Nick Burton
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nickburton.bsky.social
Nick Burton
@nickburton.bsky.social
Assistant Professor @ Van Andel Institute. Maternal effects, polyamine metabolism, host-microbe, and C. elegans.
I’m sure @razzball.bsky.social never thought he’d be retweeted in the realm of science for this, but this is as true in science as it is in baseball and I’m really liking the parallels across spheres here
"Analytics" no longer means anything, just a buzzword people say when they don't have a legitimate argument
August 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I’m really beyond thrilled to be included in this years Pew Biomedical Scholars cohort and to be able to meet all the incredible scientists in this program. I was in Scott Kennedy’s lab when he was a Pew Scholar and never thought I’d be lucky enough to also be one! www.pew.org/en/about/new...
Pew Awards 22 Researchers Biomedical Science Grants
www.pew.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
So sad to have missed #worm25. With a relative new kid, and selling my house (offer accepted during worm meeting) it was just a bit impossible to also get to Davis. I did hear multiple of my lab members had a great time even if all I experienced was FOMO
July 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
🚨Job Alert!🚨

@natmetabolism.nature.com‬ seeks an Associate or Senior #Editor to join our team. If being a #Metabolism Editor is for you, and you are based in, or open to moving to New York or Shanghai, check out our #job posting below and apply before June 11th.
Associate or Senior Editor Nature Metabolism
Job Title: Associate or Senior Editor Nature Metabolism Location: New York, Beijing or Shanghai Application Deadline: June 10th, 2025 About Springer Nature Group Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow. Visit http://group.springernature.com/ and follow @SpringerNature / @SpringerNatureGroup. About the Brand Nature Portfolio is a flagship portfolio of journals, products and services including Nature and the Nature-branded journals, dedicated to serving the scientific community. Visit nature.com and follow @Nature / @NaturePortfolio. About the Role Nature Metabolism seeks an Associate or Senior Editor to join our expanding editorial team. Do you love science but feel that a research career isn’t enough to sate your desire to learn more about the natural world? Do you enjoy reading papers outside your chosen area of research? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any or both questions, you could be the person we’re looking for to join the editorial team of Nature Metabolism. This role can be in our New York, Beijing or Shanghai offices on a hybrid working model. Role Responsibilities: Working closely with other editors on all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript selection and overseeing peer review. Commissioning and editing News & Views and Reviews articles and writing for the journal. Organizing and attending conferences and visiting laboratories. Maintaining close contact with the international scientific community. The role requires broad scientific interest and strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. Fluency in spoken and written English, along with a willingness to learn and engage with the scientific community, is essential. Experience, Skills & Qualifications: A Ph.D. in a relevant research field is required. Postdoctoral research experience is preferred but not essential A broad interest in science and the ability to critically evaluate research submitted to the journal Applications from all scientific areas covered by the journal are welcome but candidates with expertise in cellular metabolic biology (e.g. mitochondrial biology), metabolic biochemistry or metabolic tracing are especially encouraged. Experience in cancer research or immunology is a plus. Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills Fluent in spoken and written English To Apply: Please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your salary expectations please submit a CV concise (up to 500 words) discussion of recent developments or trends in the wider metabolism field, which you have found particularly exciting (and explaining why). Springer Nature US provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes the benefit offerings listed below: • Medical, Dental and Vision • 401(k) with company match and contribution • Hybrid office working policy, Summer Hours, and paid time off • Flexible Spending and Commuter programs • Multiple Life insurance options • Disability coverage • Tuition Assistance • Voluntary benefits: Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, and Legal Assistance Insurance • Employee Assistance Program • Family friendly benefits and a variety of employee discounts • An array of Employee Social Networks US Annualized Base Salary Range: Associate Editor: $80,000 | Senior Editor: $95,000. The salary offer may vary based on work experience, education, skill level and equity. The US salary range does not align with the salary ranges in other countries when converted to the currency of that country. Springer Nature is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth in the following https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here: https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation. For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://careers.springernature.com/ #LI-DT1 Job Posting End Date: 11-06-2025 We are an ambitious and dynamic organisation, and home to some of the best-known names in research, educational and professional publishing. Working at the heart of a changing industry, we are always looking for great people who care about delivering quality to our customers and the communities we work alongside. In return, you will find that we open the doors to discovery for all our employees – offering opportunities to learn from some of the best in the business, with a culture that encourages curiosity and empowers people to find solutions and act on their instincts. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or are an experienced professional, we invite you to find out more about the roles we offer and explore our current vacancies. We are a global and progressive business, founded on a heritage of trusted and respected brands – including Springer, founded in 1842, Macmillan, founded in 1843 and Nature, first published in 1869. Nearly two centuries of progress and advancement in science and education have helped shape the business we are today. Research and learning continues to be the cornerstone of progress, and we will continue to open doors to discovery through trusted brands and innovative products and services. Springer Nature Group was created in May 2015 through the combination of Nature Publishing Group, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media.
bit.ly
June 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This sounds exciting
May 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
Opening for a #postdoc in the lab available immediately. Please spread the word.

DETAILS HERE: jobrxiv.org/job/baylor-c...

cc: #academicJobs #postdocJobs #microbiome #Celegans #organoids #IBD #PathSky #Medsky #AcademicSky 🧪 🧬 🦠
Postdoctoral Associate in IBD genetics in C. elegans and organoids
Post a job in 3min, or find thousands of job offers like this one at jobRxiv!
jobrxiv.org
May 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
We @morgridgeinstitute.bsky.social, in partnership with
@bmolchem.bsky.social , are looking for a great new metabolism researcher to join our @morgridgemeta.bsky.social team. Please see ad below and send along to your colleagues!
morgridge.org/job-posting/...
Assistant Professor in Metabolism Research - Morgridge Institute for Research
The Morgridge Institute for Research, in partnership with the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeks a joint tenure track assistant professor to lead a vibr...
morgridge.org
May 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Hold up is this real? I’m a bit stunned this isn’t talked about more in the circles I run in on here. Would be a big deal for how basic science is funded.
The fantastically successful NIGMS MIRA R35 "expired" on May 17, after the most recent deadline--these removals are the most aggressive attack on American science in the current series of devastating actions 🧪
NIH moved up the expiration date for some funding opportunities, effectively *canceling* the next application date without removing it from the standard table. I can't even imagine how many people are still prepping these grants.

👀 List of impacted opportunities:
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
May 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
In the times in which we live maybe there's not a ton of interest in new science results, but we remain intensely proud of this (UPDATED) preprint out of the lab - www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Oocyte mitochondria link maternal environment to offspring phenotype
During oogenesis and maturation oocytes undergo a recently discovered mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) remodeling in flies, frogs, and humans. This conserved oocyte ETC remodeling is regul...
www.biorxiv.org
May 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reading a timeline of talented scientists who lost their funding through no fault of their own is extremely sad to see. I hope you keep fighting the good fight Harvard! All of science and universities in general are at stake.
May 16, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I do like the idea of thanking US taxpayers for the funding that helps make the US a world leader in science, research, and technology. Your tax dollars don’t just disappear, they make the world a better place. #TaxDay
April 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
Registration is live for the 1st ever Midwest Metabolism & TRiMAD dual meeting, hosted jointly by VAI + U of M in Ann Arbor, MI November 10-11, 2025! We have some exciting speakers but most will come from abstracts so submit your best #mitochondria & #metabolism research! www.vai.org/event/2025-m...
2025 Midwest Metabolism Meeting
Join us for 2025 Midwest Metabolism Meeting at Van Andel Institute Stay informed about exciting upcoming events and activities.
www.vai.org
March 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
We are three people away from 100 registrations for Midwest worm meeting! We can do this worm community! (Also thanks so much for signing up all, a big year!)
Website and registration for the 11th annual Midwest Worm Meeting on April 18th is now live. Great opportunity for trainees who might not be able to attend the bigger meetings. Also if you'd like to visit VAI or see a great Keynote by Prof. Frank Schroeder this year. - www.vai.org/event/2025-m...
2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting
Join us for 2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting at Van Andel Institute Stay informed about exciting upcoming events and activities.
www.vai.org
March 21, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This is a cool set of findings
🚨New preprint alert!!! We show using #Celegans that mothers control the #ribosome levels of their offspring depending on their diet. Pioneered by fantastic
Sigma Pradhan (not yet on 🟦). #worms biorxiv.org/content/10.1.... 🧵
Intergenerational control of ribosomes under dietary restriction
biorxiv.org
March 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
February 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I’m going to staple these peeves to my door just so my students know it’s not just me.
I have several scientific pet peeves: Comic sans in presentations, "statistically significant" differences that aren't substantially different, and GO terms. They can be misleading and are often so broad as to be meaningless.

GO Team: Hold my beer. GO big or GO home.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A compendium of human gene functions derived from evolutionary modelling - Nature
Evolutionary modelling and expert review are applied to integrate experimentally supported knowledge accumulated in the Gene Ontology knowledgebase to create a draft human gene ‘functionome’.
www.nature.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Reposted by Nick Burton
By @katherinejwu.com

"The NIH... supported 99 percent of the drugs approved in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. The agency has had a hand in “nearly all of our major medical breakthroughs over the past several decades,”

The NIH is in a struggle for its (and our) lives. This is existential to America:
Inside the Collapse at NIH
Administration officials pressured NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
www.theatlantic.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
One of the coolest and most novel findings I’ve seen in years. This is why I work in worms. To find things no one even really knew to look for. Like a conserved system that splices transposons out of mRNAs to prevent otherwise lethal insertions in essential genes! - www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
An RNA Splicing System that Excises Transposons from Animal mRNAs
All genomes harbor mobile genetic parasites called transposable elements (TEs). Here we describe a system, which we term SOS splicing, that protects C. elegans and human genes from DNA transposon-medi...
www.biorxiv.org
February 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
While I wish it wasn't like this, I'm growing more convinced by the day that "states" need to form "coalitions of the willing" (stealing from EU wording) to band together to provide aspects of government that the federal government isn't going to do anymore.
February 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
Want to start an independent research group? ...with core funding, outstanding facilities & a curiosity-driven culture? Join us at @embl.org

We are recruiting across research themes, inc (epi)genomics, human dev bio, predictive modelling & neurobiology👇

embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/d...
Group Leader - Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Adaptation
We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated scientist to establish and lead an independent research laboratory at the EMBL Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit in Rome. EMBL provides a unique environmen...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
February 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
#Celegans #Worms - I'm guessing sending whole labs to big conferences might be too expensive for many labs this year. I want to highlight this meeting will be FREE. VAI will cover all costs and lunch and if people still want night networking I will set something up if enough are interested.
Website and registration for the 11th annual Midwest Worm Meeting on April 18th is now live. Great opportunity for trainees who might not be able to attend the bigger meetings. Also if you'd like to visit VAI or see a great Keynote by Prof. Frank Schroeder this year. - www.vai.org/event/2025-m...
2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting
Join us for 2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting at Van Andel Institute Stay informed about exciting upcoming events and activities.
www.vai.org
February 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Nick Burton
Days like today, I feel like I need a Samwise Gamgee to remind me that there are things worth saving, and no matter how hopeless it can feel, we have to keep fighting for what's right.

I hope you have a brave friend who gives you strength.

And now I want some taters.
a close up of a man 's face with the words that there 's some good in this world mr. frodo
Alt: Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin, says to Frodo: "That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
So things are pretty bad. Probably going to get worse. And my Bluesky is full of doom (fair enough). But I do hope, in as much as is possible, we as scientists fight to survive these times if for no other reason than we need people around to rebuild whenever that becomes possible again.
February 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Reposted by Nick Burton
For these uncertain times, we all need support of our communities more than ever. An updated list of 180+ researchers for the #Celegans community is here:

C. elegans #1 (150 full) - go.bsky.app/HP1h3nW
C. elegans #2 (30+) - go.bsky.app/J7soTHG

#CeleganSky 🧪 1/n

cc: @genetics-gsa.bsky.social
February 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I'm extremely proud of my lab and this new (revised) preprint from my lab identifying an unexpected bacterial polyamine can directly be transported into animal cells where it inhibits deoxyhypusine synthase and causes mito stress - www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A noncanonical polyamine from bacteria antagonizes animal mitochondrial function
Canonical polyamines such as agmatine, putrescine, and spermidine are evolutionarily conserved metabolites found in nearly all forms of life ranging from bacteria to humans. Recently, interactions bet...
www.biorxiv.org
January 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM