Jason Gallant
@jasongallant.bsky.social
evolutionary biologist at MSU with a fondness for fish that make electricity
Reposted by Jason Gallant
New online! Biologists should embrace Earth’s biodiversity as a library of solutions
Biologists should embrace Earth’s biodiversity as a library of solutions
Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 10 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s44358-025-00098-xBiological research focused on canonical research organisms can yield profound insights, but it can also obscure evolutionary context and hinder understanding of biodiversity itself. Biology researchers should tap the underutilized potential of Earth’s biodiversity by matching the biological question to the organism best suited to answer it.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM
New online! Biologists should embrace Earth’s biodiversity as a library of solutions
Woot, my new perspective piece on the importance of leveraging earth's biodiversity to solve biology's most pressing questions was just published! Let me know if you'd like a copy!
The first of these is a Comment by Jason Gallant on diversifying animal-based research beyond canonical research organisms by selecting organisms best-suited to answer biological questions. 🧪🌎
Web link: go.nature.com/4qStiBc
Web link: go.nature.com/4qStiBc
November 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Woot, my new perspective piece on the importance of leveraging earth's biodiversity to solve biology's most pressing questions was just published! Let me know if you'd like a copy!
Reposted by Jason Gallant
The Braasch Lab @fishevodevogeno.bsky.social will soon post a position to replace manager of our *Ancient Fish Facility* at Michigan State. Looking for aquaculturist excited for unusual 🐟 species (gar, bowfin, paddlefish, polypterus) + zebrafish. Pls send candidates our way (DM or braasch@msu.edu)!
July 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Braasch Lab @fishevodevogeno.bsky.social will soon post a position to replace manager of our *Ancient Fish Facility* at Michigan State. Looking for aquaculturist excited for unusual 🐟 species (gar, bowfin, paddlefish, polypterus) + zebrafish. Pls send candidates our way (DM or braasch@msu.edu)!
Reposted by Jason Gallant
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
American science isn’t just under siege—it’s officially occupied territory today. Trump’s NSF plan? Abolish 37 divisions and cut the budget to the point it is a glorified science fair run by politicians. 75 years of world-leading innovation? Poof. We’re trading CRISPR for leeches and witch trials.
May 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
American science isn’t just under siege—it’s officially occupied territory today. Trump’s NSF plan? Abolish 37 divisions and cut the budget to the point it is a glorified science fair run by politicians. 75 years of world-leading innovation? Poof. We’re trading CRISPR for leeches and witch trials.
Reposted by Jason Gallant
The end of NSF and American science expertise as we know it is here.🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org
May 9, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The end of NSF and American science expertise as we know it is here.🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Exclusive: The director of the National Science Foundation announced his resignation today, 16 months before his 6-year term ends, in a letter to staff obtained by Science. scim.ag/42vc3fn
Exclusive: ‘I have done all I can’: NSF director announces he is resigning
Sethuraman Panchanathan, a Trump appointee who has led the agency since 2020, leaves amid mass firings and grant terminations
scim.ag
April 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Exclusive: The director of the National Science Foundation announced his resignation today, 16 months before his 6-year term ends, in a letter to staff obtained by Science. scim.ag/42vc3fn
Heard today on the drive home:
"There is no reason in the United States for us to have a single child die of measles." -- Peter Marx, until last month, the top vaccine regulator at the CDC.
"There is no reason in the United States for us to have a single child die of measles." -- Peter Marx, until last month, the top vaccine regulator at the CDC.
A vaccine expert worries child measles deaths are being 'normalized'
Ousted FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks talks about the current administration's policy on vaccines, and how that is impact its response to the on-going measles outbreak in the southwestern U.S.
www.npr.org
April 15, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Heard today on the drive home:
"There is no reason in the United States for us to have a single child die of measles." -- Peter Marx, until last month, the top vaccine regulator at the CDC.
"There is no reason in the United States for us to have a single child die of measles." -- Peter Marx, until last month, the top vaccine regulator at the CDC.
Reposted by Jason Gallant
📣 GET IN, DORKS!
We are going protesting...AGAIN! 📣
This time we are standing up for our core value of academic freedom and asking university leadership to STAND UP WITH US against Trump's attack on higher ed ✊
#StandUpWithUS
Register/find an event: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...
We are going protesting...AGAIN! 📣
This time we are standing up for our core value of academic freedom and asking university leadership to STAND UP WITH US against Trump's attack on higher ed ✊
#StandUpWithUS
Register/find an event: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...
April 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
📣 GET IN, DORKS!
We are going protesting...AGAIN! 📣
This time we are standing up for our core value of academic freedom and asking university leadership to STAND UP WITH US against Trump's attack on higher ed ✊
#StandUpWithUS
Register/find an event: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...
We are going protesting...AGAIN! 📣
This time we are standing up for our core value of academic freedom and asking university leadership to STAND UP WITH US against Trump's attack on higher ed ✊
#StandUpWithUS
Register/find an event: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Inside me there are two wolves. One of them has a 15 genome edits the other 20 genome edits. Neither of them is a dire wolf.
April 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Inside me there are two wolves. One of them has a 15 genome edits the other 20 genome edits. Neither of them is a dire wolf.
You can’t defend freedom while attacking the people who make discovery possible.
When you target scientists, you don’t protect America — you weaken it.
Shame, shame, shame.
When you target scientists, you don’t protect America — you weaken it.
Shame, shame, shame.
International students’ visas have been revoked, MSU says - The State News
At least some international students at MSU have had their visas revoked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a university spokesperson confirmed Monday.
statenews.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:23 AM
You can’t defend freedom while attacking the people who make discovery possible.
When you target scientists, you don’t protect America — you weaken it.
Shame, shame, shame.
When you target scientists, you don’t protect America — you weaken it.
Shame, shame, shame.
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Love seeing all the people who care. Big cities are amazing, but this bravery is what makes my heart burst.
April 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Love seeing all the people who care. Big cities are amazing, but this bravery is what makes my heart burst.
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Are steps at the Michigan State Capitol ADA compliant 🤔
April 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Are steps at the Michigan State Capitol ADA compliant 🤔
Reposted by Jason Gallant
The message is: crowd large.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
You can stop asking where the mass opposition is. It's everywhere.
People poured out to protest not only what Trump has done—and what they fear he will do next.
www.motherjones.com
April 5, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The message is: crowd large.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
I got to speak at a political rally (video below). Today, I stood up for science in Michigan at the Hands Off Day of action in Lansing. Inspired talks and one hell of a crowd!! @50501mi.bsky.social
Standing up for science in Lansing
YouTube video by Jason Gallant
youtu.be
April 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I got to speak at a political rally (video below). Today, I stood up for science in Michigan at the Hands Off Day of action in Lansing. Inspired talks and one hell of a crowd!! @50501mi.bsky.social
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Did you ask for a fish fact? No, but you're getting one whether you like it or not. 🐟
Electrosensitive rostral appendages that can detect prey items have evolved multiple times within mormyrid fishes, and one of these organs is called the Schnauzenorgan.
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
Electrosensitive rostral appendages that can detect prey items have evolved multiple times within mormyrid fishes, and one of these organs is called the Schnauzenorgan.
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
April 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Did you ask for a fish fact? No, but you're getting one whether you like it or not. 🐟
Electrosensitive rostral appendages that can detect prey items have evolved multiple times within mormyrid fishes, and one of these organs is called the Schnauzenorgan.
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
Electrosensitive rostral appendages that can detect prey items have evolved multiple times within mormyrid fishes, and one of these organs is called the Schnauzenorgan.
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Bumping to the Fishes! and Science feeds.🐟🧪
Some microphagous fishes have a unique pocket-like throat structure, epibranchial organ (EBO), that helps gather tiny food particles. New study of 13 species reveals diverse EBO anatomy, weak phylogenetic ties & possible link to diet
Evans et al:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Evans et al:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
April 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Bumping to the Fishes! and Science feeds.🐟🧪
Reposted by Jason Gallant
Tired: “due to ongoing uncertainties about federal funding…”
Wired: “due to President Trump and his administration’s illegal seizure of funds to American educational institutions…”
Wired: “due to President Trump and his administration’s illegal seizure of funds to American educational institutions…”
March 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Tired: “due to ongoing uncertainties about federal funding…”
Wired: “due to President Trump and his administration’s illegal seizure of funds to American educational institutions…”
Wired: “due to President Trump and his administration’s illegal seizure of funds to American educational institutions…”
Awesome work from awesome scientists! @lizmillermacroevo.bsky.social and @sternarchella.bsky.social !! What a face!
Easy breezy beautiful cover girl!!
We got the cover of Nature Eco Evo for our anglerfish study!! Shoutout to our graduate student HoWan Chan for the slick image. Read to study here www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Awesome work from awesome scientists! @lizmillermacroevo.bsky.social and @sternarchella.bsky.social !! What a face!
Great work!!!
Genetic, developmental, and neural changes underlying the evolution of butterfly mate preference
Few studies that link genetic variation to behavior also dissect the neural circuits that underlie the arc from sensation to action. This study of the architecture of mate choice behavior in Heliconiu...
journals.plos.org
March 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Great work!!!
We are hiring a fixed-term faculty member in the MSU Integrative Biology department to teach our core courses in Genetics, Evolution and Ecology! Check out the full ad here! Please RP! #sciencejobs #BlackinSTEM #LatinxinSTEM #diversityinSTEM
MSU Careers Details - Inst/Ast Prof - Fixed Term
careers.msu.edu
December 19, 2023 at 1:36 AM
We are hiring a fixed-term faculty member in the MSU Integrative Biology department to teach our core courses in Genetics, Evolution and Ecology! Check out the full ad here! Please RP! #sciencejobs #BlackinSTEM #LatinxinSTEM #diversityinSTEM
Wow-- signal/noise ratio is vastly improved over here! See ya, X!
December 19, 2023 at 1:31 AM
Wow-- signal/noise ratio is vastly improved over here! See ya, X!