Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️
@napaaqtuk.bsky.social
Inupiaq, scientist of host-microbe interactions, mom, runner, news junkie, not necessarily in that order. I speak for myself. She/her. Only reskeets posts with alt text. Unapologetically typo prone.
Where I would like to be now 🌊
November 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Where I would like to be now 🌊
They get me every fricking year. Also I just realized I forgot to grab mints for my kid
November 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
They get me every fricking year. Also I just realized I forgot to grab mints for my kid
My reminder to myself and to you (strategically placed for the part of my hand that I see when driving)
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
My reminder to myself and to you (strategically placed for the part of my hand that I see when driving)
The dept grad student organization organized a Halloween costume competition and party and it was so fun! Our lab dressed as animals of the ocean and me, trying to catch them. We didn't come in first, that was Stacey Hanlon, who dressed as a train, each person was a different car. So imaginative!
November 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The dept grad student organization organized a Halloween costume competition and party and it was so fun! Our lab dressed as animals of the ocean and me, trying to catch them. We didn't come in first, that was Stacey Hanlon, who dressed as a train, each person was a different car. So imaginative!
Our pumpkins turned out so good! My kids made the ones on the top and bottom steps, I made the 2 on the middle step
October 26, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Our pumpkins turned out so good! My kids made the ones on the top and bottom steps, I made the 2 on the middle step
A video explaining Sarah's work. Authors on this paper include undergrads Kenny Sparks, Koral Campbell, & Kelly Ireland, Master's student Ryan Lucas, & tech Ruth Isenberg at UAA; & undergrads Jolie Atwood, Edward Russel, Kayleigh O'Keefe, Victoria Rosario & high school student Priyal at UConn.
October 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
A video explaining Sarah's work. Authors on this paper include undergrads Kenny Sparks, Koral Campbell, & Kelly Ireland, Master's student Ryan Lucas, & tech Ruth Isenberg at UAA; & undergrads Jolie Atwood, Edward Russel, Kayleigh O'Keefe, Victoria Rosario & high school student Priyal at UConn.
Ok, but did she find a microbe that can degrade plastic? Yes! KMM 195, a Pseudomonas trivialis strain, degrades plastic, as measured by FTIR, XPS, and SEM imaging, and that activity is decreased in a co-culture with KMM191, Pseudomonas germanica!
October 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Ok, but did she find a microbe that can degrade plastic? Yes! KMM 195, a Pseudomonas trivialis strain, degrades plastic, as measured by FTIR, XPS, and SEM imaging, and that activity is decreased in a co-culture with KMM191, Pseudomonas germanica!
The biofilm results were super interesting, I thought. Sarah incubated microbes with PP or PET plastic in PS plates. Some cool findings: some microbes formed more biofilm on PP or PET, and a LOT of microbes formed more biofilm on the PS plates than on the PP or PET. Definitely will follow up 4/n
October 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
The biofilm results were super interesting, I thought. Sarah incubated microbes with PP or PET plastic in PS plates. Some cool findings: some microbes formed more biofilm on PP or PET, and a LOT of microbes formed more biofilm on the PS plates than on the PP or PET. Definitely will follow up 4/n
@spasqualetti.bsky.social found that while 138 isolates have esterase activity, only 74 of the 184 isolates have esterase activity. Bc gut microbes live in communities, she did co-cultures and found that some co-cultures had enhanced lipase activity, but esterase activity wasn't really changed. 3/n
October 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
@spasqualetti.bsky.social found that while 138 isolates have esterase activity, only 74 of the 184 isolates have esterase activity. Bc gut microbes live in communities, she did co-cultures and found that some co-cultures had enhanced lipase activity, but esterase activity wasn't really changed. 3/n
Willimantic CT (I know it's a blue state but Willi is relatively small) had over 2K.
October 18, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Willimantic CT (I know it's a blue state but Willi is relatively small) had over 2K.
Went for a little run this morning.
Did I run at all last week or the week before? Nope.
All that matters is that I ran today. And what a beautiful day for a run 💜
Did I run at all last week or the week before? Nope.
All that matters is that I ran today. And what a beautiful day for a run 💜
October 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Went for a little run this morning.
Did I run at all last week or the week before? Nope.
All that matters is that I ran today. And what a beautiful day for a run 💜
Did I run at all last week or the week before? Nope.
All that matters is that I ran today. And what a beautiful day for a run 💜
There needs to be more coverage of this in the news. I have read so many stories bout this on Facebook, first hand stories of the terror of that storm, and very little coverage n media.
www.facebook.com/100000960660...
www.facebook.com/100000960660...
October 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
There needs to be more coverage of this in the news. I have read so many stories bout this on Facebook, first hand stories of the terror of that storm, and very little coverage n media.
www.facebook.com/100000960660...
www.facebook.com/100000960660...
This little guy has someplace to go
September 27, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This little guy has someplace to go
Photo of said stinky dog giving me the side eye bc I won't snuggle with him
September 25, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Photo of said stinky dog giving me the side eye bc I won't snuggle with him
This close 🤏🏽 to buying a trench coat.
September 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This close 🤏🏽 to buying a trench coat.
I just got this yesterday and it gets dog hair out of my car seats. It's original purpose is to brush the undercoat of cats. I run it over the car seats and the dog hair that wouldn't come out with clothes rollers or tape, or with vacuuming, and heated up rubber gloves, comes off easily.
September 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I just got this yesterday and it gets dog hair out of my car seats. It's original purpose is to brush the undercoat of cats. I run it over the car seats and the dog hair that wouldn't come out with clothes rollers or tape, or with vacuuming, and heated up rubber gloves, comes off easily.
I feel very lucky to have heard Ryan Emmanuel @waterpotential.bsky.social talk yesterday and to have a one-on-one chat this morning. I could have talked to Dr. Emanuel for hours. Such cool work, and excellent perspectives on how to work close to and for your tribe while in academia.
September 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I feel very lucky to have heard Ryan Emmanuel @waterpotential.bsky.social talk yesterday and to have a one-on-one chat this morning. I could have talked to Dr. Emanuel for hours. Such cool work, and excellent perspectives on how to work close to and for your tribe while in academia.
Me last night: I'll close my laptop and hop back into the work I'm doing and know exactly what I was working on bc all these tabs will be open.
My laptop, thanks to University requirements:
My laptop, thanks to University requirements:
September 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Me last night: I'll close my laptop and hop back into the work I'm doing and know exactly what I was working on bc all these tabs will be open.
My laptop, thanks to University requirements:
My laptop, thanks to University requirements:
Yessssssssss it's heeeeeere!!
September 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Yessssssssss it's heeeeeere!!
Lol, same results. Thanks for the excellent alt text, was an easy copy paste
Here's the website in case you want to figure out your traits. I liked the thought process in this one.
typeofyou.alltheway.tw/en/
Here's the website in case you want to figure out your traits. I liked the thought process in this one.
typeofyou.alltheway.tw/en/
September 14, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Lol, same results. Thanks for the excellent alt text, was an easy copy paste
Here's the website in case you want to figure out your traits. I liked the thought process in this one.
typeofyou.alltheway.tw/en/
Here's the website in case you want to figure out your traits. I liked the thought process in this one.
typeofyou.alltheway.tw/en/
Saw myself in the wild! At my kid's open house for their school and my kid told me my poster is in their science room. The teacher was nice enough to let me crash between talks to grab a photo :) My poster and a bunch of others are available here:
www.iwasakid.com/katmilliganm...
www.iwasakid.com/katmilliganm...
September 11, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Saw myself in the wild! At my kid's open house for their school and my kid told me my poster is in their science room. The teacher was nice enough to let me crash between talks to grab a photo :) My poster and a bunch of others are available here:
www.iwasakid.com/katmilliganm...
www.iwasakid.com/katmilliganm...
For the mushroom lovers on this site, from my walk though a Connecticut forest.
September 9, 2025 at 12:24 PM
For the mushroom lovers on this site, from my walk though a Connecticut forest.
More from my walk this morning. Spent a good couple of minutes here clearing my cluttered brain and taking in deep breaths
September 9, 2025 at 12:22 PM
More from my walk this morning. Spent a good couple of minutes here clearing my cluttered brain and taking in deep breaths
Doomscroll break. Couldn't decide which were the best videos for this, so a short thread of videos from my walk this morning.
September 9, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Doomscroll break. Couldn't decide which were the best videos for this, so a short thread of videos from my walk this morning.
I was waiting for a family member to post here but haven't seen a post. @coquinegra.bsky.social passed away last week. I met her on the old site & in person at ASM. We had good chats about the state of ASM, microbiology, & lack of Black, Indigenous, & other groups in science. She will be missed.
September 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I was waiting for a family member to post here but haven't seen a post. @coquinegra.bsky.social passed away last week. I met her on the old site & in person at ASM. We had good chats about the state of ASM, microbiology, & lack of Black, Indigenous, & other groups in science. She will be missed.