Andy Baxevanis
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baxevanislab.bsky.social
Andy Baxevanis
@baxevanislab.bsky.social
Exploring hydrozoan genomes that might tell us a thing or two about ourselves.
Posts are my own.
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!

Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.

Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Just watched this rather sobering piece that aired on this week’s episode on 60 Minutes on the damage being done to the scientific research enterprise - research that has incredible potential to save many many lives. 🤦🏼‍♂️

www.cbsnews.com/news/researc...
Battle between Trump and universities hurting scientific research in need of federal funding
Federal research funding to universities has fueled breakthroughs for years. The White House is pressuring universities to align with the president's political agenda, or risk losing their funding.
www.cbsnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
‼️ There are an unprecedented number of Institute Director vacancies at the NIH and many of the application windows close this week or next, including ones that are essential to genomics research in the US including NHGRI, NLM/NCBI, and NIGMS. Please spread the word: hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
hr.nih.gov
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
"Saving Science by the Sea" – a piece on the importance of marine laboratories in advancing biomedical science, including the beginning of the Meselson-Stahl collaboration that ultimately elucidated the process of DNA replication:

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Saving science by the sea
As funding for science tightens across the United States, attention has turned to pressures faced by universities and biomedical research institutions. An often overlooked part of the nation’s science...
www.science.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
What makes PhD students happy? Good supervision @nature.com 🧪🎓

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What makes PhD students happy? Good supervision
Supervisors who invest in positive mentoring relationships with their PhD candidates also reap the benefits for their own research.
www.nature.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part II).

A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨

Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.

Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
October 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part I).

The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
October 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Now Hiring! Whitney Laboratory Assistant/Associate Professor in Marine Bioscience
Apply & More Info - explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/53...
We seek a creative, collaborative scientist whose research harnesses or advances cutting-edge tools. Please help spread the word & reach out with any questions!
September 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
First, first-author paper alert!

“Shedding Light on Patterns of Unconventional Expression of Opsin Genes in Hydra vulgaris” is out and open access in @sicbjournals.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/icb/advance-...

Keep reading for some highlights in the thread below!

🦑🧪
Shedding Light on Patterns of Unconventional Expression of Opsin Genes in Hydra vulgaris
Synopsis. Opsins are G-protein-coupled receptors often expressed in neuronal photoreceptor cells and used for light detection in most animals, including cn
academic.oup.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Absolutely fascinating!

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/s...
How the Pygmy Sea Horse Lost Its Snout
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Some very interesting insights into the protein folding problem, including what AlphaFold can (and can't) do, as well as a "crash course" video on protein folding

hub.jhu.edu/magazine/202...
A master of protein origami
Johns Hopkins chemist Stephen Fried has spent decades investigating how protein cells fold, unfold, and misfold, a cause of many neurodegenerative diseases and our cognitive decline. His pioneering wo...
hub.jhu.edu
July 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Excited to share our new work on the 3D architecture of the ctenophore aboral organ!

We explored its remarkable cellular diversity and integration with the syncytial nerve net, uncovering connectivity and insights into the evolution of sensory complexes.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
June 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Alberto Rivera of the Baxevanis group @baxevanislab.bsky.social presents on the allorecognition in cnidarians 🪸

There is evidence for synteny and conservation across allorecognition complexes in Cnidaria... How does this compare to bilaterians?

#Evol2025 #Evol25
June 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Investigating the evolution and features of regeneration using cnidarians url:https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/doi/10.1093/icb/icaf006/8082139
May 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A wonderful piece on @christyschnitz.bsky.social's scientific journey and research accomplishments!

integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2025/04/22/d...
May 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Why model organisms? "At first glance these creatures might seem unrelated to humans, but they share surprisingly similar genetic makeup to us. Because of their simpler biology and rapid life cycles they have provided critical insights into everything from how cells divide to the origins of cancer."
Why we study shrimp on treadmills: The case for curiosity-driven research
“If we cut or limit funding for curiosity-driven research, we risk shutting down the pipeline of future innovation,” writes Carole LaBonne of Northwestern.
www.statnews.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Congrats to Dr. Andrea Quattrini (Coral Curator, SI NMNH) for winning The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers!

This is the highest honor bestowed by the United States federal government on outstanding scientists in the early stages of their independent research careers!
January 16, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Andy Baxevanis
Grace under pressure ✨️💫⁠

Comb jellies are some of the most dazzling and depth-diverse denizens of the sea. Using MBARI's advanced deep-sea robots, researchers revealed how membranes help comb jellies thrive in the deep.

Learn more: youtu.be/e7A0hZ8mBtE?...
January 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Christy Schnitzler from the Whitney Labs presenting a comprehensive overview of Hydractinia, describing how single-cell studies of this organism are providing new insights into the evolution of cnidarian sensory systems during a special session at #SICB2025. A big and exciting leap forward indeed!
January 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Sue Xu from Christy Schnitzler's group at the Whitney Labs sharing her studies of the Hippo pathway in Hydractinia, providing us with a better understanding of polyp head regeneration and juvenile colony growth in this highly regenerative (and very cool) emerging model organism. Very nice work!
January 9, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Mike Connelly from our group sharing his hot-off-the-10X Podocoryna single-cell data @SICB2025, establishing a really solid foundation for future work on this very interesting and informative regenerative cnidarian. Stay tuned... more to follow!
January 9, 2025 at 12:31 PM