Vanessa Tobias
@marshprincess.bsky.social
Scientist. Wetlands & estuaries ecologist, mud enthusiast, fish monitoring data nerd, statistical analyst, open data advocate, R user, working in San Francisco Bay. PhD in wildlife & fisheries science. she/her
If you’re thinking about hiring a house cleaner, but you’re not sure if it’s worth the hassle… Yes. Do it. It’s awesome. They cleaned the oven! And the shower that I can never get clean.
November 21, 2025 at 3:24 AM
If you’re thinking about hiring a house cleaner, but you’re not sure if it’s worth the hassle… Yes. Do it. It’s awesome. They cleaned the oven! And the shower that I can never get clean.
I know [waives hands], but for anyone looking for an entry level job in fisheries or birds: the US Fish and Wildlife Service has some 6 month positions open now. Go on USA jobs and put 0400 in the search bar. That’s the general biology series. Also some small craft operators (search 5786).
🧪👩🔬🌎
🧪👩🔬🌎
November 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I know [waives hands], but for anyone looking for an entry level job in fisheries or birds: the US Fish and Wildlife Service has some 6 month positions open now. Go on USA jobs and put 0400 in the search bar. That’s the general biology series. Also some small craft operators (search 5786).
🧪👩🔬🌎
🧪👩🔬🌎
I’m gone too much during the week so weekends look like this. I know they think the situation is dire when Penzey (the dog) tolerates Atcha (the cat).
November 16, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I’m gone too much during the week so weekends look like this. I know they think the situation is dire when Penzey (the dog) tolerates Atcha (the cat).
This paper got accepted right before I went on vacation. It’s in a local journal and it will take a little while for it to be available. I’m happy to have it in press, though.
Minor revisions! This paper is about extracting DNA from fish that are preserved in formalin. DNA is totally not my expertise, but I learned a lot helping out with stats and graphs. It’s so fun to be part of these collaborative science projects where I get to learn new stuff.
November 13, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This paper got accepted right before I went on vacation. It’s in a local journal and it will take a little while for it to be available. I’m happy to have it in press, though.
Happy Halloween from Penzey the Pooh
November 1, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Happy Halloween from Penzey the Pooh
I started the day looking at a paper introduction I started rewriting last week, hoping I made more progress than I remembered, but then being disappointed that it still needs exactly as much work as I thought. At least this is something I can focus on and hopefully tune out the distractions.
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I started the day looking at a paper introduction I started rewriting last week, hoping I made more progress than I remembered, but then being disappointed that it still needs exactly as much work as I thought. At least this is something I can focus on and hopefully tune out the distractions.
The people they want to traumatize are the people who fly into a hurricane to help keep the rest of us safe.
NOAA hurricane hunters flying aboard a P-3 Orion aircraft ("Kermit") are monitoring Hurricane Melissa as most aircraft steer clear. The storm poses a catastrophic threat to Jamaica and Haiti.
The crew are among the many federal workers working without pay during the US government shutdown.
The crew are among the many federal workers working without pay during the US government shutdown.
October 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
The people they want to traumatize are the people who fly into a hurricane to help keep the rest of us safe.
It’s Saturday. We deserve a little doggo on our feeds as a treat.
October 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
It’s Saturday. We deserve a little doggo on our feeds as a treat.
As this article points out, 2,050 is probably just the beginning of the cuts.
On a personal note, I worked at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center for a couple of semesters during my MS. I learned so much there and the people were amazing to work with. I’m gutted by the proposed cuts there.
On a personal note, I worked at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center for a couple of semesters during my MS. I learned so much there and the people were amazing to work with. I’m gutted by the proposed cuts there.
“The Monday filing outlines where 2,050 positions would be eliminated; the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, and the main Interior office would be especially hard hit. Regional offices with the National Park Service are also targeted for significant cuts.”
Inside Trump's plan to eviscerate USGS and beyond - Center for Western Priorities
Forced by a federal judge to partially reveal plans for firing federal employees, the Trump administration on Monday said it plans to “imminently” terminate more than 2,000 employees at the Interior d...
westernpriorities.org
October 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
As this article points out, 2,050 is probably just the beginning of the cuts.
On a personal note, I worked at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center for a couple of semesters during my MS. I learned so much there and the people were amazing to work with. I’m gutted by the proposed cuts there.
On a personal note, I worked at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center for a couple of semesters during my MS. I learned so much there and the people were amazing to work with. I’m gutted by the proposed cuts there.
Infrognito mode.
October 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Infrognito mode.
I didn’t take any pictures of the protest today, but here’s a recreation using things people gave me.
October 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I didn’t take any pictures of the protest today, but here’s a recreation using things people gave me.
Reposted by Vanessa Tobias
It's day 15 of the shutdown and our first missed paycheck.
For feds 👇
🍽️Too good to go app (surplus food from local eateries/stores at a ⬇️ prices)
🗺️https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/
💵https://www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-for-federal-workers/
🧑🏫https://wearewellfed.com/
For feds 👇
🍽️Too good to go app (surplus food from local eateries/stores at a ⬇️ prices)
🗺️https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/
💵https://www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-for-federal-workers/
🧑🏫https://wearewellfed.com/
October 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It's day 15 of the shutdown and our first missed paycheck.
For feds 👇
🍽️Too good to go app (surplus food from local eateries/stores at a ⬇️ prices)
🗺️https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/
💵https://www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-for-federal-workers/
🧑🏫https://wearewellfed.com/
For feds 👇
🍽️Too good to go app (surplus food from local eateries/stores at a ⬇️ prices)
🗺️https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/
💵https://www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-for-federal-workers/
🧑🏫https://wearewellfed.com/
Reposted by Vanessa Tobias
I'm writing a grant application to fund features and improvements to Literature Mapper, a plugin for QGIS that makes maps of Zotero citations. Has anyone out there used it in it's current state? Or would you use it if only... ?
micheletobias.github.io/maps/Literat...
#gischat
micheletobias.github.io/maps/Literat...
#gischat
Maps by MicheleTobias
micheletobias.github.io
October 14, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I'm writing a grant application to fund features and improvements to Literature Mapper, a plugin for QGIS that makes maps of Zotero citations. Has anyone out there used it in it's current state? Or would you use it if only... ?
micheletobias.github.io/maps/Literat...
#gischat
micheletobias.github.io/maps/Literat...
#gischat
Reposted by Vanessa Tobias
Ok everyone, I’m assigning you your resistance homework for the week.
Everyone ready?
Do something silly that makes you smile. I just waved at a dog that had its head out the car window because it made me happy. Don’t let the assholes take your joy.
Everyone ready?
Do something silly that makes you smile. I just waved at a dog that had its head out the car window because it made me happy. Don’t let the assholes take your joy.
October 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Ok everyone, I’m assigning you your resistance homework for the week.
Everyone ready?
Do something silly that makes you smile. I just waved at a dog that had its head out the car window because it made me happy. Don’t let the assholes take your joy.
Everyone ready?
Do something silly that makes you smile. I just waved at a dog that had its head out the car window because it made me happy. Don’t let the assholes take your joy.
One more sick day for me. If you get this cold, please try harder not to share it than the person who shared it with me did. It’s miserable.
Miscus with her cheese toy to brighten up your feed.
Miscus with her cheese toy to brighten up your feed.
October 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
One more sick day for me. If you get this cold, please try harder not to share it than the person who shared it with me did. It’s miserable.
Miscus with her cheese toy to brighten up your feed.
Miscus with her cheese toy to brighten up your feed.
I’m hanging out on the couch with this guy today because RTO with no telework is only really good policy for viruses.
October 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I’m hanging out on the couch with this guy today because RTO with no telework is only really good policy for viruses.
Yesterday was awesome.
Morning: took a tap workshop class at my dance studio.
Evening: saw &Juliet on tour.
I highly recommend both for a break from doing science in ::waives hands around:: all this.
Morning: took a tap workshop class at my dance studio.
Evening: saw &Juliet on tour.
I highly recommend both for a break from doing science in ::waives hands around:: all this.
October 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Yesterday was awesome.
Morning: took a tap workshop class at my dance studio.
Evening: saw &Juliet on tour.
I highly recommend both for a break from doing science in ::waives hands around:: all this.
Morning: took a tap workshop class at my dance studio.
Evening: saw &Juliet on tour.
I highly recommend both for a break from doing science in ::waives hands around:: all this.
I’m grateful for being exempt & knowing I’ll get paid on time, but it is really hard to just keep working through a shutdown. It’s like we’re being gaslit into thinking everything is normal and not total chaos around us.
Penzey being stressed out with pumpkins for my fellow feds.
Penzey being stressed out with pumpkins for my fellow feds.
October 4, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I’m grateful for being exempt & knowing I’ll get paid on time, but it is really hard to just keep working through a shutdown. It’s like we’re being gaslit into thinking everything is normal and not total chaos around us.
Penzey being stressed out with pumpkins for my fellow feds.
Penzey being stressed out with pumpkins for my fellow feds.
This is an epic violation. Pretty much every fed knows this because we get notified about the Hatch Act all the time. Even people who count fish and are nowhere near the political side of government get this stuff drilled into us regularly.
As if irony isn’t already dead, the Hatch Act violation on the DOJ website, which blames Democrats for the shutdown, appears on the page advising DOJ employees they are subject to the Hatch Act. joycevance.substack.com/p/a-note-abo...
October 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This is an epic violation. Pretty much every fed knows this because we get notified about the Hatch Act all the time. Even people who count fish and are nowhere near the political side of government get this stuff drilled into us regularly.
My office is funded by interagency agreements so we usually keep working through shutdowns. We’ll find out tomorrow morning if that’s the case again this time.
Here’s a cute picture of Penzey the dog for my fellow Feds on this shutdown eve.
Here’s a cute picture of Penzey the dog for my fellow Feds on this shutdown eve.
October 1, 2025 at 4:54 AM
My office is funded by interagency agreements so we usually keep working through shutdowns. We’ll find out tomorrow morning if that’s the case again this time.
Here’s a cute picture of Penzey the dog for my fellow Feds on this shutdown eve.
Here’s a cute picture of Penzey the dog for my fellow Feds on this shutdown eve.
I’m loving that I get to mentor a bunch of early career scientists who are making posters for a local conference. I’m having the best conversations with them and it’s fun to see people getting excited about finding patterns in our long-term fish monitoring data.
🧪👩🔬🌎 🐟
🧪👩🔬🌎 🐟
September 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I’m loving that I get to mentor a bunch of early career scientists who are making posters for a local conference. I’m having the best conversations with them and it’s fun to see people getting excited about finding patterns in our long-term fish monitoring data.
🧪👩🔬🌎 🐟
🧪👩🔬🌎 🐟
Minor revisions! This paper is about extracting DNA from fish that are preserved in formalin. DNA is totally not my expertise, but I learned a lot helping out with stats and graphs. It’s so fun to be part of these collaborative science projects where I get to learn new stuff.
September 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Minor revisions! This paper is about extracting DNA from fish that are preserved in formalin. DNA is totally not my expertise, but I learned a lot helping out with stats and graphs. It’s so fun to be part of these collaborative science projects where I get to learn new stuff.
Celebration photo in the party aisle for getting my covid and flu shots today!
September 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Celebration photo in the party aisle for getting my covid and flu shots today!
If you don’t like an account on here, you could just block it and move on.
September 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
If you don’t like an account on here, you could just block it and move on.
Reposted by Vanessa Tobias
Weekends. The 40-hour work week. Sick days.
That didn't just happen. Organized labor did that.
And today, we celebrate how far we've come. And how far we've yet to go to build an economy – and a country – that works for working people.
That didn't just happen. Organized labor did that.
And today, we celebrate how far we've come. And how far we've yet to go to build an economy – and a country – that works for working people.
September 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Weekends. The 40-hour work week. Sick days.
That didn't just happen. Organized labor did that.
And today, we celebrate how far we've come. And how far we've yet to go to build an economy – and a country – that works for working people.
That didn't just happen. Organized labor did that.
And today, we celebrate how far we've come. And how far we've yet to go to build an economy – and a country – that works for working people.