Kevin Thiessen, PhD
LightNews LightNews
banner
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Kevin Thiessen, PhD
@kevinthiessen.bsky.social
540 followers 64 following 240 posts
Scientist at University of Bristol. Creator and Community Manager of Zebrafish Rock! Creighton Alumnus. 🇺🇸✈️🇩🇪🚘🇬🇧
Posts Replies Media Videos
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
As the #McRib is in the news again, may I remind you of this gem from my time in Germany as an American abroad (circa 2020). I'd be embarrassed if it wasn't for the amazing photos we took just before lockdown as well as the title of my name/profession 😂

Source: CNBC on Twitter/X
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Ever since zf surpassed them in 2019, I won’t pick fights with fly people. Definitely in the kumbaya phase now
Snapshot of pubmed searches from 2019: the first year zebrafish articles surpassed fly papers
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Starting the UK Zebrafish Husbandry Meeting with an important lesson on pain in #zebrafish from @lynnesneddon.bsky.social 🐟
Dr. Lynne Sneddon standing in front of a podium in front of a screen with the title ‘refining zebrafish experiments: pain management and enrichment’
October 22, 2025 at 9:48 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
In some cultures, this can be seen as good luck and I’m all here for it 🥰
A red dragonfly landing on a person wearing khaki trousers
September 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Sharing my own pretty image on #ZebrafishZunday! #devbio
Fluorescent image of a zebrafish larvae that has been stained with markers for inflammation (green) and skin development (purple). This may or may not be a mutant fish.
September 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
"Don't mind me, just strolling by" 🤣

Caption this (oddly human-like) cell:
Image of a macrophage from a single Z plane that looks suspiciously human
August 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Now we are twinning 😊 So proud of you!
Image of the 2023 scicomm award given to Kevin Thiessen for Zebrafish Rock
June 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Absolutely love this! I went with the blue embellishments and put it in a silver frame. It looks fantastic 😍
Image of a female zebrafish print with silver and blue stripes. It’s in a silver frame on a wood desk.
June 19, 2025 at 8:48 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Human serpent 🐍
Image of a hybrid human/snake. Credit unknown but pretty sure they were high.
June 5, 2025 at 7:26 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Didn’t realize this was made and shipped from Bristol 🤣 I love this #zebrafish print even more now! I got it with the blue embellishments 🤩 The artist @thewildprintstudio.bsky.social is still selling the rest of the edition, for those interested.

Working link here: www.thewildprintstudio.com/shop
Lithograph print of an adult female zebrafish with bright blue embellishments
May 31, 2025 at 1:13 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Angelfish 🐠
Image of a blue angelfish. It is silvery blue with black stripes. Credit to Swell Aquatics. Zoom in of in situ hybrization staining of a zebrafish embryo that I think looks like a fish.
April 17, 2025 at 8:57 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
How your email finds me this week:
Image of the Markt and Belfort in the Belgian city of Brugge
March 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Comet NEOWISE reflects off a lake near Duluth, Minn. at dusk on July 11. Comets and water naturally go together as they're thought responsible in part for delivering water to the early Earth. Details: 70mm lens, f/2.8, ISO 2000, 20-second time exposure. Credit Bob King
March 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Looking forward to welcoming Prof. Anna Huttenlocher to the University of Bristol for our @uobppn.bsky.social Snapshot Seminar series (kindly sponsored by @physoc.bsky.social). Would love to have more people stop by for the talk, if they are in the Bristol area! To be held on 27th Feb. at 1PM GMT.
Poster for the Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience Department's Snapshot Seminar on the 27th of February. Meeting to be held at 1PM Local in the Biomedical Sciences Building (Room C44) on the University of Bristol's campus. Prof. Anna Huttenlocher will be talking about "Imaging cell migration during tissue damage and repair". Hosted by Dr. Kevin Thiessen.
February 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Heisenberg
On left, a man wearing a cap and blazer. On the right, dorsal view of a zebrafish larvae that has been stained with an unknown in situ hybridization probe
February 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
"Henrietta’s story also sits within a history of medical exploitation of Black people. An extensive body of journalistic, academic and scientific coverage attests to the disproportionate impact of medical experiments and studies on Black people, both within and beyond America."
Person standing next to the installation of Henrietta Lacks statue at the University of Bristol. Image credit: Hybrid, 2021.
February 6, 2025 at 10:01 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
"[She developed} an aggressive form of cervical cancer in 1951. The cancer killed her later that year, aged just 31, but Henrietta Lacks soon after became a pillar of modern science when cells extracted from her cervix — without her knowledge — were found to thrive in a lab setting."
Henrietta Lacks – “She will outlive us all”, Painting by Helen Wilson-Roe, Oil on canvas. Image credit: © Painting and copyright property of the Lacks family.
February 6, 2025 at 9:59 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
"Resilient, hard-working and loving, Henrietta was born Loretta Pleasant as one of ten children, and went on to have five children of her own. To her loved ones she was “Hennie” [...] Henrietta is remembered as a woman who loved her children, dancing, cooking, horse riding and fashion."
Members of the Lacks Family, artist Helen Wilson-Roe, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol Peaches Golding, Bristol High Sheriff Susan Davies, Lord Mayor of Bristol Steve Smith, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and former Lord Mayor of Bristol Cleo Lake at the statue unveiling on 4 October 2021. Image credit: Bhagesh Sachania
February 6, 2025 at 9:55 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Observing and celebrating Black History Month by learning more about the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, which is more than just HeLa cells. If you’d like to know more as well, read this piece from the University of Bristol: www.bristol.ac.uk/research/imp... I’ll share a bit in this thread 1/n
In October 2021 the University of Bristol installed on its campus a statue of African-American woman Henrietta Lacks. The unveiling came amidst a year of celebratory events, lauding the life and legacy of an individual whose contribution to science is, in many ways, unrivalled. The year 2020 marked 100 years since Henrietta’s birth, and 2021 is 70 years since her untimely death.
February 6, 2025 at 9:46 AM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Spotted on my commute this morning. Thought it was funny until I found out it was Pro-Nerfball 🤢
Image taken from a car on the motorway. On an overpass someone has hung the USA flag upside down.
January 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Got to see my first rugby game with the little one when Bristol Bears Women played at home today. Not sure what the rules were but it was really entertaining, the food was scrummy (pun intended) and we got to see the American powerhouse known as Ilona Maher!
Image of a rugby match with players on the field. The closest person on the end is Ilona Maher.
January 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Ending 2024 in the air somewhere over the Atlantic. See you soon Bristol!
Picture of an airplane at an airport gate
December 31, 2024 at 9:40 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
Spotted somewhere in Nebraska
Vanity license plate for the State of Nebraska. It’s a turtle with the letters ‘SLWDN’ which looks like slowdown
December 30, 2024 at 6:50 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
The little one loves the Omaha zoo!
Photo of a boy standing next to a woman in an aquarium. There is a penguin swimming overhead
December 29, 2024 at 9:38 PM
kevinthiessen.bsky.social
While our F1 outgrew their ugly Fishmas onesie years ago, I remain as Papa Zebrafish for another season! Designed by fish fan Priyanka Oberoi. Available on lots of different items

Mama: www.redbubble.com/i/sweatshirt...
Papa: www.redbubble.com/i/sweatshirt...
Baby: www.redbubble.com/i/baby-onesi...
Ugly Christmas sweater with a festive zebrafish. With the phrase: “Merry Christmas, Do I have fish feeding duty today”
December 7, 2024 at 2:23 PM