Julian Liber
@liberjulian.bsky.social
Phyllosphere yeasts & assembling the leaf microbiome | PhD cand. Duke Biology | MSU Plant Bio alum | he/him
liberjul.github.io
Interested in birding, photography, food, cycling, fiber crafts.
liberjul.github.io
Interested in birding, photography, food, cycling, fiber crafts.
Reposted by Julian Liber
ZOMG LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE SHALE
Okay, so the Burgess Shale is a fossil bed in British Columbia that contains a whole bunch of fossils of weirdass creatures from the Cambrian era, over 500 million years ago. But the great thing about the shale is that it has fossilized SOFT PARTS!
Okay, so the Burgess Shale is a fossil bed in British Columbia that contains a whole bunch of fossils of weirdass creatures from the Cambrian era, over 500 million years ago. But the great thing about the shale is that it has fossilized SOFT PARTS!
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
ZOMG LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE SHALE
Okay, so the Burgess Shale is a fossil bed in British Columbia that contains a whole bunch of fossils of weirdass creatures from the Cambrian era, over 500 million years ago. But the great thing about the shale is that it has fossilized SOFT PARTS!
Okay, so the Burgess Shale is a fossil bed in British Columbia that contains a whole bunch of fossils of weirdass creatures from the Cambrian era, over 500 million years ago. But the great thing about the shale is that it has fossilized SOFT PARTS!
Reposted by Julian Liber
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Julian Liber
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Julian Liber
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Are there mycologists or publishers out there who need a Mycological illustration artist?
This is the only place I’d even ask this question. 😁
Putting it out in the world that I’d love to take on a detailed project & illustrate a fungi book!
Willing to build a portfolio if this is a possibility ⬇️
This is the only place I’d even ask this question. 😁
Putting it out in the world that I’d love to take on a detailed project & illustrate a fungi book!
Willing to build a portfolio if this is a possibility ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Are there mycologists or publishers out there who need a Mycological illustration artist?
This is the only place I’d even ask this question. 😁
Putting it out in the world that I’d love to take on a detailed project & illustrate a fungi book!
Willing to build a portfolio if this is a possibility ⬇️
This is the only place I’d even ask this question. 😁
Putting it out in the world that I’d love to take on a detailed project & illustrate a fungi book!
Willing to build a portfolio if this is a possibility ⬇️
Reposted by Julian Liber
Do you teach #rstats? Do your students complain about how lame and old-fashioned dplyr is? Don't worry: I have the solution for you: github.com/hadley/genzp....
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
GitHub - hadley/genzplyr: dplyr but make it bussin fr fr no cap
dplyr but make it bussin fr fr no cap. Contribute to hadley/genzplyr development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Do you teach #rstats? Do your students complain about how lame and old-fashioned dplyr is? Don't worry: I have the solution for you: github.com/hadley/genzp....
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Charlotte area voters on Tuesday approved a transpo tax that will raise an estimated $19 billion over 30 years.
Funded transit projects include:
• Red Line regional rail to Davidson
• Silver Line light rail from CLT Airport to Coliseum/Ovens
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Funded transit projects include:
• Red Line regional rail to Davidson
• Silver Line light rail from CLT Airport to Coliseum/Ovens
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Charlotte area voters on Tuesday approved a transpo tax that will raise an estimated $19 billion over 30 years.
Funded transit projects include:
• Red Line regional rail to Davidson
• Silver Line light rail from CLT Airport to Coliseum/Ovens
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Funded transit projects include:
• Red Line regional rail to Davidson
• Silver Line light rail from CLT Airport to Coliseum/Ovens
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Julian Liber
NEW: this genetically engineered fungus lures mosquitoes to their death—by smelling absolutely divine
my latest in @nytimes.com, with sharp edits from @michaelroston.bsky.social 🧪
my latest in @nytimes.com, with sharp edits from @michaelroston.bsky.social 🧪
This Genetically Engineered Fungus Could Help Fix Your Mosquito Problem
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
NEW: this genetically engineered fungus lures mosquitoes to their death—by smelling absolutely divine
my latest in @nytimes.com, with sharp edits from @michaelroston.bsky.social 🧪
my latest in @nytimes.com, with sharp edits from @michaelroston.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Julian Liber
🧪hey all, a friend and colleague, @maddoxfornc.bsky.social, is running for Congress in North Carolina. He is a scientist, professor, and parent, perspectives that are especially important right now. I hope you will support his run for Congress. Find out more here: www.maddoxforcongress.com/about/
Meet Paul Maddox
Paul Maddox is a world-renowned cancer researcher, two-time entrepreneur, and native son of Western North Carolina–and now, a candidate for U.S. Congress. ....
www.maddoxforcongress.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
🧪hey all, a friend and colleague, @maddoxfornc.bsky.social, is running for Congress in North Carolina. He is a scientist, professor, and parent, perspectives that are especially important right now. I hope you will support his run for Congress. Find out more here: www.maddoxforcongress.com/about/
Reposted by Julian Liber
I'm now in my 5th year and absolutely feel this. At least I know better how to fix my mistakes?
No matter how advanced you become in bioengineering, the rake awaits us all. The most important thing to do in this godforsaken field is to learn deeply from failure, maintain intellectual humility, and speak up about your struggles. You never know who is out there ready to help.
October 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I'm now in my 5th year and absolutely feel this. At least I know better how to fix my mistakes?
Reposted by Julian Liber
we were given a 1 month extension from the church that owns our house, so we are not being evicted until November 30th now.
please please please share, we need to move AND stay housed, and we simply dont have enough time to save what we need.
spot.fund/frwsm1bsc
please please please share, we need to move AND stay housed, and we simply dont have enough time to save what we need.
spot.fund/frwsm1bsc
October 23, 2025 at 10:22 AM
we were given a 1 month extension from the church that owns our house, so we are not being evicted until November 30th now.
please please please share, we need to move AND stay housed, and we simply dont have enough time to save what we need.
spot.fund/frwsm1bsc
please please please share, we need to move AND stay housed, and we simply dont have enough time to save what we need.
spot.fund/frwsm1bsc
For those of you still doing column purification for Sanger sequencing, save yourself some money and try enzymatic cleanup. Makes doing plate after plate a breeze (and cheap, <2 cents of reagents/rxn).
dx.doi.org/10.17504/pro...
dx.doi.org/10.17504/pro...
20 minute PCR Enzymatic Cleanup
A rapid microplate-compatible protocol for cleanup of PCR products prior to Sanger sequencing. Verify that the PCR produces a single band, and retain some PCR product for cleanu...
dx.doi.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
For those of you still doing column purification for Sanger sequencing, save yourself some money and try enzymatic cleanup. Makes doing plate after plate a breeze (and cheap, <2 cents of reagents/rxn).
dx.doi.org/10.17504/pro...
dx.doi.org/10.17504/pro...
Reposted by Julian Liber
Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025.
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
Solar Power Finance Without the Jargon
www.worldscientific.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025.
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
Reposted by Julian Liber
so uhh
SNAP is apparently not going to be able to pay November benefits if the shutdown continues past 27 Oct
fellow faculty- if that happens, we're about to see a lot of hungry students on our campus. now's a good time to look into what your institution has available if you don't know already
SNAP is apparently not going to be able to pay November benefits if the shutdown continues past 27 Oct
fellow faculty- if that happens, we're about to see a lot of hungry students on our campus. now's a good time to look into what your institution has available if you don't know already
thehill.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
so uhh
SNAP is apparently not going to be able to pay November benefits if the shutdown continues past 27 Oct
fellow faculty- if that happens, we're about to see a lot of hungry students on our campus. now's a good time to look into what your institution has available if you don't know already
SNAP is apparently not going to be able to pay November benefits if the shutdown continues past 27 Oct
fellow faculty- if that happens, we're about to see a lot of hungry students on our campus. now's a good time to look into what your institution has available if you don't know already
That's a new one! IS1 sequence inserted into my plasmid, fortunately outside the T-DNA so it should still be functional. Grows just fine in E. coli and agro.
October 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
That's a new one! IS1 sequence inserted into my plasmid, fortunately outside the T-DNA so it should still be functional. Grows just fine in E. coli and agro.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Well it was an ordeal, first getting denied at CVS then trying to find anywhere that had novavax and then appointments booked out a week, but I FINALLY got my covid shot.
If anyone is still looking for the novavax booster, Costco has it.
If anyone is still looking for the novavax booster, Costco has it.
October 14, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Well it was an ordeal, first getting denied at CVS then trying to find anywhere that had novavax and then appointments booked out a week, but I FINALLY got my covid shot.
If anyone is still looking for the novavax booster, Costco has it.
If anyone is still looking for the novavax booster, Costco has it.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Reposted by Julian Liber
Excited by this breakthrough work led by Dr. Lauren Stanley (now Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University). Lauren was able to develop for the first time floral dip/spray transformation methods in the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Just add water: A simple floral bud injection method for stable Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation in two ecotypes of Mimulus guttatus
Premise Stable transformation is the biggest barrier to studying gene function in plants. In most species, transformation requires tissue culture and regeneration methods that may be arduous and cau...
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Excited by this breakthrough work led by Dr. Lauren Stanley (now Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University). Lauren was able to develop for the first time floral dip/spray transformation methods in the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Julian Liber
Just a reminder - if you run/recruit or have anything to do with an ecology & evolutionary biology PhD program, check out our database and update your departments salary here: rhettrautsaw.app/shiny/Biolog...
September 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Just a reminder - if you run/recruit or have anything to do with an ecology & evolutionary biology PhD program, check out our database and update your departments salary here: rhettrautsaw.app/shiny/Biolog...
This is, and always has been, how we get biofuels.
this is really just gonna end with a national mandate requiring us to eat soybeans three meals a day
October 4, 2025 at 12:48 AM
This is, and always has been, how we get biofuels.
Reposted by Julian Liber
By the time the US Civil War was over, so was the US cotton industry.
Egypt had ramped up to growing so much cotton, nobody really needed any from the US South anymore.
Egypt had ramped up to growing so much cotton, nobody really needed any from the US South anymore.
September 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
By the time the US Civil War was over, so was the US cotton industry.
Egypt had ramped up to growing so much cotton, nobody really needed any from the US South anymore.
Egypt had ramped up to growing so much cotton, nobody really needed any from the US South anymore.
And here we go! One more panel on its way, after which we'll have 200W solar and 768 Wh battery.
I just need some of that Carolina sunshine!
I just need some of that Carolina sunshine!
September 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
And here we go! One more panel on its way, after which we'll have 200W solar and 768 Wh battery.
I just need some of that Carolina sunshine!
I just need some of that Carolina sunshine!
Reposted by Julian Liber
It costs nothing to repost my art
It doesn’t cost a whole lot to buy it either
DM if interested
It doesn’t cost a whole lot to buy it either
DM if interested
September 27, 2025 at 11:19 PM
It costs nothing to repost my art
It doesn’t cost a whole lot to buy it either
DM if interested
It doesn’t cost a whole lot to buy it either
DM if interested
Reposted by Julian Liber
approximately three hundred of you have sent me this and you know what? Sure. I’ve got time today. Put 40 bulbs of garlic in my pasta, coming right up
September 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM
approximately three hundred of you have sent me this and you know what? Sure. I’ve got time today. Put 40 bulbs of garlic in my pasta, coming right up