Amanda Lea
@amandalea.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University //
Evolution, Biological Anthropology, Genomics //
lea-lab.org
Evolution, Biological Anthropology, Genomics //
lea-lab.org
Reposted by Amanda Lea
We are thrilled to announce the first official release (v0.1.8) of #𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿, the successor to one of our flagship tool, #𝗯𝗲𝗱𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀! Based on ideas we conceived of long ago (!), this was achieved thanks to the dedication of Brent Pedersen.
1/n
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Intro to Bedder – The Quinlan Lab
quinlanlab.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by Amanda Lea
My book, An Intuitive Primer on Effective Functional Genomics Study Design, is published! I’d really appreciate it if you could help spread the word, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. I hope people will find it useful.
It’s available on Amazon: tinyurl.com/mx2hewen
It’s available on Amazon: tinyurl.com/mx2hewen
January 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My book, An Intuitive Primer on Effective Functional Genomics Study Design, is published! I’d really appreciate it if you could help spread the word, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. I hope people will find it useful.
It’s available on Amazon: tinyurl.com/mx2hewen
It’s available on Amazon: tinyurl.com/mx2hewen
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Interested in learning more about PhD programs in computational biology and genomics at UCLA? Join our virtual Open House on Monday, Nov 3 at 1:30pm. More info: bioinformatics.ucla.edu/event/gpb-vi... (1/3)
GPB Virtual Open House
bioinformatics.ucla.edu
October 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Interested in learning more about PhD programs in computational biology and genomics at UCLA? Join our virtual Open House on Monday, Nov 3 at 1:30pm. More info: bioinformatics.ucla.edu/event/gpb-vi... (1/3)
Reposted by Amanda Lea
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito
Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. In this work, we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipie...
www.science.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Reposted by Amanda Lea
One month before SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER is released!
A prelim copy just arrived. I’m in Bolivia but my son opened the shipment and it appears that he approves.
Preorder now (30% discount code: PUP30): press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
A prelim copy just arrived. I’m in Bolivia but my son opened the shipment and it appears that he approves.
Preorder now (30% discount code: PUP30): press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
August 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
One month before SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER is released!
A prelim copy just arrived. I’m in Bolivia but my son opened the shipment and it appears that he approves.
Preorder now (30% discount code: PUP30): press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
A prelim copy just arrived. I’m in Bolivia but my son opened the shipment and it appears that he approves.
Preorder now (30% discount code: PUP30): press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
The Sudmant lab at UC Berkeley is seeking a postdoc to work on a fully funded NIH project to understand differences in DNA repair and somatic mutation across the primate tree of life. Please spread widely to those who may be interested aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05052
Postdoctoral Scholar – Genomics, Aging, Somatic Mutation, Structural Variation, Evolution , Cancer – Integrative Biology
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
August 13, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The Sudmant lab at UC Berkeley is seeking a postdoc to work on a fully funded NIH project to understand differences in DNA repair and somatic mutation across the primate tree of life. Please spread widely to those who may be interested aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05052
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Pleased to present our new preprint on sleep and circadian rhythms among the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.
This is a fascinating system for exploring sleep biology. Lots of variation in light exposure, housing type, and subsistence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 below.
This is a fascinating system for exploring sleep biology. Lots of variation in light exposure, housing type, and subsistence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 below.
July 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Pleased to present our new preprint on sleep and circadian rhythms among the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.
This is a fascinating system for exploring sleep biology. Lots of variation in light exposure, housing type, and subsistence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 below.
This is a fascinating system for exploring sleep biology. Lots of variation in light exposure, housing type, and subsistence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 below.
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Principled measures and estimates of trait polygenicity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.10.664154v1
July 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Your next Fall read, my new book: SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Longevity is shaped by our evolutionary past—imagine aging as opportunity rather than burden.
Out Sept 16, preorder w/ code PUP30 for 30% discount: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
@princetonupress.bsky.social
Longevity is shaped by our evolutionary past—imagine aging as opportunity rather than burden.
Out Sept 16, preorder w/ code PUP30 for 30% discount: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
@princetonupress.bsky.social
Seven Decades
An anthropologist uncovers new evidence for the evolutionary origins of human longevity—and explains why growing old is an opportunity, not a burden
press.princeton.edu
June 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Your next Fall read, my new book: SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Longevity is shaped by our evolutionary past—imagine aging as opportunity rather than burden.
Out Sept 16, preorder w/ code PUP30 for 30% discount: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
@princetonupress.bsky.social
Longevity is shaped by our evolutionary past—imagine aging as opportunity rather than burden.
Out Sept 16, preorder w/ code PUP30 for 30% discount: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
@princetonupress.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Announcing our 2025 Friend of Darwin and Friend of the Planet award recipients! These awards are presented annually to a select few whose efforts to support NCSE and advance its goal of defending the teaching of evolution and climate science have been truly outstanding. ncse.ngo/friend-darwi...
June 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Announcing our 2025 Friend of Darwin and Friend of the Planet award recipients! These awards are presented annually to a select few whose efforts to support NCSE and advance its goal of defending the teaching of evolution and climate science have been truly outstanding. ncse.ngo/friend-darwi...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Get the word out far and wide. New opportunity from the Simons Foundation in the Eco-Evo space.
2026 Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards, due July 31, 2025, only for incoming PhD students who plan to start their PhDs in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
2026 Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards, due July 31, 2025, only for incoming PhD students who plan to start their PhDs in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution
The purpose of these awards is to provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution. While we will consider all projects in ecolo...
www.simonsfoundation.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Get the word out far and wide. New opportunity from the Simons Foundation in the Eco-Evo space.
2026 Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards, due July 31, 2025, only for incoming PhD students who plan to start their PhDs in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
2026 Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards, due July 31, 2025, only for incoming PhD students who plan to start their PhDs in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Now published in PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
May 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Now published in PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
NEW: Under Trump, the National Science Foundation is awarding grants at the slowest pace in decades. We took a detailed look at every area of science affected by the funding lag. Here's a gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
May 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
NEW: Under Trump, the National Science Foundation is awarding grants at the slowest pace in decades. We took a detailed look at every area of science affected by the funding lag. Here's a gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Tomorrow (Tues May 20) I'll be giving an online talk to the Radical Anthropology Group on our new preprint about the Meaning of Man the Hunter.
All are welcome! 130pm EST
ZOOM only ZOOM ID 384 186 2174 passcode Wawilak
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meanin...
All are welcome! 130pm EST
ZOOM only ZOOM ID 384 186 2174 passcode Wawilak
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meanin...
The Meaning and Dividends of Man the Hunter
Leading hunter-gatherer anthropologist Vivek Venkataraman looks into the debates arising from 'Man the Hunter'
www.eventbrite.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Tomorrow (Tues May 20) I'll be giving an online talk to the Radical Anthropology Group on our new preprint about the Meaning of Man the Hunter.
All are welcome! 130pm EST
ZOOM only ZOOM ID 384 186 2174 passcode Wawilak
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meanin...
All are welcome! 130pm EST
ZOOM only ZOOM ID 384 186 2174 passcode Wawilak
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meanin...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Last call—hiring for my lab moving to UCLA!
Project scientist in computational population genetics (post PhD/postdoc experience usually expected). recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10171
March 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Last call—hiring for my lab moving to UCLA!
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Congratulations to the new members elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences including in evolution and ecology: Anurag Agrawal (@anurag-asclepias.bsky.social), Graham Coop (@gcbias.bsky.social), and Jennifer Martiny, among others!
www.amacad.org/new-members-...
www.amacad.org/new-members-...
New Academy Members
Elected in 2025
www.amacad.org
April 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Congratulations to the new members elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences including in evolution and ecology: Anurag Agrawal (@anurag-asclepias.bsky.social), Graham Coop (@gcbias.bsky.social), and Jennifer Martiny, among others!
www.amacad.org/new-members-...
www.amacad.org/new-members-...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Hey PhD grads - join our group as a postdoc at Harvard! Focus will be analysis of genome wide methylation data from Cebu - measured at ages 21 and 40 years in the full birth cohort (n-1500). 40 yrs of data allow endless possibilities. Circulate widely!
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14854
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14854
Postdoctoral Fellow in Epigenomics and Human Biology
We seek a postdoctoral research associate to work with Professor Christopher Kuzawa at Harvard University. The postdoc will oversee analysis and write up of an extensive longitudinal dataset that has ...
academicpositions.harvard.edu
April 17, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Hey PhD grads - join our group as a postdoc at Harvard! Focus will be analysis of genome wide methylation data from Cebu - measured at ages 21 and 40 years in the full birth cohort (n-1500). 40 yrs of data allow endless possibilities. Circulate widely!
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14854
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14854
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Our newest paper is out in Science! This riddle took 5 years to solve. Genome annotation and AI missed it. Manual inspection and serendipity still have advantages for cracking nature's secrets! With @science.org @evolutionvu.bsky.social @rokaslab.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Running a genetic stop sign accelerates oxygen metabolism and energy production in horses
Horses are among nature’s greatest athletes, yet the ancestral molecular adaptations fueling their energy demands are poorly understood. Within a clinically important pathway regulating redox and meta...
www.science.org
March 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Our newest paper is out in Science! This riddle took 5 years to solve. Genome annotation and AI missed it. Manual inspection and serendipity still have advantages for cracking nature's secrets! With @science.org @evolutionvu.bsky.social @rokaslab.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
Preliminary injunction in nationwide indirect cost rate case.
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
Judge issues preliminary injunction blocking Trump cuts to NIH research overhead payments
A federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing NIH payments for research overhead
www.statnews.com
March 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Preliminary injunction in nationwide indirect cost rate case.
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
INBOX: March 7th — NASHVILLE + nationwide #StandUpForScience rallies as Trump & Musk dismantle the federal government while enriching themselves even further with taxpayer money.
More info: standupforscience2025.org/our-policy-g...
More info: standupforscience2025.org/our-policy-g...
March 2, 2025 at 9:57 PM
INBOX: March 7th — NASHVILLE + nationwide #StandUpForScience rallies as Trump & Musk dismantle the federal government while enriching themselves even further with taxpayer money.
More info: standupforscience2025.org/our-policy-g...
More info: standupforscience2025.org/our-policy-g...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
The Atlantic story on the situation at NIH is sobering. We are so screwed.
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Inside the Collapse at NIH
Administration officials pressured NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
www.theatlantic.com
February 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The Atlantic story on the situation at NIH is sobering. We are so screwed.
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
I am not going to call this a Bluetorial, because I do not want to sully that term (which, at least I, find joyful).
Let’s call it a Orwellial.
Let’s call it a Orwellial.
a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
media.tenor.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I am not going to call this a Bluetorial, because I do not want to sully that term (which, at least I, find joyful).
Let’s call it a Orwellial.
Let’s call it a Orwellial.
Reposted by Amanda Lea
I am hiring a lab technician! If you know anyone who has experience with field studies, enjoys working with plants, and is a good communicator and hard worker, pls pass this along! The position is for one year with the possibility of renewal. Please re-skeet!
careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Research Lab Tech Lead - Baucom Lab | U-M Careers
careers.umich.edu
February 19, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I am hiring a lab technician! If you know anyone who has experience with field studies, enjoys working with plants, and is a good communicator and hard worker, pls pass this along! The position is for one year with the possibility of renewal. Please re-skeet!
careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Reposted by Amanda Lea
"I don't know what NSF is going to be now, but it's not more efficient. It's just a mess."
My story on today's firings and their impact.
www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...
My story on today's firings and their impact.
www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...
National Science Foundation fires roughly 10% of its workforce
NSF fired 168 employees, leaving the agency less equipped to fund a wide range of scientific research.
www.npr.org
February 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
"I don't know what NSF is going to be now, but it's not more efficient. It's just a mess."
My story on today's firings and their impact.
www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...
My story on today's firings and their impact.
www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...