Dr Matt Lloyd Jones (he/him)
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befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Dr Matt Lloyd Jones (he/him)
@befriendabacterium.bsky.social
350 followers 760 following 390 posts
Researcher interested in evidence synthesis and other evidence-based things, most often to do with microbes. Currently working on projects about recreational exposure to polluted open waters and infection.

Associate Research Fellow at University of Exeter
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befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Love these Buzzfeed investigative journalism pieces
Screenshot of search engine search result from poison.org web page titled “I Swallowed Liquid From a COVID-19 Test Kit”
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
One of my favourite things to do to entertain myself on days when doing research seems like an absolute drag is to ironically drink from this mug I found in a charity shop.
Tired (but handsome) looking (young) man drinking from a mug with the words “LIVE LOVE RESEARCH” printed on it.
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
stuff of nightmares
November 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
IS THAT WHAT THIS LOCAL GUY I TOOK A SNEAKY PIC OF ONCE IS
Picture of a portly little husky/corgi-type dog tied to a bike rack outside a building, waiting eagerly for his owner to return
October 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Just wait til they see my record of winning big grants and shelf I put up last week that is now firmly on the floor
Screenshot of spam email reading: “FW:Invitation to Bid: Groundbreaking Construction Projectt_1643691100 Greetings, We're seeking innovative bids for a construction project set to redefine industry standards. Your expertise could be the key to unlocking its full potential. Looking forward to your innovative bid. Best Regards..”
October 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Between this being part of postdoc appreciation week, the musical itself, and it’s binfire biorender logo which is actually for the wrong musical, it’s like someone created this just to make me self-combust
Screenshot of website reading: Special Musical Act Postdoc: The Musical is a spin-off event from the team behind Bioscience: The Musical. Inspired by the hit musical Six, Bioscience: The Musical is a new science outreach project which aims to communicate scientific research and improve trust in science in an engaging, memorable and fun way, using musical theatre and performance. The project is a collaboration between the school of Arts and Creative Technologies and the department of Biology at University of York. Postdoc: The Musical aims to convey the wide range of research being undertaken across the Uk and showcase the diversity of skills and expertise of UK postdocs, as well as the motivations behind and impacts of their research. Additionally, the show portrays some of the key challenges postdoctoral researchers face in their daily work in a show guaranteed to make you laugh and learn! Logo created in Biorender Screenshot of the mentioned Biorender logo which actually says Bioscience: The Musical and contains a leaf above a guitar with a watermark of musical notes above it, contained within a circle, with a microphone and microscope left and right of it. All is green.
August 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
I don't remember typing this but it fits
Screenshot of R console with warning 'There were 29 warnings (use warnings() to see them). In the prompt is the word 'ew'
August 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Stack Overflow's new beginner-friendly chat room is going well I see
Screenshot of Stack Overflow alert saying 'New: A beginner-friendly chat room for Stack Overflow. Instant conversations, no matter your reputation score." Screenshot of conversation in the 'beginner-friendly forum'. One user asks 'hi can anyone [sic] here worked on graphql fusion?'. Another sarcastically responds 'And if they have, does that answer your question? Don't ask to ask, just ask.' The same sarcastic user responds to another user 'Your code is difficult to read; it will make it easier for others if you submit it as fixed font.'. Another joins in 'this is difficult to understand'. The same sarcy user responds again 'We didn't need the non-code in the code too, but better, yes'.
July 23, 2025 at 8:29 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Well excuuuuuuuuse me Princess!
Social media meme graphic of the Milky Way at the top and planet earth half in shade at the bottom, on a black background. The text between them reads: “We all want the same things. Physical Safety, Inner Peace. Economic Security. Clean Water. Healthy Food. Love, Connection, Happiness. Some of us just want it for everyone else on the planet too.”
May 14, 2025 at 7:19 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
yo dawg i heard you like studies with ethical issues, conflicts of interest, and massively exaggerated claims for the sample size, so i fired lasers into my own and my two postdocs’ eyes, discovered a new colour, and painted your car Olo - i think you’ll agree that science has been advanced bro
Screenshot of BBC News story headlined “Scientists claim to have discovered 'new colour' no one has seen before” with picture of a human eye with green pupils below. Screenshot of text from the article: “A team of scientists claim to have discovered a new colour that no human has ever seen before. The research follows an experiment in which researchers in the US had laser pulses fired into their eyes. By stimulating specific cells in the retina, the participants claim to have witnessed a blue-green colour that scientists have called "olo", but some experts have said the existence of a new colour is "open to argument". The findings, published in the journal Science Advances on Friday, have been described by the study's co-author, Prof Ren Ng from the University of California, as "remarkable".” Screenshot of text from the article: “During the team's experiment, researchers shined a laser beam into the pupil of one eye of each participant. There were five participants in the study - four male and one female - who all had normal colour vision. Three of the participants - including Prof Ng - were co-authors of the research paper. According to the research paper, the participants looked into a device called Oz which consists of mirrors, lasers and optical devices.”
April 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
I think I'll take the support from the astronauts thanks
Screenshot of BBC News headline from live coverage of Blue Origin spaceflight saying; 'Female astronauts show up for support' As well as the Kardashians, a group of female astronauts have arrived to support the crew before take off. Emily Calandrelli and Sian Procter are among the group." Picture is of 7 female astronauts standing for a photo at launchsite.
April 14, 2025 at 1:36 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Canada: We’re retaliating.
EU: We’re retaliating
UK: WE’RE MAKING A LIST
Screenshot of BBC News headline: “UK draws up list of US products it could hit with tariffs”
April 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Great to take part in the Taff Tidy/Taf Taclus today! Lot of junk cleared from our dirty ole riverside which is looking a lot better now. Stay tuned to see if we beat the world record attempt for largest river clean but who cares really (ok maybe a bit) #TAFFTIDY #TAFTACLUS
March 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Is R flirting with me
Screenshot of Mac menu bar with three versions of the RStudio icon (an 'R' in a blue circle on a white square background) spelling out 'RRR'.
March 19, 2025 at 8:50 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Might adapt this into an Out of Office
Screenshot of erroneously displayed email reading “This message cannot be displayed because a problem repeatedly occurred.”
March 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Early version of my accepted article was made available online last night and I already have been nominated for 'Best Researcher Award' by three organisations. Unfortunately the National Egg & Poultry Awards have not been so forthcoming and are only asking whether I could win Innovation of the Year.
Screenshot of junk email folder with two emails titled Research Awards from apparently different organisations, one email titled Cognitive Awards from another apparently different organisation, and one email from the National Egg & Poultry Awards. Screenshot of email reading: "Dear Author, Welcome! Your recent publication has been provisionally selected for the "Best Researcher Award." submit your profile via the following link: XXXX Regards, Organizing Committee COS Awards' Screenshot of email reading: Dear Author, Welcome! Your recent publication has been provisionally selected for the "Best Researcher Award." submit your profile via the following link : XXXX Regards, Organizing Committee Research Hypothesis Excellence Award Screenshot of email reading: "Dear Author, We are pleased to inform you that your recent publication has been provisionally selected for the "Best Researcher Award." Submit your profile via Nomination Link: XXXX Regards, Organizing Committee IIA Awards '
March 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
alternatively, catfish your way to academic success
Screenshot of the 'Neville Shulman challenge award' from the Royal Geographical Society, in a funding database.
March 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
The Guarantors of Brain are gonna be so pissed when they find out how many beers I had last night
Screenshot from a funding database for a Visiting lecturer bursary scheme being advertised by 'Guarantors of Brain'
March 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Hastily renewing my SORTEE membership on my phone so I can pretend to @eivimeycook.bsky.social that I never let it lapse after his talk
March 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
Literally only Welsh disco band according to Wikipedia.
March 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
and just like that BAM! 2025
Screenshot of email banner from “BAM2025 Conference”
February 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
it's shit like this that makes me remember why I refused to use ggplot for so long
Screenshot of the help documentation for a ggplot2 function that has arguments 't,r,b,l' on the left side and explanation "Dimensions of each margin. (To remember order, think trouble)."
February 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
i thought adding the L would help but no
Screenshot of Breaking Bad Wiki article for character 'Badger', with his description of being 'a low-level meth distributor' and 'Portrayed by: Matt Jones' highlighted. Screenshot of actor Matt Jones' Wikipedia showing he goes by Matt L. Jones, which is how I go by in order to try and distinguish myself from other effing Matt Joneses.
February 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
I do appreciate the rare honesty about this here
Screenshot of the Methods section beginning 'Basically, I used a nonsystematic review process'.
February 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
befriendabacterium.bsky.social
No offence George but I wouldn’t look at you in a post-apocalyptic world and think ‘he will lead us to safety’
Screenshot of Guardian article titled “Opinion There are many ways Trump could trigger a global collapse. Here's how to survive if that happens George Monbiot Subtitle: It could be wildfires, a pandemic or a financial crisis. The super-rich will flee to their bunkers - the rest of us will have to fend for ourselves”
February 18, 2025 at 8:21 AM