Tim Overton
@overtonlab.bsky.social
Microbiologist, interested in using bugs to do interesting things and also how to kill them.
https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/persons/tim-overton
ORCID: 0000-0003-3050-2549
https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/persons/tim-overton
ORCID: 0000-0003-3050-2549
Reposted by Tim Overton
Startling that this is being broadcast in the absence of any public communications by @ukri.org
The academic community has a right to expect to be told first hand what is happening with response mode funding and what the immediate future looks like
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
The academic community has a right to expect to be told first hand what is happening with response mode funding and what the immediate future looks like
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
MRC instructs grant review boards to slash funding rates - Research Professional News
Boards asked to recommend just three applications for funding, as BBSRC also suspends calls
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Startling that this is being broadcast in the absence of any public communications by @ukri.org
The academic community has a right to expect to be told first hand what is happening with response mode funding and what the immediate future looks like
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
The academic community has a right to expect to be told first hand what is happening with response mode funding and what the immediate future looks like
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Reposted by Tim Overton
![1
[A spoof advert for a life management app. It opens with a glossy, sorted-looking person smugly addressing us]
Hey there.
2
Feeling the January panic already?
3
[Title panel]
Then sign up for Stressifyly today.
4
[Show the app on a phone]
Stressifyly
(We couldn't decide between ‘Stressly' and ‘Stressify')
5
Stressifyly is the cute stress-management app that has given up pretending it's all ok.
[the rest of the advert depicts on-screen app tools a la Headspace / Liven / Grammarly etc]
6
Complete your daily freak-out rings
'You've nearly been anxious all day!'
7
Get daily reminders to your devices
[A woman jogging, her watch saying to her: "Hey! You should’ve met the right guy by now."]
8
Use innovative visualisation tools
[Show a visualisation of a mountain of work: ‘your work mountain / you’ next to a tiny person]
9
Delve into our ambient sound library
[Listening to a recording called ‘The background hum of global decline’ illustrated with an image of trump, putin, a robot, flames etc]
10
Chat to our AI Berater Buddy to start manifesting failure
[AI person on phone]:
You’re gonna cock this up
[Person holding phone, eyes closed]
I’m gonna cock this up
11
Do some journaling thing as if that will somehow help
[person typing a journal entry on phone: "Today I had too many difficult things to do"
12
And generally pay us to tell you that adult life will go away if you just fiddle around with your phone some more
12
[Advert ending image]:
Stressifyly:
Stay underwater.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibpkdjyy7n42ektwrasgu6fjhqo6tuwhh3jfctdmowmmjbzv5rr4u@jpeg)
Delighted to say that we have been funded by BBSRC to do some exciting science on how bacteria prevent accumulation of antibiotics - www.ukri.org/news/powerin...
Powering team science to unlock life’s secrets
Four world-class teams awarded major BBSRC sLoLa grants to push the frontiers of discovery in microbiology, photosynthesis, gene regulation and quantum biology.
www.ukri.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Delighted to say that we have been funded by BBSRC to do some exciting science on how bacteria prevent accumulation of antibiotics - www.ukri.org/news/powerin...
Some old buildings in Gloucestershire from the weekend
October 29, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Some old buildings in Gloucestershire from the weekend
New PhDs in my lab starting 2026!
Funded projects as part of the MIBTP centre (funded by BBSRC) now open for applications: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
Are you interested in biofilms? We have a couple of projects - looking at the links between energy metabolism and biofilms - and electricity!
Funded projects as part of the MIBTP centre (funded by BBSRC) now open for applications: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
Are you interested in biofilms? We have a couple of projects - looking at the links between energy metabolism and biofilms - and electricity!
Dr Tim Overton
Dr Tim Overton
warwick.ac.uk
October 14, 2025 at 8:29 AM
New PhDs in my lab starting 2026!
Funded projects as part of the MIBTP centre (funded by BBSRC) now open for applications: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
Are you interested in biofilms? We have a couple of projects - looking at the links between energy metabolism and biofilms - and electricity!
Funded projects as part of the MIBTP centre (funded by BBSRC) now open for applications: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
Are you interested in biofilms? We have a couple of projects - looking at the links between energy metabolism and biofilms - and electricity!
Reposted by Tim Overton
Job opportunity in my lab! We're looking for a post-doc to come join us for an exciting project exploring the evolution of #AMR and #hypervirulence in #klebsiella. Please share!! @unibirmingham.bsky.social Details: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOV067/r...
Research Fellow at University of Birmingham
Apply now for the Research Fellow role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Job opportunity in my lab! We're looking for a post-doc to come join us for an exciting project exploring the evolution of #AMR and #hypervirulence in #klebsiella. Please share!! @unibirmingham.bsky.social Details: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOV067/r...
New preprint! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
GFP is a useful protein to optimise production of proteins in the cytoplasm, but does not work well in the periplasm. We tested if two newer variants of GFP (sfGPF and cfSGFP2) can be used to improve periplasmic protein production.
GFP is a useful protein to optimise production of proteins in the cytoplasm, but does not work well in the periplasm. We tested if two newer variants of GFP (sfGPF and cfSGFP2) can be used to improve periplasmic protein production.
| bioRxiv
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
www.biorxiv.org
September 30, 2025 at 9:29 AM
New preprint! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
GFP is a useful protein to optimise production of proteins in the cytoplasm, but does not work well in the periplasm. We tested if two newer variants of GFP (sfGPF and cfSGFP2) can be used to improve periplasmic protein production.
GFP is a useful protein to optimise production of proteins in the cytoplasm, but does not work well in the periplasm. We tested if two newer variants of GFP (sfGPF and cfSGFP2) can be used to improve periplasmic protein production.
Had a great time in London this week, including a visit to the always excellent Japan House for their exhibition of pictograms
August 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Had a great time in London this week, including a visit to the always excellent Japan House for their exhibition of pictograms
New paper! A fun collaboration with Aneika Leney's group (@leneyms.bsky.social), looking for cyanobacteria in lake water using novel mass spectrometry approaches (and comparing with flow cytometry) pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org
July 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
New paper! A fun collaboration with Aneika Leney's group (@leneyms.bsky.social), looking for cyanobacteria in lake water using novel mass spectrometry approaches (and comparing with flow cytometry) pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
A surprise sighting yesterday in Birmingham - two Scarlet Tiger moths on a car tyre!
June 5, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A surprise sighting yesterday in Birmingham - two Scarlet Tiger moths on a car tyre!
Exciting new PhD project!
Are you interested in the microbiology of the mouth, and how we could develop new oral care products to reduce harmful bacteria while helping beneficial ones?
Fully funded by EPSRC (UK students only) and working with Colgate.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/co...
Are you interested in the microbiology of the mouth, and how we could develop new oral care products to reduce harmful bacteria while helping beneficial ones?
Fully funded by EPSRC (UK students only) and working with Colgate.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/co...
www.birmingham.ac.uk
May 16, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Exciting new PhD project!
Are you interested in the microbiology of the mouth, and how we could develop new oral care products to reduce harmful bacteria while helping beneficial ones?
Fully funded by EPSRC (UK students only) and working with Colgate.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/co...
Are you interested in the microbiology of the mouth, and how we could develop new oral care products to reduce harmful bacteria while helping beneficial ones?
Fully funded by EPSRC (UK students only) and working with Colgate.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/co...
Back at work now but Scotland last week was pretty good
April 30, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Back at work now but Scotland last week was pretty good
Chiffchaff singing outside my office window reminds me that spring is very much here.
April 2, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Chiffchaff singing outside my office window reminds me that spring is very much here.
Concert today in symphony hall - Stravinsky!
March 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Concert today in symphony hall - Stravinsky!
Reposted by Tim Overton
Feb. 2, 1925: Dogs save the city of Nome, Alaska. A team of huskies races into the dipththeria-stricken city dragging a sled that carries enough antitoxin to halt the epidemic. The last leg of the heroic relay is directed by musher Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog, Balto. 1/10
February 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Feb. 2, 1925: Dogs save the city of Nome, Alaska. A team of huskies races into the dipththeria-stricken city dragging a sled that carries enough antitoxin to halt the epidemic. The last leg of the heroic relay is directed by musher Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog, Balto. 1/10
Tomorrow - playing with solihullsymphony.org.uk in Dorridge, an Opera Gala with Puccini / Wagner / Verdi et al.
Home - Solihull Symphony Orchestra
Solihull Symphony Orchestra is a lively and enthusiastic group of non-professional musicians who enjoy taking on the challenge of a diverse and varied repertoire. Our members span an age range from un...
solihullsymphony.org.uk
January 31, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Tomorrow - playing with solihullsymphony.org.uk in Dorridge, an Opera Gala with Puccini / Wagner / Verdi et al.
Reposted by Tim Overton
It's been a terrible week. A terrible, terrible week. The worst people on earth are full of energy and vigour, the best are defined by anxiety and self-doubt. Here are three simple rules to surviving the next four years, because by God we'll need them iandunt.substack.com/p/a-little-b...
A little bit of hope after a terrible week
A survival guide to the next four years.
iandunt.substack.com
January 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
It's been a terrible week. A terrible, terrible week. The worst people on earth are full of energy and vigour, the best are defined by anxiety and self-doubt. Here are three simple rules to surviving the next four years, because by God we'll need them iandunt.substack.com/p/a-little-b...
I'm trying to listen to some new music this year, and starting alphabetically on spotify. This week's discovery - Hendrik Andriessen, father of Louis Andriessen
January 8, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I'm trying to listen to some new music this year, and starting alphabetically on spotify. This week's discovery - Hendrik Andriessen, father of Louis Andriessen
Reposted by Tim Overton
I find it comforting that I'm partly made up of bacteria and fungi and other little critters. My microbiota make me want to be gentle with myself, even when I'm having a bad day. How cool is it to be a planet that has the capacity to think about and even love its inhabitants?
November 25, 2024 at 1:59 AM
I find it comforting that I'm partly made up of bacteria and fungi and other little critters. My microbiota make me want to be gentle with myself, even when I'm having a bad day. How cool is it to be a planet that has the capacity to think about and even love its inhabitants?
Concert tomorrow with the Solihull Symphony Orchestra - marking Bruckner 200 with a performance of his 4th Symphony. Quite a bit for the 📯 to do!
solihullsymphony.org.uk/our-next-con...
solihullsymphony.org.uk/our-next-con...
solihullsymphony.org.uk
November 22, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Concert tomorrow with the Solihull Symphony Orchestra - marking Bruckner 200 with a performance of his 4th Symphony. Quite a bit for the 📯 to do!
solihullsymphony.org.uk/our-next-con...
solihullsymphony.org.uk/our-next-con...
Reposted by Tim Overton
I have three PhD studentships available currently through the MIBTP DTP warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa... on different aspects of the respiratory microbiome, interaction with mucin with @lucyicm.bsky.social, the resistome with Dr Michelle Buckner and pathobionts with @bacterioskeptic.bsky.social
Dr Michael Cox
Dr Michael Cox
warwick.ac.uk
November 18, 2024 at 3:50 PM
I have three PhD studentships available currently through the MIBTP DTP warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa... on different aspects of the respiratory microbiome, interaction with mucin with @lucyicm.bsky.social, the resistome with Dr Michelle Buckner and pathobionts with @bacterioskeptic.bsky.social
Reposted by Tim Overton
Reposted by Tim Overton
MIBTP PhD applications are now open! There are three associated with my lab.1) infant gut microbes and human milk oligosaccharides with @halllab.bsky.social 2) respiratory microbiome nutrition with Mike Cox 3) mucus-producing organoids with Amanda Rossiter!
🧪✨
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
🧪✨
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
November 15, 2024 at 5:18 PM
MIBTP PhD applications are now open! There are three associated with my lab.1) infant gut microbes and human milk oligosaccharides with @halllab.bsky.social 2) respiratory microbiome nutrition with Mike Cox 3) mucus-producing organoids with Amanda Rossiter!
🧪✨
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
🧪✨
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
New PhD projects as part of the BBSRC-funded MIBTP scheme! Fully funded and open to home and overseas students! Are you interested in bioprocesses, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, or biofilms?
November 15, 2024 at 4:49 PM
New PhD projects as part of the BBSRC-funded MIBTP scheme! Fully funded and open to home and overseas students! Are you interested in bioprocesses, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, or biofilms?
Reposted by Tim Overton
Incredible graphic - the myriad of ways that bacteria defend themselves against antibiotics.
14 resistance mechanisms, summarised by Idan Yelin & Roy Kishony in Cell
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
14 resistance mechanisms, summarised by Idan Yelin & Roy Kishony in Cell
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 13, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Incredible graphic - the myriad of ways that bacteria defend themselves against antibiotics.
14 resistance mechanisms, summarised by Idan Yelin & Roy Kishony in Cell
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
14 resistance mechanisms, summarised by Idan Yelin & Roy Kishony in Cell
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...