Jan Gogarten
@jangogarten.bsky.social
Evolutionary community ecologist interested in disease emergence. Work with environmental DNA, primates, bacteriophages. Like bicycles. Heading a junior research group at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health.
Pinned
Jan Gogarten
@jangogarten.bsky.social
· Dec 4
Hello! I am new + while I know some of you from real life or the giant dumpster fire around which we formerly shared tweets, I wanted to make a little introductory post (skeet?). I am a disease ecologist + evolutionary biologist broadly interested in disease emergence + community assembly.
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
"So far, eight suspected cases have been reported. Laboratory testing is ongoing at the Ethiopia Public Health Institute to determine the exact cause."
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Ethiopia reports suspected viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak
Health authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out further investigations and ramping up response after suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were reported in the country’s South Ethiopia Region.
www.afro.who.int
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
"So far, eight suspected cases have been reported. Laboratory testing is ongoing at the Ethiopia Public Health Institute to determine the exact cause."
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Come join us - we are recruiting a postdoc in phylodynamics and epidemiological modelling to join an exciting project on foot-and-mouth-disease virus in African buffalo
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
Please share widely!
#jobs #disease #ecology #evolution #phylodynamics
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
Please share widely!
#jobs #disease #ecology #evolution #phylodynamics
Research Assistant/Associate
Job Purpose You will contribute to an international collaborative project entitled “Multi-scale infection dynamics from cells to landscapes: FMD in African buffalo”, working with Prof Roman Biek. T...
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Come join us - we are recruiting a postdoc in phylodynamics and epidemiological modelling to join an exciting project on foot-and-mouth-disease virus in African buffalo
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
Please share widely!
#jobs #disease #ecology #evolution #phylodynamics
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
Please share widely!
#jobs #disease #ecology #evolution #phylodynamics
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Working at HIRI
At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
A paper for the #eDNA crowd, in particular those using flies for terrestrial biomonitoring. We show that massive pooling works well, reducing costs + time, bringing us a step closer to scalable terrestrial eDNA biomonitoring. doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
An Exploration of DNA Extraction Methods of Fly iDNA for Scalable Biodiversity Monitoring
Metabarcoding of invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) is an excellent tool for assessing terrestrial mammal diversity, but the time and costs associated with sample processing constrain its wider adoption....
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
A paper for the #eDNA crowd, in particular those using flies for terrestrial biomonitoring. We show that massive pooling works well, reducing costs + time, bringing us a step closer to scalable terrestrial eDNA biomonitoring. doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Despite decades of effort, scientists have still not discovered a foolproof way to evaluate colleagues’ work that doesn’t involve reading the paper
But what if there are two co-first authors and the first-first author is actually also co-corresponding author with the last author but the second-first author isn’t?
October 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Despite decades of effort, scientists have still not discovered a foolproof way to evaluate colleagues’ work that doesn’t involve reading the paper
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
New in @science.org, a paper from my PhD showing that ant groups fight epidemics by modifying the structure of their nests, giving them “architectural immunity”!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Architectural immunity: Ants alter their nest networks to prevent epidemics
In animal groups, spatial structure shapes social interaction patterns, thereby influencing the transmission of infectious diseases. Active modifications to the spatial environment could therefore be ...
www.science.org
October 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
New in @science.org, a paper from my PhD showing that ant groups fight epidemics by modifying the structure of their nests, giving them “architectural immunity”!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Fantastic reporting by @kakape.bsky.social on @scs22.bsky.social's work in the Arctic looking for sequenceable ancient RNA viruses. Amazing pictures (including this gem), and as always great story telling and commentary on the topic. Excited to see what they find. www.science.org/content/arti...
October 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Fantastic reporting by @kakape.bsky.social on @scs22.bsky.social's work in the Arctic looking for sequenceable ancient RNA viruses. Amazing pictures (including this gem), and as always great story telling and commentary on the topic. Excited to see what they find. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
We're already at the hiding people from the secret police phase?
During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.
It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.
He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’
During the Sept. 30 raid one tenant protected a terrified girl and her mom. Remnants at the complex, including a detailed map of all the units, offer clues to what authorities may have known before th...
chicago.suntimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:51 AM
We're already at the hiding people from the secret police phase?
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.
Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight
Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...
www.science.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
New preprint alert! We DNA barcoded 95 thousand Ghanaian arthropods, more than doubling the number of BINs (a species proxy) available online from West Africa. In doing so we’ve released a huge amount of new data to scientists studying the region 🧪 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Characterising a species-rich and understudied tropical insect fauna using DNA barcoding
Background: West Africa has high biodiversity that is relatively understudied, especially for insects. Studies of West African arthropod diversity can therefore help address important questions regard...
www.biorxiv.org
October 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
New preprint alert! We DNA barcoded 95 thousand Ghanaian arthropods, more than doubling the number of BINs (a species proxy) available online from West Africa. In doing so we’ve released a huge amount of new data to scientists studying the region 🧪 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The NSF GRFP was a huge help for me along my academic journey - and I had to apply multiple times to get there. These last minute changes to eligibility are cruel and if you are impacted - please do sign.
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition
laurenkuehne.github.io
September 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The NSF GRFP was a huge help for me along my academic journey - and I had to apply multiple times to get there. These last minute changes to eligibility are cruel and if you are impacted - please do sign.
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
What a clever intervention to reduce malaria risk among babies! www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Permethrin-Treated Baby Wraps for the Prevention of Malaria | NEJM
Malaria remains a major cause of childhood death in sub-Saharan Africa. We leveraged
the traditional practice of mothers carrying children on their backs in cloth wraps
to assess whether treating t...
www.nejm.org
September 25, 2025 at 2:37 AM
What a clever intervention to reduce malaria risk among babies! www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
New study by the Institut Pasteur de Bangui and HIOH examines CAR #mpox outbreaks via genomic #epidemiology. High frequencies of independent spillovers highlight the need to strengthen systematic surveillance & identify animal sources to prevent future outbreaks www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 5, 2025 at 9:49 AM
New study by the Institut Pasteur de Bangui and HIOH examines CAR #mpox outbreaks via genomic #epidemiology. High frequencies of independent spillovers highlight the need to strengthen systematic surveillance & identify animal sources to prevent future outbreaks www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Great and fast work to sequence the genome of the new Ebola out break in DRC. Impressive! virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
The 16th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A new spillover event from an unknown reservoir host
Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently facing concurrent outbreaks including mpox, cholera and malaria (1-4). The Ministry of Public Health, DRC has declared the 16th Ebola...
virological.org
September 5, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Great and fast work to sequence the genome of the new Ebola out break in DRC. Impressive! virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
If I could change one thing about #ScientificPublishing I'd ask funding bodies to stipulate all work they fund be published in non-profit journals.
The knock-on effects would alleviate most of the strain on #AcademicSky.
This isn't hard. It's big, but actually, it's pretty easy.
1/n
The knock-on effects would alleviate most of the strain on #AcademicSky.
This isn't hard. It's big, but actually, it's pretty easy.
1/n
The strain on scientific publishing
Abstract. Scientists are increasingly overwhelmed by the volume of articles being published. The total number of articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science has grown exponentially in recent years; ...
direct.mit.edu
August 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM
If I could change one thing about #ScientificPublishing I'd ask funding bodies to stipulate all work they fund be published in non-profit journals.
The knock-on effects would alleviate most of the strain on #AcademicSky.
This isn't hard. It's big, but actually, it's pretty easy.
1/n
The knock-on effects would alleviate most of the strain on #AcademicSky.
This isn't hard. It's big, but actually, it's pretty easy.
1/n
Using #AI to replace customer service, without telling people we are talking to a machine, is a horrible idea. Especially if you are dealing with a product recall for something that is spontaneously catching fire and your AI hallucinates… we live in weird and dangerous times. A thread...
July 24, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Using #AI to replace customer service, without telling people we are talking to a machine, is a horrible idea. Especially if you are dealing with a product recall for something that is spontaneously catching fire and your AI hallucinates… we live in weird and dangerous times. A thread...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
We were part of another viral aRNA study that was just published. In this work spearheaded by Christian Urban in the lab of Verena Schuenemann, a new protocol was assessed (good for short fragments) and a seventh 1918 flu genome was completely sequenced
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
An ancient influenza genome from Switzerland allows deeper insights into host adaptation during the 1918 flu pandemic in Europe - BMC Biology
Background From 1918 to 1920, the largest influenza A virus (IAV) pandemic known to date spread globally causing between 20 to 100 million deaths. Historical records have captured critical aspects of ...
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com
July 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
We were part of another viral aRNA study that was just published. In this work spearheaded by Christian Urban in the lab of Verena Schuenemann, a new protocol was assessed (good for short fragments) and a seventh 1918 flu genome was completely sequenced
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Every country is warming.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
June 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Every country is warming.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
The @helmholtz-hioh.bsky.social's One Health Surveillance Group received one of the Best Research Environments in 2024 awards, given out by the @jungeakademie.bsky.social + @volkswagenstiftung.de. idw-online.de/de/news853515
“Best Research Environment 2024”: Winning teams announced
idw-online.de
June 12, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The @helmholtz-hioh.bsky.social's One Health Surveillance Group received one of the Best Research Environments in 2024 awards, given out by the @jungeakademie.bsky.social + @volkswagenstiftung.de. idw-online.de/de/news853515
Congratulations to the @schauflerlab.org of the @helmholtz-hioh.bsky.social and @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social for receiving the Josef Wund Foundation's Undine Water Prize - very well deserved! The group is pushing very cool work on AMR and lots of exciting things afoot! jw-stiftung.de/index.php?vi...
Undine Award 2025 verliehen
In Stuttgart wurden 60.000 Euro Preisgeld an drei Wasser-Projekte überreicht.
jw-stiftung.de
June 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Congratulations to the @schauflerlab.org of the @helmholtz-hioh.bsky.social and @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social for receiving the Josef Wund Foundation's Undine Water Prize - very well deserved! The group is pushing very cool work on AMR and lots of exciting things afoot! jw-stiftung.de/index.php?vi...
Lots of information being gleaned from eDNA (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) but with increasing use of shotgun based approaches, there is also a risk of false positives, which I discussed with Warren Cornwall @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
DNA captured from the air could track wildlife, invasive species—and humans
Technology could be a boon for science, but raises ethical concerns
www.science.org
June 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Lots of information being gleaned from eDNA (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) but with increasing use of shotgun based approaches, there is also a risk of false positives, which I discussed with Warren Cornwall @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
When viral epidemics are ignored they hardly magically disappear, they spread. Excellent reporting on the large outbreak of mpox in Sierra Leone. A country with a fragile health system and limited resources to effectively respond to this threat.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Explosive mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone overwhelms health systems
Rapid transmission through sexual networks raises fears of wider spread in the region
www.science.org
June 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
When viral epidemics are ignored they hardly magically disappear, they spread. Excellent reporting on the large outbreak of mpox in Sierra Leone. A country with a fragile health system and limited resources to effectively respond to this threat.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Ecologists’ endless quest for automatic inference
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/05/28/e...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/05/28/e...
Ecologists’ endless quest for automatic inference | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
May 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Ecologists’ endless quest for automatic inference
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/05/28/e...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/05/28/e...
Reposted by Jan Gogarten
Our @ucl.ac.uk @crick.ac.uk work, out this week in @science.org, traces a genetic time series of bacterial infections to reveal when and how Borrelia recurrentis jumped from ticks to humans—via our body lice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Ancient Borrelia genomes document the evolutionary history of louse-borne relapsing fever
Several bacterial pathogens have transitioned from tick-borne to louse-borne transmission, which often involves genome reduction and increasing virulence. However, the timing of such transitions remai...
www.science.org
May 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our @ucl.ac.uk @crick.ac.uk work, out this week in @science.org, traces a genetic time series of bacterial infections to reveal when and how Borrelia recurrentis jumped from ticks to humans—via our body lice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...