Olivia Kosterlitz
@oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social
Studying the effects of horizontal gene transfer (specifically conjugative plasmids) on the ecology and evolution of bacterial communities. Currently a NSF postdoctoral fellow with Eva Top @ UIdaho
Still on a science high after an incredible Microbial Population GRS/GRC. Honored to have been able to talk about my work. Grateful for all the amazing feedback, ideas, and inspiring conversations—especially from the brilliant scientists whose papers I’ve long admired. Can’t wait for the next one!
Looking forward to seeing everyone, new and old, at the Microbial Population Biology GRS + GRC in just a couple days!
go.bsky.app/GGxRjzC
go.bsky.app/GGxRjzC
July 16, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Still on a science high after an incredible Microbial Population GRS/GRC. Honored to have been able to talk about my work. Grateful for all the amazing feedback, ideas, and inspiring conversations—especially from the brilliant scientists whose papers I’ve long admired. Can’t wait for the next one!
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
INTRODUCTION
thebullshitmachines.com
February 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
The National Science foundation has just updated their FAQ to say they are complying with the court order and has restored access to funds and the ACM$ platform new.nsf.gov/executive-or...
February 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The National Science foundation has just updated their FAQ to say they are complying with the court order and has restored access to funds and the ACM$ platform new.nsf.gov/executive-or...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
It's all gone. They've taken down all the CDC datasets from data.cdc.gov
Data that's critical for public health & research. Data paid for by citizens. That the government now censors.
"Do not fear those who tell the truth. Fear those who try to hide it. They are willing to sacrifice other things."
Data that's critical for public health & research. Data paid for by citizens. That the government now censors.
"Do not fear those who tell the truth. Fear those who try to hide it. They are willing to sacrifice other things."
February 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
It's all gone. They've taken down all the CDC datasets from data.cdc.gov
Data that's critical for public health & research. Data paid for by citizens. That the government now censors.
"Do not fear those who tell the truth. Fear those who try to hide it. They are willing to sacrifice other things."
Data that's critical for public health & research. Data paid for by citizens. That the government now censors.
"Do not fear those who tell the truth. Fear those who try to hide it. They are willing to sacrifice other things."
Maybe this will help NSF PRFB fellows like me who are not getting paid 🧪
NEW Restraining Order Issued Against Funding Freeze
🧪
NPR.org
"For now, the order blocks any suspension of federal dollars to the 22 states that were party to the suit — as well as the District of Columbia."
🧪
NPR.org
"For now, the order blocks any suspension of federal dollars to the 22 states that were party to the suit — as well as the District of Columbia."
February 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Maybe this will help NSF PRFB fellows like me who are not getting paid 🧪
As a PRFB fellow myself, I can independently confirm this is true! I will not be receiving a paycheck in February and it is unclear the next time I will be paid. No communication from NSF either on how they will determine grants are in ‘compliance’ to deem which funding will be resumed.
To update people on the NSF PRFB situation: despite the court challenge and rescinding the original memo, the NSF has continued to comply with the executive order. They have not communicated with us at all and our paychecks are still canceled indefinitely. I know people who cannot pay their rent.
January 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
As a PRFB fellow myself, I can independently confirm this is true! I will not be receiving a paycheck in February and it is unclear the next time I will be paid. No communication from NSF either on how they will determine grants are in ‘compliance’ to deem which funding will be resumed.
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
Check out this amazing Spotlight on our recently published paper -> www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Huge thanks to @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social, Benjamin Kerr and Elisabeth Duan for this great spolight.
Huge thanks to @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social, Benjamin Kerr and Elisabeth Duan for this great spolight.
November 20, 2024 at 4:08 PM
Check out this amazing Spotlight on our recently published paper -> www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Huge thanks to @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social, Benjamin Kerr and Elisabeth Duan for this great spolight.
Huge thanks to @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social, Benjamin Kerr and Elisabeth Duan for this great spolight.
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
Agents of change: a partnership between mobile genetic elements facilitates rapid bacterial adaptation
#TrendsMicrobiol Spotlight by Elizabeth Duan, @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social and Benjamin Kerr
on the Nat Eco Evo paper from @sanmillan.bsky.social group
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Agents of change: a partnership between mobile genetic elements facilitates rapid bacterial adaptation
While the evolutionary interests of mobile genetic elements may differ from those
of their bacterial hosts, these elements can be beneficial for their hosts by delivering,
disrupting, or activating ge...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2024 at 8:29 AM
Agents of change: a partnership between mobile genetic elements facilitates rapid bacterial adaptation
#TrendsMicrobiol Spotlight by Elizabeth Duan, @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social and Benjamin Kerr
on the Nat Eco Evo paper from @sanmillan.bsky.social group
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
And its out! New paper for #integron aficionados. We found gene-less cassettes in superintegrons that express/silence other cassettes in the array. Here is a 🧵(if I know how to do this in Bluesky...😆)
academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...
academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...
Identification of promoter activity in gene-less cassettes from Vibrionaceae superintegrons
Abstract. Integrons are genetic platforms that acquire new genes encoded in integron cassettes (ICs), building arrays of adaptive functions. ICs generally encod
academic.oup.com
January 15, 2024 at 7:50 PM
And its out! New paper for #integron aficionados. We found gene-less cassettes in superintegrons that express/silence other cassettes in the array. Here is a 🧵(if I know how to do this in Bluesky...😆)
academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...
academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
Latest paper. We show that evolution repeats itself in predictable ways. This directly addresses the assertion by Stephen Jay Gould that evolution is not predictable. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes/no. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 30, 2023 at 6:32 PM
Latest paper. We show that evolution repeats itself in predictable ways. This directly addresses the assertion by Stephen Jay Gould that evolution is not predictable. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes/no. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
🚨The evolution of forecasting for decision-making in dynamic environments🚨
We explore a middle ground between rational economic and myopic evolutionary theories, when decisions feedback on environmental states.
By A Tilman @erolakcay.bsky.social @VVLVasconcelos
doi.org/10.1177/2633...
We explore a middle ground between rational economic and myopic evolutionary theories, when decisions feedback on environmental states.
By A Tilman @erolakcay.bsky.social @VVLVasconcelos
doi.org/10.1177/2633...
December 23, 2023 at 5:17 AM
🚨The evolution of forecasting for decision-making in dynamic environments🚨
We explore a middle ground between rational economic and myopic evolutionary theories, when decisions feedback on environmental states.
By A Tilman @erolakcay.bsky.social @VVLVasconcelos
doi.org/10.1177/2633...
We explore a middle ground between rational economic and myopic evolutionary theories, when decisions feedback on environmental states.
By A Tilman @erolakcay.bsky.social @VVLVasconcelos
doi.org/10.1177/2633...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
Can we predict AMR evolution?? We sure can try! New study published today in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 14, 2023 at 9:09 PM
Can we predict AMR evolution?? We sure can try! New study published today in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Olivia Kosterlitz
This is a super cool piece of work - Olivia Kosterlitz & Benjamin Kerr et al
Evolutionary “Crowdsourcing”: Alignment of Fitness Landscapes Allows for Cross-species Adaptation of a Horizontally Transferred Gene academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... #MicroSky #EvoSky
Evolutionary “Crowdsourcing”: Alignment of Fitness Landscapes Allows for Cross-species Adaptation of a Horizontally Transferred Gene academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... #MicroSky #EvoSky
Evolutionary “Crowdsourcing”: Alignment of Fitness Landscapes Allows for Cross-species Adaptatio...
Abstract. Genes that undergo horizontal gene transfer (HGT) evolve in different genomic backgrounds. Despite the ubiquity of cross-species HGT, the effects of s
academic.oup.com
December 4, 2023 at 8:32 AM
This is a super cool piece of work - Olivia Kosterlitz & Benjamin Kerr et al
Evolutionary “Crowdsourcing”: Alignment of Fitness Landscapes Allows for Cross-species Adaptation of a Horizontally Transferred Gene academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... #MicroSky #EvoSky
Evolutionary “Crowdsourcing”: Alignment of Fitness Landscapes Allows for Cross-species Adaptation of a Horizontally Transferred Gene academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... #MicroSky #EvoSky