Joanna Masel
@joannamasel.bsky.social
Theoretical biologist and advisor to data scientists at the University of Arizona. Mostly theoretical population genetics and molecular evolution, but I've also published in biochemistry, infectious disease, aging, economics, education. Opinions are my own
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Does blinding--i.e., concealing applicants' identities--reduce gender gaps in academic conference paper acceptances?
Nope!
Does blinding do anything?
It does! Blinding reduces gaps in acceptances by institution rank.
haruka-uchida.github.io/websitefiles...
Nope!
Does blinding do anything?
It does! Blinding reduces gaps in acceptances by institution rank.
haruka-uchida.github.io/websitefiles...
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Does blinding--i.e., concealing applicants' identities--reduce gender gaps in academic conference paper acceptances?
Nope!
Does blinding do anything?
It does! Blinding reduces gaps in acceptances by institution rank.
haruka-uchida.github.io/websitefiles...
Nope!
Does blinding do anything?
It does! Blinding reduces gaps in acceptances by institution rank.
haruka-uchida.github.io/websitefiles...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
New data that supports metformin as a potential intervention to reduce #LongCovid www.authorea.com/users/100423...
Metformin at the time of Covid-19 infection and risk of Long Covid: A Target Trial Emulation Study
Background: Our objective was to evaluate metformin prescribed at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of developing Long Covid (LC) in electronic health record data. Methods: We conducted a n...
www.authorea.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM
New data that supports metformin as a potential intervention to reduce #LongCovid www.authorea.com/users/100423...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Please pass along - We've extended the CAMBIUM fellowship deadline to December 15! Our NSF NRT supports new grad students to harness biodiversity big data to adapt to & mitigate climate change impacts. Great fit for evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics, ecology & more. cambium.arizona.edu 🧬🌐🌎
November 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Please pass along - We've extended the CAMBIUM fellowship deadline to December 15! Our NSF NRT supports new grad students to harness biodiversity big data to adapt to & mitigate climate change impacts. Great fit for evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics, ecology & more. cambium.arizona.edu 🧬🌐🌎
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Lab’s first paper is out!! We show the first structures of #Asgard #chromatin by #cryo-EM 🧬❄️
Asgard histones form closed and open hypernucleosomes. Closed are conserved across #Archaea, while open resemble eukaryotic H3–H4 octasomes and are Asgard-specific. More here: www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Asgard histones form closed and open hypernucleosomes. Closed are conserved across #Archaea, while open resemble eukaryotic H3–H4 octasomes and are Asgard-specific. More here: www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
October 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Lab’s first paper is out!! We show the first structures of #Asgard #chromatin by #cryo-EM 🧬❄️
Asgard histones form closed and open hypernucleosomes. Closed are conserved across #Archaea, while open resemble eukaryotic H3–H4 octasomes and are Asgard-specific. More here: www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Asgard histones form closed and open hypernucleosomes. Closed are conserved across #Archaea, while open resemble eukaryotic H3–H4 octasomes and are Asgard-specific. More here: www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Rares: Contrast his summary with the abstract of Wainschtein et al. Focusing on ultra-rare to the exclusion of rare/de novo/structural variants seems like cherry picking a threshold in this context.
November 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Rares: Contrast his summary with the abstract of Wainschtein et al. Focusing on ultra-rare to the exclusion of rare/de novo/structural variants seems like cherry picking a threshold in this context.
Reposted by Joanna Masel
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered
Not with a bang but with a whimper
theinfinitesimal.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Meet the plenary speakers for #APSPM2026.
Joanna Masel @joannamasel.bsky.social
Nicholas Matzke @nicholasmatzke.bsky.social
Join us to discuss how protein structure is changing evolutionary theory, phylogenetics and molecular evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/spe...
Joanna Masel @joannamasel.bsky.social
Nicholas Matzke @nicholasmatzke.bsky.social
Join us to discuss how protein structure is changing evolutionary theory, phylogenetics and molecular evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/spe...
APSPM 2026: Structural Phylogenetics Meeting
A pivotal SMBE regional meeting in Brisbane on the interface of protein structure, function, and evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Meet the plenary speakers for #APSPM2026.
Joanna Masel @joannamasel.bsky.social
Nicholas Matzke @nicholasmatzke.bsky.social
Join us to discuss how protein structure is changing evolutionary theory, phylogenetics and molecular evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/spe...
Joanna Masel @joannamasel.bsky.social
Nicholas Matzke @nicholasmatzke.bsky.social
Join us to discuss how protein structure is changing evolutionary theory, phylogenetics and molecular evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/spe...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Abstract submission deadline for #AbSciCon2026 is Jan 14. I'll be co-organizing a session on "The Last Universal Common Ancestor and the Origins of Translation" with @lorendw.bsky.social and @seekingluca.bsky.social, with lots of other cool related topics at agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon.... Join us!
2026 Astrobiology Science Conference
agu.confex.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Abstract submission deadline for #AbSciCon2026 is Jan 14. I'll be co-organizing a session on "The Last Universal Common Ancestor and the Origins of Translation" with @lorendw.bsky.social and @seekingluca.bsky.social, with lots of other cool related topics at agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon.... Join us!
Reposted by Joanna Masel
An empirical approach to evaluating the prevalence of long-lived balancing selection in humans--and important limitations. Work by @hannahmm.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
An empirical approach to evaluating the prevalence of long-lived balancing selection in humans--and important limitations. Work by @hannahmm.bsky.social
Reposted by Joanna Masel
🧪
Hard to believe that this is still something we have to argue for in 2025. The science is settled.
Hard to believe that this is still something we have to argue for in 2025. The science is settled.
Doctors & scientists urge WHO: N95s—not surgical masks—must be the standard in healthcare.
Add your name before Oct 31 👇
tinyurl.com/RespiratorsN...
#RespiratorsNotSurgicals #ProtectHCWs
Add your name before Oct 31 👇
tinyurl.com/RespiratorsN...
#RespiratorsNotSurgicals #ProtectHCWs
A Call for the Universal Use of Respirators in Healthcare - Add Your Name
In an effort to advance global public health through turbulent times, a group of experts from around the globe in medicine, public health, law, industrial hygiene, and other disciplines, met at the Un...
tinyurl.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
🧪
Hard to believe that this is still something we have to argue for in 2025. The science is settled.
Hard to believe that this is still something we have to argue for in 2025. The science is settled.
Reposted by Joanna Masel
We are excited to announce APSPM 2026 - the SMBE Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting!
🗓️ 15-18 Feb. 2026
🌏 Brisbane, Australia
🔗 biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/
📄 Abstract submission: 28.11.2025
✈️ Travel grant application: 28.11.2025
✏️ Registration: 15.01.2026
#StrPhy26
🗓️ 15-18 Feb. 2026
🌏 Brisbane, Australia
🔗 biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/
📄 Abstract submission: 28.11.2025
✈️ Travel grant application: 28.11.2025
✏️ Registration: 15.01.2026
#StrPhy26
APSPM 2026: Structural Phylogenetics Meeting
A pivotal SMBE regional meeting in Brisbane on the interface of protein structure, function, and evolution.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au
October 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
We are excited to announce APSPM 2026 - the SMBE Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting!
🗓️ 15-18 Feb. 2026
🌏 Brisbane, Australia
🔗 biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/
📄 Abstract submission: 28.11.2025
✈️ Travel grant application: 28.11.2025
✏️ Registration: 15.01.2026
#StrPhy26
🗓️ 15-18 Feb. 2026
🌏 Brisbane, Australia
🔗 biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26/
📄 Abstract submission: 28.11.2025
✈️ Travel grant application: 28.11.2025
✏️ Registration: 15.01.2026
#StrPhy26
Reposted by Joanna Masel
The new #NSF #GRFP application now excludes 1000’s of students, including those who were told they could apply this year, or who planned to apply next year.
We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
September 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The new #NSF #GRFP application now excludes 1000’s of students, including those who were told they could apply this year, or who planned to apply next year.
We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Reposted by Joanna Masel
It is insanity that this hugely consequential news — whether Trump’s EO vomit tirade about H1Bs applies to current visa holders — is sourced *anonymously*! No one will go on record to clarify the new rules!? www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Trump administration tries to tamp down panic for high-skill visa holders after last-minute overhaul
The president announced Friday that H-1B visas will now come with a $100,000 annual fee, but a U.S. official said it will only apply to new visa applicants.
www.politico.com
September 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It is insanity that this hugely consequential news — whether Trump’s EO vomit tirade about H1Bs applies to current visa holders — is sourced *anonymously*! No one will go on record to clarify the new rules!? www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Massive sibling regression study finds that human traits are largely environmentally driven (average heritability = 0.3)
Within-family heritability estimates for behavioural and disease phenotypes from 500,000 sibling pairs of diverse ancestries
Quantification of the direct effect of genetic variation on human behavioural traits is important for understanding between-individual variation in socio-economic and health outcomes but estimates of ...
www.medrxiv.org
September 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Massive sibling regression study finds that human traits are largely environmentally driven (average heritability = 0.3)
Our new paper @asn-amnat.bsky.social develops a Grand Unified Theory including both exploitative and interference competition doi.org/10.1086/737628. The R* rule of ecology (that 2 species cannot coexist on a single resource), is widely broken, including via a new trade-off we describe. 1/9
A Mechanistically Integrated Model of Exploitative and Interference Competition over a Single Resource Produces Widespread Coexistence | The American Naturalist
Abstract Many ecological models treat exploitative competition in isolation from interference competition. Corresponding theory centers around the R* rule, according to which consumers that share a si...
doi.org
September 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Our new paper @asn-amnat.bsky.social develops a Grand Unified Theory including both exploitative and interference competition doi.org/10.1086/737628. The R* rule of ecology (that 2 species cannot coexist on a single resource), is widely broken, including via a new trade-off we describe. 1/9
Reposted by Joanna Masel
The House discretionary budget bill is now out for FY26, including a proposed *slight boost* in NIH funding & many other components that will take time to unpack.
Bill text:
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
A few key points including IDC analysis in a provisional 🧵
Bill text:
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
A few key points including IDC analysis in a provisional 🧵
appropriations.house.gov
September 2, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The House discretionary budget bill is now out for FY26, including a proposed *slight boost* in NIH funding & many other components that will take time to unpack.
Bill text:
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
A few key points including IDC analysis in a provisional 🧵
Bill text:
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
A few key points including IDC analysis in a provisional 🧵
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Trump admin planning to change student visas from lasting for duration of academic program to fixed 4-yr term, and then much harder to renew
Could destroy US ability to attract global talent, particularly those seeking advanced degrees in STEM. The median time to complete a PhD is 5.7 yrs per NSF.
Could destroy US ability to attract global talent, particularly those seeking advanced degrees in STEM. The median time to complete a PhD is 5.7 yrs per NSF.
Trump Deals A New Immigration Blow To International Students
Trump officials have proposed a new rule limiting international students to fixed periods of entry, making a U.S. education more precarious.
www.forbes.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Trump admin planning to change student visas from lasting for duration of academic program to fixed 4-yr term, and then much harder to renew
Could destroy US ability to attract global talent, particularly those seeking advanced degrees in STEM. The median time to complete a PhD is 5.7 yrs per NSF.
Could destroy US ability to attract global talent, particularly those seeking advanced degrees in STEM. The median time to complete a PhD is 5.7 yrs per NSF.
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Very sad to see.
www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
Exclusive: Harvard University lays off fly database team
The layoffs jeopardize this resource, which has served more than 4,000 labs for about three decades.
www.thetransmitter.org
August 14, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Very sad to see.
www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
This guy has talent, he should write for the Onion frankaj.substack.com/p/bridge-pla...
Bridge players forbidden to bid No Trump
President Trump’s latest executive order forbids "NO TRUMP" bids in bridge.
frankaj.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:26 AM
This guy has talent, he should write for the Onion frankaj.substack.com/p/bridge-pla...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Suppose, however, the appropriation is reduced by 10% in the first year of implementation and remains at this lower level (recall that the Administration is proposing a 40% reduction).
This results in a larger dip in the number of funded grants.
5/n
This results in a larger dip in the number of funded grants.
5/n
July 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Suppose, however, the appropriation is reduced by 10% in the first year of implementation and remains at this lower level (recall that the Administration is proposing a 40% reduction).
This results in a larger dip in the number of funded grants.
5/n
This results in a larger dip in the number of funded grants.
5/n
Reposted by Joanna Masel
The NIH switching to fully funding projects upfront will lead to a painful transition period. There'll also be an impact on indirects I haven't seen mentioned before.
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social
clauswilke.substack.com/p/nih-funded...
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social
clauswilke.substack.com/p/nih-funded...
NIH-funded researchers can't catch a break
Changes appear to be underfoot in how the NIH pays out awards. It may seem a minor technicality, but it will likely have far-reaching consequences.
clauswilke.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The NIH switching to fully funding projects upfront will lead to a painful transition period. There'll also be an impact on indirects I haven't seen mentioned before.
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social
clauswilke.substack.com/p/nih-funded...
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social
clauswilke.substack.com/p/nih-funded...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
Terrible Friday news dump.The wealth of expertise. The decades of scientific progress. The emerging and urgent challenges we were focused on tackling. It is all so short-sided and cruel. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/c...
E.P.A. Says It Will Eliminate Its Scientific Research Arm
www.nytimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Terrible Friday news dump.The wealth of expertise. The decades of scientific progress. The emerging and urgent challenges we were focused on tackling. It is all so short-sided and cruel. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/c...
Reposted by Joanna Masel
🎉 I'm thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor starting January 2026!
I’ll be recruiting PhD students, lab technicians, and postdocs—so if you're interested in host-microbe interactions, I’d love to hear from you!
I’ll be recruiting PhD students, lab technicians, and postdocs—so if you're interested in host-microbe interactions, I’d love to hear from you!
July 3, 2025 at 11:52 PM
🎉 I'm thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor starting January 2026!
I’ll be recruiting PhD students, lab technicians, and postdocs—so if you're interested in host-microbe interactions, I’d love to hear from you!
I’ll be recruiting PhD students, lab technicians, and postdocs—so if you're interested in host-microbe interactions, I’d love to hear from you!