TWS Publication Awards celebrate the best in new books and journal publications on wildlife biology and conservation. Professionals and students alike have brought new and exciting insights to the field.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Tonight’s #prairie restoration view selection: a bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa). Someday, this oak will tower over this former corn field. I can’t wait.
July 4, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Tonight’s #prairie restoration view selection: a bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa). Someday, this oak will tower over this former corn field. I can’t wait.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Super excited to share that our beebox methods paper is available online at @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social, anyone looking to do some cool bumble science, get in touch! besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
BeeBox: A novel artificial nestbox for bumblebee research, conservation and engagement
Pollinators, particularly bumblebees, play a vital role in global food production, yet their populations face severe declines due to habitat loss. While conservation efforts have focused on food p...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Super excited to share that our beebox methods paper is available online at @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social, anyone looking to do some cool bumble science, get in touch! besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
If you're a scientist who's had to cut or cancel your field season because of US budget cuts, DM me here for an oped I'm working on. 🌏🧪
June 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
If you're a scientist who's had to cut or cancel your field season because of US budget cuts, DM me here for an oped I'm working on. 🌏🧪
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) popping up on the edge of a gravel road.
June 26, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) popping up on the edge of a gravel road.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Please share!
Our lab at LSU @lsuscience.bsky.social is looking for a student to join us in Spring or Fall 2026.
If you are interested in mountain birds and GENOMICS, and want to work on a project in Bolivian cloud forests, send me an email montanolab.com/join-us/
Our lab at LSU @lsuscience.bsky.social is looking for a student to join us in Spring or Fall 2026.
If you are interested in mountain birds and GENOMICS, and want to work on a project in Bolivian cloud forests, send me an email montanolab.com/join-us/
June 26, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Please share!
Our lab at LSU @lsuscience.bsky.social is looking for a student to join us in Spring or Fall 2026.
If you are interested in mountain birds and GENOMICS, and want to work on a project in Bolivian cloud forests, send me an email montanolab.com/join-us/
Our lab at LSU @lsuscience.bsky.social is looking for a student to join us in Spring or Fall 2026.
If you are interested in mountain birds and GENOMICS, and want to work on a project in Bolivian cloud forests, send me an email montanolab.com/join-us/
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
This inspirational story of how a “deer hunter, forester, Southern man posting about flowers” became an effective steward and advocate for the protection of grassland remnants in Alabama is absolutely worth a read.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/c...
In Alabama, a Social Media Influencer Really Gets Wild
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This inspirational story of how a “deer hunter, forester, Southern man posting about flowers” became an effective steward and advocate for the protection of grassland remnants in Alabama is absolutely worth a read.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/c...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Just heard that the EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol, and Radiation Explorer) satellite, which was developed to study clouds and precipitation, can actually also detect swarms of insects from space! #LPS25 🌎 🛰️ 🧪 🦗 earth.esa.int/eogateway/su...
5 things we learned in EarthCARE’s impressive first year - Earth Online
Clouds and aerosols, and their contribution to Earth's energy balance, are already less mysterious after the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer's first year in orbit.
earth.esa.int
June 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Just heard that the EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol, and Radiation Explorer) satellite, which was developed to study clouds and precipitation, can actually also detect swarms of insects from space! #LPS25 🌎 🛰️ 🧪 🦗 earth.esa.int/eogateway/su...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
About 0.16% of the old growth prairie hangs on in our county of 600k people. Honored to plant an extra 1,000 new acres over the last few years.
June 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
About 0.16% of the old growth prairie hangs on in our county of 600k people. Honored to plant an extra 1,000 new acres over the last few years.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Is your bathroom harboring a weird slime? Is there a strange crust underneath your sink? Scientists studying the microbes in our homes want your pictures—and we'd like to see them too! Fill out our quick form for a chance to be featured on our site and social media. 🦠 📸
Show us the weird slime in your home!
The Extremophile Campaign wants photos of weird microbial growth in your home. They're studying slime, crust, or stringy growth—life that grows on your showerhead, sink, water tank, or other places.
i1j7zijgb78.typeform.com
June 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Is your bathroom harboring a weird slime? Is there a strange crust underneath your sink? Scientists studying the microbes in our homes want your pictures—and we'd like to see them too! Fill out our quick form for a chance to be featured on our site and social media. 🦠 📸
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
I talked about our research, basic coyote behavior and life history, how living in urban communities impacts coyote behavior, and what works to reduce conflict between humans and coyotes. It was good to take questions from the council members and have a thoughtful discussion about urban wildlife.
June 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I talked about our research, basic coyote behavior and life history, how living in urban communities impacts coyote behavior, and what works to reduce conflict between humans and coyotes. It was good to take questions from the council members and have a thoughtful discussion about urban wildlife.
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Welcome to the first issue of RDM Weekly, a weekly roundup of Research Data Management resources!
To kick off this newsletter, I will be doing a drawing for 1 free @rfortherestofus.com course for anyone who subscribes by Friday! Winner will be notified via email.
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
To kick off this newsletter, I will be doing a drawing for 1 free @rfortherestofus.com course for anyone who subscribes by Friday! Winner will be notified via email.
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
RDM Weekly - Issue 001
A weekly roundup of Research Data Management resources.
open.substack.com
June 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Welcome to the first issue of RDM Weekly, a weekly roundup of Research Data Management resources!
To kick off this newsletter, I will be doing a drawing for 1 free @rfortherestofus.com course for anyone who subscribes by Friday! Winner will be notified via email.
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
To kick off this newsletter, I will be doing a drawing for 1 free @rfortherestofus.com course for anyone who subscribes by Friday! Winner will be notified via email.
open.substack.com/pub/rdmweekl...
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
Fuzzy lil jellybeans
(Bobolinks)
(Bobolinks)
June 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Fuzzy lil jellybeans
(Bobolinks)
(Bobolinks)
Reposted by Matt Stephenson, PhD
I gave in! After students asking for it, I now made a simple figure design checklist.
To help all scientists w/o graphic skills create clear, accessible, and truthful charts!
-> Out in @nature Cell Biology: rdcu.be/erwl4
#DataVisualization #PhD #SciComm
Thx for review @bethcimini.bsky.social + 2
To help all scientists w/o graphic skills create clear, accessible, and truthful charts!
-> Out in @nature Cell Biology: rdcu.be/erwl4
#DataVisualization #PhD #SciComm
Thx for review @bethcimini.bsky.social + 2
A checklist for designing and improving the visualization of scientific data
Nature Cell Biology - Creating clear and engaging scientific figures is crucial to communicate complex data. In this Comment, I condense principles from design, visual perception and data...
rdcu.be
June 18, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I gave in! After students asking for it, I now made a simple figure design checklist.
To help all scientists w/o graphic skills create clear, accessible, and truthful charts!
-> Out in @nature Cell Biology: rdcu.be/erwl4
#DataVisualization #PhD #SciComm
Thx for review @bethcimini.bsky.social + 2
To help all scientists w/o graphic skills create clear, accessible, and truthful charts!
-> Out in @nature Cell Biology: rdcu.be/erwl4
#DataVisualization #PhD #SciComm
Thx for review @bethcimini.bsky.social + 2
TIL that Sora will parasitize Red-winged blackbird nests 🤯🦉
doi.org/10.22621/cfn...
doi.org/10.22621/cfn...
June 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
TIL that Sora will parasitize Red-winged blackbird nests 🤯🦉
doi.org/10.22621/cfn...
doi.org/10.22621/cfn...