Sebastian R.vH
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sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Sebastian R.vH
@sebastianrvh.bsky.social
4.3K followers 1K following 450 posts
PhD Researcher using eDNA for wildlife conservation & forensics 🧬 🐾

University of Aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | QUADRAT DTP
MSc² | he/him 🏳️‍🌈 | Views my own

Getting back into photography after a 10 year hiatus | 📷 FujiFilm X-Pro1

https://linktr.ee/sebastianrvh
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sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Sebastian R.vH @sebastianrvh.bsky.social · Jan 11
Hello y'all! I wanted to take a beat and re-introduce myself;

👋, I’m a PhD student in Aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 trying to make #wildlife conservation more accessible by using #eDNA and other methods 🧬🧪🧑‍🔬👇

More recently, I have rekindled my love with #photography & I'll be sharing my journey with my FujiFilm 📷 ✨
Picture of me, on the left, wearing a dark rain coat in front of a green, mossy floor. I am looking through my camera, trying to take a close up picture of mushrooms that are in front of me A picture of a robin bird in the centre, with its distinctive red breast, surrounded by branches covered in heavy white snow Poster header containing the title of one of my chapters: Next-generation diagnostic technologies for DNA based biosurveillance of non-native mussels in the South Atlantic. The picture contains logos of both the University of Aberdeen and the Environmental Research Institute of the South Atlantic, as well as the names of the researcher in question (Sebastian van Hellemondt) and collaborators and supervisory team. Another picture shows the map of South America, highlighting the island of the Falklands, combined with a picture of the target species the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis). Two textboxes, namely Introduction and Research Question, highlight the need for a rapid species identification method for the invasive blue mussel in the Falklands. This is being done by applying isothermal amplification and lateral flow assays.
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
838carlisle.bsky.social
edited photo of a bear with a glamour shots background
September 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
alexbrighten1.bsky.social
Reflecting on #BESMove2025, nice couple days chatting all things #MovementEcology and meeting friends old & new. Thank you @besmovesig.bsky.social and the meeting organisers for your hard work to deliver a stacked and smooth running schedule and fun socials. Looking forward to the next one!
Top left; UEA broad just after sunrise; top right meeting welcome sign; lower left reflections of a bridge; lower right my poster and me.
September 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
Here are all the talks I attended and sketched at #ESEB2025 ! Only a fraction of the 642 speakers at the conference 😮

I had an absolutely amazing week chatting about lots of fascinating science

#sciart #eseb #esebcongress @eseb2025.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
alexbrighten1.bsky.social
It’s already been a week since #EOU2025! Fun week meeting and chatting cool bird science & geeking out at the cool tech! Presented another poster made from my tent in Bulgaria. 😅 Even got work done on the 14hr train journey, 🌱 but France took my Leatherman; rookie error not checking my field pack! 🥲
Collage of photos from the European Ornithological Union (EOU) conference 2025. Clockwise from top left: an amazing plenary about robust avian science by Antica Culina with a slide on FAIR data; a tiny solar GPS transmitter, the Menai bridge at sunrise; me and my poster; Welsh flag with bonus Welsh jackdaw; Vogelwarte research group; first Guinness after 2.5 months in Switzerland; cool hummingbird mural on a house; and in the centre: Vogelwarte research group - Team Alpine Swift-Barn Owl-Dipper et al!
August 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
agentlaughingperch.bsky.social
Very moving presentation from one of the recipients of the EUEA award from @eseb.bsky.social . As a trans academic myself, seeing effort being put into inclusivity has been refreshing. Thank you for platforming this topic and supporting people like this speaker 🏳️‍⚧️
A picture of a presentation slide which reads "The path to freedom, surviving as a trans academic". To the left is also a banner displaying the logo of the ESEB conference and in front are a few chairs facing the stage. Another presentation slide which contains some Qr code links to resources and some steps which academics could take to make space for trans academics. These steps are as follows: - apply for DEI grants - support LGBTQ+ scholarship funds - learn about local medical/legal systems to offer newly-arrived colleagues guidance - Avoid harmful rhetoric and behaviours
August 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
I'm excited for my @eseb2025.bsky.social presentation later today. I'm part of the symposium on the Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Innovations! I will have stickers to give out too (if bribery is required for attendance) 😁

#eseb2025 #sciart #eseb
August 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
I've had a wonderful 1st day at @eseb2025.bsky.social Here are the sketches from some of the talks I attended today. My highlights include Tristan on the adaptive genomics of colour spots on owls, Vicky on pearl mussel's response to climate change & Rebekah on firefly TEs & TE-induced mutations
August 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
agentlaughingperch.bsky.social
Looking forward to presenting my poster later at ESEB 2025 🐸 board 166 come find me if you're here
A person standing in front of a scientific poster and smiling
August 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
ellalillyy.bsky.social
I have been trying to make time for pottery alongside my PhD. I did my first official market last weekend at the Bowhouse. I was very nervous before but it was so lovely to speak to so many people about my work! I have added a few leftover pieces to my new website the-puffins-burrow.sumupstore.com 🐧
August 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
blahttodea.bsky.social
the big butterfly count starts this friday! all you have to do is spend 15 mins outside and log your butterfly/day-flying moth sightings. it's super easy to log your sessions on the website or app (click the link in the below post) and they have id guides to help too! 🦋
savebutterflies.bsky.social Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 2
Here are just a few of the brilliant butterflies and moths to look out for in your gardens and green spaces this month! 🦋🌻🌿
See how many you can spot in the Big Butterfly Count from 18 July - 10 August 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
Butterflies and moths to see in July. 9 species are shown including the common blue, painted lady, peacock and garden tiger.
July 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
why did nobody tell me that there is a small strait between two small islands off the westcoast of Scotland that has the worlds THIRD largest whirlpool, which also caused George Orwell (YES THAT ORWELL) to shipwreck with his 3-year old son
July 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
meta-kittiwake.bsky.social
Using #genetics to sex #Seabirds? 👉 New #openaccess #Methods note published today (optimize don't reinvent👍). No PhD student is an island: huge thanks to co-authors, collaborators and funders. #ornithology @ukri.org @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social doi.org/10.1007/s126... @springernature.com
A modified primer-pair designed for the molecular sex identification of black-legged Kittiwake (Laridae: Rissa tridactyla) - Conservation Genetics Resources
In studies of avian populations accurate sex identification facilitates the study of sex-linked behaviour, ecology, social structure, decision-making, and life histories. To improve molecular sex iden...
doi.org
July 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
#Question! For the #eDNA crowd.

My lab has polyethersulfone membrane filters, but the expiration date is December 2023. Does anybody know if I can still use these filters? They're still sealed etc.

#PhDSky #AcademicSky #environmentalDNA 🧪🧬
July 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
rowankuminski.bsky.social
At the end of #Pride every year I post this because I would not be where I am without the friends, mentors, and Allies who have gotten me through the hardest years of my life at Aberdeen. Happy Pride to those who provide me with support, safety, and hope so I can do what I love, study seabirds 💙
A light pink background with a digital drawing of several seabkrds standing together in a group: the bird in the front center is a fulmar, which has the colours of the non-binary flag (yellow, white, purple, black); the birds behind it are seabirds (gulls, auklets, penguins, terns, and a guillemot) in their normal colours
June 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
I just got informed that whales are considered as ungulates. I am unhappy.

(please don’t ask me to elaborate I still don’t fully understand)

#phylogeny #whales #ungulates
June 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
gallowayselkie.bsky.social
Got to hang out with a bunch of cool people from Biota Trace testing out an automated sampler (lovingly known as my wee robot pal) to collect water samples from Loch Craignish. @seawilding.bsky.social were also kind enough to let us use their shed and kept us company 😁 🐟 🤖
June 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
I’ve reached the point in my PhD where I need to redo my experiments because the initial analysis was wrong

which I found out by reanalysing said results a SECOND time with a different (better) program

so I can generate results and analyse those for a THIRD time.

ah joy

#PhDSky #AcademicSky
A nonsensical picture of a non-descript person with smooth mannikin-esk head, wearing a white labcoat and pink gloves holding a flask with pink liquid. They are standing in front of a pink/purple background with scribbles of chemical reagents. In big back letters in the left hand corner of the picture it reads “SCOIENS”
June 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
blahttodea.bsky.social
first day back in work after a few weeks and it brings me a lot of joy seeing our pride month noticeboard 💕 (also knowing how mad this board makes the department bigot)
blue noticeboard covered in various posters and flyers and decorated with progress flag bunting along the top and side. many of the posters are related to pride month, as well as others advertising various activities around the department/uni/local community
June 24, 2025 at 11:59 AM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
uhm since when can you catch pokemon in google!?

There’s a progress bar and animation and everything!!?

#Pokemon #Google #PokemonGo
A screenshot of googling the Pokemon Medicham, which shows pictures of the Pokemon and a small Pokeball in the righthand corner A screenshow showing the option to “Carch a Pokemon”. There is a button to “Search to Catch” and a progress bar of 0/151 Pokemon caught. The Pokemon’s silhouette is Graveler, with the hint being “Evolves into Golem” A screenshot of the Pokemon Haunter being caught with a Pokeball, infront of the google search screen
June 23, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tegangaetano.bsky.social
I have to highlight this amazing profile created for #PollinatorWeek and the folks studying them by the @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social Zoo & Roots student organisation.

❤️🐝❤️🐝
June 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
hi. can we PLEASE stop with AI being pushed down our throats?

#PhDsky #AcademicSky
A picture of a compterscreen open on Windows Word with a blank white document. Above the blank page it is giving writing prompts for AI, reading left to right as “Write an interview guide for a software engineer intern position at Microsoft”, “Write a funny poem to was Happy Birthday to my five-year-old sister”, and “Create an outline for a resume with headings”
June 19, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Puffin(s), 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢

📷 Fujifilm X-Pro1 XF 70-300mm
🎞️ 1/1000 • f/5.6 • 300mm • 1600 ISO

🪶 #puffin #birds #wildlife #photography #symmetry #coast #cliffs #Scotland #fujifilm
A picture of three puffins on the cliffside. The two puffins in the middle are looking left and right, where the puffin lower down the cliff has its face turned into its feathers, possibly cleaning itself. The cliff cuts the picture diagonally, making it look like a triangle. The cliff is covered in dark green grasses and mosses, with rocks inbetween. The entire picture has a white border
May 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
A Tale of Two Birds

𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢 (L) & 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢 (R)

The puffin got spooked by the razorbill who also wanted some of the limelight, looked at me, & said "hi :))"

I love their little personalities

🪶 #puffin #razorbill #birds #wildlife #photography #coast #cliffs #Scotland #fujifilm
A picture of a puffin sitting on a rock, facing with its colourful beak to the left. The rock is covered in white birdpoop. In the foreground are blurry pink flowers. The background is a blurry blue sea. A picture of a razorbill sitting on a rock, facing to the left. It has it's head upwards and it's beak a little bit open, almost as if it is smiling and saying hi. The rock is covered in white birdpoop. In the foreground are blurry pink flowers. The background is a blurry blue sea
May 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Another University that is using silence/lack of communication to keep people, within the uni and outside, in the dark.

Thank you to the LGBTQ+ Staff Network for this open letter to shine a light on what's happening!

#PhDSky #AcademicSky #LGBTSTEM #QueerInSTEM
emtownsend.bsky.social Eleanor M. Townsend @emtownsend.bsky.social · May 30
Yesterday the LGBTQ+ staff network published an open letter expressing our disappointment in the @exeter.ac.uk response after the Supreme Court Ruling on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act.
You can read our letter below.
May 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
rowankuminski.bsky.social
After 2 years and ~1000 papers, I'm nearing the end of my broad-scale #synthesis thesis chapter! However there are still papers I can't access, if anyone has access to these journals (papers listed in link) and could send them to me, I would greatly appreciate it!! 🪶
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Light blue background, with a digital drawing of an albatross flying on the right side. The uppermost text is in grey and says "Do you have access to these journals?", with a list of journals underneath in black: Ibis, Emu, Ostrich, Journal of Zoology, Australian Wildlife Research, Wildlife Research, Biological Conservation, Vida Silvestre Neotropical, Prairie Naturalist, Pacific Conservation Biology, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, Ardea, Mammalia, Chinese Journal of Zoology". At the bottom in grey is the text "please help me find the papers in the attached spreadsheet for my thesis chapter! Thank you for your help!!!"
May 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM