Stuart Wigby
@stuartwigby.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer (Associate Prof) & Fellowship Lead
Dept of Ecology Evolution & Behaviour, Uni of Liverpool
Evolution / Life-history / Sexual selection / Ageing / Nutrition / Thermal Fertility / Drosophila
http://wigbylab.weebly.com
Dept of Ecology Evolution & Behaviour, Uni of Liverpool
Evolution / Life-history / Sexual selection / Ageing / Nutrition / Thermal Fertility / Drosophila
http://wigbylab.weebly.com
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Join us! We’re recruiting a PhD researcher to uncover how hedgehogs & other insectivores survive prey toxins. Dive into molecular evolution & protein biochemistry @shabmohammadi.bsky.social @livuni-ives.bsky.social @livuni-ismib.bsky.social @mpi-ce.bsky.social
🦔 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🦔 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Join us! We’re recruiting a PhD researcher to uncover how hedgehogs & other insectivores survive prey toxins. Dive into molecular evolution & protein biochemistry @shabmohammadi.bsky.social @livuni-ives.bsky.social @livuni-ismib.bsky.social @mpi-ce.bsky.social
🦔 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🦔 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Phd project on Climate Change Impacts on Sexually Selected Traits, lead by Alison Wright at Sheffield Uni, with supervisor team including @andrewpom.bsky.social and me. Application deadline 7th Jan
ACCE+ DLA Programme: The impact of climate change on sexually selected traits and its consequences for evolutionary fitness at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - ACCE+ DLA Programme: The impact of climate change on sexually selected traits and its consequences for evolutionary fitness at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Phd project on Climate Change Impacts on Sexually Selected Traits, lead by Alison Wright at Sheffield Uni, with supervisor team including @andrewpom.bsky.social and me. Application deadline 7th Jan
Liverpool Research Fellowships are back, this time with a focus on AI. If you're a postdoc with ideas about "harnessing the power of AI within research", then take a look. Application deadline 1st December 2025.
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/10/24/u...
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/10/24/u...
University of Liverpool Research Fellowships open for applications for 2025-2026 - University of Liverpool News
University of Liverpool Research Fellowships open for applications for 2025-2026
news.liverpool.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Liverpool Research Fellowships are back, this time with a focus on AI. If you're a postdoc with ideas about "harnessing the power of AI within research", then take a look. Application deadline 1st December 2025.
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/10/24/u...
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/10/24/u...
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Here it is! So happy to announce that my next book, Beauty of the Beasts, will be released by Bloomsbury Wildlife on Feb 26th (April 28th in the US). And I couldn’t be happier with this stunning cover, designed by Abby Cook, which works so well to show a vilified creature in a beautiful way 😍
October 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here it is! So happy to announce that my next book, Beauty of the Beasts, will be released by Bloomsbury Wildlife on Feb 26th (April 28th in the US). And I couldn’t be happier with this stunning cover, designed by Abby Cook, which works so well to show a vilified creature in a beautiful way 😍
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
I'm looking for PhD students to join the lab starting August 2026. We study the evolution of insect chemical signals so if you're interested in evolutionary biology, chemical ecology, molecular biology, behavior, or genetics, this could be a good fit for you! More info here: tinyurl.com/mrxchwfm
September 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I'm looking for PhD students to join the lab starting August 2026. We study the evolution of insect chemical signals so if you're interested in evolutionary biology, chemical ecology, molecular biology, behavior, or genetics, this could be a good fit for you! More info here: tinyurl.com/mrxchwfm
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
The Hopkins Lab (hopkins-lab.com) at the University of Florida is looking to recruit a postdoc to work on the genetics of organ function and evolution across Drosophila and beyond. Please visit tinyurl.com/vcsjpmzz or email me for more info. And please RT or send to anyone who might be interested!
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The Hopkins Lab (hopkins-lab.com) at the University of Florida is looking to recruit a postdoc to work on the genetics of organ function and evolution across Drosophila and beyond. Please visit tinyurl.com/vcsjpmzz or email me for more info. And please RT or send to anyone who might be interested!
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
2 job adverts on a NERC project w myself + @darrenobbard.bsky.social on “What determines the virome: ecology and the environment, evolution, or species history?” early 2026 in
@uniexecec.bsky.social
- Postdoc: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
- RA: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Pls share!
@uniexecec.bsky.social
- Postdoc: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
- RA: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Pls share!
September 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
2 job adverts on a NERC project w myself + @darrenobbard.bsky.social on “What determines the virome: ecology and the environment, evolution, or species history?” early 2026 in
@uniexecec.bsky.social
- Postdoc: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
- RA: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Pls share!
@uniexecec.bsky.social
- Postdoc: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
- RA: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Pls share!
New out in Molecular Ecology! In which we show that small males try harder when it comes to seminal fluid proteins. w/ @ju-morimoto.bsky.social @iremsepil.bsky.social @becks-seascience.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
September 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
New out in Molecular Ecology! In which we show that small males try harder when it comes to seminal fluid proteins. w/ @ju-morimoto.bsky.social @iremsepil.bsky.social @becks-seascience.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Update – @leicamicrosystems.bsky.social got back to me with a download link to the obsolete software. Good service! (though I'm not quite sure why they don't just keep the old software on their website to save some admin).
Anyone out there have a copy of the old @leicamicrosystems.bsky.social "Firecam" software?
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
EZ4 D Educational Stereo Microscope with Integrated LED llumination and Digital 3 MP Camera
Educational Stereo Microscope with Integrated LED llumination and Digital 3 MP Camera
www.leica-microsystems.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Update – @leicamicrosystems.bsky.social got back to me with a download link to the obsolete software. Good service! (though I'm not quite sure why they don't just keep the old software on their website to save some admin).
Anyone out there have a copy of the old @leicamicrosystems.bsky.social "Firecam" software?
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
EZ4 D Educational Stereo Microscope with Integrated LED llumination and Digital 3 MP Camera
Educational Stereo Microscope with Integrated LED llumination and Digital 3 MP Camera
www.leica-microsystems.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Anyone out there have a copy of the old @leicamicrosystems.bsky.social "Firecam" software?
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
From the mid/late 2000s. I'm trying to resurrect a EZ4D with integrated camera, but the software for it seems to have disappeared from the internet...
www.leica-microsystems.com/products/lig...
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Last week to apply! nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
June 21, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Last week to apply! nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
New paper led by Lily Amos, with @stuartwigby.bsky.social and myself- very rapid changes in male Drosophila mating behaviour in response to multiple stressors (academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...).
Short-term increases in rival number improves single mating productivity in male Drosophila
Abstract. In variable environments, animals can change their reproductive behaviours and physiology to maximise reproductive returns. Natural environments
academic.oup.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
New paper led by Lily Amos, with @stuartwigby.bsky.social and myself- very rapid changes in male Drosophila mating behaviour in response to multiple stressors (academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...).
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
A 5 minute listen: @jojofoth.bsky.social describes exciting work at the Microbiome innovation Centre at the University of Liverpool
A 5 minute listen: @jojofoth.bsky.social describes exciting work at the Microbiome innovation Centre at the University of Liverpool
Could Scousers have the best gut health? - BBC Sounds
A new science hub in Liverpool could be the reason why.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 26, 2025 at 8:28 AM
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
A 5 minute listen: @jojofoth.bsky.social describes exciting work at the Microbiome innovation Centre at the University of Liverpool
A 5 minute listen: @jojofoth.bsky.social describes exciting work at the Microbiome innovation Centre at the University of Liverpool
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Delighted to have been awarded a BBSRC Fellowship to look at the genetics of how insects have adapted to living in freshwater habitats 🧬🦋🪰🪲🌊
Extremely grateful to all who have supported me over the years and excited to be at Liverpool with some great colleagues!
www.ukri.org/news/9-milli...
Extremely grateful to all who have supported me over the years and excited to be at Liverpool with some great colleagues!
www.ukri.org/news/9-milli...
£9 million investment fuels groundbreaking bioscience research
From unlocking the secrets of animal movement to tackling antimicrobial resistance, UK’s brightest bioscience minds are pushing the boundaries of innovation.
www.ukri.org
April 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Delighted to have been awarded a BBSRC Fellowship to look at the genetics of how insects have adapted to living in freshwater habitats 🧬🦋🪰🪲🌊
Extremely grateful to all who have supported me over the years and excited to be at Liverpool with some great colleagues!
www.ukri.org/news/9-milli...
Extremely grateful to all who have supported me over the years and excited to be at Liverpool with some great colleagues!
www.ukri.org/news/9-milli...
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Morning folks - it’s that time PLEASE vote for the bee-fly. They are majestic marvels.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social @entcollnet.bsky.social @entsocamerica.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social @entcollnet.bsky.social @entsocamerica.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Meet the twerking pollinator with a bum-bag: the dark-edged bee-fly
Bombylius major, the thieving, deceiving, fluffy flying narwhal-like insect, that is a harbinger of spring
www.theguardian.com
April 4, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Morning folks - it’s that time PLEASE vote for the bee-fly. They are majestic marvels.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social @entcollnet.bsky.social @entsocamerica.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social @entcollnet.bsky.social @entsocamerica.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
PAPER ALERT: Inbreeding can be detrimental causing inbreeding depression resulting in lower fitness. Here, we track its consequences on sperm, testes, body, lifespan in a 🪲 doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
#mattgage @jevbio.bsky.social @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @uniofexeteresi.bsky.social
#mattgage @jevbio.bsky.social @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @uniofexeteresi.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
PAPER ALERT: Inbreeding can be detrimental causing inbreeding depression resulting in lower fitness. Here, we track its consequences on sperm, testes, body, lifespan in a 🪲 doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
#mattgage @jevbio.bsky.social @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @uniofexeteresi.bsky.social
#mattgage @jevbio.bsky.social @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @uniofexeteresi.bsky.social
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
We're recruiting a postdoc urban climate & environmental modelling at UCL Institute of Environmental Design and Engineering. You will be part of an established urban climate and health group working on active projects. Looking for someone with regional climate (pref WRF) modelling. Please share!
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
March 27, 2025 at 1:47 PM
We're recruiting a postdoc urban climate & environmental modelling at UCL Institute of Environmental Design and Engineering. You will be part of an established urban climate and health group working on active projects. Looking for someone with regional climate (pref WRF) modelling. Please share!
Masud has nailed it here. "Each of the administrative burdens that we are confronted with on a daily basis might seem small on their own but cumulatively they amount to a ‘mountain of small things’ that is killing academia"
Why academia is sleepwalking into self-destruction. My editorial @brain1878.bsky.social If you agree with the sentiments please repost. It's important for all our sakes to stop the madness
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
March 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Masud has nailed it here. "Each of the administrative burdens that we are confronted with on a daily basis might seem small on their own but cumulatively they amount to a ‘mountain of small things’ that is killing academia"
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
My comments in @theguardian.com about a new study which suggests that men with higher quality sperm live longer www.theguardian.com/science/2025... courtesy of @iansample.bsky.social
Men with higher-quality sperm live longer, study finds
Research suggests difference in life expectancy between men with highest and lowest quality is nearly three years
www.theguardian.com
March 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
My comments in @theguardian.com about a new study which suggests that men with higher quality sperm live longer www.theguardian.com/science/2025... courtesy of @iansample.bsky.social
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Rethinking the relationship between the sex ratio and sexual selection
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by @gcmcdon.bsky.social, @daniedmunds.bsky.social, @stuartwigby.bsky.social, and @jennyperry.bsky.social
📷: Dani Edmunds
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by @gcmcdon.bsky.social, @daniedmunds.bsky.social, @stuartwigby.bsky.social, and @jennyperry.bsky.social
📷: Dani Edmunds
February 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Rethinking the relationship between the sex ratio and sexual selection
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by @gcmcdon.bsky.social, @daniedmunds.bsky.social, @stuartwigby.bsky.social, and @jennyperry.bsky.social
📷: Dani Edmunds
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by @gcmcdon.bsky.social, @daniedmunds.bsky.social, @stuartwigby.bsky.social, and @jennyperry.bsky.social
📷: Dani Edmunds
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Huge credit to @daniedmunds.bsky.social and everyone else for this work, and Dani's Drosophila Collage!
February 26, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Huge credit to @daniedmunds.bsky.social and everyone else for this work, and Dani's Drosophila Collage!
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Does the ratio of males to females predictably influence the ability to monopolise mating partners? Is male sexual selection more intense when femaleIs are rare? 🪰
We investigated by manipulating sex ratios in polyandrous fruit flies in our new #OA manuscript published in @evolletters.bsky.social
We investigated by manipulating sex ratios in polyandrous fruit flies in our new #OA manuscript published in @evolletters.bsky.social
February 26, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Does the ratio of males to females predictably influence the ability to monopolise mating partners? Is male sexual selection more intense when femaleIs are rare? 🪰
We investigated by manipulating sex ratios in polyandrous fruit flies in our new #OA manuscript published in @evolletters.bsky.social
We investigated by manipulating sex ratios in polyandrous fruit flies in our new #OA manuscript published in @evolletters.bsky.social
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Peto's Paradox—that cancer does not increase with body size of mammals—was wrong.
A new, comprehensive study of 263 species documents higher cancer prevalence with increasing body mass. Some large animals (e.g. elephants) have some built-in genetic adaptations
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @pnas.org
A new, comprehensive study of 263 species documents higher cancer prevalence with increasing body mass. Some large animals (e.g. elephants) have some built-in genetic adaptations
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @pnas.org
No evidence for Peto’s paradox in terrestrial vertebrates | PNAS
Larger, longer-lived species are expected to have a higher cancer prevalence compared
to smaller, shorter-lived species owing to the greater number...
www.pnas.org
February 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Peto's Paradox—that cancer does not increase with body size of mammals—was wrong.
A new, comprehensive study of 263 species documents higher cancer prevalence with increasing body mass. Some large animals (e.g. elephants) have some built-in genetic adaptations
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @pnas.org
A new, comprehensive study of 263 species documents higher cancer prevalence with increasing body mass. Some large animals (e.g. elephants) have some built-in genetic adaptations
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @pnas.org
Current reading. I rather like it! 🤓
February 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Current reading. I rather like it! 🤓
Reposted by Stuart Wigby
Oh, this is us! With Tracey Chapman, Emily Fowler and Lucy Friend at UEA we have been trying to work out fine scale egg laying decisions by Drosophila females. Turns out it’s more complex than we thought (again)…🪰🧪
Female oviposition decisions are influenced by the microbial environment:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Fowler et al. @emilyrosech.bsky.social @amandabretman.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Fowler et al. @emilyrosech.bsky.social @amandabretman.bsky.social
Female oviposition decisions are influenced by the microbial environment
Abstract. In ovipositing animals, egg placement decisions can be key determinants of offspring survival. One oviposition strategy reported across taxa is l
doi.org
February 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Oh, this is us! With Tracey Chapman, Emily Fowler and Lucy Friend at UEA we have been trying to work out fine scale egg laying decisions by Drosophila females. Turns out it’s more complex than we thought (again)…🪰🧪