Patrick Phillips
@patrickphillips.bsky.social
Geneticist at University of Oregon @uoregon. Worms, C. elegans, aging, evolution, genetics, genomics, complex traits. Former provost and interim president. Lab: https://pages.uoregon.edu/pphil/ GScholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JbH6mVkAAA
Pinned
An update of our latest research push. We study the genetic basis of natural variation using nematodes and theory, and have been using that variation to study the biology of aging. I am now convinced that the next era in both evolutionary biology and aging requires new biology: synthetic biology 1/2
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
DAF-2/IGF-1 degradation: Males WAY outlive hermaphrodites! This is so cool. @patrickphillips.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
DAF-2/IGF-1 degradation: Males WAY outlive hermaphrodites! This is so cool. @patrickphillips.bsky.social
Make males live more than 400% longer and prevent sexual disfunction late in life?! We're down with it. Our latest preprint: Disruption of the insulin signaling pathway in C. elegans dramatically increases male longevity and enhances reproductive health late in life. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 6, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Make males live more than 400% longer and prevent sexual disfunction late in life?! We're down with it. Our latest preprint: Disruption of the insulin signaling pathway in C. elegans dramatically increases male longevity and enhances reproductive health late in life. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Inspired by my recent workshop visit in Sicily, the lab had an Italian food potluck during lab meeting. I made pumpkin stuffed gnocchi in a nutmeg sage cream sauce, but we have no kitchen. So I finished the gnocchi in an electric tea kettle. Worked ok.
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Inspired by my recent workshop visit in Sicily, the lab had an Italian food potluck during lab meeting. I made pumpkin stuffed gnocchi in a nutmeg sage cream sauce, but we have no kitchen. So I finished the gnocchi in an electric tea kettle. Worked ok.
Grew up a huge Dodgers fan but the last serious game I watched was in grad school when Kurt Gibson made the greatest hit I’ve ever seen. So yes, I’ve turned on this baby after seeing the hoopla.
November 2, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Grew up a huge Dodgers fan but the last serious game I watched was in grad school when Kurt Gibson made the greatest hit I’ve ever seen. So yes, I’ve turned on this baby after seeing the hoopla.
Happened to wear black today, so I got sucked into a lab Louvre heist Halloween dress up.
October 31, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Happened to wear black today, so I got sucked into a lab Louvre heist Halloween dress up.
This is nuts, because we know that we can use synthetic biology to optimize these “beasts” of burden. Not sure of the application. I have visions bacterially manned gates sorting the worthiness of other bacteria.
Domesticated animals have pulled our heavy carts and turned our large mills for centuries. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum—what if the wheel you want to turn is so small you can’t see it?
Turns out we can harness the power of bacteria to power the world’s smallest machines.
1/7 ⚛️🧪
Turns out we can harness the power of bacteria to power the world’s smallest machines.
1/7 ⚛️🧪
October 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This is nuts, because we know that we can use synthetic biology to optimize these “beasts” of burden. Not sure of the application. I have visions bacterially manned gates sorting the worthiness of other bacteria.
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
I'm recruiting a postdoc for my group (based in beautiful Eugene, OR). Please get in touch if you're interested, esp if you'd like to chat at #ASHG25!
We'll primarily work at the intersection of statistical and population genetics, and we also have active projects related to the ethical and social implications of human genetics (ELSI). Please get in touch if that's a combination that sounds interesting to you!
October 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I'm recruiting a postdoc for my group (based in beautiful Eugene, OR). Please get in touch if you're interested, esp if you'd like to chat at #ASHG25!
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Available to read via #OpenAccess
The egg-counter: a novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Patrick C. Phillips et al
@patrickphillips.bsky.social @uoregon.bsky.social @stephenbanse.bsky.social
The egg-counter: a novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Patrick C. Phillips et al
@patrickphillips.bsky.social @uoregon.bsky.social @stephenbanse.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Available to read via #OpenAccess
The egg-counter: a novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Patrick C. Phillips et al
@patrickphillips.bsky.social @uoregon.bsky.social @stephenbanse.bsky.social
The egg-counter: a novel microfluidic platform for characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Patrick C. Phillips et al
@patrickphillips.bsky.social @uoregon.bsky.social @stephenbanse.bsky.social
Very important paper for the geroscience hypothesis. Healthy aging is critical, even in the face of obvious disease states.
🧬💥 Do the genetics that make you develop a disease also help you survive it? Not much.
Our new study in Nature Genetics including 9 disease and 7 biobanks shows:
• Susceptibility variants ≠ survival
• PRSs for onset weak at predicting progression
• Lifespan PRS predicts survival better
Our new study in Nature Genetics including 9 disease and 7 biobanks shows:
• Susceptibility variants ≠ survival
• PRSs for onset weak at predicting progression
• Lifespan PRS predicts survival better
October 6, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Very important paper for the geroscience hypothesis. Healthy aging is critical, even in the face of obvious disease states.
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Save the date! #PEQG26 June 9-12 2026 in Asilomar, CA. Happens only every 2yrs, but is my favorite conference. Full website coming soon, and registration and abstract submission opens November 14, but I'm allowed to tease that keynotes will be @jnovembre.bsky.social @jennytung.bsky.social and me!
Homepage - Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference
Visit our website to learn more.
genetics-gsa.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Save the date! #PEQG26 June 9-12 2026 in Asilomar, CA. Happens only every 2yrs, but is my favorite conference. Full website coming soon, and registration and abstract submission opens November 14, but I'm allowed to tease that keynotes will be @jnovembre.bsky.social @jennytung.bsky.social and me!
Just out in press in eLife, a cool and brilliant piece of work by @amywebster.bsky.social: Gene expression variation across genetically identical individuals predicts reproductive traits. elifesciences.org/articles/106...
September 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Just out in press in eLife, a cool and brilliant piece of work by @amywebster.bsky.social: Gene expression variation across genetically identical individuals predicts reproductive traits. elifesciences.org/articles/106...
New position in Developmental Neuroscience in the University of Oregon Department of Biology. There is also a neuroengineering search going on in the Knight Campus at the same time, so exciting buildouts in that area at the UO. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30255
University of Oregon, Department of Biology
Job #AJO30255, 535561 Assistant Professor of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, US
academicjobsonline.org
August 18, 2025 at 11:32 PM
New position in Developmental Neuroscience in the University of Oregon Department of Biology. There is also a neuroengineering search going on in the Knight Campus at the same time, so exciting buildouts in that area at the UO. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30255
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Come be my boss! My dept. at GT is searching for a new chair. Drop me a line if you are interested, I'd be happy to talk about this position, GT, ATL- anything. It's a drama-free department filled with cool people in a dynamic city.
www.biosciences.gatech.edu/chair-search
www.biosciences.gatech.edu/chair-search
Chair Search
Chair, School of Biological Sciences Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta The School of Biological Sciences of the Georgia Institute of Technology (“Georgia Tech”) invites applications for the pos...
www.biosciences.gatech.edu
August 13, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Come be my boss! My dept. at GT is searching for a new chair. Drop me a line if you are interested, I'd be happy to talk about this position, GT, ATL- anything. It's a drama-free department filled with cool people in a dynamic city.
www.biosciences.gatech.edu/chair-search
www.biosciences.gatech.edu/chair-search
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Bittersweet to be leaving @docedge.bsky.social after a wonderful postdoc, but excited to share that I'm joining @uoregon.bsky.social next month as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Data Science.
August 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Bittersweet to be leaving @docedge.bsky.social after a wonderful postdoc, but excited to share that I'm joining @uoregon.bsky.social next month as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Data Science.
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Congress says they have our back...let's hold them to their word!
All gas, no breaks this August with the 31 Days of Action campaign.
Sign up for our daily action notes here: act.standupforscience.net/forms/31-day...
All gas, no breaks this August with the 31 Days of Action campaign.
Sign up for our daily action notes here: act.standupforscience.net/forms/31-day...
August 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Congress says they have our back...let's hold them to their word!
All gas, no breaks this August with the 31 Days of Action campaign.
Sign up for our daily action notes here: act.standupforscience.net/forms/31-day...
All gas, no breaks this August with the 31 Days of Action campaign.
Sign up for our daily action notes here: act.standupforscience.net/forms/31-day...
I've now received five NIH notice of awards for new or continuing grants since January. Almost enough data to detect some patterns. Here are a few observations. 1/n
August 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I've now received five NIH notice of awards for new or continuing grants since January. Almost enough data to detect some patterns. Here are a few observations. 1/n
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
There are so many more. According to this effort, around 100 scientists alone have saved 5 billion lives in the modern era: scienceheroes.com/
That is very nearly all of us. We are not here, had they not been here. Our family trees would not protrude into modernity.
17/19
That is very nearly all of us. We are not here, had they not been here. Our family trees would not protrude into modernity.
17/19
November 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
There are so many more. According to this effort, around 100 scientists alone have saved 5 billion lives in the modern era: scienceheroes.com/
That is very nearly all of us. We are not here, had they not been here. Our family trees would not protrude into modernity.
17/19
That is very nearly all of us. We are not here, had they not been here. Our family trees would not protrude into modernity.
17/19
For those keeping track of such things, I just received a NOA for a continuing R01, 10 weeks after the end of the previous budget period. So it does happen. Very grateful to the dedicated folks a the NIA for their continuing efforts to keep things rolling.
July 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
For those keeping track of such things, I just received a NOA for a continuing R01, 10 weeks after the end of the previous budget period. So it does happen. Very grateful to the dedicated folks a the NIA for their continuing efforts to keep things rolling.
Former lab member Anna Crist, who now CRISPRizes mosquitoes at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, sent me this awesome card with original artwork.
July 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Former lab member Anna Crist, who now CRISPRizes mosquitoes at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, sent me this awesome card with original artwork.
Meanwhile, lab humus competition 2025
July 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Meanwhile, lab humus competition 2025
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
We will be there too. Consider attending this Epigenetics workshop in Erice, Sicily! (see link below).
Amazing workshop on Epigenetics: from Molecules to Behavior in Erice Sicily, October 6-10. Very comprehensive overview of topics and a beautiful location, as part of the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture. Hope to see you there! centromajorana.it/epigenetics2...
Epigenetics: From Molecules to Behavior
'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and International Centre for Scientific Culture Schools
centromajorana.it
July 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We will be there too. Consider attending this Epigenetics workshop in Erice, Sicily! (see link below).
Reposted by Patrick Phillips
I’m excited to share our work which identifies a new seminal fluid protein in C. elegans!
Kasimatis et al. identify a new nematode seminal fluid protein which is released from a novel sperm subcellular organelle. This protein is not involved in sexual conflict but provides a small fitness benefit to females
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@katjakasimatis.bsky.social @asherdcutter.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
@katjakasimatis.bsky.social @asherdcutter.bsky.social
A novel sperm-derived seminal fluid protein in Caenorhabditis nematodes
Abstract. Nematode sperm contains subcellular vesicles known as membranous organelles (MOs) that fuse with the sperm cell membrane upon sperm activation to
doi.org
July 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I’m excited to share our work which identifies a new seminal fluid protein in C. elegans!
Fresh on the heels of #worm25, our new preprint just dropped: Pro-longevity compounds extend Caenorhabditis elegans male lifespan and reproductive healthspan, by @rosealsaadi.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Pro-longevity compounds extend Caenorhabditis elegans male lifespan and reproductive healthspan
Sex differences in aging are robust and ubiquitous. Demographic differences in aging generated by sex have long been recognized, but the underlying biological basis for these differences and the poten...
www.biorxiv.org
July 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Fresh on the heels of #worm25, our new preprint just dropped: Pro-longevity compounds extend Caenorhabditis elegans male lifespan and reproductive healthspan, by @rosealsaadi.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
For those searching for info (like me), the reconciliation process used for the BBB cannot be used to address discretionary funding, like NIH & NSF. So those continue to operate under the continuing resolution until the next appropriations process, which will begin in July and end in September.
July 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
For those searching for info (like me), the reconciliation process used for the BBB cannot be used to address discretionary funding, like NIH & NSF. So those continue to operate under the continuing resolution until the next appropriations process, which will begin in July and end in September.