Ruth Isenberg, PhD
@ruthlessruth15.bsky.social
Microbe lover 🦠 | Microbiology PhD | Postdoc at University of Minnesota in the lab of Julia Willett | First-gen | she/her
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Help requested: my friend is interviewing for TTF positions at private SLACs in the US, and wants to prepare a startup package list that is fitting. Can anyone share startup $ ranges at their SLACs, so it's a reasonable number? Please RT.
January 20, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Help requested: my friend is interviewing for TTF positions at private SLACs in the US, and wants to prepare a startup package list that is fitting. Can anyone share startup $ ranges at their SLACs, so it's a reasonable number? Please RT.
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
I know many of you know Joe James (of Binning Singletons)
Joe and his family had a terrible tragedy occur on Christmas. If you can give, this is a good family to help out
gofund.me/5cbfe22fe
Joe and his family had a terrible tragedy occur on Christmas. If you can give, this is a good family to help out
gofund.me/5cbfe22fe
Donate to Honoring Sarah James Through Education, organized by Joe James
Honoring Sarah James & Supporting Her Children’s Future
On Christmas, our com… Joe James needs your support for Honoring Sarah James Through Education
gofund.me
January 1, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I know many of you know Joe James (of Binning Singletons)
Joe and his family had a terrible tragedy occur on Christmas. If you can give, this is a good family to help out
gofund.me/5cbfe22fe
Joe and his family had a terrible tragedy occur on Christmas. If you can give, this is a good family to help out
gofund.me/5cbfe22fe
Professor Ruth: Coming Fall 2026!
I'm thrilled to announce that I have officially accepted a tenure-track faculty position in the Biology Department at @macalestercollege.bsky.social!
#HeyMac #NewProfessor #WomanInSTEM
I'm thrilled to announce that I have officially accepted a tenure-track faculty position in the Biology Department at @macalestercollege.bsky.social!
#HeyMac #NewProfessor #WomanInSTEM
December 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Professor Ruth: Coming Fall 2026!
I'm thrilled to announce that I have officially accepted a tenure-track faculty position in the Biology Department at @macalestercollege.bsky.social!
#HeyMac #NewProfessor #WomanInSTEM
I'm thrilled to announce that I have officially accepted a tenure-track faculty position in the Biology Department at @macalestercollege.bsky.social!
#HeyMac #NewProfessor #WomanInSTEM
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Great profile of @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social www.the-scientist.com/postdoc-port...
Postdoc Portrait: Ruth Isenberg
This postdoc explores how gut and oral bacteria wage microscopic battles that shape infection and health.
www.the-scientist.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Great profile of @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social www.the-scientist.com/postdoc-port...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Mark your calendars! #mmpc2026 The 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference will be take place September 25-27, 2026 at the University of Minnesota! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Andy Camilli. Give us a follow and watch for important information here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference | Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference 2026
mmpc2026.umn.edu
October 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Mark your calendars! #mmpc2026 The 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference will be take place September 25-27, 2026 at the University of Minnesota! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Andy Camilli. Give us a follow and watch for important information here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…
www.jic.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
#Wolbachia has puzzled scientists with its power to rewire insect reproduction. What if I tell you that we found one of the keys Wolbachia use to rewire its host AND a small molecule inhibitor uses this key to mimic what this microbe has mastered for millions of years.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Beyond Wolbachia—Can a small molecule control insect reproduction?
Kaur et al. demonstrate reduced histone acetylation as a key mechanism underpinning
Wolbachia’s paternal-effect embryonic lethality trait in Drosophila melanogaster.
Recapitulation of this trait by in...
www.cell.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
#Wolbachia has puzzled scientists with its power to rewire insect reproduction. What if I tell you that we found one of the keys Wolbachia use to rewire its host AND a small molecule inhibitor uses this key to mimic what this microbe has mastered for millions of years.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Announcing such a major change to NSF GRFP this late in the cycle is incredibly cruel. 2nd yr students (mine included) have been working so hard on their proposals despite ongoing uncertainty. They are driven and passionate about being outstanding scientists and helping those coming up behind them.
September 26, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Announcing such a major change to NSF GRFP this late in the cycle is incredibly cruel. 2nd yr students (mine included) have been working so hard on their proposals despite ongoing uncertainty. They are driven and passionate about being outstanding scientists and helping those coming up behind them.
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Job opening - pls share: The Biology Department at Worcester State University has been approved to hire TWO new tenure-track faculty members to begin September 1, 2026! Here is a link to the job ad and application site: worcester.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta... .
Worcester State University
Job Posting: Assistant/Associate Professor, Biology
Worcester State University Job Posting: Assistant/Associate Professor, Biology
worcester.interviewexchange.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Job opening - pls share: The Biology Department at Worcester State University has been approved to hire TWO new tenure-track faculty members to begin September 1, 2026! Here is a link to the job ad and application site: worcester.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta... .
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Good news! KU's IRACDA program was reinstated! We are now taking applications for postdocs. Please spread the word.
sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Sear...
sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Sear...
Postdoctoral Researcher - University of Kansas - Job Details
Job Details: The IRACDA Program at the University of Kansas (KU) is accepting applications for postdoctoral scholarships. W
sjobs.brassring.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Good news! KU's IRACDA program was reinstated! We are now taking applications for postdocs. Please spread the word.
sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Sear...
sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Sear...
The best part of getting a PhD alongside your sister is you get to send silly emails like this to each other
August 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The best part of getting a PhD alongside your sister is you get to send silly emails like this to each other
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Did you miss the opportunity to submit an abstract to MMPC?
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
MMPC 2025 - Submit an Abstract
Submission Dates
Abstract submission will open on May 1, 2025
Oral abstract submission deadline: July 15, 2025
Poster abstract submission deadline: Extended to August 25!
Instructions for abstract s...
www.mmpconference2025.com
August 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Did you miss the opportunity to submit an abstract to MMPC?
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
I suppose this is a good time to let y'all know @jlewillett.bsky.social and I have a new preprint out! I had a lot of fun giving a talk about this work at #Phages25 🧬🦠
@ruthlessruth15.bsky.social
secreted product
web ties survival among
many mouth microbes
#sciku 🧪🧬🔬🧫🦠 #Phages2025
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
secreted product
web ties survival among
many mouth microbes
#sciku 🧪🧬🔬🧫🦠 #Phages2025
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Streptococcal natural products mediate interspecies competition with Gram-positive bacterial pathogens
Polymicrobial communities where bacteria must compete with each other to persist can serve as a source of uncharacterized antibacterial compounds to develop drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant i...
doi.org
August 7, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I suppose this is a good time to let y'all know @jlewillett.bsky.social and I have a new preprint out! I had a lot of fun giving a talk about this work at #Phages25 🧬🦠
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
@ruthlessruth15.bsky.social: #Streptococcus mutants can kill #Enterococcus and other G(+)’s with mutanobactin, a cyclic lipopeptide that increases cell membrane permeability #phages2025 🦠
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Streptococcal natural products mediate interspecies competition with Gram-positive bacterial pathogens
Polymicrobial communities where bacteria must compete with each other to persist can serve as a source of uncharacterized antibacterial compounds to develop drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant i...
www.biorxiv.org
August 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
@ruthlessruth15.bsky.social: #Streptococcus mutants can kill #Enterococcus and other G(+)’s with mutanobactin, a cyclic lipopeptide that increases cell membrane permeability #phages2025 🦠
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
The Parker Lab at UNC Biology is hiring a postdoc to work on insect–microbe interactions.
Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment!
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...
Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment!
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...
Post-Doc Research Associate
The researcher will be primarily responsible for carrying out investigations related to our lab's research, using an insect model system (aphids) to address mechanistic and evolutionary genetic questi...
unc.peopleadmin.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The Parker Lab at UNC Biology is hiring a postdoc to work on insect–microbe interactions.
Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment!
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...
Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment!
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Kenyon is hiring a TT microbiologist! Please share widely. I’m the search chair & am happy to answer any questions. careers.pageuppeople.com/695/cw/en-us...
Kenyon College - Details - Assistant Professor of Biology (Tenure-Track)
careers.pageuppeople.com
July 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Kenyon is hiring a TT microbiologist! Please share widely. I’m the search chair & am happy to answer any questions. careers.pageuppeople.com/695/cw/en-us...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
One of the first #LuxSelfies (people illuminated by bacterial bioluminescence) I successfully photographed. #Micronaut and #DocMartian Ruth Isenberg...and I did not retouch her eyes. So: camera glitch or demonic entity? You decide. @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
One of the first #LuxSelfies (people illuminated by bacterial bioluminescence) I successfully photographed. #Micronaut and #DocMartian Ruth Isenberg...and I did not retouch her eyes. So: camera glitch or demonic entity? You decide. @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social
Okay but for real, what are people actually looking for when they ask you to identify your ethnicity/race? Whenever I can only select one (which is silly) I at least want to select the option that is closest to what the asker is looking for.
May 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Okay but for real, what are people actually looking for when they ask you to identify your ethnicity/race? Whenever I can only select one (which is silly) I at least want to select the option that is closest to what the asker is looking for.
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
We found that many bacterial species use exogenous peptidoglycan fragments - released by lysis of neighboring cells - as a general danger signal, triggering a danger response that protects bacteria against many dangers: biofilm formation.
Details here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Details here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria use exogenous peptidoglycan as a danger signal to trigger biofilm formation - Nature Microbiology
Peptidoglycan released by neighbouring kin or non-kin cell lysis induces physiological changes that protect from a range of stresses, including phage predation.
www.nature.com
January 6, 2025 at 10:13 AM
We found that many bacterial species use exogenous peptidoglycan fragments - released by lysis of neighboring cells - as a general danger signal, triggering a danger response that protects bacteria against many dangers: biofilm formation.
Details here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Details here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Today I learned how to wrangle C. elegans! I can confirm that they do a lot of wiggling back and forth. But I love them ❤️🪱
December 6, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Today I learned how to wrangle C. elegans! I can confirm that they do a lot of wiggling back and forth. But I love them ❤️🪱
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
🚨 Attention #teamtomo PhD students! 🚨 12-week paid internship opportunity at Genentech. Want to see how we use cryoET in pharma? And spend the summer 2025 in the Bay Area? Details and application link here: roche.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ROG-A2O-GENE...
2025 Summer Intern - Department of Structural Biology
Department Summary The CryoEM Group in the Department of Structural Biology is dedicated to providing high-resolution structural insights into biological macromolecules involved in health and disease....
roche.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
November 18, 2024 at 5:49 AM
🚨 Attention #teamtomo PhD students! 🚨 12-week paid internship opportunity at Genentech. Want to see how we use cryoET in pharma? And spend the summer 2025 in the Bay Area? Details and application link here: roche.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ROG-A2O-GENE...
Reposted by Ruth Isenberg, PhD
Hi BlueSky friends!
Postdoc(s) available in my lab!
Multiple projects on how bacterial genomic and functional diversity impacts microbial interactions & disease. 🦠🧫
See www.thelewinlab.com/join-us/post... for more information.
Please RT & share.
#Postdoc #Microbiology #OralMicro #VaginalMicro
Postdoc(s) available in my lab!
Multiple projects on how bacterial genomic and functional diversity impacts microbial interactions & disease. 🦠🧫
See www.thelewinlab.com/join-us/post... for more information.
Please RT & share.
#Postdoc #Microbiology #OralMicro #VaginalMicro
October 25, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Hi BlueSky friends!
Postdoc(s) available in my lab!
Multiple projects on how bacterial genomic and functional diversity impacts microbial interactions & disease. 🦠🧫
See www.thelewinlab.com/join-us/post... for more information.
Please RT & share.
#Postdoc #Microbiology #OralMicro #VaginalMicro
Postdoc(s) available in my lab!
Multiple projects on how bacterial genomic and functional diversity impacts microbial interactions & disease. 🦠🧫
See www.thelewinlab.com/join-us/post... for more information.
Please RT & share.
#Postdoc #Microbiology #OralMicro #VaginalMicro
I'm so happy that this paper is finally published! This one was a long time coming: 9 years, 3 pairs of hands, 270 strains, 93 plasmids, and a lot of hard work. It started as a side project that eventually led to my entire dissertation, and I'm glad it did.
Superb #mSystemsJ by @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social et al from @markjmandel.bsky.social
Functional analysis of cyclic diguanylate-modulating proteins in Vibrio fischeri
"protein OE to systematically characterize the functional potential of all 50 V.fischeri proteins"❗️
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Functional analysis of cyclic diguanylate-modulating proteins in Vibrio fischeri
"protein OE to systematically characterize the functional potential of all 50 V.fischeri proteins"❗️
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
October 22, 2024 at 5:58 PM
I'm so happy that this paper is finally published! This one was a long time coming: 9 years, 3 pairs of hands, 270 strains, 93 plasmids, and a lot of hard work. It started as a side project that eventually led to my entire dissertation, and I'm glad it did.