Willem van Schaik
@wvschaik.bsky.social
Microbiology, microbiome, antimicrobial resistance. Sometimes UK politics. Head of Research of the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, University of Birmingham. Also Co-Director of @target-amr.bsky.social.
I just signed up and read the first of Ran's posts. Excellent stuff, highly recommended.
This is my new blog where I write about microbiome research and academic science. Would love to have you subscribe: blekhman.substack.com
Ran’s Substack | Ran Blekhman | Substack
My personal Substack. Click to read Ran’s Substack, by Ran Blekhman, a Substack publication. Launched a month ago.
blekhman.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:27 AM
I just signed up and read the first of Ran's posts. Excellent stuff, highly recommended.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
I have a postdoc position in metagenomic exploration available in my group. Candidates with documented experience in phylo & metagenomics and preferably with petabase-scale data mining and GLM workflows are encouraged to apply. Come join us! 🧬🦠💻
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
January 5, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I have a postdoc position in metagenomic exploration available in my group. Candidates with documented experience in phylo & metagenomics and preferably with petabase-scale data mining and GLM workflows are encouraged to apply. Come join us! 🧬🦠💻
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
I happen to know quite a bit about Venezuelan oil.
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Venezuela has the world’s most oil: Why doesn’t it earn more from exports?
Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.
www.aljazeera.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:06 PM
I happen to know quite a bit about Venezuelan oil.
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
I'm afraid there *is* an obvious answer: it can't.
January 6, 2026 at 7:10 AM
I'm afraid there *is* an obvious answer: it can't.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Proud to announce SimPhyNI, a new tool for bacterial GWAS with higher precision and scalability than existing tools. Try it out and let us know what you think!!
High Precision Binary Trait Association on Phylogenetic Trees https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.24.696407v1
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Proud to announce SimPhyNI, a new tool for bacterial GWAS with higher precision and scalability than existing tools. Try it out and let us know what you think!!
Great opportunity for Infection Prevention and Control Clinical/Research Scientist at University Hospitals Birmingham
www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jo...
www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jo...
Job Advert
www.jobs.nhs.uk
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Great opportunity for Infection Prevention and Control Clinical/Research Scientist at University Hospitals Birmingham
www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jo...
www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jo...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
A very embarrassing moment for the FIFA Peace Prize committee
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 9:31 AM
A very embarrassing moment for the FIFA Peace Prize committee
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
It's all right, everyone. FIFA are renowned judges of character.
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
It's all right, everyone. FIFA are renowned judges of character.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
At least we don’t live in a world of staggering class disparity in which a tech magnate attempts to quash left-wing sentiment using sexualized artificial intelligence!
How 2026 was depicted in the sci-fi classic 'Metropolis' (1927)
January 2, 2026 at 11:57 AM
At least we don’t live in a world of staggering class disparity in which a tech magnate attempts to quash left-wing sentiment using sexualized artificial intelligence!
I am mostly surprised that 1.63 million people are still buying Teslas
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest electric car seller
Sales at Elon Musk’s company slump after Donald Trump’s withdrawal of EV subsidies
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:01 PM
I am mostly surprised that 1.63 million people are still buying Teslas
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
New year, new PhD? 🧑🎓
If you’re fed up of leftovers, and out of ideas for festive fun, here’s a quick reminder to apply to these posts! 🧫 🧬
#PhD #Microbiology #Genomics
If you’re fed up of leftovers, and out of ideas for festive fun, here’s a quick reminder to apply to these posts! 🧫 🧬
#PhD #Microbiology #Genomics
We are recruiting for a number of PhDs in the HPRU in Public Health Genomics, based at @unibirmingham.bsky.social, in collaboration with UKHSA. 🦠🧬
Apply below to work on cutting-edge science and public health priorities! (NB deadline of 9th January / UK only due to funding restrictions)
(1/7)
Apply below to work on cutting-edge science and public health priorities! (NB deadline of 9th January / UK only due to funding restrictions)
(1/7)
December 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
New year, new PhD? 🧑🎓
If you’re fed up of leftovers, and out of ideas for festive fun, here’s a quick reminder to apply to these posts! 🧫 🧬
#PhD #Microbiology #Genomics
If you’re fed up of leftovers, and out of ideas for festive fun, here’s a quick reminder to apply to these posts! 🧫 🧬
#PhD #Microbiology #Genomics
The Guardian seems to be overlooking the fact that most of Dutch levenslied is absolute shite (I make an exception for André Hazes, obviously)
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Songs about love, poverty and swimming in Bacardi lemon: Dutch ‘levenslied’ captures a new generation
The Netherlands’ guttersnipe answer to French chanson and German schlager is as popular as ever – but has it lost its roots as the defiant voice of the working class? Our writer sways along at the Muz...
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
The Guardian seems to be overlooking the fact that most of Dutch levenslied is absolute shite (I make an exception for André Hazes, obviously)
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
We create vector graphics of model organisms and emerging biological research organisms to enhance our publications. We’re sharing these editable graphics under a CC0 license for other scientists to...
doi.org
December 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
COVID-19 denial nonsense published in Frontiers journal.
pubpeer.com/publications...
Don't publish in, or review for, Frontiers.
pubpeer.com/publications...
Don't publish in, or review for, Frontiers.
PubPeer - A calibration of nucleic acid (PCR) by antibody (IgG) tests...
There are comments on PubPeer for publication: A calibration of nucleic acid (PCR) by antibody (IgG) tests in Germany: the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections estimated (2025)
pubpeer.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
COVID-19 denial nonsense published in Frontiers journal.
pubpeer.com/publications...
Don't publish in, or review for, Frontiers.
pubpeer.com/publications...
Don't publish in, or review for, Frontiers.
Movie claxon: Starship Troopers on Legend (I didn't know we had it but it is on FreeView).
December 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Movie claxon: Starship Troopers on Legend (I didn't know we had it but it is on FreeView).
Interesting new paper on Enterococcus lactis (the species formerly known as Clade B E. faecium)
'The Mannose Phosphotransferase System in Enterococcus lactis Is Essential for Gastrointestinal Colonization'
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
'The Mannose Phosphotransferase System in Enterococcus lactis Is Essential for Gastrointestinal Colonization'
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
The Mannose Phosphotransferase System in Enterococcus lactis Is Essential for Gastrointestinal Colonization
Enterococcus lactis, a recently established species that was previously classified as Enterococcus faecium clade B. Given its recent taxonomic classification, studies on this bacterium are scarce, an...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Interesting new paper on Enterococcus lactis (the species formerly known as Clade B E. faecium)
'The Mannose Phosphotransferase System in Enterococcus lactis Is Essential for Gastrointestinal Colonization'
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
'The Mannose Phosphotransferase System in Enterococcus lactis Is Essential for Gastrointestinal Colonization'
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Super-interesting paper
'Colanic acid–mediated phage resistance enhances virulence in high-risk global clone Escherichia coli ST410'
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
'Colanic acid–mediated phage resistance enhances virulence in high-risk global clone Escherichia coli ST410'
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Colanic acid–mediated phage resistance enhances virulence in high-risk global clone Escherichia coli ST410
Author summary Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli ST410 has emerged as a high-risk global clone threatening both human and animal health. Phages offer promising alternatives to antibiotics, yet the ...
journals.plos.org
December 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Super-interesting paper
'Colanic acid–mediated phage resistance enhances virulence in high-risk global clone Escherichia coli ST410'
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
'Colanic acid–mediated phage resistance enhances virulence in high-risk global clone Escherichia coli ST410'
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Good morning everybody!
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department – UK politics live
Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford among five Europeans hit with visa bans over claims they wish to ‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose’
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Good morning everybody!
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
If Europe is annoying the fascists, Europe is doing something right.
December 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
If Europe is annoying the fascists, Europe is doing something right.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Love this! (growth curves 😍)
Our recent paper in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance is a great example of scientific serendipity: after staring at thousands of bacterial growth curves over many studies, we started wondering whether the curve shapes themselves carry mechanistic information 1/9 🦠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Predicting drug inactivation by changes in bacterial growth dynamics - npj Antimicrobials and Resistance
npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - Predicting drug inactivation by changes in bacterial growth dynamics
www.nature.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Love this! (growth curves 😍)
I knew healthcare costs in the USA are insane, but the BBC's More or Less does an amazing job in covering it in 10 mins.
open.spotify.com/episode/4GiP...
You can take my European healthcare from my cold, dead hands (which will, statistically, come 5 years later than in the USA)
open.spotify.com/episode/4GiP...
You can take my European healthcare from my cold, dead hands (which will, statistically, come 5 years later than in the USA)
The shocking world of US health costs
open.spotify.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I knew healthcare costs in the USA are insane, but the BBC's More or Less does an amazing job in covering it in 10 mins.
open.spotify.com/episode/4GiP...
You can take my European healthcare from my cold, dead hands (which will, statistically, come 5 years later than in the USA)
open.spotify.com/episode/4GiP...
You can take my European healthcare from my cold, dead hands (which will, statistically, come 5 years later than in the USA)
Christmas-physics cross-over joke
December 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Christmas-physics cross-over joke
In further 'AI is shit' news
'Tourists misled by AI-generated images of Amsterdam - 'We get many disappointed people here'' - nos.nl/l/2595536
The contrast between the AI content and the grey reality of Amsterdam in December is hilarious. (First 15 sec in Dutch, rest in English)
'Tourists misled by AI-generated images of Amsterdam - 'We get many disappointed people here'' - nos.nl/l/2595536
The contrast between the AI content and the grey reality of Amsterdam in December is hilarious. (First 15 sec in Dutch, rest in English)
Toeristen misleid door AI-beeld van Amsterdam: 'We krijgen veel teleurgestelde mensen'
Gidsen in Amsterdam komen steeds vaker teleurgestelde toeristen tegen die zoeken naar plekjes en kerstmarkten die helemaal niet bestaan. Socialemedia-accounts die reistips delen, plaatsen steeds meer ...
nos.nl
December 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In further 'AI is shit' news
'Tourists misled by AI-generated images of Amsterdam - 'We get many disappointed people here'' - nos.nl/l/2595536
The contrast between the AI content and the grey reality of Amsterdam in December is hilarious. (First 15 sec in Dutch, rest in English)
'Tourists misled by AI-generated images of Amsterdam - 'We get many disappointed people here'' - nos.nl/l/2595536
The contrast between the AI content and the grey reality of Amsterdam in December is hilarious. (First 15 sec in Dutch, rest in English)
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Took over a new module this semester, returned it to in person exams (due to..). Gave a sample paper, used some of those questions in the actual exam (being "nice") . Got the near enough exact same wrong answer from a quarter to a third of the class. Guess what they had used to "study"?
December 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Took over a new module this semester, returned it to in person exams (due to..). Gave a sample paper, used some of those questions in the actual exam (being "nice") . Got the near enough exact same wrong answer from a quarter to a third of the class. Guess what they had used to "study"?