Steven Burgess
@sjb287.bsky.social
Assistant Professor UIUC, plant biology, evolution #synbio #photosynthesis #plantscience
Pls help: I've read in several papers about use of kits from "Genmed Scientifics" which is quoted as a US based company, although the city quoted varies. No amount of Google searching can actually find this company, or the kits. Does anyone know what this is? I don't think it's fraud, but its weird
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Pls help: I've read in several papers about use of kits from "Genmed Scientifics" which is quoted as a US based company, although the city quoted varies. No amount of Google searching can actually find this company, or the kits. Does anyone know what this is? I don't think it's fraud, but its weird
Reposted by Steven Burgess
The @uncchapelhill.bsky.social Department of Biology is searching for tenure-track Assistant Professor in Plant Molecular Biology. Chapel Hill is a wonderful place and Biology is an amazing group of people. To apply, see:
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
October 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The @uncchapelhill.bsky.social Department of Biology is searching for tenure-track Assistant Professor in Plant Molecular Biology. Chapel Hill is a wonderful place and Biology is an amazing group of people. To apply, see:
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
🚨 Please repost widely!🚨
I am recruiting a PhD student to join my lab next fall to work on forest and climate change ecology projects in southern Appalachia! Come join me in one of the most beautiful, biodiverse, and understudied parts of North America. Details below and happy to answer questions
I am recruiting a PhD student to join my lab next fall to work on forest and climate change ecology projects in southern Appalachia! Come join me in one of the most beautiful, biodiverse, and understudied parts of North America. Details below and happy to answer questions
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
🚨 Please repost widely!🚨
I am recruiting a PhD student to join my lab next fall to work on forest and climate change ecology projects in southern Appalachia! Come join me in one of the most beautiful, biodiverse, and understudied parts of North America. Details below and happy to answer questions
I am recruiting a PhD student to join my lab next fall to work on forest and climate change ecology projects in southern Appalachia! Come join me in one of the most beautiful, biodiverse, and understudied parts of North America. Details below and happy to answer questions
Interesting read -10.1093/plphys/kiaf465 "Allelic variants of IRKI contribute to photosynthetic efficiency by regulating rubisco activase in Populus" there is a lot we don't know about regulation of photosynthesis here a receptor like kinase interacting protein has a role @plantphys.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Interesting read -10.1093/plphys/kiaf465 "Allelic variants of IRKI contribute to photosynthetic efficiency by regulating rubisco activase in Populus" there is a lot we don't know about regulation of photosynthesis here a receptor like kinase interacting protein has a role @plantphys.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Burgess
New #PhD opportunities! NorthWestBio projects now online for 2026! Including a #photosynthesis project w/ @marjorielundgren.bsky.social looking at how photosynthetic diversity may affect future crop nutrient quality. Plant projects and the full set of projects available here: tinyurl.com/529yz4jd
FindAPhD : NorthWestBio Fully Funded Doctoral Training Programme Studentship 2026 at University of Glasgow
Apply for a PhD: NorthWestBio Fully Funded Doctoral Training Programme Studentship 2026 at University of Glasgow
tinyurl.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New #PhD opportunities! NorthWestBio projects now online for 2026! Including a #photosynthesis project w/ @marjorielundgren.bsky.social looking at how photosynthetic diversity may affect future crop nutrient quality. Plant projects and the full set of projects available here: tinyurl.com/529yz4jd
Reposted by Steven Burgess
We really enjoyed putting together this Darwin Review for JXB. Fun to think about how carboxysomes work and why plants don't have them.
@jxbotany.bsky.social
Function, Evolution, and Future of Carboxysomes url: academic.oup.com/jxb/article-...
@jxbotany.bsky.social
Function, Evolution, and Future of Carboxysomes url: academic.oup.com/jxb/article-...
The Function, Evolution, and Future of Carboxysomes
Abstract. Since their discovery as rubisco-containing compartments more than 50 years ago, significant breakthroughs have advanced our understanding of car
academic.oup.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM
We really enjoyed putting together this Darwin Review for JXB. Fun to think about how carboxysomes work and why plants don't have them.
@jxbotany.bsky.social
Function, Evolution, and Future of Carboxysomes url: academic.oup.com/jxb/article-...
@jxbotany.bsky.social
Function, Evolution, and Future of Carboxysomes url: academic.oup.com/jxb/article-...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Just came across this paper "Dual-cycle CO2 fixation enhances growth and lipid synthesis..."
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Dual-cycle CO2 fixation enhances growth and lipid synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Carbon fixation through the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle accounts for the majority of carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake from the atmosphere. The CBB cycle generates C3 carbohydrates but is inefficient ...
www.science.org
September 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Just came across this paper "Dual-cycle CO2 fixation enhances growth and lipid synthesis..."
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I'm deeply saddened. A tireless champion of plant #synbio and man of integrity. His insistence on focusing on real-world problems, calling out BS and bringing together lab and Ag, industry and academia will be sorely missed
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Andrew Hanson, C.V. Griffin Sr. Eminent Scholar in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. To participate in a video montage honoring Dr. Hanson, please record & share a memory by Sept 9: ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
September 5, 2025 at 1:53 AM
I'm deeply saddened. A tireless champion of plant #synbio and man of integrity. His insistence on focusing on real-world problems, calling out BS and bringing together lab and Ag, industry and academia will be sorely missed
We are hiring! The #PlantBio department at UIUC is looking to recruit an Assistant Professor in Plant-Fungal interactions. Application deadline is October 31st @dallingjim.bsky.social see the link below for more details:
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant Professor- Department of Plant Biology
Duties & Responsibilities
illinois.csod.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
We are hiring! The #PlantBio department at UIUC is looking to recruit an Assistant Professor in Plant-Fungal interactions. Application deadline is October 31st @dallingjim.bsky.social see the link below for more details:
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Big news from the Demirer lab: first 4 research papers are preprinted! Check them out, feedback welcomed:
eCIS for plant protein delivery: tinyurl.com/mrx4d878
R2 for targeted insertion: tinyurl.com/5n73za6h
Transient expression: tinyurl.com/38p2ud6w
Chemotaxis assay: tinyurl.com/3nw9haes
More ⬇️
eCIS for plant protein delivery: tinyurl.com/mrx4d878
R2 for targeted insertion: tinyurl.com/5n73za6h
Transient expression: tinyurl.com/38p2ud6w
Chemotaxis assay: tinyurl.com/3nw9haes
More ⬇️
August 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Big news from the Demirer lab: first 4 research papers are preprinted! Check them out, feedback welcomed:
eCIS for plant protein delivery: tinyurl.com/mrx4d878
R2 for targeted insertion: tinyurl.com/5n73za6h
Transient expression: tinyurl.com/38p2ud6w
Chemotaxis assay: tinyurl.com/3nw9haes
More ⬇️
eCIS for plant protein delivery: tinyurl.com/mrx4d878
R2 for targeted insertion: tinyurl.com/5n73za6h
Transient expression: tinyurl.com/38p2ud6w
Chemotaxis assay: tinyurl.com/3nw9haes
More ⬇️
Reposted by Steven Burgess
👉 my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Join us and be part of shaping the future of #plantscience at Oxford as we move to the new Life and Mind Building lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/home (recognised for its potential to change the World edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/s...) @biology.ox.ac.uk www.biology.ox.ac.uk
Join us and be part of shaping the future of #plantscience at Oxford as we move to the new Life and Mind Building lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/home (recognised for its potential to change the World edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/s...) @biology.ox.ac.uk www.biology.ox.ac.uk
'
my.corehr.com
August 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM
👉 my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Join us and be part of shaping the future of #plantscience at Oxford as we move to the new Life and Mind Building lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/home (recognised for its potential to change the World edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/s...) @biology.ox.ac.uk www.biology.ox.ac.uk
Join us and be part of shaping the future of #plantscience at Oxford as we move to the new Life and Mind Building lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/home (recognised for its potential to change the World edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/s...) @biology.ox.ac.uk www.biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Steven Burgess
A great example of how comparative genomics across the full range of vascular plant lineages can be used as a catalyst for gene discovery!
Exciting new single cell datasets for gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes!
The scale of this study is really amazing!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Exciting new single cell datasets for gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes!
The scale of this study is really amazing!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A unified cell atlas of vascular plants reveals cell-type foundational genes and accelerates gene discovery
A cross-species single-cell atlas highlights a core subset of cell-type foundational
genes associated with major vascular plant cell types, enabling the identification
of hidden cell types and the dev...
www.cell.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A great example of how comparative genomics across the full range of vascular plant lineages can be used as a catalyst for gene discovery!
Exciting new single cell datasets for gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes!
The scale of this study is really amazing!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Exciting new single cell datasets for gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes!
The scale of this study is really amazing!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
August 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Steven Burgess
I’m proud to present the main work from my postdoc, 3+ years in making from scratch, my ultimate #MimulusPropaganda up till now:
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I’m proud to present the main work from my postdoc, 3+ years in making from scratch, my ultimate #MimulusPropaganda up till now:
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
This preprint from Helen Sakharova is one of the coolest things to come out of my lab: “Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice.” Codon choice is a big puzzle in how information is encoded in genomes, and we have a new angle. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice
Evolution has shaped the genetic code, with subtle pressures leading to preferences for some synonymous codons over others. Codons are translated at different speeds by the ribosome, imposing constrai...
www.biorxiv.org
August 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
This preprint from Helen Sakharova is one of the coolest things to come out of my lab: “Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice.” Codon choice is a big puzzle in how information is encoded in genomes, and we have a new angle. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
A truly enabling new approach by @taralowensohn.bsky.social Will Cody and @sattelylab.bsky.social to probe plant genetics at scale.
Single-gene-per-cell delivery coupled to an effective transcriptional selection system
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Single-gene-per-cell delivery coupled to an effective transcriptional selection system
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
A truly enabling new approach by @taralowensohn.bsky.social Will Cody and @sattelylab.bsky.social to probe plant genetics at scale.
Single-gene-per-cell delivery coupled to an effective transcriptional selection system
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Single-gene-per-cell delivery coupled to an effective transcriptional selection system
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Fantastic new paper by @reeserichardson.bsky.social et al.
An enormous amount of work showing the extent of coordinated scientific fraud and involvement of some editors.
The number of fraudulent publications grows at a rate far outpacing that of legitimate science.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
An enormous amount of work showing the extent of coordinated scientific fraud and involvement of some editors.
The number of fraudulent publications grows at a rate far outpacing that of legitimate science.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
August 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Fantastic new paper by @reeserichardson.bsky.social et al.
An enormous amount of work showing the extent of coordinated scientific fraud and involvement of some editors.
The number of fraudulent publications grows at a rate far outpacing that of legitimate science.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
An enormous amount of work showing the extent of coordinated scientific fraud and involvement of some editors.
The number of fraudulent publications grows at a rate far outpacing that of legitimate science.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Great to see our collaborative study with Ed Cahoon and colleagues on the front cover of PBJ, describing our successful efforts to engineer the accumulation of astaxanthin in GM camelina seeds. Astaxanthin is a ketocarotenoid that is a powerful antioxidant & used in aquaculture feeds as a pigment.
July 31, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Great to see our collaborative study with Ed Cahoon and colleagues on the front cover of PBJ, describing our successful efforts to engineer the accumulation of astaxanthin in GM camelina seeds. Astaxanthin is a ketocarotenoid that is a powerful antioxidant & used in aquaculture feeds as a pigment.
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Lots of talk about teaching yesterday at #PlantBio2025.
A few resources that might be useful.
1) From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants
blog.aspb.org/from-luca-to...
A few resources that might be useful.
1) From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants
blog.aspb.org/from-luca-to...
From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants | Plant Science Today
The other day I was talking to a friend about the need to demystify plants, so that teachers feel as confident in their teaching of plant biology as they do about animal biology. I wonder if sometimes...
blog.aspb.org
July 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Lots of talk about teaching yesterday at #PlantBio2025.
A few resources that might be useful.
1) From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants
blog.aspb.org/from-luca-to...
A few resources that might be useful.
1) From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants
blog.aspb.org/from-luca-to...
Reposted by Steven Burgess
This is a great program. We started in in 2016 and it just gets better and better!
Check out some past fellows who are on Bluesky: @philcarella.bsky.social @mattbnt.bsky.social @psaima.bsky.social @fromani.bsky.social @sjb287.bsky.social @aribidopsis.bsky.social @cavycavs.bsky.social
Check out some past fellows who are on Bluesky: @philcarella.bsky.social @mattbnt.bsky.social @psaima.bsky.social @fromani.bsky.social @sjb287.bsky.social @aribidopsis.bsky.social @cavycavs.bsky.social
📣 Are you a creative and articulate plant scientist looking to connect with other like-minded folks? Application is now open for the 2025-2026 Plantae Fellows program!🌱
👉 Learn more and apply by August 31! buff.ly/JqoDSHq
#plantscience
👉 Learn more and apply by August 31! buff.ly/JqoDSHq
#plantscience
July 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM
This is a great program. We started in in 2016 and it just gets better and better!
Check out some past fellows who are on Bluesky: @philcarella.bsky.social @mattbnt.bsky.social @psaima.bsky.social @fromani.bsky.social @sjb287.bsky.social @aribidopsis.bsky.social @cavycavs.bsky.social
Check out some past fellows who are on Bluesky: @philcarella.bsky.social @mattbnt.bsky.social @psaima.bsky.social @fromani.bsky.social @sjb287.bsky.social @aribidopsis.bsky.social @cavycavs.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Burgess
💥 Excited to introduce Bacformer 🦠 - the first foundation model for bacterial genomics. Bacformer represents genomes as sequences of ordered proteins, learning the “grammar” of how genes are arranged, interact and evolve.
Preprint 📝: biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 1/n
Preprint 📝: biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 1/n
July 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
💥 Excited to introduce Bacformer 🦠 - the first foundation model for bacterial genomics. Bacformer represents genomes as sequences of ordered proteins, learning the “grammar” of how genes are arranged, interact and evolve.
Preprint 📝: biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 1/n
Preprint 📝: biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 1/n
Reposted by Steven Burgess
"Postdoctoral Researcher in Organelle Synthe4c Biology at UC Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA"
Read more here: https://arabidopsis.org/news/jobs/view?file=Yu_7-21-25.pdf
#PlantSciJobs
Read more here: https://arabidopsis.org/news/jobs/view?file=Yu_7-21-25.pdf
#PlantSciJobs
July 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
"Postdoctoral Researcher in Organelle Synthe4c Biology at UC Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA"
Read more here: https://arabidopsis.org/news/jobs/view?file=Yu_7-21-25.pdf
#PlantSciJobs
Read more here: https://arabidopsis.org/news/jobs/view?file=Yu_7-21-25.pdf
#PlantSciJobs
Reposted by Steven Burgess
Two amazing opportunities at the @johninnescentre.bsky.social
We’re pleased to announce two new vacancies for senior roles at our institute:
Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
🗓️ Closes 25 August
Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in...
🗓️ Closes 5 September
Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
🗓️ Closes 25 August
Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in...
🗓️ Closes 5 September
July 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Two amazing opportunities at the @johninnescentre.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Burgess
